Congratulations Marley!

Last night we went to the West Springfield Middle School to see Marley receive an award for Maximum Honors - all A's for three consecutive marking periods. 

Paul, Mason, Kris, Toby, Marley and I sat in the second row.  I think Marley was a little nervous.  She amused herself by taking pictures of us.  Hehe!

This was actually a School Committee meeting, and all of the Committee were there to congratulate the kids. 

We went out for ice cream afterwards. 

Note to Marley:  We are all so proud of you.  All A's for three marking periods in a row is quite an accomplishment.  No one else in your family has ever done that!  Keep up the good work.

Getting back into kayaking

Our kayaking over the past few years has been, sadly, almost non-existent. We started kayaking in 2004 and that summer we went out about 30 times. Granted, it was our first year, but still.  We averaged about 12-15 times over the next five years or so. 

In 2010 we went out 5 times, and then in 2011 one time, and 2012 one time! I'm not sure why except life gets complicated and if you don't make a definite effort to do something, it just doesn't happen.

So...we are going to try to remedy that this year. We both really love kayaking but it takes effort to just get out there and do it.

So far this summer we have been out twice. The first time was May 30th; we went to West Lake in Sandisfield, MA.

This is the lake with all the frogs, and where I saw a frog frenzy a few years ago.  There were mating frogs everywhere.  I was a little afraid that they were going to jump into the boat.  No such action this year though.  I think we were too late.  It was a beautiful day and it seemed so good to be out on the water again.

I have a couple of fun apps on my iPhone that I had fun playing with in the kayak.  One is InstaWeather, and the other is InstaPlace. 

The picture below shows InstaWeather.  Even if you are in a place with no cell coverage, you can bring the picture into it at a later time.  I had fun playing with that.  The only problem is that I need a case for my phone with a strap to put on my wrist so I don't drop it in the water!

For Marley's birthday this year she got a kayak.  When we first started kayaking she was three years old and could fit very easily in Paul's kayak.  Not so for the last couple of years.  Paul has had to tow her on a raft and that limits us taking her to where she can swim. 

On June 6th we took Marley kayaking to try out her new kayak (the blue and white one in the middle).

Toby, Mark and Mason went with us too.  This was Mason's first time in a kayak.  He loved it.  Marley did really well for her first time. 

We went to York Lake in Sandisfield State Forest. 

There is a little roped off swimming area, picnic tables with grills, and bathrooms.  The perfect place for kids. 

It was a cloudy afternoon, sprinkled on our way out there, but cleared up while we had a picnic and then kayaked for about two hours. 

It rained all the way home! 

These two pictures were taken with InstaPlace. 

We stopped at the Scoop in Granville and had ice cream on the way home. 

So....we are off to a good start.  Let's hope it continues!

Something New! (Project Life 2013,Week 10) and (some pages) Vacation, 4th Trip down South 2014 - Day 1-4

Hello Blog! Long time no see.

I know, I have really been neglecting this blog. I have been intent on working on my new scrapbooking system, Project Life.

Project Life was invented by Becky Higgins, and this is how she describes it in her own words: "Project Life is a solution-based approach to scrapbooking that was created to simplify the process in order to allow you more time to enjoy life! It requires no glue, no scissors, no tools, and no skills of any kind. The design of our products takes the guess work out of layout design so that you can focus on recording your everyday moments through your photos and journaling. The simple design is stylish and makes it possible for you to complete more pages in less time." 

I actually started this in March of 2012.  In March of this year, I decided to go digital, with everything, even the kids books, much to my friend Janice's dismay.  Janice is the lady who has the scrapbooking crops at her house once a month.  At the last crop I showed up with just my small laptop.  She was not thrilled with me! 

Anyhow, I was thinking about how I haven't been blogging much lately and I had an "Ah-ha" moment.  Why not post my digital Project Life pages? 

I am horribly behind.  It took me awhile to get everything figured out, buy templates, etc. so I am only done so far with the first week in March.  March 3-9, 2013. 

I am sending each digital page to a printer and putting them into a scrapbook.  Each week will be a two page spread.

This is the left hand side.

and this is the right hand side.

So, I will be adding these pages as I get them done. 

In May we went on vacation; our fourth year of going down the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I have been working on doing a digital page for each day.  So far I have completed four days.  Here they are.


Day 1




Day 2




Day 3




Day 4



So....what do you think?  I really LOVE doing this.

I also want to continue doing the Throwback Thursday blogs too.

Hopefully I haven't lost all of my blog followers!

12th Annual Paul and Marley Zoo Picture

It all started back in 2002 when I took a picture of Paul and Marley walking at the Forest Park Zoo. My mother-in-law, Priscilla, loved the picture and a tradition was begun. Each year I have taken a new "zoo picture." Paul says the last one will be at Marley's wedding.

2013

2012


2011


2010


2009


2008

2007

 

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

Patriot's Day at Lupa's Zoo

Monday, Patriot's Day, Spring Vacation for Marley, Mark's, Janelle's, Paul's, day off from work (what luck that I have every day off, lol).  It was the perfect day for a day at Lupa's Zoo. 


Mark has a funny thing that he does with Mason, making an ostrich hand thing, so of course I had take a picture of him doing it to a real ostrich.




Mason has a super sensitive smeller and didn't like the smell in the barn.

Checking out the ducks.





One of Mason's favorite things was feeding (actually having someone else feed!) the giraffe.




 He has a huge purple tongue!

Sitting on the plastic animals has always been a favorite of Marley's, and now Mason likes it just as much.

Another favorite....the playground.  Last year Mason didn't have much interest in it.  This year he loved it!




Radtke men.




Janelle and Mark.

Mason, Marley and me.

Fun time. 

Until......Janelle's sister Amy called to tell us about the Boston Marathon bombing.  So sad......

Prayers for Boston!

40 Years Ago Today....

I can't believe that we have lived in our house for 40 years. 

It was the winter of 1973.  We were living in a two bedroom apartment.  Kristen was about 5 months old.  In the apartment below us lived a couple of Springfield Kings hockey players.  When they would win a game they would really party, loudly, late into the night.  After one sleepless night I remember Paul getting up in the morning and saying that he thought we should buy a house. 

40 years ago today, Friday, April 13, 1973, we signed papers on our house and moved in that weekend...and we have been here ever since. 

This was our house in August, 1973.



In 1981 we added a second floor to our house.

Our house last September, 2012.

I have loved living here.  Our neighborhood was a wonderful place to raise children.  There were 26 houses on a circle.  Most of us were young couples with children. 

Now it is a great neighborhood to have our kids and grandkids visit.  Many happy memories here.  Here's to many more!

Red Bucket Sugar Shack

We took our annual trek to the Red Bucket Sugar Shack in Worthington today.  What a great place.  Mason is fascinated by the fact that there is a tree in the middle of the restaurant with a table around it.  The table is too small for all of us, but one year when there were only a few of us we actually sat there. 

Marley, Big Baba and Baba in March 2006



We all had a great breakfast (except Mason.  He smelled the pancakes and said he didn't like the smell and wouldn't eat any!). 

Kristen wanted me to take a few pictures of the new hat and scarf that she just finished for Marley.

Here are a few more pictures.  I love coming here; and it makes a good backdrop for pictures!

Toby is looking for mica in the rocks