Every year at Alyssa's physical Dr. McHugh asks her what she wants to be when she grows up. Each year it is the same a photographer and a professional soccer player. I say go for both!

I love to be surprised at the pictures Lissy takes when I upload them onto the computer. I love her eye for things and the interesting angles and special "friends" she finds. 

Here are her June Wildflowers

Alyssa and my dad would have gotten along so well! 

She and I have his great love of nature. 

Scout Camp

My (baby) guy is off to Scout Camp for the first time!
I know he will do an awesome job and have fun, but I'm really gonna miss him!

I was so grateful that Jessica drove the boys up to Vermont and stayed until they got their tents up and situated.  I was so happy and relieved when she sent me this picture! 

 I am also SO grateful for is the short texts that I receive each night from Xander. 

Just enough to let me know he's doing well and having a blast!

Letter Boxing Field Trip

Kelly and I were chaperones for Xander's letter boxing field trip at Buffumville Dam.

It was a lot of fun since 5/6 of these boys have been the best of friends for years now! They were good sports about posing for pictures. 

Maybe that is because Kel and I were the best chaperones ever! 

We were very easy going with the rules. We let them tromp through puddles.-

because that's FUN!

At the tour of the dam the kids thought it was hysterical when the ranger said, 

"We are going to do a dam tour."  

From then on we heard things like-

Where's the dam bathroom?

There's the dam stairs.

Here's the dam fence.

(Actually it was kinda funny!)

 

We picked up interesting things along the way. 

Maybe the rotten turtle egg wasn't a good idea?!

 The shell cracked and SMELLED ABSOLUTELY HORRID! 

Kelly wouldn't let us leave the disgusting plastic bag in the woods

 that had turtle goo juice on it. So the boys attached it to a long stick

 and took turns carrying it as far away from them as possible!

All in all it was a DAM fantastic day! 

6-21-13

Happy 4th birthday Lola!

Now make a wish! 

Okay just one donut hole...

6th grade is DONE!

What a difference a school year makes. 

Here are the kids on the first day of 6th grade.

Last day of 6th grade! So much older! I love to see the changes side by side. 

When the kids were younger I didn't look as forward to the LONG break, having to constantly entertain and hear "I'm BORED!" As they have gotten older, more independent, school work, homework, projects, tests, sports... are much more intense! I look forward to the break from the pressure of school and finally getting to spend together! 

I am so proud of their hard work in school and sports. 

Happy Summer! 

Lunch Ladies

I love my "Lunch Ladies!" 

They are my sanity savers! 

We visit, encourage, complain, laugh, commiserate, arrange carpools to sports, solve current problems ...or at least try to... and catch up on life!

We try and go out a least once a month. We've been busy over the past few months, but never too busy to celebrate our birthdays! 

Jen's (right) birthday @ VIA

 My birthday @ Olive Garden

We spent Deb's (left) birthday at 99 

 And Kelly had a whopper of a birthday the big FOUR OH NO! 

Finally! Join the club sista!

We got her a box of cakettes- kinda like cake truffles! 

You can get them customized- 

She is a hair dresser, excellent soccer coach and loves the Bruins.

I love these beautiful Lunch Ladies! 

New pool liner

**Catch up time**  May 4, 2013

We got a hole in the pool liner and for most of the winter I had to look out the window and see the green tarp halfway down and look at the UGLY border on the pool liner. I distinctly remember picking out a different liner when we first purchased the pool. When the guys had the liner installed and ready to go I told them that wasn't the liner I picked out. They said oh well this one is better. So I was stuck with it! See below!

SO when the old liner had a hole or two or three or four... I made sure it was one I liked. Which by the way is very difficult because there are a LOT of UGLY liners out there! Believe me I searched high and low!  We got two quotes to have the liner installed by pool companies. The most expensive coming in at $1700 the cheapest at $1200. Well after some encouragement I convinced Paul that he could do it and for a fraction of the cost! The new liner cost $290 and with parts and supplies it was under $400. 

It took Paul part of one day (soccer gets in the way a lot) and most of the second day. 

 Buh bye ugly liner! 

 I love this one! It blends much better and doesn't stick out and fight against nature. I love how the tiles sparkle in the sun too. 

 Yay progress! The hardest part was getting the wrinkles out! Well mostly out...

Then you have to start filling the pool with water and continue to spread out the liner. BRRR! Let's just say it's a good thing I wasn't it charge of this! I am a cold water weenie! It has to be around 90 degrees outside for me to go in the pool. I like to enjoy from the sidelines or rather deck chair! 

 Mind you by now Paul can't feel his feet. It is just barely May and the hose water is freezing!

