Craving

I want to go here and I am sad that I never got the chance this summer. If you are ever in Southern Maine...it is a must!


http://www.lobstershacktwolights.com/index.html

Boston Wedding

We were in Boston this weekend for our niece Nicole's wedding. We arrived at the Langham Hotel around 3, showered and cabbed it down to Rowe's Wharf for the ceremony which took place in a huge marbled glass enclosed gazebo looking out over the harbor. Amidst cool sea breezes and sea gulls cries, they said their vows to each other. Nicole looked like a princess, she never stopped smiling all night long and Chris could not take his eyes off of her.
We then boarded The Odyssey for a dinner cruise reception. Me, Jim, John, Cassie, Kate and my Mom were seated together. It was so much fun to be together and celebrate this special day. Missed you Zach!
Rowe's Wharf, before the ceremony

Here comes the Bride with her Dad
Nicole and Christopher

Introducing the new couple

Time to go home, outside The Langham hotel, Franklin St.

See ya Sweetie

We moved Zachary into his room in New Hall at UNH today. He was well equipped with everything he needed and the day went very smoothly. His dorm is beautiful. He has two roommates, Adrian from Puerto Rico, and Jeff from South Windsor. They seem like very nice boys. Zachary was happy and relaxed all day.
I can't go on about this because truthfully I am feeling the loss. He will not be coming home tonight, he will not tell me sweet dreams like he has every night since he was a little boy. I am so happy and excited for him, but it is a meloncholy mix of emotions. I could cry a river, but I know from past experience that this feeling will be replaced with happy thoughts in just a few days. Zachy, if you visit my blog tonight...sweet dreams sweetie. XOXO

The load

Traditional first day picture

Happy boy

So much stuff, so little space

The view from his dorm window

We had lunch here

New Hall

Last minute words of advise before saying goodbye

Bye Bye Nick

This is Nick's last week in CT. It is hard to believe that his 10 weeks are coming to a close. It has just flown by. It has been such a blessing to me to get to know my treasured friends son. Really...who ever gets that chance. Here are some of my observations on Nicholas D....the good, the bad (not really), and the quirky.

He pounds down the stairs, misses the last step, and then lands (hard) at the bottom. I can always tell when he comes downstairs.

He is not much of a morning person...not cranky...just quiet.

He is thin, but this boy can eat! He comes home from work famished.

He still calls me Mrs. Kyte. Sweet.

He has a sweet tooth. Always tops off his dinner with some form of ice cream.

He has his fathers sense of humor and teasing, but has his Mom's sweetness.

He wears black socks with his shorts.

He likes to watch NCIS.

He laughs alot when something is funny on TV.

He has a serious interest in perfecting his golf game.

He wasn't uncomfortable saying the blessing at dinner. Nice.

He has not missed one day of work this summer.

He rolls his eyes when he thinks something is ridiculous, and looks so darn cute doing it.

He has been comfortable and relaxed right from the start.

So as we bid farewell, I would just like to say...Nick, I am so happy that you decided to stay with us. I cannot wait to see what God has planned for you and Bre. When you come to Ct, you will always have a place to stay and I promise I will not make you watch another episode of Grey's Anatomy or any more tacky reality shows. Love you XO

Mid-Week Visitors

Francey and Michael arrived for a visit on Tuesday. It was wonderful to see them and extra special for me to finally meet Michael. No surprise, he is sure a great guy. I enjoyed every minute. Jim was able to spend the day with them on Wednesday and so they spent the better part of the day in Stratford. Lunch at Danny's Drive-In, a stop at Short beach, down thru Lordship, a stop at Union Cemetery to see Grandma's grave and a drive by 655 Chickadee Lane.

They were off to Boston on Thursday. A quick visit, but oh so much fun!

Lordship

Short Beach

Cuties

Summer Day

We (Jim, me, John, Kate and Zach) celebrated Zachary's birthday on Saturday. It could not have been a better day. After lingering around the breakfast table, catching up with John...we packed up the car with a picnic lunch and headed up to New Hartford to go tubing down the Farmington River. (Sadly, Jim could not tube because of his knee, and Cassie because of her back... maybe next year all of us will go)
We chose our tubes and buckled up our life jackets and then launched off a bank into the river which because of all the rain this summer propelled us forward at a good clip. The sky was deep blue, the clouds were white and fluffy and the water looked like diamonds as we made our way toward the rapids. This particular run had class 1, 2, and 3 rapids and I have to say, after signing the accident waiver form, I was more than just a little apprehensive. We all made it through the first bunch of rapids (2) just fine. Laughing all the way. The second bunch (3) proved to be a little more challenging. Oh my goodness, white loud water, huge rocks, dips and turns...FUN...FUN...FUN! I went through first, then the kids. I turned around to see John's tube go airborne and then...no John. He was pulled under, recovered quickly and then hopped back on his tube. All was well.
I cannot remember ever having so much fun. At one point I was about 20 yards ahead of the kids and I heard the 3 of them laughing together and it was the most beautiful sound. Like gentle wind chimes floating on the breeze and I just looked up at the sky and thanked God for this day. It was a most special moment.
After 2 hours on the river we climbed out and took a bus back to our starting point. Jim got us a picnic table and we ate a lunch of oven baked barbecue chicken, potato salad, tomato and mozz. salad, and fresh sweet watermelon.
Such a great day.

satan's kingdom...definitely not! This was God's country...

Brothers, so sweet

Kate, ready to go

Finding the right tube

I found a good one. Full of air and not too muddy.

Ready to go

Lunch...yummy

Happy kids after such a fun day

Saturday FUN!!!

Zachary James is Turning 18

Happy Birthday Zachy doodle. It seems just a second ago I was holding you for the first time. Just last week you picked me up off my feet, no easy task. Too funny! As the five of us head out to celebrate your day...just know how much we love and treasure you. Now, lets go and have some fun!

Our first pictures together

All grown up. Happy Birthday Zachary!

XOXO

Random Update

It is a rainy and super humid morning here in Ct. I actually got up late because it was still so dark at 6:30. I don't really have too much to write about. The days are alot the same...up at dawn to do some home things, work 8:30-6, home to make dinner, read for a bit and then off to bed.

Zach is in high gear getting ready to leave. Bit by bit he has amassed all of the things that he needs and now has a gigantic pile in the corner of his room waiting to go. I topped it off with one last trip to Costco for a bunch of healthy snacks. This child actually likes prunes, and so he has a box big enough to last and last.

Jim finally went for his MRI on Monday, and just as the doctor thought...he has a torn meniscus. It will have to be repaired by surgery, arthroscopic (I think).

Kate has registered for a chemistry class this semester and has picked up a bunch of additional hours at Dr. Massicotts.

I spent my day off cleaning and getting the guest room ready for new guests. John will come home this weekend to celebrate Zachary's birthday. Then on Tuesday, Michael and Francey arrive from Texas for a few days.

Busy week next week. We bring Zach to UNH on Friday, then up to Boston on Saturday for my Niece Nicki's wedding, then back to CT on Sunday for an convocation at UHN for Zach. I will finally have something real to blog about and not just my random thoughts.

Here are some pictures I took on Tuesday. Jim working from home, and right along side of him...his best buddy. She just has to be close to her "people".