deCordova Museum

Trip with the kids today.  There were activities set up around the park for special needs schools and centers, which the children happily participated in.  Of course what was supposed to be a misty, overcast day turned to blazing sunshine, but they enjoyed.

Vivian weaving a bracelet.

Sam weaving a bracelet.

Kids in Alice's Garden at the park with Vivian refusing to smile.

Lanie in a sculpture.

Kids working on a dragon sculpture.

Canandaigua Lake Trip

Quick trip to visit Chris's old friend who rents a lake cottage each year near Rochester, New York.  We drove to Syracuse and spent the night and then onto Canandaigua the next morning.  The bigger kids had a ball, and Jack had his first overnights in doggy boarding.  Lanie did her thing which included a lot of tantrums because she was off schedule, but she enjoyed splashing and throwing rocks in the water.  Jack was very relieved to see us when we picked him up today and apparently was well behaved while we were gone.

This is Lanie's traveling style.

And this.

Just trying to sleep in the bed at the hotel while the kids were horizontal.

Sam in the lake.

Vivian in the lake.

Pool Time

The pool in our town is perfect for the ages the kids are at.  It's zero entry and so Lanie can splash without being submerged (though she does forge ahead until she is gulping water).  Vivian is just starting to swim (doggy paddle) independently, and Sam just passed the test to swim in the deeper pool.  The drawback is, it gets crowded and I get nervous chasing Lanie and trying to watch Vivian and Sam in two different locations.

Kids playing while Lanie floats along with the swim instructor.  (note all the other kids are with their mom's, but she wants the instructor, I am only there to adjust wardrobes such as sunhats).

Garden

Our little garden is yielding some vegetables!  We have cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and a solitary eggplant.  Rabbits ate our kale and some other plants.  There wasn't much here except evergreen shrubs when we moved in and the soil isn't great.  The soil has a lot of clay and it also hasn't rained much this summer, so I am pleasantly surprised.  Vivian has helped me with the garden so she's excited.

How Vivian was Made

I asked Vivian where she came from today, "the crazy girl factory?" and then this was her explanation: