Banana Split

Once a Summer, our family makes the 1/2 hr trek (in MA, that is far!) to Kimball Farm for ice cream, and a new tradition started this year (although we've had it once before), a banana split to share!! Kimball Farm is an ice cream stand with delicious homemade ice cream!! in enormous proportion (hence the sharing 1 banana split for a family of four).

The girls were very excited to dig in (and it looks like they already started)!

Enough pictures...let's eat our yummy treat!

It is so large that both of the girls stopped eating before it was even finished!

Also on the farm is miniature golf, bumper boats, a few farm animals,..We did not partake in any of the other activities this year, but there is always next year!

And a funny picture...

"hmmm...which one do I want? Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mtn Dew...decisions, decisions"

Driving Range

Yesterday, Joe took Hannah to the driving range for the first time for some "daddy and me" time.

Before they left, he tried to teach her a few pointers (actually, he was just trying to see if she would even like the idea of going to the driving range).

Practicing their swings.

She was very excited to go!

At the driving range...lining up her shot.

and swing...wait, the ball is still there...???

Joe said she did pretty good for her first time and more importantly, she had so much fun with her Daddy!

Boston Children's Museum

After saying goodbye to Nana and Papa on Monday night...

we headed to the Children's Museum in Boston on Tuesday for some fun with friends. Anna "cutting" Hannah's hair at the Barber Shop.

Into the construction zone where the girls climbed in structures over our head.

Emme climbing through the tunnels on the floor.

The cutest construction worker I've ever seen.

Shopping in the grocery store.

Emme "the cashier" checking the girls out. She thought it was great fun and I literally had to drag her away to give other children a turn at the register.

Hannah in the Wizard of Oz exhibit.

Wished we could have stayed longer, but it was time for lunch and nap (Emme) and of course, the pool in the afternoon.

Fun with Nana and Papa

Nana and Papa arrived Saturday to visit for a few days before going to New Hampshire.

Emme loves her Papa!!

Papa kisses!

On Sunday, we took the T into Boston to walk around (a great idea when it's 95 degrees and sunny). We got off at Govt. Center and made our way to Faneuil Hall and then over to the North End for dinner and dessert! Even though it was hot, fun was still to be had!

Daddy's shade from the hot sun!

Still trying to beat the heat...ice cream!

And proof that the Big Dig was a good idea...the greenway with water sprays where the girls (and Mommy, Daddy, and Nana) cooled off. (For those of you that don't know Boston, the freeway was put underground and we are literally where the freeway used to be and is now underground...now another greenspace in Boston).

Where'd the water spray go?

Nana, Papa, and the girls!

As I take a lot of pictures, the girls tend to pose for the pictures which is often quite funny.

Trying to get another good picture with Nana and Papa. Here's where posing can backfire.

another try...

Oh forget it...how about silly faces!?

Hannah was kind enough to take a picture of Mommy and Daddy.

Hannah ate her meatball with a little of her ziti and then quickly moved onto my cioppino, basically a shellfish dinner with linguine in white wine sauce.

Silly girls!

As always, we made a stop at Mike's Pastry on the way home for some yummy cannollis and italian cookies for dessert!

4th of July Weekend ++

We just spent the last 5 days upta camp in Maine enjoying family time, lobsters, fireworks, boat rides, swimming, fishing,....

One of the first of many boat rides!

and a stop for ice cream...another first of many while at camp.

Hannah fishing off the dock with Uncle Bill and Daddy! (she never did catch anything.)

Night 2...toasting marshmallows for s'mores!

Uncle Brad got the big marshmallows for s'mores...ummm...they're VERY big!

The marshmallows oozed out from all directions. Of course, none of the kids complained!

Sticky, gooey mess!

Emme takes a turn on the swing! This is her first "big girl" year at camp where she can partake in most of the fun activities camp has to offer!

Hannah and Mikayla settled in and waiting for fireworks on the 3rd of July put on by Brad (our 2nd night of fireworks...Hannah's first this trip).

Oddly enough, there are no pictures from the actual 4th of July. We had lobsterfest! And then those that had to work on Tuesday went home and the few of us remaining stayed and had a quiet night!

But then Auntie, Owen, and Addie arrived on the 5th of July!

Silly cousins!

The weather this trip could not have been nicer. Uncle Joe/Daddy and the kids on the first of many boat/swim trips. We would take a boat ride trying to hit as many wakes/waves as possible to get the kids wet and bounce around (which they thought was great fun) and then anchor the boat in a cove and jump off the boat for a swim!

After Hannah and Daddy went tubing (and Emme watched with Mommy from the boat), Emme insisted she wanted to give it a try. She did great! And while she looked very serious most of the time, she said she really had fun!

Hanging out on the boat!

Addie and Emme back on the beach playing!

while Auntie took Owen and Hannah for a canoe ride!

5th of July fireworks fun put on by Daddy!

Emme and her juice box. Such a cool cat!

Hannah and Owen enjoying the boat ride!

And after trying numerous attempts to get Emme in the water on our swim adventures, she finally got in with Mommy and spent 15 minutes splashing around having fun (although the picture doesn't really do it justice b/c the sun was in her eyes) while the other kids jumped in the water from the boat.

We had such a great time at camp and look forward to more fun adventures there this Summer! And we still have another few days with Daddy before he has to go back to work!