 All in all it turned out fabulous! We saved money, Paul's feet didn't get frost bite and the whole ordeal is long forgotten now that the beautiful warm weather is here!

Memorial Models

This year in reading the kids had to write a paper on a memorial

 and make a model of that memorial.

Xander chose to do the USS Arizona. 

Excerpt from Xander's report:

"I believe that this memorial is very important to the Navy and all military personnel who are serving and have served our country. In my opinion, this memorial was made to help everyone remember the devastating effects that war can have. What happened on December 7,1941 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was a tragedy never to be forgotten."  

I think his came our really great! The cellophane "water" on top has a rainbow sheen to it which is especially fitting since the battleship to this day continues to leak oil.

Alyssa chose one that was not on the list, but we had visited!
This is the Balto Memorial in Central Park. 

This project weighed a ton! Okay well not a ton, but I'd say at least 15lbs! Thankfully there is no shortage of rocks in our yard! Great job Lissy!

For years we have visited the statue and taken a pictures. 

Who knew it would actually be useful for a report some day?! 

Here is a little tidbit from Alyssa's paper about Balto and the sled dogs:

"On January 20,1925 the town of Nome, Alaska sent out an urgent telegram that said they needed the antitoxin for an outbreak of the disease Diphtheria among the children.  Trains did not travel that far north and the only plane available had a frozen engine. So the best chance at getting the medicine across the icy tundra was by sled dogs. Twenty different musher teams raced over 647 miles for a total of eight exhausting days to get the medicine to the children. Balto was chosen as the lead dog for the final stretch of the journey.  Balto led his team through strong winds that tipped the sled over, dashed through reindeer, and ran in temperatures fifty degrees below zero.  On February 2,1925 the final team arrived at 5:30 in the morning and the town was saved!  Balto was a true hero to the town."

Now we actually know what it is all about! 

The Blessings of the Priesthood

Today in YW I taught a lesson about the blessings we receive from the Priesthood.  I asked the girls earlier in the week to think about a way they have been blessed and come willing to share with a story or a picture of an event in their life. I loved their stories and appreciation of the priesthood. 

As I was preparing the lesson I thought back over my life and the countless blessing that I have received from my father. I am grateful that he was still alive to be able to give my children a name and a blessing.

Alexander and Alyssa on the day of their baby blessing 

December 24, 2000 

by Richard Nowlin

Baptism and Confirmation

October 11, 2008

by (Uncle) David Mahler

Xander  receiving the priesthood

October 14, 2012

By David Mahler

On Monday there was no soccer practice due to a Saturday tournament.

Tuesday soccer practice was cancelled. 

Two days in a row! We weren't quite sure what to do with ourselves!

I grabbed a book and a plunked my butt on a lounge chair in the sunshine. 

Next thing I know Xander is doing the same thing.

Well Lissy she likes to do things a bit differently!

I can't imagine that this is comfy,  but hey if it makes her happy!

Shrunken slides

A few weeks ago I ran out of the house, got halfway to church for Mutual and realized that I had forgotten to change my shoes! I was laughing so hard. 

I felt like such a dork at church, but I was comfy!

(I have done this more times than I can count!  Usually with flip flops that don't match my outfit and occasionally slippers. )

The fact is they weren't even my shoes! They are Xander's. 

I wear his slides around the house because they are super comfy.

 WELL I won't be doing that with these anymore!  

His slides had a bit of an issue! No wait! A MAJOR ISSUE!

 He left them out by the pool in 89 degree heat and they 

SHRUNK (one about 3 sizes)

&

(both ends)  CURLED 

I called Nike customer service and they laughed right along with me and said that is bizarre. Their policy is to send in the shoes and if it is within 2 years and they feel the product is faulty they will send a gift certificate for the replacement amount. I can't see how they wouldn't! I leave my $2.00 flip flops out by the pool and nothing strange happens. Fingers crossed. 

Too bad I didn't take a picture of Xander's HUGE toes overlapping the top. It was hysterical! 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Alyssa had most of her soccer team over after a very hot practice for pizza, swimming and hanging out!

I LOVE these girls! 

They are strong, tough, funny, beautiful, so NOT into drama, easy going, silly, great friends and they work hard to do their best! 

Oh and did I mention crackpots?!

Lauren telling Shawn- BRING IT ON! 

They love hamming it up for pictures!

Xander and his friend Shawn were the only two boys at the party. This picture CRACKS ME UP! Look at the expression on Shawn's face! "AHHH what do I do with all of these girls around me?" In a few years the boys will love it!

But for now they are happy to mostly be silent observers from afar!