Cape Cod 2012

New England has not gotten more rain all year long than what it has received in the past week, the very we had long planned our vacation to Cape Cod.  We traveled in torrential downpour from Canterbury, Connecticut to Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Yet, while the weather has not been optimal, our time together in the Cape Cod environs has been marvelous.  You might ask yourself, "What about Day 2?"  Did they not have any adventures on Day 2?  We did, but they were very wet adventures, not very picture friendly.  We hope you enjoy our photo journal!

 Day 1: 

Lecount Hollow Beach

 Walking on Lecount Hollow Beach

 Day 3 

Hiking on Great Island we came across many horseshoe crab exoskeletons.

 On our return trip, the trail above was submerged in water resulting from high tide.  We had to walk along the other side of the fence, restricted territory.

 Still Day 3

After our hike, we ate sandwiches in the car overlooking the Wellfleet Harbor and then played in the adjacent park.

Day 4

Hiking the Goose Pond Trail in Wellfleet Bay's Wildlife Sanctuary.

"La Rana" in the pond.

Later we bought Nora a small stuffed frog from the gift shop, which she named "Floody."

A fiddler crab.  

Famous for attracting females by waving its single claw.

 Nora was later incorporated into the fifth grade class behind her.

Splashing the pools in her ladybug boots. 

 Family portrait

 Day 4 P.M.

Back at Lecount Hollow Beach where surfers regularly tackle the waves behind us.

Sweet Nehemiah.  

A few times he sprinted on all fours towards the ocean.

Nehemiah Turns 1!

The theme of the fiesta was Eric Carle's A Very Hungry Caterpillar

 Making caterpillars out of egg cartons

We're missing two babies in this photo: Myles and Alaina

On May 24th Nehemiah turned a year old.  We celebrated with family and friends with a small birthday fiesta.  Nehemiah cruised through the house and backyard with glee and agility.  Before his lit candles, his eyes grew big, his mouth broke into a wide smile and, after Nora blew out his candles, his hands joined in vigorous applause.  Nora, too, delighted in celebrating her brother's first year of excellence.  Happy Birthday, sweet Nehemiah!

Breaking Grounds

 Resurrection Day

 Resurrection Day

 Beachmere Inn, Ogunquit, Maine

On the Atlantic coast

Perkins Cove, Maine

 Lighthouse in York, Maine

 Birthday Peonies from my dear friend Heather

 Musical indulgence

 Our bundled Cinderella with her "varita"

 Painting at a princess party

First time with an ice cream cone

The highlight of the past month is our getaway for two.  My parents and brother took time off from work to allow us to retreat.  Nathan and I enjoyed a short stay in Ogunquit, Maine, where we soaked up the sun, strolled for miles and miles along the Atlantic coast, climbed the rugged promontories, gazed upon the foamy surf, listened to the crashing of the waves, pondered the moon's pull of the earth's vast ocean waters and the ever changing shoreline.  So far, Ogunquit is my favorite spot in New England!

Another highlight is the princess party that Nora went to yesterday.  Nora dressed up as Cinderella.  When asked what was her favorite part of the party, she responded with immediate certitude, "el helado." 

Thrice is Nice!

Am I my brother's keeper?

Attempt at a Family Portrait at

Misquamicut Beach, Westerly, RI

Help!

Training Abuelo Kent, a wonderful playmate, in watercolor

Today is Day 3 of Nora's latest imaginary brain child. Our house has been transformed into nueva york. We live in la casa de abuelita y abuelo. Nora has declared herself Edwin, a 3 year old boy whom my mom watches in her daycare in New York. She has declared Papi to be Abuelo and Mami Abuelita. Nehemiah is now Brian, another 3 year old boy in my mother's daycare. Yesterday, Nora was in the bathroom while I played with Nehemiah in the living room and called him by name. I was immediately corrected from down the hallway, "No, no, abuelita. Ese es Brian. No es Nehemiah." Right! It's hard to keep all the details of her creation straight. Today I called Nehemiah Brian and was horrified when he actually looked up in response. Best of all, Lavonne (the purple cabbage patch doll that Nathan is holding in the beach picture) also bears a new designation. She is Michael, an 8 month old baby in my mom's daycare. By the way, Lavonne shares so intimately in all of our family experiences that now even Nathan and I consider her one of our own. Lavonne is like our third child. Once I panicked in Walmart's parking lot when I realized we had abandoned her in the shopping cart. I was overjoyed and relieved when we retrieved her.

Culinary Pleasures

Making Hamburger Barley Stew

Peruvian-Style Roasted Chicken with Sweet Onions

(wholefoodsmarket.com)

Nora displaying the batch of meatballs she molded

Nora delights in cooking and relishes in new experiences. She can pour a teaspoon of salt into a bowl, beat an egg vigorously, bury her fingers in mushy red meat, stir soup erratically, scrub potatoes down to a nub, stab celery repeatedly with a plastic knife and eat shreds in the process. She's a master chef!

Ordinary Times

Nehemiah's first grass experience

Shopping at the Stop n Shop

Cooking for Abuelo

Crossroads Friday night meeting

Nehemiah with Abuelita Dorila

The Ring

Last November Nathan lost his wedding ring in our yard. Since then, we've had multiple armies of metal detecting parishioners search for this piece of metal, the loss of which has caused my mate some degree of sadness. The last search took place two weeks ago, and we have decided to purchase a new band. Anyway, that's just a bit of background to go along with the first picture. Nehemiah enjoyed pulling up grass during one of these last searches.

Shopping

The shopping picture shows one way to manage shopping with an infant and a toddler. Another way I've managed with the two on my own has been to strap Nehemiah to my front and tote Nora in the cart, thus creating more space for groceries. The latter way invites more smiles and head turnings. Both children love shopping.

Church

Every friday many of the "young adults," people at crossroads in their lives, from our church spend their evenings at our home. We eat, talk, sing, pray and study together. Most Fridays, a different family from the church provides a delicious dinner.

White Winter Creatures

Nathan and our snow bunny

A swan on Mystic River this winter