MAY & JUNE, 2005:
Spring turned into summer and we didn't do a darn thing.
Ha! That's a joke, of course. We're always doing stuff, seemingly.
We couldn't find a Moms' Museum, so on Mother's Day we checked out Stepping Stones, a nifty kids' musuem in Norwalk. (Say what you will about Connecticut, but it *does* have a lot of great children's places!) As promised, it was Fun For The Whole Family!
We were in Middletown for Mama's 15-year reunion at Wesleyan and also up in Boston. And then, woowoo, down to Nana's for another awesome Cancer Society Thrift Sale!
We met the Foleys in Ogunquit, Maine and stayed at the Anchorage By the Sea, where the weather was chilly but the company was delightful!
And then we came back home and hosted a joint birthday party for both of us!

Last but far from least, we welcomed two new friends in June: Inara Jordan and Michael Russell. (The latter chose Rowan's birthday to arrive. Good choice, little guy!) Both Miss Inara and Mr. Michael were in a very big hurry to meet us; although both their moms had planned hospital deliveries, Inara was born at home while Michael made his appearance in the car on the way to the hospital! Welcome, new pals!

Daddy and I watch my new Blue's Clues Slumber Party video. Right, Daddy? Daddy?	Why am I smiling? Because suppertime makes me happy!	Let me hold the camera! C'mon! I'll be careful!	Our new wagon -- some assembly required.
I'll help you, Daddy. Are you sure you're doing this right?	It works! Check out our new wagon!	We're wagoneers!	Matty doesn't mind me reading over his shoulder.
I sure am a handsome little devil, if I do say so myself!	Ready for my spread in GQ.	We make a Mother's Day visit to Stepping Stones Children's Museum in Norwalk.	There's a whole room of water stuff! I LOVE water stuff!
And they loaned me this cunning vinyl smock to keep my clothes dry!	Pull down on the lever and make a big shower of -- guess what? -- water!	I keep getting bigger, but I still love the Baby Bjorn! I'm going to ride this way forever!	A big hello to all my fans in Texas!
Hmmmm... very interesting!	I don't know what to play with first!	I'm a little Johnny Jump-up!	Double the cuteness!
Now I am Small. But soon I'll be Tall!	Zipping down this boulder slide! (I'm dressed like a beaver, in case you were wondering.)	I am contemplative, in a rodenty sort of way.	Starring me in "Clan of the Cave Bear".
Yeah, you'd better run...	Everything here is soft and squishy and fun to hold... just like me!	Playing in the babyspace with Daddy.	The gospel according to Saint Rowan.
Okay, time to get outta here.	I stamped my hand to make a Mother's Day card for Mama!	Daddy says this thing is a Ruby Goldberg!	Waving through the Device.
Arts and crafts time!	These little scissors are just my size!	In the helicopter, preparing to lift off.	My co-pilot and I examine the controls. We push a lot of buttons, just to be thorough. I'm pretty sure that's how Uncle Tony does it, too.
Helping Daddy out on an eco-science mission.	Mama pulling me up in this cool belaying chair.	We're the boys in the bubble!	I am getting closer to standing up with every passing day!
Yo! Whatta you lookin' at?	Gramma and Grampa come over, and I decide to stand up for the first time!	Whee! Look at me!	Look at me! I've got a new big-kid booster seat!
...And I'm not in my bucket seat-carrier anymore! If I've never ridden in this seat before, it's new to me!	A family rite of passage -- my first ice cream! We select nearby Wentworth's.	Daddy and I place our order. The excitement is mounting!	My first taste!
Hmmm... Sweet on the palate... with a creamy finish...	Brrrr!	I entertain the crowd with a song on the Wentworth's piano.	Ready for more! What's the holdup?
How soon will we be returning to this fine establishment?	We head over to Wesleyan for Mama's 15-year college reunion. Alpha Delt is all dressed up for the occasion!	This is Eli, Mama's ADP sister Jeanne's son. He and I share a love of music.	I fly over to say hi to Merri. Hi, Merri!
Back to Alpha Delt in the daytime.	Jeanne entertains Eli and I with a story. Not one to waste time, I also adminster a self check-up while listening.	What's happening back there? A stealth check-up courtesy of Eli.	Funnyface!
Hangin' with Daddy on the Phi lawn. Thanks to Jeanne for lots of these cool pictures!	The continuing adventures of Fleeceboy!	I decide to tolerate this. Other times I'm forced to say "Kisser, no kissing!"	I'm so pretty!
Telling secrets with Merri back at our house.	Two M girls!	Up in Boston so Mama could have tea at the Ritz, we visit the Public Garden.	Enjoying the ride in our double stroller.
