Getting ready for Camp Joseph

From kindergarten to kollege

Adrienne flies to Hawaii today; she's going to attend BYU-Hawaii!  Aloha to her!!!

This picture was her the first day of kindergarten.

This might be my favorite

She was one happy birthday girl!

Elizabeth's 1st birthday gift from me

This cute smock pattern is from Bend the Rules Sewing.  It was super easy to make.  And Elizabeth loved it, of course.

Elizabeth's 1st birthday!

 

 

Peek-a-boo Caroline!

Jordan viewing Plymouth

One of my favorites from yesterday.

Little Compton, RI

My friend's family has a home in Little Compton, Rhode Island, and she's been wanting to show me around and I finally went this afternoon (after Plymouth).  It was a perfect summer day and I enjoyed seeing the sights, the quaint little towns, and walking on the beach.  I stopped for a lobster roll on my way home (and ice cream--at Dairy Joy, closer to home).  Between seeing my cousins in Plymouth, exploring Little Compton, and stops at Target and the Container Store, it was a really fun New England day!

Cousins Club in Plymouth

It was so great to see my cousins today (Christine's grandfather and my grandmother were first cousins) in Plymouth.  It was a short but sweet visit.  I keep hoping they'll move back.

Plymouth

I met my (formerly South Shore cousins) in Plymouth this morning.  They live in Texas now and it was great to see them.

Confession: when I first moved to Boston 25 years ago one of my first day trips was to Plymouth.  To see Plymouth Rock.  I expected a BIG rock.  Big like a ship or a building.  Instead it reminded me of a baked potato.  Still does.

Oh, and remember the last time I was in Plymouth?!?

Cardboard cop

He's hoping no one steals bikes at Alewife.

Bargain books in Boston

William Thomas

William is the newest member of the Arlington Ward.  I met him tonight; he's 10 days old and adorable.  Now there are only 7 pregnant women in the ward.

Starts with i and ends with Phone

I got something tonight that I've wanted for a long time (not a Honda Fit, husband, or Bernina sewing machine). It starts with i and ends with phone. Am I one of the kool kids now?

Taken on the way to work

 It's summertime.

Crumbs

We have 16 new families that have moved into our ward this summer.  They are all awesome and I invited all of them to a fruit/dessert party tonight.  After I hit "send" on my email, I counted and it was 55 people.  Oops!  My condo is pretty good sized but not really big enough for that many people (though most of them are kids).  So 10 families showed up with a total of 38 people (and 20 of them were kids)!  It was loud and crazy and fun!!!  The crumbs are what is left of some layered cookies from the Lion House Recipes -- they were a big hit.

Layered Cookies
1 cube butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chopped nuts (I don't put nuts in them)
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter in a 9x13 inch pan.  Sprinkle over the butter, in layers, the remaining ingredients.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Cut away from sides of pan when you take from oven.  Cut in squares while still warm.

Welcome to New Hampshire

I moved my sunglasses to the top of my head and ordered a large coke and hot fudge sundae.

From the garden

If you know the LaPierres, you know they have an amazing garden.

EP advice

This morning as I was walking down the stairs to get on the subway I noticed a young mother holding a baby, talking on the phone and trying to open her stroller.  [As I approached her I remembered a similar incident at the Park Street subway station years ago only it was an older woman trying to drag her luggage up the stairs.]  Instead of saying "do you need some help?" I said, "let me help you".  The woman handed me her baby to hold while she opened her stroller and then graciously thanked me.

Try saying "let me help you".

EP advice: take it or leave it.

Best part of the day: hanging out with Emmett