Jim comes to visit

Jim comes to visit

A visit to the Orchid Garden

Dave makes Jim buy from the traveling carpet salesman, Mr. Ravin

Ben Turns 7

Lilliput Golfers Line UP

Ben really wanted to play mini-golf for this birthday.  So we went to Singapore’s one and only – Lilliput.  Each hole is a Singapore landmark.  We did it up small and really had a nice time with a special group of boys.  Ben’s bestest buddy, John, from across the street was unable to come because he broke his leg a week ago.  So we had him and his family over for dinner after the golf outing.  In all, it was a fun filled, busy day.

Worthy of note, we celebrated Ben’s 6th birthday at a mini-golf destination, too – in San Jose, CA!  The party doubled as our going away party.  We held it over  a month before Ben’s real birthday so we could celebrate with our US friends.  How much has changed in a year, but not Ben’s love of mini-golf!

The brothers golf at the "Snow City" hole.

Rainy Day Lunch at Carl's Jr in lieu of our planned Beach Picnic

The rain stops - time for some balloon tag!

Finally - some beach time (Ian and Oliver)

John's family comes for dinner - John on crutches.

Legos from Grandpa Hassan

Connecticut

Dad, Ben and Nicky at Bulls Bridge, Kent.

Nicky, Alex and Ben at a river

Scared Woody on the 4th of July

Old Friends

Betsy, James and I got to have a nice dinner with Marianne and Scott and their kids.  20 years ago, we all lived in Boston together.  Only missing was Naomi!

The Kids: Ben, Ian, Nicky, Luke, Hilary, Audrey

The Adults: James, Betsy, Marianne, Scott, Me

Duxbury Fun

We got to explore Duxbury today.  Betsy and James’ good friend Jamie has a family cottage on the Duxbury coast (south of Boston).  Despite a foggy, cold, San Francisco like day, we all enjoyed our time there.  We drove for mile out a long sand spit to reach Jamie’s cottage.  We had stopped in downtown Duxbury to pick out some lobsters for lunch.  We steamed them and ate them.  Then, we got to visit a great old lighthouse in full force thanks to the foggy day.  Duxbury is a great quaint New Englandy seaside town.  I hope we get to go back someday.

Duxbury Lighthouse and all of us.

Lobsters!

LUNCH!

Ian and Audrey

Nicky and Ben

Boston

Feel like I’ve come home!  We’re in Boston staying at Betsy’s.  We’ve had a chance to get to the Museum of Science and tour around downtown.  Betsy’s two kids, Aurdrey (10) and Ian (7) have been wonderful hosts to Ben and Nicky.  They have made us feel most at home in their house.

Nicky, Audrey, Me, Ian, Ben and Boston Harbor.

I got to celebrate my birthday with Betsy and family.  Betsy bought me a huge cake at Costco to enjoy at a summer party Marianne and Scotts’.  We had my birthday lunch at Costco – it was a blast!

Betsy, James, Audrey, Nicky, Ian, Ben. Costco Birthday Lunch for Me!!

Punxsutawney

We’re resurfacing from Punxsutawney.  We had a great trip visiting Mom and Papa Don, Todd and Jackie and Dawson and Keagan. Enjoyed some down home cooking at mom’s and at Nick’s Grill (we have hamburgers, cheeseburgers and grilled cheese.  Everything is served on a hot dog roll).

Lunch at Nick's

We had a great time seeing our cousins Dawson (4 1/2) and Keagan (2).

The Cousins - Keagan, Ben, Dawson, Nicky

It was fun to be at Grandma Joyce’s and Poppa Don’s home.

Mom's house

Cold.

Today we went to Boulder to see my friends Bryce and Mandy.  I haven’t seen them in some time.  It was a great time to catch up with them and hear what they are doing.

My other mission in trekking out to Boulder was to bring the boys a bit closer to the Colorado Rockies.  We took a great hike on the Table Mesa Trail.  This river was a the start of the trail.

Denver!

We are reunited with Dave and happy to be with family in Colorado.  Today we spent Father’s Day at Coors Field.  Well, actually, half way thru the game we realized Father’s Day is next weekend, but we kept celebrating.  It was an eventful game:  Dave caught a game ball, a tornado watch stopped the game for over an hour (and chased us out of the stadium), and the Rockies swept the Mariners.

Heading to Coors Field

Game On! Jeremy and Caroline join us.

Dave got a ball!!

Tornado Watch!!

Los Gatos!

Nicky and Carter

Elan, Dakota and Ben

Nate, Corey and Ben

Our house

The Neigh-bors