Old Friends

Mj planned a cook out with all her friends and all the people I have grown to love.  They really are my Pennsylvanian family and I was looking forward to seeing everybody. I think it has been almost 2yrs. Because of the party, we thought it would be wise to have an easy day. A little tidying in the morning, lunch at Chuck. E. Cheese, and pick up last minute groceries at Giant.



This machine can entertain my children for hours.



And the party begins!

In roll the people, the hugs, kisses, and food. Happy day!



My mom pitched right in and helped Mia with her famous egg rolls.



She made extra for people to take home and freeze.



Who I was really looking forward to sitting with, was Mary Jo's brother Joe.  Can you see why? Hilarious.



Causally eating and enjoying the company on MJ's patio.



Dear old Mrs. Lingus, Mary Jo's thick accent Greek neighbor.  Conversation a couple days prior.

MJ: "Mrs. Lingus, you remember the cook out Wednesday at 6?"
Mrs. Lingus: "Oh yeah, yeah Mary Jo.  Yous have plenty of food for me?"
Mj: "Yes we will!"
Mrs. Lungus: "Yes. Yes. That is good.  See yous then. Okay Mary Jo.  See yous."

That conversation was repeated Monday night, Tuesday morning, Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. I love her.



More Friends Joe, Cass, Mary Jo, Phil (MJ's borther), Phil again, Dom, Joe, Liz (Dom's mother and MJ's grade school friend with a contagious laugh), Rocco (Liz's husband) Kathie


Mary top left, Eileen bottom left, and Chris (Mrs. Linguses son)


Sam and my mom had a lengthy discussion about SLC. He used to visit there a lot to ski.  His dear wife was missed.  She is a French lady, almost 80, who recently had hip surgery. She loves Becket and thinks he is going to be a special person someday.  She tells me every time I see her.  Love her.

Sam carries a clipboard everywhere he goes to write down stuff he later wants to research or learn.  He couldn't remember the hotel that was torn down across the street from the SLC temple.  So, he wrote it down and called Mary Jo's phone the next day and asked to talk to my mom. It was the Salt Lake Inn.



Mary took the time to look at Gretchen's coins from the auction.



Cass brought gifts for the kids, drawing books with colored pencils.  So thoughtful.



and the Dogs!



Mary Jo had so much fun chatting that MJ couldn't focus long enough to feed the dogs, so Eileen reminder her with one of her classic notes.





We stayed up until midnight talking after everyone had left. I think I convinced Dom to come out and see us. Maybe.



Kids had been passed out for hours.




Fabulous friends all because I had too many kindergartners my first year of teaching in Harrisburg, and this lady was transferred to help relieve my load.  Since then, she's held all my babies fresh from birth and spoiled them since!

Boston to Pennsylvania

We flew out of Boston and Mat flew back home, he was terribly missed. We waited a good while on the Tarmac to fly down to BWI to meet up with MJ. They were having heavy rain and tornado warnings.  Luckily, JetBlue takes good care of you with plenty of snacks and TV.  My kids didn't even realize we weren't in the air yet.  Upon landing Becket threw up on my right and then Gretchen on my left.  Life's moments that are comical.  There was a cute middle aged man who turned around and offered his puke bag to me. I love it when complete strangers are empathetic. It restores my faith in human nature.

On the ground safe and sound we found MJ! Happy day.



We also met up with our dear friend Eileen. These two women have had more of an impact on me to be a better person, mother, and enjoy the journey, during my impressionable motherhood years.  You know how you can think of people you want to be like when you're older, well, these two are high on the list. They are true saints and more Christ like than I could ever be.  They have taught me just by their example and kindness.



We spent one day at the Roots auction (pronounce ruts).  It's in Lancaster county (pronounce Lane-cust-er) where it is down home country fun. The auction is only on Tuesdays and I've always wanted to go.  When I lived in Pennsylvaina, I would always remember the auction on Friday and become frustrated pounding it in my head that it is only on Tuesday.

Van ride down



Lots of people bring their goods to sell, including the Amish and their loaded Whoopie pies and Angel Food cakes.





Vegetables, sub sandwiches, accessories ..we managed to buy an Amish bird house, a serving tray, old civil war coins, foreign coins, pocket knife, rare rocks and gems.







Toilet seat cover was also purchased by MJ.  She was very happy and couldn't stop talking about it. She reminded us about it the whole way home.



We later spent time in the Kitchen Kettle village where you can buy homemade jams and salsa from the Amish.  We grabbed a fresh lemonade and chocolate covered pretzels and had us a snake on this perfect summer day.  Gretchen put pretzels into Mj's mouth using her new peacock jeweled hair clip. Good thing Mary Jo is casual enough not to care that it's been in her hair.













There was also a game of hide and seek.



Can you spot Gretchen any where?


 We followed up the day with a dog walk and a big bag of stale nuts to feed the squirrels at the capitol  

Wrapping up Newport

Kicked back and relaxing Newport, RI vacation continued.....

Newport has lots of charming places to eat.  The atmosphere almost makes the food taste better.

We dined at a cute pizza place



Isn't hand tossed pizza cooked in a brick oven the best? Especially, by this guy who was up for a photo.   He was even patient enough to wait a second time while I adjusted my flash.



We also dined at Zelda's for lunch.  We've been on a patty cake, hand slapping kick, but when the food comes we all stop to indulge.



We also visited Fort Adams.  Huge fort with lots of tunnels.  We decided we would admire it from afar and explore the grounds instead of pay the $60 for our kids to do what they would have done outside the fort.





It was fun to watch the sailboats roll in and collect more rocks to add to their rock collection.  We found Kevin's brother (old brick, Becket's holding) and reunited the two long lost brothers.   Oh! That rock imaginations and conversation went on for hours with the kids rock friends. It was making Mat and I crack up.





A quiet, wondering afternoon well spent.



On the last day at Newport, Mat and I got up for one last run on the cliff walk.  The ocean was beautiful, so cut our run short and ran home to get the kids.  Of course they didn't want to go.  They wanted to stay and play with legos and watch the Disney channel.  Lots of whining and complaining to get their hineys out the door.  And, look who had a good time and didn't want to leave? My only regret is that I didn't jump on my mom's bed too.  I would have put her in the car had I known she was up.









Another fun reminiscing stroll was when we took Becket up here on our East coast trip when he was only 6mths old (2004).  It was just Mat and I and our little baby.  We ate at Poor Richards and sat in this very window.



Lovely trip. It was good to see my brother and his wife Cassandra. It was also so good to have those memories with my mom.

The only thing I could have done without was my phone breaking.  The screen stopped sensing, so you couldn't open apps, make phone calls, do anything really.  Luckily, my phone had got us through crazy Boston traffic, but from here on out I was phoneless, mapless, and textless. Which translates, to lost and confused.  My only hope is when Mat sent a picture of this when he got home and I knew things were going to be okay.