Joy #2 of Summer.. alternately titled where did summer go today?

While today (Cole's  birthday "pool" party) was barely in the 60's and we had to serve cofee to keep the adults warm... Memorial day weekend was glorious (yes I understand I am WAY far behind) and another joy of summer obviously is the slip 'n slide.  For some reason they are disposable at our house.  Last year we had a really cool double one, not reading the weight limit Rob went down and promptly busted it.  This year we had got a new double one, which the boys decided to continue playing on after the water had been turned off (after these photos), and again.. busted.  Now we have a couple new birthday slip 'n slides to try out.. very exciting.  We'll try our hardest to keep them in good shape.

Above the boys contemplate how best to get down to the bottom without getting wet by the freezing cold well water!

And he's off!

Score!  For this particular slip 'n slide you have to race to place your flag on the pole.. too bad it is now in the trash!

Cole still contemplating...

Cora stays clear of any cold water.. smart girl!

New technique..

Without thinking I super shocked the pool at the beginning of the weekend.. so much that the chlorine level was a bit high to swim.. I am sure they would have been fine, but just in case they boated instead.  They enjoyed playing pirates, although Caden kept asking is it ready yet?!

I can't wait until the kids get older so we can do canoe camp trips down the Saco River.. the memories I have from when I was a kid are some good ones!!

River Walk

Back what seems a long long time ago we ventured back to my home town where there are three pretty cool things.. Grammy and Grampy, a river walk, and ice cream at Hodgies!

You wonder what they are all looking at? We started the walk in the mill yard, where we watched the ducks  swim dangerously close to a waterfall.

Along the way there were zillions of wild flowers, we picked one of each to make bouquets.

Grampy waits patiently while the kids collect flowers

By the end Cora's was mashed into her little fist 

Wait for us Grampy!

Cool bridge along the way

Sometimes we think Cole is a pirate.. or maybe Popeye, he's got the one eye thing down pat!

By the end they were tired of holding their bouquets.. Cora's were tossed into a puddle, and Caden's was left on a pole for all to see.

We were getting close to the end and realized it was going to be a long walk back, and it was getting close to dinner time.  Rob and Grampy turned around for the cars to meet us at the end.. and to keep the kids going we promised a "golden treasure" at the end!

The golden treasure was a frozen lemonade and some munchkins.. but they were much appreciated

  

And after dinner.. on to the best ice cream in the world!!  seriously!  Hodgies is a weakness.. if you ever get the chance get Peanut Butter Cup.. you won't regret it!

Rob pretending to steal Caden's ice cream.. got a rise from him every time

We scream for ice cream!!

Joy #1 of Summer...

Okay... still not summer!  but it sure feels like it these past days.  We had our first popsicles (and dinner finally now that it is cleaned off) on the screen porch.  Now every day Cora asks for a popsicle.. we've created a monster! 

This is Caden saying "seriously Mom?  no more pictures!"

Cora's cheese face