Kira and Chapin...The are BCFF!

Chapin and Kira are two peas in a pod...They truly enjoy being around each other.  Kira is so calm with Chapin's shenanigans and has a way of grounding the little man!  We miss you Kira already!   We has fun skiing, walking, talking, reading, biking, sleeping, play watching, eating, and smiling with you. Love...Cant wait to see you next year. 

Summer Trip - Stage 1...Driving to Wisco

Beautiful Lake Michigan

Chapin's 2nd cousin Bri helping him ride her horse Beauty.

Visit to Tommy Bartlett's

Friend Danielle who I skied with 18 years back...She is back this year "livin the dream."

In the stands waiting for show to start.

Chapin loving the action...

Chapin's favorite part...The rocket ship that he thought was going to take off into space.  Truly he thought that!

Ski jumpers coming out of the shuttle.

Good Bye shuttle.

Ballet line...

Our summer vacation this year consisted of an extended trip to Wisconsin to visit my family and then from Wisconsin to Connecticut for a visit with Jon's family.  Import note...We drove!  Plans had us leaving on Friday, July 8th and then at 6pm on 7th Jon announced he would like to leave that evening.  Crazy!!  We did and Chapin and I slept a good chunk of the evening in the car.  We didn't even wake to here him get gas in the middle of the night.

Our first stop was a break for Jon and breakfast on Lake Michagin.  It was so beautiful.  The lake was pristine and the sky was so blue.   It was almost magical or maybe we were just tired!  Then off to spend the evening with my cousin Tina in Janesville, WI.  We had a great time catching up and received a well rested sleep that evening.  Next onto Wisconsin Dells for a trip down memory lane.  I was a professional water skiing there in college almost twenty years back.  FYI, That saying "twenty years back" resonates this feeling of being old.  Chapin adored the show and loved to hang out at the dock, while I caught up with old friends telling stories of years past.  Plans for a  reunion next year may be in the mix, so that should be a lot of fun.

Stay tune for a couple more updates on the rest of the trip.   

harvest...

Harvest needs to happen before we leave for our vacation to Wisconsin.  It is a good motivator, but it is just crazy around here. 

Cutting back the scape of the garlic to make pesto and then dig up the garlic...

Scape and cucumbers.  Cucumbers are coming in loads.  Wouldn't you know it, they didn't do well the last few years and now we are leaving and I will miss making pickles out of them.  Oh well, hopefully more continue on when we return.

Scapes, walnuts, olive oil and Parmesan cheese...This stuff is great!

Lavender drying...Thankfully, I was able to sell some at market with my friend Geo who is a vendor there. 

Pre-harvest...FYI, it must be done so we will see a second bloom in towards the end of summer.

Broccoli...It really is the best.  If you have never had it straight from the garden you don't know what your are missing.  Chapin says he will never eat store broccoli again.  To bad it doesn't grow all season long for Chapin ate a whole head the other day!

Little froggies...Little guitar...

Check out the little frogs Chapin found in the side flower beds.  There was three but the third hopped away!

Chapin learning a little guitar from his Daddy the other night on the front porch.  Ahhh...Summer is good!

BFF's

There are certain people that enter you life that will be your "Best Friends Forever..."That is true of  Bru and Vic that Jon became friends with in Steamboat, CO over 15 years back.  We haven't seen each other for a while and both our lives have changed with location/situations, yet the deep foundation of friendship goes on.  Jon and Bru are two peas in  a pod!  Very refreshing to see them enjoying each others companion and just chillin' as each know how to do.  I told Vic that they are just "too cute together!"    

Our time together was jam packed with excitement as times at Kent Farm offer.  We had fun on the river, swimming in the neighbors pool, excursions walking up the creek bed,  a trip into DC on the bikes, hikes, playing and a close connection made with Chapin, Ben and Sofia.   We are so grateful they  make the effort to come visit and we know we will see each other sooner then later.  There is nothing like a good friend!

     

Ben on the zip line...A favorite among the kiddos

Creek bed adventure...

Upper part of Kent Farm Creek...Having a blast!

Exploring, exploring, exploring...We were out for hours with the kids and they did just great!

Bike o'rama...Vic on Sofia's bike, Bru and Sofia on the tandem, Ben in the trailer.

The Capital Building...I just love this shot

Late nights catching firefly's...Sleeping with them and then letting them go.

River trip...Sofia and Chapin together in the double kayak.  The did great and Sofia is a natural paddler.

Nice!

Performance that Sofia directed.  Jon and I decided that we may want to adopt and older sister that is so kind and caring like Sofia.  Anybody know where we may find one of those?

The Talmadge's and the Turkel's

Girls hike on the AT with no kids...Just Vic and I.  What a treat!

Heaven

This is absolute heaven for a five year old boy that loves construction. A new waterline is being dug for the frame house...Chapin is in awe. Our friend Christy Dunkle gave him the "hook-up" as she is friends with Brad Broy the owner of the company. This is going to be hard to top!

Ouch!!!!

Chapin = 0 Coffee Table = 1
Never a dual moment around here.