Goodbye Dear Friends!

Our dear friends are officially leaving the state! We're sad to see them go but wish them the best in their new home in D.C. and can't wait to visit them there. One of the toughest things about living in New Jersey is that most people are just passing through. We've had alot of goodbyes lately and it's getting a little sad. Plus, these guys were our most heavily used (free!)babysitters. Goodbye friends!!

Happy Retirement Grandad!!

This weekend, I went to my Grandad's big retirement party in Philadelphia. I met lots of new people, many of whom knew ALL about me! I got to hear about my Grandads achievements, and ate my first chocolate-covered strawberries!! Retirement parties are great!!!! Good luck Grandad!

Animal Farm!

Not the Orwellian kind, but the real kind! Though, that is actually what it is called. It's run by Rutgers and it's an operating farm with an agriculture museum. Cal liked the pigs and the big tractor the most.

Nude Reading, Anyone?

I almost fell over when I saw this! I turned around during a diaper change and when I looked back, here he was. Something about the professorial pose, the serious look while wearing only shoes and a t-shirt just kills me.

The Haircut

First, a note about little C's hair...it is fine and there is a lot of it and it grows at an amazing rate. It is stick straight so long hair isn't hidden within curls. At day care, they love to joke about his hair and other parents always say things to us like, "Woah, that kid's hair!". So, Sunday night during dinner it was decided that we were getting dangerously close to shaggy long hair and a cut was in order. Mama distracted with food and Papa went to town...seriously went to town. He just kept cutting and cutting and cutting, making Mama a little nervous. The mumblings of "I know what I'm doing" didn't help. Eventually, all three of us were laughing uproariously as the haircut moved to the absurd.

So, here is the resulting pile of hair!
And, here is the cut! It has to be said that Papa did a great job. I can say I hardly recognize Callum without the hair sticking out over his ears.

Farm Antics

It was our weekend to pick up vegetables at the farm. We left early to beat the heat and arrived just as about half a dozen other kids descended onto the shaded play area that we always enjoy (parents with the same thinking about mixing kids and high humidity and high heat). Many were older but a few were just about C's age.
Cal had a great time watching and playing with the other kids and impressing them with his great walking skills. He declined several invitations from one very forward little girl that kept inviting him into the playhouse but did convey his enthusiasm for his new friends by spontaneously blowing kisses at his new friends.
They really were a good group of kids; sharing, being silly, and just loving the day. It gets a grown up thinking...maybe we should all be blowing kisses at the kind, fun-loving, nice people that we run into on a surprising summer morning.

Video, as requested

Hiking!

Went for a little hike this weekend and tested out the hiking backpack. Cal loved the view and listening to the birds, it was a roaring success. And the best part of hiking in Jersey is you are relatively alone on the trails. Who could ask for more!


He was an exhausted and sun soaked Jersey boy afterwards.

Mr. Man Goes Quiet or The Great Big Train Adventure

This weekend we took our first family trip by train to Princeton. Our logic was this: We read about trains at least three times every day and most days we take a walk to watch the rush hour trains go by so we figured...he's going to love GOING on a train. Silly, silly parents! The trains are actually kind of scary, they move fast and make lots of noise especially the super fast express trains that don't even stop at the station. So, while the trip was fun...being goofy at the coffee shop and playing on the campus...the actual train part was a little intimidating and involved a few tears and some tight hugs. We did buy another train book at the bookstore, though, and that has been very fun to read, at home.

I've Got Plans, Big Plans

Trouble is, they aren't discernable to anyone! What we can tell is that they involve stealing spices from the pantry and replacing them with blocks and chunky Legos. The rest of this culinary adventure isn't particularly transparent to grown-ups. But, it sure is fun to hunt for spices and find them among the puzzles.

Happy Fourth!

A sunny day, some grilling, and wearing ourselves out at the park. Not a bad fourth of July.

A Man on the Move

Watching a Storm Roll Through Town

We had a flash flood this Sunday and after a day of stifling heat it received a warm welcome in our house. Cal and Papa stood on the front porch and imitated the fall of the rain. He was happier outside under the house awning but we mostly contained him inside. He wasn't even afraid of the thunder and lightning.