Visiting Grandma & Grampa Mazgelis

We had a chance to go to NH and visit with my folks one day last weekend as well. The kids always have fun with Grandma & Grandpa, and they enjoy seeing the kids when we come to visit. I got a great photo of Lauren at the dinner table, even if she didn't eat any of her dinner. (She liked the cookies though!) Grandpa loves to play with the kids, and we can see by the smile on Max's face that he loves to play with Grandpa. It was a nice visit, and we're glad we got one more in before Grandma & Grandpa head south for the winter.

Back at Great Brook

We took another walk over at Great Brook State Park last weekend. The dogs had a great time running and swimming. Cisco can really move over the rough terrain without ever slowing down, and Diamond spends most of her time standing in the water wishing someone would throw a stick for her. Max explored waterfalls, climbed rocks, had snacks, and did some dancing. Lauren hung with Mom for the most part, and I made my best effort to capture something wonderful with my camera. I got a couple good shots of Max, and maybe some foliage shots will turn up in another posting.

Picking pumpkins

Last weekend Max and Lauren and their friend (the other) Max went to a Parley Farms to choose pumpkins for Halloween. I hear the kids had a great time there, and as you can see they picked out some real beauties!

A day at the park

Two weekends ago we visited with Dorothy's folks up in Auburn, ME and spent some time burning off energy at a local playground. Max had a great time climbing on everything, and he and I played a little basketball together too. Lauren did a little bit of climbing but really seemed to enjoy the slides the most. I thought the picture of her hair sticking up from all the static electricity was pretty funny too.

Things I Learned Today

1. You need a lot more wind to fly a kite than I realized.






2. Gusty wind is really bad for kite flying.






3. A kite flying trip where the kite only gets off the ground every once in a while is still considered really cool if you are 4 years old.






4. 2 year olds would rather chase and tackle the kite than try to fly it.






5. 4 year olds think that grabbing the tail of a kite and pulling it to the ground is almost as cool as flying it.






6. Dogs and kite flying can mix, as long as the dog is Diamond.






7. I shouldn't try to run the length of a football field with Lauren on my back.






8. Kids love to watch their mom run the length of a football field (no Lauren) with a kite flying behind her.






9. I am out of shape.






10. Don't let your kids play in the paint on the soccer field without making sure it is dry. Definitely don't allow headstands.

Huzzah!

This weekend we took the kids to their first renaissance faire! Dorothy and I have been to a number of faires in California and one in New York, but this was our first time at King Richard's Faire in Carver Massachusetts. Max and Lauren had a hard time focusing on any one thing but they still had a great time with what they did see. We got to see a wild animal show and the first jousting tournament of the day, as well as go on a self-powered ship ride a giant maze with a slide. (What else could a child as for?)

Dorothy and I both went in full garb again this year. We recently bought a pirate costume for Lauren for Halloween, which worked out wonderfully for her at the faire. My goodness she looked adorable! Max had some baggy pants and a pirate belt with leather pouches hanging from it just like his daddy. (I will have to make him a nice shirt for faire before next year.) Unfortunately I didn't get many good photos of the kids in the faire itself, but they really hammed it up on the stage outside the front gate on the way out.

Charactures

These charactures were done back in December of last year but never got posted to the family blog. The children's hospital put on a Christmas party for all the "regulars" and the artists were on hand as part of the event. At the time Max was really immunosurppessed and couldn't much leave the house, so his hair really did look that long for lack of a good, or at least recent, hair cutting. It's kind of appropriate though since he did look like one of the young Beatles.

Apple picking

This Sunday we brought the kids apple picking here in Westford. They each had fun carrying the bags and filling them them with apples. Max did a lot of picking, usually with a little guidance to what trees looked better than others. Even lauren did some picking, often when riding in the carrier since it was easier for her to each the branches then. We took two hay-rides behind the tractor and did plenty of running around.