Cutie Rockstar in her new boots

Thanks, Karen, for the new kicks.

We shall not forget

When I was little, the Friday before Memorial Day, my elementary school had an outdoor assembly on the hill that overlooked the blacktop where the flagpole stood. Each class would have a representative read a poem or story about the cost of freedom. The one that stands out most in my mind is this one:

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Today is a day of remembrance - that we shall not forget the lives of those lost at wars here and overseas.

As May winds down

This has been on my dishwasher for a few weeks now. I have no idea what it means. Lindsay is not a duck? Lindsay does not have to duck? Lindsay doesn't like ducks? Very confusing. Hopefully she will learn to spell some more words soon so that this may be clarified.
Lindsay and the little sisters of Lauren's teammates at a game in Basking Ridge. It was too foggy that day to watch the game, and Lindsay and the girl wearing the matching shirt disappeared in a cloud for a while. Good times.

We went to Bergen County Zoo on Lindsay's birthday, which is a small zoo within a county park. It took maybe an hour and a half to see all the animals in the zoo. This was right before we left, the girls didn't want to pose.

Lindsay's favorite present - Barbie doll Trichelle. Still amazed that Grampie knew which Barbie she wanted.

Lindsay making her own pizza on her birthday. Pizzeria Uno offered her a job. Trufax.

Lindsay cheesing it up at the spring concert.
Lauren, ready to head to her concert.
Edison Xtreme sporting their home colors. They finished their first season 6-3-1.

Lindsay's school party

On Fridays, her class rides trikes around the school. Lindsay got to be the line leader:Lindsay also got to tell her teacher all about her - how old she was going to be tomorrow, what she wants for her birthday, and what her favorite food is.
Lindsay and her class doing the birthday bop:

Springtime

I wish I'd managed to capture how many deer crossed this field - it had to be close to 30, all does with their fawns. I've never seen that many deer in one place, and so unconcerned about the people around. Amazing.
I captured this on a walk through the park yesterday - I'd been waiting for the ducklings and goslings to make their debut - and here are some very fuzzy-looking babes. They had 8 babies. Oh my goodness!

Mother's Day in Boston

We had a great day. We left early in the morning by car to join Alec in Boston - he had to be there for a conference. We enjoyed springtime in this fun city. Since we stayed at the Park Plaza, we spent the afternoon of our first day there in the Public Garden. We rode the swan boats, went on a carousel, and the girlies got soaked in a sprinkler. We walked back to the hotel via Tremont and Boyston Streets so that the girlies could see Emerson - the college that Alec and I met at, and Alec and Grampie graduated from - Lauren thought this was pretty cool, well...she was also freezing because of the sprinkler. We got changed, and headed out for a Mother's Day dinner at Legal Seafood. A pretty awesome day.

Yoda, contemplating bathtime