Apple Picking Yom Kippur

We picked apples at Shelburne Farm this morning. Memorable moments: Cece covered herself from head to toe with dirt (the dirt was Utah-level dusty- it's a drought on the east coast!). Calvin lost his gun shaped stick. Warm apple cider donuts- best I've had yet. Cece and the hated hayride. Good times with good friends!

The Bog down by the Valley-O

Cece did not sleep this afternoon, so we seized the day and drove up to the cranberry bogs in Chelmsford/Carlisle. It took some doing to find the trail-head, but we found it eventually off of Elm St. In Chelmsford.

Cece did fall asleep by the time we arrived, so Peter stayed in the car and I wandered the lovely trail system with the older kids. Most of the bogs we passed are historic bogs and no longer farmed. However, once we crossed into Carlisle, we came upon the operational cranberry farm.

I'm now slightly obsessed with hitting the cranberry harvest just right in October so I can see them flood the field to harvest the berries. I looked at one of the bigger farms in Plymouth, and they've sold out their tours already.

We still haven't left the "this stick looks like a gun" stage.

Or the "log over water- must cross" stage.

Coming out of the forest to the operational bog in Carlisle

Three bumps on a log by the bog

Clambake 2015- Shantytowns and Hoovervilles

We attended our 14th annual clambake at Crane Beach in Ipswich. Our usual pavilion covered picnic tables were under construction, and there was no water (essential for boiling Lobster, hot dogs, corn, and clam steamers). But in true Mormon fashion, we found a way to potluck anyway.

People brought chairs, umbrellas, tables, and coolers for a make-shift eating area. Jack H. and Charles I. procured water from who knows where. Lunch was barely even late.

The beach was maddeningly crowed because the weather was so perfect. You can't have it all. But we did have fun.

Catching the current as the tide flooded a large pool at the beach

Ody's blue blue eyes

Siren Sisters

Clare and Char having a chat with Cece

Our shovel was a big hit, as always. Never go to the beach without one.

This girl. Sand everywhere.

Tween Hiking

I accompanied a hike for some of the 10 and 11 year-olds in the ward. We went up to the Harold Parker State Forest and did the trail marked on the map with red polka dots- a little over 5 miles.

Many boys were hucking rocks at trees, using sticks to pick at poison ivy, and threatening each other with horse manure, but Brinley showed them all up by picking up snakes, frogs, and beetles. It was awesome.

creatures

landscapes

more creatures

A Farewell to Balls

I'm not ready to talk about how hard it was to say goodbye again to the Balls. Suffice it to say, I almost tied them in my basement and held them hostage from leaving for Sammamish.

We spent one last day with them in Boston and it was action packed. That's one of the best things about the Balls- they're doers and see-ers.

We started at the USS Constitution museum which was actually awesome and all sorts of hands on for the kids. The ship herself is in dry dock for three years.

Next, a quick stop at the playground by the Constitution where Nanny McIvy reared her face again.

Then on to Crazy Doughs for pizza (with Mike's pastries as dessert) and a quick tour of the yard

Then back to our house from some bubble juggling

This is how we house our guests. Just kidding- this is at the Constitution museum.

We all signed a copper plate which will go in the bottom of the USS Constitution. We are a part of history.

Oh yeah, we climbed Bunker hill somewhere in all that. SO...MANY...STAIRS!

Randy graduated from the Harvard Dental school, so a family photo on the Havard Library steps was in order

A quick stroll at the nearby farm trail system...

It's a wonder they all survived the day without a parent tossing one of them into the harbor

Thanks to Melanie for the great photo

An L-sit competition (of course)

Then the guys picked up Blue Ribbon BBQ while Mel and I held down the fort with the kids at the park

After dinner the kids piled onto our bed and watched Netflix. I guess we wore them out.