End of Summer in New England

Just a photo share of saying goodbye to summer in southern New England.  Glad we got to do it with family visiting.

Note: Fyi for my southern US friends (cause I get asked this alot), southern New England does have a real summer.  It gets just as hot and more humid than north east Tennessee, but a shorter season.  The beaches get plenty warm for swimming..... unless you're on parts of the Cape.
Another question I get asked alot by my northern friends, Tennessee has a winter.... and snow.... especially if you live close to the mountains.  Yes Tennessee has mountains.... and they are bigger than New Hampshire's mountains.

We had a family get together on Conanicut Island.  Here is where we stayed.....

And the view from the front porch.....
Overlooking the mouth of Narragansett Bay, Newport/Pell Bridge in the distance on the left:

Family get together pic last year in Upstate NY-

This year on the coast in Southern RI.
I'm looking short among this tall family-

Fun was had-

Last weekend of the summer was spent watching the sun go down.  Seemed appropriate-

Goodbye wonderful summer, looking forward to your return.

Just Some Summer Happenings

Just a hand full of some summer photos-

A few more Jamaica photos-

Trip to Tennessee
(FYI, pics of a DEAD pig below)

Pickin' onions-

 Tram ride to Ober Gatlinburg

Chair lift ride to Alpine Slide

Smoking a whole pig.  I forget how many hours it smoked, 10 hours?  I know it went all night and Dad had to keep getting up through the night to put wood in it.

Dad and brothers pulling the meat.  Probably the most delicious and flavorful meat I have ever eaten.

My brother's dog Sterling.  He is a rescued pit bull mix and a big, sweet boy-

And photogenic-

This is my old dog Boss, still full of energy (we think he is 16 years old, but we stopped counting).  Mom and Dad are letting him live at the farm where he gets more attention than I am able to give these days.  Kids want him to come back and live with us though.

Another reason I miss home (this table is stocked by the church community, sharing with their neighbors from their gardens, I thought it was a great idea)-

Some pictures of us enjoying Douglas Lake-

Yes, little man was as hesitant at first as he looks here.  He ended up liking it though.

My Dad (he's 64) showing us all he still has IT.  My sister-in-law, Kalissa, was quite good too.

Back home, enjoying our pool-

First face painting experience-

Double piano lesson.  Baby girl doesn't seem to be paying attention.

Rest up, summer isn't over yet. :)

Baby Goes On Vacation

You might be surprised to know that my day isn't always filled with Mommy cuddles and silky taggie toys.

Somedays it can be quite stressful laying around on the floor in this noisy house.

People don't really think about it but-  babies need a vacation!

Thankfully Mommy and Daddy love me SO much that they took me on a much needed vacation.... all the way to a place called Jamaica.  First thing Mommy did (after getting that drink) was take my clothes off.  Woohoo, this was good start.  Unrestricted access to my toes!

Brother and sister stayed behind at Grandma and Pa's.  So for the first time, I had things all to myself.

Most importantly, I had Mommy and Daddy ALL TO MYSELF.  Oh yeah....

I will even take this way of being carried, doesn't matter, someone is holding me and I love it.   Hello sandy ground.... I wonder how you taste-

Apparently when on vacation one is supposed to chill.  This is my chillin' face-

This is me chillin' with my mom listening to island music-

This is me chillin' with my daddy, on the back of a bike.  "When I push with my foot Daddy I want you to go faster"-

This is me chillin' on the beach-

When I am chillin' my Mommy and Daddy are very happy.  They did laugh and smile more than usual-

They also took me to this beautiful ceremony with a whole LOT of beautiful smiles-

They gave me this amazing crinkly toy.  I'm serious guys, if you have never squished and crinkled a tissue package for a half an hour.... you haven't lived.

The reception site had Dr. Suess trees y'all-

I also got to meet some new friends that held me at times too!  Good looking peeps right?  I stared closely at their faces and pulled on their hair..... especially that pretty blonde lady next to mommy.  And the guy in the blue pants and sport jacket..... he is pretty much my boyfriend.

As you know, vacations have to end.  But I soaked up as much Mommy arm time as I could before we got home-

So here I am back to normal life.

I love my brother and sister, so let's not tell them that sometimes I need a vacation from them.  It will be our little secret-