Hey, I know you! It's Mrs. Mallard!	I can see that you're eating, so I'll just give a little pat and then move on.	Going for a ride on one of the duckings. Possibly Mack or Nack.	Quick snuggle!
I love you, Mrs. Mallard!	It's too early in the year to ride in the swan boats, but we still got to see them!	There's time for short visit with Dave and Ab before heading home!	Dave is teaching me the Macarena. I don't know why. But that's okay, I like it!
Dressing up in the cat tunnel toy!	What a happy day!	Yahoo!	My enjoyment of this balloon does not constitute an endorsement of Westfield Shoppingtown or their affliliates.
Just making sure it's still up there.	We have once again borrowed Laubachs' farm for me to use for cruising practice.	Hey, I'm standing and looking at the same time!	Our first sibling photos were taken in this chair more than 11 months ago. Check out how we've grown!
Lots of love!	Smiling for the camera!	What's that? Really? You don't say!	We're funny kids!
I always find a little time for my art. Ideally when my brother is strapped down somewhere...	I decide to stage an animal parade!	I like to snooze with my mama!	This is our cool new friend Gabbie. She comes to play with us sometimes so Mama can get stuff done.
She's lots of fun! AND she's a great hair stylist!	Quite a 'do!	I love you, Zabu!	Welcome to Mirin's Beauty Salon! Step right up, Daddy!
Mama enrobed in her protective suit and ready to do some planting.	Now that there's finally a little bit of grass in our yard, we set up the cool water table Nana and Blabla gave us.	Oh boy oh boy oh boy!	Make way for Hot Rod Scassellati!
You could go to Nana's house and NOT play with bubbles... But why would you want to?	Nana really has her technique down!	Almost got it!	Turn on the bubble machine!
Oh, here come some more!	Bedtime stories with Nana!	Mama found an eBay lady selling a picnic table and she lived right near Nana! I check it out to make sure it works okay.	Wow, was it hot this weekend! We made an emergency trip to Toys R Us for a pool.
Playing nice.	Ah, cool and wet!	Uh-oh! Hostilities flare up! Everybody out of the pool!	Major holiday! It's the weekend of the big Cancer Society Thrift Sale! Mama and Daddy made matching shirts so we could find each other in the crowd.
We always go on the last day -- Bag Day. $20 buys you everything you can cram into a plastic garbage bag! They have littler bags too, but those are for amateurs.	Waiting in line for the doors to open. We do a few stretches to limber up.	We're in! Ooh, I see something I want!	PopPop has the most important job: he guards the stuff we've already snagged!
Nana and I take a lap around the parking lot to clear our heads before returning to the hunt.	As the morning wears on, the stuff-to-PopPop ratio continues to change.	Okay, NOW are we done? Jeez!	Back on Nana's porch, we refuel and consider our mission. What were our weaknesses? What can we do better next year?
Resting with Stephanie after a strenuous morning.	Roses in Nana's garden.	I feel like I've earned a little treat. How 'bout a banana split bigger than my head?	More of the pretty roses.
I think Buck is actually starting to warm to me! By the time I'm 30, he may let me touch him!	Yay, Boston!	Up to Ogunquit to meet up with the Foleys! Here's Katherine and Baby Jack in front of the Anchorage Inn, where we stayed.	Jeff is surprised to see Baby Jack.
The Foley boys.	He sure is a cutie, that Jack Foley!	Hey, I think he likes me!	Who doesn't enjoy relaxing in bed with a good book?
After 95-degree heat last week, the temperature plummets in time for our beach vacation. We bought some fleecy tops and hit the beach regardless.	I wore my socks to keep my piggies toasty!	This is the tidal river side of the beach. It's more gentle... perfect for little guys like me!	After a few false starts, I am mostly persuaded not to eat the sand.
Mostly.	Meanwhile, Jack naps with his faithful companion Superdog.	Did we mention that the Anchorage Inn has an indoor pool? That'll come in handy in case it's freezing... like today!	Boys in the pool!
I love the water!	Sitting pensively at the edge of the whirlpool.	Katherine and Jack enjoying the warmth of the pool room.	At dinner, Katherine kindly shared one of her BBQ ribs with me. This was my second encounter with this most amazing of foods, but the first time a camera was handy!
Come to Papa!	The Portsmouth Children's Museum has a miniature trolley to play in!	Hello, Trolley!	Then there was a fishing boat! I round up the days catch...
