Kayaking (and fishing) at Three Mile Pond

Today we went kayaking at Three Mile Pond in Sheffield, MA. I really like to come here in the Spring before all the water weeds take over. There were a lot of them but not over the entire lake. The day started out sunny with predicted isolated thunder storms. By the time we got there it was starting to rain, not hard, just a shower we thought. It basically showered off and on the whole time we were out there.






Paul got a fishing license the other day. He didn't have one all last year, so he was excited to get back to fishing. He caught four bass, the biggest one was 2 1/2 pounds.

I wanted to take a picture of his fish - I call this his mean face, so I told him to smile...



This is what I got, a forced smile. He is so focused on the fish and really doesn't care what he looks like. Oh well...




Waiting...




Weighing...






I'm glad he enjoys fishing. I enjoy taking pictures of him fishing.

Young @ Heart at the Paramount

Tonight Paul, Leslee (a friend from work) and I went to see Young at Heart at the Paramount in Springfield. Leslee grew up in Springfield and used to go to the Paramount Theater as a child but hadn't been in the theater in years. She read an article in the Sunday paper about a group that was going to be there and wanted to know if Paul and I might want to go with her. I had never heard of the group and was surprised to learn that they were all pretty old, 73-89! They were wonderful; talented, funny, full of spunk and so inspiring.

I had never been in the Paramount Theater before, and from the outside it looks awful, like some kind of dive. The inside was absolutely beautiful, very ornate. Leslee said it was just like she remembered it.

What a fun night!

Marley at the Library

Tonight we went to the West Springfield Library to sign Marley up for the Summer Reading program. I hadn't been in this library for years. The library has been remodeled since I went there as a child and I tried to orient myself to where things were, but it was difficult. I think the front desk was in the same place but I'm not really sure. I have a lot of good memories of time spent here, and I hope that Marley will have them too!

Grandma's Pride and Joy(s)

Marley at 9






Mason at 1

Mason at Borders

Tonight we met Janelle and Mason at Borders.  We let him crawl around in the children's area and he just loved this toy there.  At times he just stood there banging on it.  Janelle said it was her new favorite place!  He was so funny to watch. 

Time to go....

Father's Day

What a fun day Father's Day was this year.

Toby cooked for us - we had lots of chicken, hamburgs and hot dogs left over from Mason's birthday party.






This was Mason's first time in the pool. He wasn't too sure of it until Marley got in with him.



It's nice to have a baby in the house again. Watching Mason learn and experience things is so much fun.




Paul got his second sock from Kristen (he got the first one on his birthday in May)

Mason's 1st Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Mason's 1st birthday with around 34 family and friends. The weather was less than cooperative as we would have liked a warm sunny day, but at least it didn't rain, it wasn't sweltering, and there were no bugs.

*Warning* - this post is very "picture heavy" but I just couldn't whittle the pictures down any more so bear with me.





One of Mason's "girlfriends" Natalia





His other "girlfriend" Kendall





The Grandpas




The Grandmas




Big Baba




Uncle Toby and Auntie Kris




Auntie Amy




The parents, Mark and Janelle




The Cake (the "1" was from Janelle's first birthday cake, and the clowns were from Kris and Mark's first birthday cakes)




Mark, Janelle, and Marley helping Mason blow out his candles




Wow, what is this stuff?




I love you Marley




Radtkes




Joyces




A bath was very much needed after he finished his cake and ice cream




Izzy guarding the presents




Opening presents








Tired Grandma, tired Mason

Mark's Club House - Spring 1982

Today Paul was working in the yard, getting ready for Mason's birthday party. I asked him to show me the place in the corner of our yard where he and Mark made a club house back in the Spring of 1982. Mark was 8 years old.

This is what the area looks like now. That Mountain Ash tree is now about 40 feet tall.



Addendum July 18, 2010 - Today Kristen told me that she had a bone to pick with me. She said that the clubhouse was not just Mark's. It eventually evolved to basically just Mark's, but in the beginning it was both of theirs. In fact, she told me, she and Mark were out back with wood and nails trying to build a clubhouse on their own. Paul got involved, and this "rough-hewn" clubhouse was built.

Funny the things you forget - sorry Kris! (I probably blocked out the fact that an 8 and 10 year old were playing with wood and nails LOL!!)

On the Eve of Mason's 1st birthday.....

Tonight Paul and I met Janelle and Mason at the mall to do some birthday shopping and to check out a place to get his picture taken (Mark was working). We met Kris, Toby and Marley at Borders and just hung out for awhile (luckily we had the whole little sitting area to ourselves)!