At Last

Emptiness never felt so good.
The last of the storage units...cleaned out today(7:10pm on 31st as
the sun sets...can't get any later on final day).
It's done...well, we have to unload the truck at the house.
Guess I better start unpacking? No rush...
After taxes... >:)

Bad Ideas

I'm not sure who came up with this marketing idea. Been a few years
since I watched this flick...but doesn't the dog go rabid & they shoot
it?
Seems like having the poster dog for rabies on your food would be a
bad pitch.
Mark & I saw this shopping & got a good laugh from it.

The New Face

This week Sophia has found a new facial

expression that cracks her up.

She makes it with a nasal snorting noise

that is pretty funny, but very unattractive. Soso pulling up on the couch as she does
everywhere around the house now.

Here is the face
Yet again same night, different time.
While trying to get a serious portrait

Much better expression!

Steve thinks it's a kissy face...

I'm not sure, but love it.

Visit

Going to visit Grandma H at work! She always picks Aunt Amy's fab
glitter shoes to wear...shocker. :)

Day on the Lake

After Emily and Hal got engaged,

we hit the lake for aquapalooza.

First stop was chimney rock.

Em pointing out the rock she'd jump off from...

I was sitting on the boat nervous as rip...
I got to wear her NEW ring while she jumped.

They could have stayed off the boat longer!

There they go!

Next stop was the concert location on the water.
Crowded fabulous fun!
Alan Jackson was the headliner.

There was a fight across the way on this pontoon boat.

Not anywhere close to us...but we could see the action.

Sophia and I watch and wait for Alan Jackson to take the stage.
This was her first outdoor from the water concert too!

She really likes her new pink neoprene life jacket.

She had to wear it while we were dancing on the boat.

Hal and Emily swam right up to the front
of the stage to watch for a while!

Sophia and daddy about naptime

Steve cooling off in the water.

I love this photo...this is the real smile.
It was a fun time.

I've never been to a concert on the water!

Here is Steve skiing on Sunday between the storms!

Saturday!!!

Hal called us two weeks ago,

Operation "Hoary Marmot" was hatched.

(Every good secret planning has to have a code word.

Hoary Marmot is a ground hog type

animal found out west...don't ask)

We said we'd love to be a part of it all...

the engagement extravaganza!

The concept was a treasure hunt and adventure.

The leading arrow to sandbox when Em

stepped out of the car...

(which she thought was a Van signal to direct

parking at the cabin!

Dang it, but she saw the bottle.)

A little note in a bottle to start the treasure hunt

(all the details are Hal's idea,

we were the worker ants)

Another arrow towards the cabin.
A rose and treasure map were at

the base of the tree.
Hal labeled all the parts inside the cabin
with creative & adventurous titles-
fireplace was the "cave of fire",
futons were the "Isles of the sleeping bears"
(Shout out to snoring Travis)
We put down a yellow dotted line
that matched the one on the treasure map.
Through the cabin towards the doors
with the curtains drawn.
As you went through the curtain,
you could see the spot.
All details were fabulous-
rose pedals, roses in vase,
heart confetti, red ribbon "X",
pirate's treasure chest.
Lake Martin, the deck, beautiful weather helped too.
Inside the chest was a black velvet ring box with another note...

Emily said yes before she saw the ring.
He designed it...very nice.
Hal still had it in his pocket!
Hal and Emily later in the day at "Aquapalooza"
(I inspired this pose-made them do it)
Welcome to the Kennedy Clan Emily!!
We love you!
Way to go Hal!
I can't wait to eat wedding cake!
I mean...happy ever after too!

Boat Fairy

During the night...
Ok. Not really. Steve bid on a boat on eBay yesterday morning. Won it.
Called Van to go with. Jumped in the truck, drove to Biloxi! Paid for
it. Drove it home.
Now the adventure begins. Who wants to go to the coast!!???!!
(Derek-two motors...that's a LOT if duct tape!)

Early Saturday

We had a mission on Saturday morning!

(Which I will post about later)

Steve, Sophia and I were up EARLY

to head up to the cabin to set it up.

On the way there Sophia was in rare form...

in her Pj's! No time for dressing!

It was a "GET IN THE TRUCK!" moment.

I think she was onto the excitement

of our trip
because she had the silliest faces on the ride!

Cracking herself and us up

in the backseat of the truck.

The hair was a fabulous touch...

I'm so glad she has hair to stand up.

Steve was talking to her in this photo
from the front seat.

I love the smile that she gave him.

You can really see she's losing her baby fat.

Out to the Cape

On Monday, we met DB & BB for lunch

before we left Enfield at The Country Diner.

(Photo not available...I just forgot to take one)

It was great to see them and

catch up during the off time.

Steve took this of us outside the hotel...

could have said botanical garden.
I saw this and thought what an
arbitrary amount?

Sophia on the road...
thought cute like she as if she is pointing out a spot
on the lens...or creating one.

Bridge to Newport, RI

Drive by lighthouse photo from bridge

We spent Monday night and explored Woods Hole
out on Cape Cod. Very cute little town.
Steve and Sophia check out a lobster.

Sophia taking in the sunset next to the Landfall

restaurant where we ate dinner.

We walked around and looked at the downtown area,

all the boats in the harbor.

There were a ton of lobster buoy thingys
all over the walls.

View of the harbor from our hotel room patio.

It was a retro place...a REAL key for the room.
Soso like to play with it, the coolest toy ever.

View of the place from the road.
We loved it.

Sophia could only take in so many sights...
before a power nap.
Cute the way that she grabs her ear and toe.
Out cold.

The day we had to play, Tuesday, was rainy cold.

(Not sure, but I think Soso didn't wanted the man

who took this to give back HER camera)
We visited a few lighthouses, but mainly Jeep toured.
On paved roads only-plover had all the oversand trails closed!
So, no permit or off-roading this trip.

We drove through Provincetown

then quickly got off the cape!

Cape Cod lighthouse

Although a short wet trip, we enjoyed it.

Party in Massachusetts

We went to a jack and jill shower for Al & Carolyn

in Enfield, CT Saturday.

We all had a blast, but especially Sophia!

She danced a little, smiled a lot, met everyone!

So much so that she had to take a little
mid-party nap! She sleeps like Steve.

There is actually a DJ playing music...

People talking...having dinner.

Loud, she doesn't care.
(She is wearing a jersey that Al gave her)

Sophia and Al discuss the Patriots chances this season.

Good turn out. This is during the raffle.

It was really great to meet the rest of the bridal party!