state fair

Each year as a kid we would go to the county fair.  It was a destination and the place to be during that week.  I remember going through building after building looking at animals and 4-H exhibits.  We took the boys to the State Fair and here are the highlights according to them:

insects to look at up close

animals to pet

wondering what these cows are talking about?

old-fashioned cars in the parade

and tractors

a huge sand sculpture

the horse pull

rides viewed from on top the Ferris wheel

Sodus Point, part 3

 "Danger, Stay off Bluffs"!  The sign that greeted us as we transcended down to the water level of Chimney Bluffs.  From Sodus Point it is about a 20 minute drive to this geological feat.  We spent a few hours walking along the water's edge and craning our necks up to the tip-top of the Bluffs.  The boys found numerous spots to climb up and look down to wave to me.  I could have spent a few more hours taking photos and looking at the rocks and driftwood.  Truly a work of art by nature.

Sodus Point, part 2

Aunt Cathy, Uncle Ed and cousin Caitlin took part in the annual Sodus Point triathlon.  Damian was a volunteer 'rescue boater' in our yellow kayak (see picture below, bright yellow shirt/yellow boat on right).  I decided to play a very important role, I made brunch for everyone (well, someone has to do it right?)  By the way, Caitlin kicked butt in the triathlon; coming in 2nd for her age group.

 

Ambrose and Blaise played with their cousins and friends (thanks for all the time you spent with them, they had so much fun!)

Aunt Cathy received a paddle board for her birthday.  We had too much fun trying out this new sport . . .now I just have to get myself a paddle board.

In this unseasonably dry summer, the bay was very shallow which allowed for hours of water play.

The Hardies came to visit (Katie and Victoria) and we showed them around the Point.

 

 

friends visit and happen by

Our second long stay in Sodus Point consisted of 10 days.  One of our favorite days was when our friends, The Krutell's came to visit.  Zibby and Jack love playing with the boys.

They swam in the bay and enjoyed the 'shallow' section.

Ducks came by for a quick visit.


And they built and built in the sand.

After all the play time, some much needed snuggling in the towel time.

 

Wait, is that a bride and a groom?  Yes, it is.

Blaise, put the dead fish down, please.  Um, gross.

And then our neighbors happened by, The Schreiber's.

On to the old-fashioned baseball game where no mitts are used, OUCH!

And playground time.

Blaise, Ambrose, William, Mary Grace, Zibby and Jack.

More fun times coming from Sodus Point . . .

stroll on park avenue

Dinosaur Camp complete for the day.

Time to stroll down Park Avenue before lunch.

The highlights according to Blaise:

- the raspberry on the Stever's Chocolate sign

- the pretty pink flowers to smell (Rose of Sharon bush)

- cool park bench to stand on and look cute!

 

nature is our playground

Two great area parks, Mendon Ponds Park and Highland Park have been our 'nature' playgrounds the last couple of days.  We went through the sensory garden (smelled herbs) and butterfly garden before embarking on a hike in Mendon Ponds Park.  Due to the fact the boys were having so much fun (and making tons of noise) the only wildlife we saw was a very hungry squirrel (probably used to being fed by humans).

 

Ambrose, Blaise and Aidan

Today, at Highland Park instead of a hike we played in the trees!

 

 

visit to my hometown

This past weekend I attended my 20th high school reunion.  It was wonderful to catch up with old classmates.  I was amazed at how some people hadn't changed at all while others had changed quite a bit (very interesting!).

I stayed with my best friend Kelly, her two kids Katelyn and Jack and her mom.  Over the weekend, we went to the Public Market on the Town Square, which holds so many memories for me.  As a kid my brothers & I would attend band concerts there every Friday night.  We would play on the canon and in the water fountain until we heard the last song of the evening, a march by John Philip Sousa, and knew it was time to get back to our parents.

We figured the boys (and Kelly's kids) wouldn't mind reenacting that memory . . .

 

 

 

Kelly & I

Our trip down memory lane was complete with a visit with my next door neighbors from growing up, Mr. & Mrs. Romis.