Graduations!

This year Elise graduated from elementary school, and Gwyneth from middle school - at neither event was it called a graduation, something like "Celebration of Learning".   (Note Bene: I prefer "graduated from middle school" and not "graduated middle school."  If you know a compelling reason why I should switch to the later, please tell me.)  Here are some of the pictures:


Elise's Graduation, June 15th (still one week of school left!):

Elise with her friends Hannah and Isabelle.

Celebratory lunch afterwards - Jeff was able to break away for lunch to join us.



Gwyneth's  8th Grade Graduation, June 21st:

Dad's picture of Gwyneth in the morning before the ceremony.

Gwyneth and a bunch of her friends at the reception following the graduation.

Gwyneth and Izzra.

Gwyneth and Vivianne.

Delilah and Celeste (her babysitter.)

Gwyneth trying to get Celeste off the gazebo so we can go to a graduation party.  We didn't see Gwyneth until the next morning when we picked her up for our family trip to NH.

 

Dogtown

A few weeks ago we took a family ramble through Dogtown, inspired by Anita Diamont's novel "The Last Days of Dogtown."  Dogtown was a tiny village north of Gloucester, MA, that sheltered prostitutes, supposed witches and outcasts.  Its last inhabitants died in the 1820's.  What remains are some foundation stones and stone walls amidst trees and large stone outcroppings.  In the 1930's Roger Babson (of Babson college) employed unemployed stonemasons to carve inspiring sayings and words in stone at Dogtown.  Here are some of the pictures - maybe you'll be inspired!

I only thought the suggestion that I pose by this rock to be mildly passive aggressive; whereas this caption is full-on passive aggressive!

Always loyal, Elise.

Celeste and Gwyenth are both fit for this rock with their analytic propensities.

Jeff's favorite, since we couldn't find the "Stay Out Of Debt" rock, which is out there somewhere.

Our New Baby

After many weeks of hunting across New England, Celeste, Camille and I found this gem in Ivoryton, CT.  Needless to say, there's a bit more playing in our house.  The old piano is downstairs so that Jeff can have some peace without earphones every once in a while.  Here's a sample of the girls' recital pieces for this spring.  Elise is playing Kabalevsky's Sonatina #1 and Gwyneth is playing the first movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata #1.