Vacation Part I: Wisconsin

For the first part of our summer vacation we flew to Wisconsin for the Stephenson 2011 "Life's Too Short..." Family Reunion.  My dad always says, "life's too short to..." be angry, hold a grudge, get stressed out, etc.  I think he's right.  All his kids except Adam were there with their families.  Most of the kids slept in the garage with Grandma and Grandpa, so their parents could have beds.  Such sacrifice!  On the first day we started the festivities with a baseball game.  Most of the grandkids don't know how to play, so there was a lot of coaxing and cajoling!

Here's one team practicing their Eagle scream - team intimidation tactic.

Barefoot Baseball

Elise at bat with Mom as pitcher.

Camille at bat.

The zip line like we had as kids.

Getting ready for the big picture.  Can we have one Peter?

Maegan, the master of the french braid.

Canoeing with my little angel.  Lazy rivers are best for our family! - at least for now...

Camille and James, canoemates.

Elise about to jump- watch out for crocodiles!

Too bad I didn't capture Bill breaking this log with his strength.

The toddlers safely on the trampoline.  Camille doesn't gouge her leg and send us to the ER until later that night.

Saying goodbye, we love you Mom and Dad!

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.