First Day of SCHOOL!

Ok, it is true that I've been having the kids listen to Pink Floyd recently and that they don't need no education.  Could that be the explanation for their enthusiasm on the first day of school?

Nah!  The kids LOVE school.  I just told them to look serious in the first photo.  Emma did her best!

Here's the real M!

And her goofball brother

Start of Hockey Season Again

I can't remember what I said to get Oscar to smile for the camera at 6:30 AM, but I know I was inspired by something I heard recently on A Prairie Home Companion, "Say Ovaries!"

Lordy lordy look who's 40!

 You wouldn't guess it from the photos, would you?  Or my child-like joie de vivre?  Yes, it's true, I am officially... but wait, what does 40 mean anymore anyway?  Am I an adult now?  Am I old?  Hard to tell, and I'm sure not an objective judge.  I only figured out a few months ago that I'm not in my 20s.

Celebrating with the kids at LaRonde.  Slowest carousel in the world.

On the Ferris Wheel.  If it looks like Oscar is making a funny face, it's because he was.  In all of the Ferris Wheel pictures.  If it looks like I'm making a funny face, you should be nicer to me.  It's my birthday.

This ride is so scary!  Yawn.

Carousel

 Later in the evening with friends at Pied de Cochon.  I must have been born in the late afternoon, because you can definitely see that I'm younger in the pictures above...

Old Orchard for the Nth time

Somehow Old Orchard never seems to get old.  Well, to be honest I might be done with my usual hotel there, and since I haven't heard anything particularly positive about any of the other hotels, it might be time to look for a new beach destination.  Too bad, because the beach part of it and the attractions are still plenty of fun for the little ones (and me too).

This was the first year that we did significant numbers of rides.  And the first time the kids did a legit big kid rollercoaster, the Galaxi.

 Oscar was plenty proud of his "minions" t-shirt.

 What a handsome lad.

 What a comely lass.

 She is actually posing in this photo.

 Happy to be at the beach after driving from NH.

 At the Children's museum in Portland, ME.

Tent life

I'm in a particularly good mood today.  That probably contributes to my fond memories of tenting in NH.  I don't think I was the only one who was comfy cozy there though. The kids woke up slowly and with smiles on their faces.

Spend a half an hour doing games before breakfast?  Let's make it an hour.

 Let's go for a little hike around echo lake.  

 How many times have we been photographed on this rock?

 Lifeguarding while the kids go for a swim in Echo Lake.

 Spawn tracks.

Non-camping eats in NH

Flatbread pizza.  Man can we stuff that in!

 Banana split.  Mental note:  Gummy bears in ice cream are about as good as banana slices in jell-o

 I have no idea what this has to do with anything.  What does Greek yoghurt have to do with ice cream?  What do lemons have to do with greek yoghurt?  What does the last name Lemon have to do with the flavour lemon?  What do endorsments from fictional characters have to do with ice cream quality?  What do endorsements from real celebrities have to do with ice cream quality?  And why would the kids want to be photographed with this fictional characer?  (OK, I told them to do it.  Forget everything I said.)

Hangin' in NH

Okeedokee.  Summer vacation was a couple of weeks ago but I think I can be excused for the delayed post.  I've had a thing or two going on.  More on that later.

Part one of the vacation was my typical camping trip down to NH.  The kids were super cool on the drive down there and super cool camping.  Camping slooooows you dooooown.... 

and.... that... is...  -exactly- what... I... (we...) needed...

ahhhh.  I feel relaxed just thinking about it.

Oscar was tickled to have an inchworm on his hand

 Corn comes campfire-ready in a handy wrapper (full disclosure - the kids didn't like it.)

 Avoid E. coli risks.  Always cook Marshmallows thoroughly.