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.

hiking and water fun

Corbetts Glen, a hidden jewel in Rochester for a hike.
Where there are tepees the size a boy could only dream about . . .

trails that veer off and must be navigated carefully
(thanks for the help big brother) . . .

The boys were on the lookout for . . . snakes, birds and chipmunks
(at least that is what we saw).

Beautiful railroad bridge and waterfall.

In the same day we went back to Sodus Point to see more cousins.

Ambrose paddled the orange kayak by himself across the bay and back!  Blaise holding a paddle for the first time by himself, preferred to stand and paddle against Aunt Sarah (I'm not sure that was appreciated). 

weekend fun

Saturday we spent a day at a friends' cottage on Canandaigua Lake.
We took in breathtaking vistas, gaped and dream t of owning some enormous houses.
Enjoyed boat rides, tubing and water skiing.
And best of all, we were wined and dined!

Blaise, Ambrose and Sophia

We hiked Grimes Glen.

climbed waterfalls

 
rode waterfalls

jumped on tubes

On Sunday we met up with cousins in Sodus Point.
We went fishing and frog catching at Maxwell Creek.

Blaise preparing to fish.

Ambrose caught a frog.

Caitlin (holding the youngest Harper), Morgan, Hudson, Elijah,
Ambrose, Tobias, Henry, Blaise, Max and Margaret Rose

time at the cottage

9 days
time with family
time with nature
time disconnected from technology
ahhhh, what could be sweeter?

Blaise running to Ambrose at sunset

 
 Sodus Point Lighthouse

peek at the moon, it's almost 4th of July

group of Amish teenagers strolling to the lighthouse

 

scooter time
a friend we found

 

fort building and deconstructing at the cottage

Daddy ran a 5K

Ambrose, Morgan, Hudson, Blaise and Caitlin

storm is coming

tubing fun

 

sandcastles with Toby

dinner time - Aunt Cathy, Uncle Greg, Damian, Caitlin, Blaise (or at least his arm), Morgan, Ambrose, Aunt Sarah/Margaret Rose, Uncle Ed, Elijah, Tobias and Hudson

cousins walking back from getting ice cream

our bartender for the evening, Blaise
oldest to youngest
tallest to shortest
Caitlin, Morgan, Hudson, Elijah, Ambrose, Tobias, Blaise and Margaret Rose