Rockin' the backyard

 

We had a great Memorial Day weekend here at 83 Durant.  More fun and photos to come, but for now, this shot sorta summarizes the general relaxing and hanging out in the backyard fun of the whole three days.  Thanks so much for coming to visit!!!!  

Tune in soon for shots of the backyard in all its glory: Fire pit! Swimming pool!  Swingset!  Croquet wickets!  All arranged dangerously close together!

Travels with Lucy

We just spent the past weekend in New Jersey, celebrating the 90th Birthday of Jake's Great Aunt Sis.  Happy Birthday, Aunt Sister (aka Rosaleen)!  Jake and I both have an Aunt Sis; his mom's father's sister Rosaleen has always been known as "Sister" or "Sis," (thus, Aunt Sis), and my dad's father's sister, Margaret, was also an Aunt Sis.  In fact, for many years, I didn't even know that my Aunt Sis had a name other than "Sis."  In truth, there were just too many Margarets in our family, so "Sis" made things a bit more clear.

Anyway, soon after we were married way back when, Jake and I received a package from a mail order company.  It was a nice little clock, with a card that indicated it was from "Aunt Sis."  But which one?  So I had a rather funny conversation then with a customer service agent at the company, explaining that we had two Aunt Sis's and that we needed to know which one to thank.  She had never heard of anyone having one Aunt Sis, let alone two.

But to return to our New Jersey escapade, which was for Jake's Aunt Sis: we, along with many others of our extended family, were booked into a block of rooms in one of the Hampton Inns in Parsippany.  (Thank you to Vonnie & Florrie for all the leg work on rooms and such!)  When we arrived at about 1:15, the clerk at the front desk informed us that no, we would not be able to check in, as none of the rooms were ready.  Oh.  Well, I guess we'll just go change in the bathroom by the pool and then sit here in the lobby for two hours until the party.  Sure.  No problem.  Two hours in the lobby.  I was cranky about this, as we had just driven for four an a half hours, and it appeared that the hotel was otherwise empty (no cars in the parking lot at least).  But Lucy was delighted, as the lobby was a large open space, and she had been cooped up in a car for a while.  She delightedly began marching around, back and forth in front of the front desk, singing gleefully at the top of her lungs: "We all live in a yellow submarine!  A yellow submarine!  A yellow submarine!"

She did not even finish the first verse before the clerk alerted us that yes, in fact, miraculously, a room was in fact available.

Score!

Thanks, Lucy!  Back in the day, I did occasionally wield a crying, screaming, inconsolable Lucy in order to get into a hotel a bit early.   It's nice to know that there are now other options.

More soon, including: Garden Update!  Backyard Improvements!  And Hey! Lookout for that swing....

Conversations with Lucy (and Ruth) (and a musical interlude)

Recently, while driving Lucy and Ruth home from school, I asked what the girls had played that day at school:

Ruth: We played Jamie and Megan.
Me: What?
Ruth: We played Jamie and Megan.
Me: uh, how do you play that?
Ruth: We just be Jamie and Megan.  I was Megan.
Me: oh.  and Lucy?
Lucy (with giant grin on her face): I was Jamie!!

To be clear, I have no idea what else this game involves, as neither of them were forthcoming with any details.  Also, in case you're not in the know on the family tree, Megan and Jamie are Lucy's cousins who live out in Washington.  Here's a shot of Lucy enjoying their company back in January, the last time we saw them:

So clearly, Lucy is a big admirer of her cousins.  Megan and Jamie, you must know this: your lives are so fascinating that girls on the other side of the country pretend to be you!!!

Lately Lucy has been into transcribing the lyrics to songs.  To be more precise, she wants us (or, in some cases, her teacher) to write down the words to songs for her in her new song notebook. Then she draws a picture to go with the songs. It's pretty great.  These are typically songs she learns in school, or things like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and such.  But sometimes, she makes up her own songs.  Here's a recent on that she came up with and had me transcribe:

What eats bunnies?  HUNTERS!
What eats werewolves? HUNTERS!
What eats all the sorts of animals?  HUNTERS!
What eats giraffes?  HUNTERS!