...while I don a slcker and pilot us safely back to shore.	The play kitchen in the museum was sponsored by the local Greek Orthodox church, so it all had a Greek theme. Welcome to my taverna!	Ouzo, anyone?	My Big Fat Greek Children's Museum!
One of the huge sculptures that hang from the ceiling.	Another ceiling sculpture. Yes, it's supposed to be upside down.	Houston, we have a problem...	Jingling in the music room.
Hey, I know how these work!	A funky pipe instrument. Slap the tube and each plays a different note!	Flip-flops are provided for efficient slapping. Slap! Slap!	A lute-playing llama in the Pattern Palace.
These pieces of colored cellophane stick to the glass to make a stained glass window. I helped these other girls till the window was complete!	You can decorate this throne with magnets and other cool stuff. But really, aren't I the best decoration?	Father's Day! Dads and kids prepare for brunch!	Available in assorted sizes!
Jack is startled to awake and find himself at the restaurant.	Mama gets a chance to snuggle Baby Jack.	One last jaunt over to the beach with the Foleys. This is our warmest day yet!	Yay! The whole gang!
Us Hayessellatis. Note the absence of heavy sweaters! It's nearly beach weather!	Sand kids!	The Anchorage also has a kid's pool, so by-gosh we're going for a dip before heading home.	Buckets and boats a-plenty!
Of course, I found the bubbler.	Did someone say water? I'm in!	The view of the beach from the grounds of the Anchorage.	Back home, Gramma and Grampa visit to celebrate both of our birthdays. What does my card say?
Well, well. What have we here?	It looks kind of piraty in there! But how do I get to the rest of it?	I call for backup.	...and we make short work of the wrapping paper!
My new pirate ship successfully extricated, I sit in my chair and... Ooh, I spy a cake coming my way!	I've been practing blowing, but when I see a real candle, the urge to grab it outweighs my desire to blow it out.	I, on the other hand, have no such qualms!	I'm a happy little cake-eater!
Want to... keep eating... but becoming... so sleepy...	On my actual birthday, we head to Olde Home Style Country Towne Buffet so that I can have -- what else -- a rib!	Tiny carnivore.	Doing the happy rib dance.
I've had ice cream plenty of times, but this is my first cone!	I try to access it using a fork...	I try to access it using my tongue...	In the end, a fork-mouth combo approach proves the most successful.
Is it a window or a mirror?	Matching kids!	Almost party time! We wait for our guests to arrive.	Despite appearances, we're excited for the party!
Quick pre-party check-in: Everybody good? Good!	So... do you come here often?	The arrival of Miss Hannah.	Everybody in the pool!
Catching up with Mark.	Pretty maids all in a row.	Laura fills me in on the news: she becaume a big sister just two days earlier! Congratulations!	Daddy chats with Sarah about her baby-to-be. Why won't somebody hand me that boat?
That's better. Now I can go wherever the current takes me!	This is the life!	Connecticut Toddlers' Association -- Matty, Laura and me.	Oh! We could actually get IN the pool?! What a thought!
Blow or grab? Blow or grab?	And what's that we see? Bring it over, Daddy!	I won't tell you my wish, but let's just say it's chocolatey and delicious!	Cut faster!
Delectable!	A hush falls over the kids' table.	Present time!	I got a great big magna-doodle!
I got a dump truck!	And there was one big present for both of us. Braedon helped me open it.	And then there were favors for all the kids! Hey, let's get our dads to help us open them!	Big smile from the birthday girl!
Relaxing with Braedon...	This dump truck is a big hit!	Mid-party snuggle from Daddy.	Trying out our big present: a one-, two- or three-kid see-saw rocker!
It's a three-saw!	Braedon, Arwen and Mike in the yard.	I like Braedon very much!	There's Something about Mirin -- Mama thinks I look like Cameron Diaz in this picture.
Cheese!	One last hug for the road!	Our last playgroup meets at our house: Caitlyn checks out the playscape.	Calem, Tyler and Caitlyn at the water table.
I show Calem and Tess how the splashing thing works.	Rose watches from the sidelines.	Some of the toys from inside get added to the water table.	If Caitlyn relaxes her grip on this purse, I'm totally going to snag it.
Why have we stopped?	Oh no! Daddy went to work! Come back, Daddy!	Shampoozapalooza!	All washed and conditioned! I'm very silky!
Dressed up and ready for our special Girltrip!	First Girltrip stop: O'Rourke's Diner in Middletown!	Pancakes with berries and clotted cream! I love Girltrip!	Maybe just one more taste...
Mmmmmmm!	Next stop: Bead Street! We pick out beads to make bracelets with.	I'll take one of these and one of those...	Sparkly! What a nice morning!

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