Captain Seaweed

Ethan went on a boat cruise down the Bass River.

The crew was great, they even let Ethan pilot the boat!

The Golf Pro

Out on the golf course, Ethan the golf pro was signing autographs and posing for pictures.

Miniature golf is easy for three year olds. Whenever you come to an obstacle, you pick up your ball and throw it over.

Grampy is learning so many life lessons.

Harwich Open

Ethan qualified for the Harwich Open Miniature Golf Tournament.

No matter where the first putt landed, the second putt was only three inches from the hole! Grampy learned that lining up your putt includes placing the ball where you want it!

Janelle learning how to jump at the Cape

The Princess at the Cape

She is growing so fast. She has already learned how to extend her arm, point at things and to make a little face.

It is a pleasure to do her bidding!

Jump

While at the Cape, Ethan got to refine his jumping skills.

Life may have it's ups and downs but when you are a boy, you get to control when to go up and when to go down.

Community

I enjoy a feeling of community. That feeling that comes from being connected to and participating in community events.

So while on vacation, the Congregational Church in Harwich was having a musical performance. I didn't know it until I walked in, that it was the final performance for a group that has been performing together since 1986.

The church was packed! The music was wonderful and the performance was great.

It is amazing that people practice weekly and share their gifts freely with their neighbors and friends. It is called community.

Sundae School

There is an ice cream parlor on Cape Cod called the Sundae School.

This is the absolutely best school to go to. They make their own whip cream. There is a person dedicated to keeping the fudge stirred.

There is also a customer dedicated to eating the great ice cream.

Blankee, Bubba and a Princess

All that a Princess really needs is her blankee and bubba. And to prop her up against a tall plush pillow.

A Foot Apart

This is a bridge in Lancaster,Mass. If you are traveling south, the sign indicates that the bridge clearance is 11 feet.

But if you are traveling north, the sign indicates that the bridge clearance is 11 feet - 3.3528 meters.

The people traveling south are therefore leaving the north. These people of the north already know that 1' = .3048 meters.

However, the people from the south that are traveling north, need to know the height of their vehicle, within 4 decimal places! This is also a sign of the exactness that will be required of you as you travel further north.

Pump It Up!

We live in a world of electronic gadgets, but little boys can never resist mechanical gadgets.

With his own two hands, Eric was able to pump water. When he stopped pumping, the water stopped flowing. It was confusing, trying to figure out why the water stopped flowing.

I told him not to worry, that all he had to do was to pump the handle and the water would flow again.

Trucks, Sand and Boys

As boys grow older their truck playing skills reflect more of their awareness of the world around them. When they now play with trucks, they have to make the sounds of that particular truck.

Fire engines now require you to make siren sounds. Truck noises sound like something trying to go up a slippery snowy mountain in the middle of winter and pains Grampy to hear.

Little by little, life imitates life.

Helping Hands

Darcy made this great birthday cake for Eric's second birthday. The theme is football, the New England Patriots.

But there were no candles for Eric to blow out.

The problem was solved when little helping hands appeared out of nowhere.

Sometimes if you want to blow out a candle you have to take matters into your own hands.

Information Sharing

We each owe a debt of gratitude to those who have gone before us.

Those early pioneers of the water slide.

Ethan is passing along his water slide tips to Janelle.

Step Up Program

Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. She is a daredevil. The other children went down the slide and climbed up the ladder to go back down.

But not the Princess. I called her and she looked at me and smiled. I'm so easy for her to manipulate, I don't have a chance.

Federal Bailout

Ethan is doing his part to assist in digging out of the federal bailout program.

Sweet Sixteen

She's sixteen months old. Last summer she couldn't walk and now she can run.

And boy can she run! I was standing in the water and she came running for me. I don't have the words to describe what a thrill it is to have a child come running at you. With their arms wide open and calling for you. The air filled with their laughter.

Simply New England

There are no oil spills from exxon to worry about. Neither are there any sharks, crabs, bridges to cross to get there nor traffic jams.

It is a lake in New England. Simplicity as Thoreau would say.

Ethan asked to walk to the floating dock. He was excited as he jumped off of the dock into the shallow water.

Ethan didn't know how shallow the water was. What really mattered is that he accomplished his dream of jumping off of a floating dock.

We are successful if we think of ourselves as successful.

The Farm

Who doesn't enjoy the farm? There are so many things to do and see. So many animals to make friends with.

Grampy showed Eric the fishing pond. But fishing turned into a splash fight. Great fun!!

Cornered at the OK Corral

There is the hunter and then there is the hunted. Janelle had chased and cornered this baby goat into a corner.

The goat had no where to go. It was going to be hugged no matter what!

Diminished Return

My mother has a little coffee shop that is her special kingdom. Her purpose is to make sure that all of her subjects in her kingdom are happy. She says hello to each person and will then either call them sweetie or darlin'. She stops to tell each woman how pretty they are. She asks the teenagers about their education, adults about their families, and seniors where they came from.

She tries to spread love, but receives so little in return from others.

She wears a blue baseball hat because I got it for her from a golf tournament. I can do no wrong in her eyes. It is an odd awakening to realize how much power you have as a child over a parent. How much they look to you for approval, affirmation and emotional support. Everything you say and do is magnified simply because it is said or done by you.

Everybody Does It

Okay, who hasn't tried to touch their nose with their tongue?

And if you aren't able to succeed in your attempt, why you point at Grampy and laugh.

To not succeed might be a failure to an adult, but to a child attempts are learning steps.

Birthday

When you are very young, a birthday is just another day. Eric and I celebrated by playing drums on the washing machine, reading stories and having pizza.

It may have been just another day for Eric, but for me it was a very special day.