Summer Activities

A busy week with A^4 back to work and various activities.  We hope everyone is doing well and we are sending good thoughts to all!!!

Ayson went to football weight lifting in the afternoons and worked out with Adam in the mornings.  Ayson's coach brought pizza to the Friday evening workout!

Addie went to cross country practice Monday afternoon, had a friend over Tuesday, and participated in Micron "Chip Camp" Wednesday through Friday.  A group picture of the kiddos from our district that participated in Chip Camp.  The kids learned about clean rooms, micro chips, played games, built model cars, boats, and rockets, flew a drone, AND went to the zoo!  Addie was wiped out by Friday night :)

Amy went kayaking with friends on Thursday and the weather was cool with no humidity!!  It was gorgeous!!

Plants growing on a log in the water.

After Chip Camp on Thursday and Friday, Leena (Addie's friend and another Chip Camp participant) and her sister Mackenzie came over to swim:)

Ayson holding Emelia's baby doll.

Sunset swimming!

Ayson using his towel as a blanket BEFORE he went swimming because he was cold...too bad he would not stop for a full photo!

Friday night smores!

On Sunday, Amy and her friends Kate went to a local lavender farm, Faveroll Gardens, (started by a friend of Amy's) located 7 minutes from Amy's house!  We had so much fun learning about culinary and essential oil lavender, trying tasty lavender infused foods, walking through the lavender rows, and talking to the owner:) 

Culinary lavender

Rows of essential oil lavender :)

Family Visit and Vacation

We had a great week with Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie Holly, Uncle Alek, and cousins!  Thanks for making the trips to NY and we will see you next year!  We hope everyone is enjoying summer.  We are sending good thoughts to all of our family and friends!!!

The girls playing ping pong while the boys loaded up the kayaks for a trip to Labrador pond

While the boys fished...

The ladies played in the creek with the salamanders, crayfish, and frogs

and explored the waterfall

Afterwards, the Dads smoked the sons in corn hole

The girls getting one last swim in before it started to rain

Auntie Holly and Ryleigh brought games for us to play!

The sun peeking through while it was still raining

The ribs were on the smoker and the boys were relaxing

Holly brought a craft for us to help her make- Friendship Soup!

Another game!

After dinner, we went to Kate's house so the cousins could "pet the pets"!!

Ayson's first time with the walking stick

On Wednesday morning, the boys got up early to go fishing on Otisco Lake.  Ayson caught a gorgeous largemouth bass!

More games!

A walk at Clark's Reservation State Park

A fossil in the limestone rock that Amy had never noticed before.

That evening, we went back to Auntie Holly and Uncle Alek's house and the kiddos fished while the adults relaxed by the water.

Gorgeous sunset!!

We had a wonderful visit, Auntie Holly and Uncle Alek, thanks for visiting!!!!

Family photo 2024

The kiddos licking the beaters after helping Grandma make a treat.

We explored a new (to us) trail near Dewitt (and behind the huge grocery store)

Ayson and his prosthetic arm protype.  Note - Adam bought him a pair of jeans on Saturday...Ayson has not worn jeans since ~ 2nd grade!

On Saturday morning, A^4 went for a hike a Pratt's Falls.

Ayson and his Walking Dead Compendium books (basically graphic novels)! He was SO happy when the books arrived!

Gorgeous flowers!!!

Summer Fun

Another warm week with the kiddos in the pool. Addie started cross country (running) practice and did great!  We were getting ready for family to arrive over the weekend so everyone was busy getting the house and yard ready for company.  We hope everyone is having a great summer!

Pool time

Thursday morning fog in the valley after a storm Wednesday evening. 

Grandpa Roger and Grandma Pat arrived Saturday afternoon and we went out to eat at Olive Garden.  Ayson thought it was THE Best. Restaurant. Ever!  The kiddos enjoying a chocolate lasagna cake.

Auntie Holly, Uncle Alek, and cousins Dane and Ryleigh arrived Sunday morning and the kiddos immediately went swimming.

After a swim, Dane wanted to check out the creek.

Holly and family rented a house on Tully Lake.  The girls were trying to catch fish (sunfish) with their hands.

Ayson and Dane took the rowboat out (with assistance from Uncle Alek) to fish.

The girls caught so many fish from the dock!

The boys coming back from a not very successful fishing trip.

The kiddos were even catching fish with the net!

The rental house has a ping pong table - so fun!

An evening kayak

Addie and Adam in the canoe. Auntie Holly and her little dog Rusty did not join the excursion.

A "retirement" boat on the lake.

Addie showing off another sunfish

Kissing the fish!!!

Smores!!!

 Some of the sunflowers that came up from seed on their own are starting to bloom!!!

Cool mushrooms growing in the garden.