Sweet Reunion!

 

One week ago today, we got home from Boston.  As we were tucking all the kids into bed after unloading the car from the long drive home, I realized we couldn't find "Holey" (the name Ella has given her beloved blanket because of all the "holes" in it).  I started to panic.  I frantically looked and re-looked in every bag, suitcase and place I could think where it could possibly be.  I looked in the dirty clothes bag, under every seat in the van.  It was nowhere to be found.  A sinking feeling set in as reality set in and I realized that we had left Holey at the hotel.  Our sweet family friend, Maricarmen handmade this blanket and gave it to Ella when she was born.  Ella has slept with it every night of her life and has brought it with her on every trip we've ever been on.  It's an extension of herself and I picture myself sleeping with it when Ella finally leaves home!  Everything about this blanket reminds me of the baby and toddler years of my last baby.  I immediately called the hotel.  They said that Housekeeping was home for the night and to call back the next morning at 8am.  I tossed and turned all night. I could barely sleep.  I was so upset.  It was the first thing I thought of when I woke up.  I called right at 8am.  The sweet woman Marielena (coincidence that she has the first four letters of her name as the woman who made the blanket - I think not!) said she would look into it and get back to me.  I held out very little hope.  Someone else had already checked into our room and I knew the blanket had gotten wrapped up in the sheets and probably in some huge industrial laundry area or thrown away by some unassuming housekeeper who couldn't possibly know the value of this beloved blanket.  Well...... I prayed and hoped and lo and behold.... Marielena called back and said they located the blanket!!  I couldn't believe it!  I paid a small fortune to order a Fedex label for 2-day delivery, sent it to Marelena and she sent it out the next day with guaranteed delivery by Wednesday.  Wednesday came and went - nothing.  Thursday came and went - nothing.  I checked the tracking (it simply said "delayed; status update unavailable"), called (no human available to talk to me), signed up for text message and email updates.  Nothing, nothing, nothing.  By Friday, I was in despair again as I thought it had gotten lost in the mail somewhere.  BUT....... on Saturday it ARRIVED!

I videoed Ella opening the package as she discovered her beloved Holey inside.

So happy to have our blanket back where she belongs and we will be much more careful on any future travels that we don't inadvertently leave this piece of our family behind!

August Cup Soccer Tournament

 

Riley just finished playing with her team, the 2010 Severna Park Stingers, in the "August Cup" tournament st the Maryland Soccerplex in Boyds, MD about an hour away.

My favorite pic.

The look says it all!  It was a long hot day with lots of saves, dives, catches, punts and even a bloody lip.

We played some great teams which provided some great competition and we either won or lost every game by just one goal.  Riley played 100% of all three games as goalie and had a shut-out during the first game against the Pirates and let just one goal in the game against BRYC and just one goal in in the game against CSA Galaxy. 

So fun to see this team playing again and looking forward to a fun Fall soccer season!

Camping in Catoctin

 

Tanner wasn't born into a family who takes him camping very often, so he loves to take advantage of opportunities with scouts and friends that invite him along for the adventure!  This weekend, his friend Benny invited him to go camping with his family in Catoctin Mountain Park, located in north-central Maryland, which is part of the Catoctin Mountain range that forms the northeastern rampart of the Blue Ridge Mountains int he Appalachian Mountains system.

He brought his own tent for him and his friend Benny to share.  And here they are all set up and tucked into their tent.  I've loved getting pictures and updates from him all weekend!

They went to an aviary and saw bald eagles and lots of other cool birds.

And apparently Benny's dad taught them how to play poker.  Tanner sent us a picture of his best poker face.

Paddle boating.

Exploring

Taking a dip in the lake.

Quality Time

 

Yesterday, with Dave and Ella at Riley's soccer tournament and Tanner camping, I found myself with some unexpected one on one time with my first born.  Although I needed to clean my house, run errands and the never ending list of other things, I decided to take advantage of this rare opportunity and spend some quality time with Lacey.  We gave ourselves manicures and pedicures, went to the courts and played tennis and pickle ball, treated ourselves to Rita's italian ice and then paid a quick visit to Nana and Grandpa and brought them Rita's too.  For the record..... she kicked my trash in tennis!  But I still have an edge up in pickle ball ;)

Oh to have young, smooth hands again.....

I hope those sweet young hands see a future of working hard, serving others, holding babies, folded in prayer and hugging her mama who loves her!

Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower and Cape Cod!

 

Friday was our last full day in Boston/Cape Cod before heading home. 

We woke up bright and early and headed to Plymouth Rock.

You can see the rock to the left of Ella that is supposedly the very first piece of land that the Pilgrims set foot on in 1620 after getting off the Mayflower.

The famous rock.

And then we visited the Mayflower.

From there, we went to the National Monument to the Forefathers.

This was started in 1820,  the bicentennial anniversary of the Pilgrims arriving here.

The four sides of the statue are dedicated to:

Law

Morality

Education

and Liberty.

"Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing and gives being to all things that are.  And as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; Let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise."  ~Gov. William Bradford

Passenger list of the Mayflower

Happy Ella

Contemplative Lacey

Mischievous Riley.  I caught her climbing the statue (and Ella trying to follow suit) and told her to get down immediately, lest the Justice (immediately above her head) reign down upon her 😜

And then we watched as Tanner tried in vain to follow suit.

And then we headed to Cape Cod!

We were in Cape Cod earlier in the week on Tuesday, but after getting to Hyannis, we immediately hopped on a ferry and spent the entire day in Nantucket, so we wanted to go back to the Cape and spend the day exploring the Cape.

We decided to spent the afternoon in Chatham. 

Chatham beach comes with a warning because of Great White Shark sightings and attacks that they've had here.

We decided to take our chances.

Well, not all of us......🦈

Notice the Chatham lighthouse in the background.

Ella Grace

Riley Jane

Riley and Ella worked hard on a sand fort while Lacey photo-bombed from the water.

Lacey couldn't get over how much seaweed there was and began collecting it.

And asked to give me a seaweed spa treatment.

Leafy green pants.

Gymnastics on the beach.

Handstand with a seagull for an audience.

Making our mark in Chatham.

We came home, got dinner and enjoyed one last sunset on the 26th floor of our hotel, the former Boston Custom House.

Goodnight, Boston.  Thanks for a great week!