Back To School: 2019 Edition

Quick post documenting that we have only ONE school age kid left! After a nice summer holiday with Pre-Engineering Camp at Kent School, a trip to New York City to see a Broadway show (Mean Girls), attending Comic-Con in Boston and other fun activities it is back to the daily grind.

Sylvia is starting 10th grade, so three more years till graduation. Last week she already joined cheer leading. We are happy to announce that we now have a varsity cheerleader in our family!

"Sylvia, take chances, make mistakes and get messy!" Good luck on another year of high school! So proud of the young woman you are.

February Vacation

Quick update on our recent snow escape.

We started out visiting family in San Diego, always a joy to catch up with them. 

They provided good food, good birds, and great company. It was a quick visit so that we could move on to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where it was even sunnier and warmer AND they had blue footed boobies and whales! Not to mention whistling ducks, right outside our hotel room. 

Sadly enough, our week in Mexico came to an end, but we still had another few days in San Diego to enjoy some old friends and a little bit more sun before traveling back to the reality of snow in New Hampshire. 

Clearly lots of things to write about, but for now you'll have to be happy with the pictures and the promise of a more extensive post soon. 

Have you been to San Diego? What do you like to do when you are there?

Erik Turned 18 !!!

From the moment he was born with his caul still intact, we have enjoyed watching him grow into a strong and capable adult.

He studies computer programming at a local Career and Technology center part of the day and spends the other half of his day at our local high school.

In his free tim, he enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons and naturally also computer games. Working at our local supermarket gave him the power to order in pizza for his midnight snacks. Got to love teenage boys!

After he graduates high school in May this year, he hopes to join the Air Force. We are all looking forward to seeing him grow and explore the world.

Erik and Sylvia ready for adventures

Have fun conquering the world, Erik!

Happy birthday, Erik! Take chances, make mistakes, get messy and seize the day!

The Everglades!

Since it was cold and snowy in New Hampshire we escaped to the Everglades

In addition, we now can cross off another National Park off our bucket list.

We took a boat tour and saw crocodiles, manatees, and dolphins!!
We even almost tripped over an alligator when taking bird pictures. Oops!

We loved this national park and want to go back .So many great hikes and cool wildlife! What is your favourite national park?
In February 2019 I finally wrote a post about Birding in the Everglades. Go and check it out!

Happy New Year!!!

Wishing y'all a fabulous 2019!

Happy New Year!!

Eloise and Camille

Carpe Diem! Enjoy every day.

It is time for a picture catch-up so you can see the awesomeness of our family and friends. We enjoyed the holidays for sure.

Erik and Sylvia

Dawn

Qate

My Christmas present from Timmy

Auzzie bench lifing Sylvia

Jane

A little before Christmas, we visited Shawn, Lydia and the grandkids. It was a perfect stop on the way of picking up Jane in Springfield on her way home from Hamilton.

Tom, Eloise and Lydia

Tom, Shawn and Eloise

Eloise, Tom and Camille

New year's eve was wonderful too, it is so nice to have the older kids around and dropping in to these holidays.

Cees and Erik

Jane made meringues

Stephanie

Ronan, Auzzie, Amy, Sylvia, Jane

Amy, Sylvia, Erik

Erik's favourite present

Erik, Auzzie, Cees, Qate

Sylvia making deviled eggs

Some New Year's Eve pictures:
We made oliebollen, our traditional Dutch deep fried cinnamon raisin bread for "Oudejaarsavond" (Old year's night).

Erik en Chazz

Tom, Erik en Amy

Qate, Jill and Tom

Sisters!

No holiday is complete without s'mores