So there you go.  It's gonna be a hit. 

May Update

I've had tons of things I've been meaning to post but haven't had time.  Today, I have time: specifically, the next THREE HOURS, while I'm giving an exam.  Woo hoo!

Yes, there are 19 students in this room, frantically trying to write an exam for me.  Lucky them.

So, here's the updates on recent events, in no particular order:

Skill Share Lowell!
I had a great time this past Sunday at Mill City Skill Share, an awesome event where I attended two classes run by volunteers and learned how to do American Sign Language and crochet (though not both at the same time)!  I now know how to crochet, something I've always wanted to do!  The class was specifically "hyperbolic crochet," which means I can make crazy shapes.

While Mary and I attended the crochet class, Matt and Jake took the kids on the trolley through Lowell.  It was great!  Here's what the trolley looks like inside:

The kids took it through town three times.

As you can see, these kids are seasoned travelers!

Oh, and did I mention, the trolley is free?  Like, all the time.  Seriously.  There is SO MUCH to like about Lowell!

Western Avenue Studios Spring Art Thing

Like last year, we went to join the fun over at Western Ave Studios.  Jake was off on a bike ride, but Lucy and I had a fabulous time visiting with our favorite artists.  You may have already seen these shots over on the flickr, but they're so great, I can't resist.

This was taken in Arlette Laan's studio, where she has an amazing collection of various sock dolls.  She recently wrapped up her big gallery exhibit, which featured these awesome Seuss-ish trees:

It was great.  Our other favorite studios (sorry, no pictures, just links) are Liz Rodriguez's ceramics (we have some of her bowls and they're awesome!), MadeinLowell by Liz Smith (who always kindly explains to Lucy how she makes things), Lush Beads (where Lucy gets to choose beads to fill up a mini bag, and where they fix all my broken jewelry), and Anstey Studios, home of our friends Stephen & Ellen (they always have mini-cupcakes!).

So the Spring Art Thing involves a big postcard that you get with certain studio numbers on it.  When you go to the studio, the artist gives you a sticker to put on your card.  The idea is to collect as many stickers as you can, and then you turn in your card, and they do a drawing for a nice prize for people who get lots of stickers.

You may be familiar with our diligent and sticker-obsessed child.  We went to EVERY studio with a methodical precision unknown to most.  Studios offering stickers were identified by bright green signs on their doors.  Lucy didn't miss one.  About half an hour in (we got there right at the start) people started saying, "wow!  you have a lot of stickers!" and by the end, the last few folks we saw could not believe we'd been to SO MANY artists.  We're dedicated.  Committed.  To collecting stickers (and candy and/or cupcakes when available).

Post Western-Ave-Adventures, we enjoyed a lovely Cinco de Mayo party at the casa of Matt & Mary.  While there are no pictures to document the awesomeness (WE ATE SO MUCH!), there's this one nice shot of the kids at the end of the night:

American Textile History Museum
We went to the American Textile History Museum's SUPER SATURDAY event on April 28th.  The theme was "flight."  We went through their exhibits (they have a great scavenger hunt for kids), and joined the paper airplane competition.  Fun!  Here's Lucy and Ruth with the ATHM's mascot, Lulu.  Woodrow was terrified.

Of course, Lucy and Lulu go way back to Winterfest, where they previously met.  ATHM is awesome -- and right here in downtown Lowell.

UML Spring Carnival
I took Lucy with me to UML's Spring Carnival, where we ran into many of my students, all of whom loved meeting her. Lucy ate ice cream made by the Physics club using liquid nitrogen, snacked on some popcorn, and then had her first ever cotton candy:

Her question to me before she took a bite: is it hot?

Nope.  She loved it.  She won every game she played, so we brought home a giant pile of junk.  And candy.  Sweet, sweet candy.

So that accounts for the latter half of April and first half of May.  It's been a busy time.

I guess I should go check in on my students taking the exam.

Cheers!