June 2018 - visit to RI

After NH, we tootled down to Rhode Island for the next part of our trip.  First up, Mystic Seaport with Mom, where there was a wonderful Viking exhibit in their (new, I think) exhibit hall.

The exhibit of Aker-Rucks was noticeably less impressive.

Nifty water reflections....

off this Viking ship, which was unfortunately not open to tour when we were there.

Mormor and kids!

We visited Henry at the nursing home - he's doing wonderfully there.  Well, as wonderfully as can be expected with Alzheimer's progressed to this level.  The nurses interact socially constantly with the patients, which keeps them from getting lost inside their heads.  Mom's life is starting to expand again, which is a very good thing.  I thought I knew the meaning of the word "bittersweet" before this, but the word really hits you at a different level watching Henry's progression.  Because we grew up far from all extended family, I never personally experienced watching a family member age before now, we visited grandparents only once every 5 or so years.  Its humbling.

William's good friend Debbie Ohi was, out of the blue, in New England doing a book signing tour for her newest children's book (she's the illustrator).  While the kids and I went one way, mom and William went another way to the reading/signing.  I adore this picture.

We hooked up with Neen and Dani at the first of several soccer games on our travels, then gallumphed back to mom's house for dinner.  I don't recall precisely, but I think Dani's team won!  Mom and Dani had a nice chat:

Iain was amused.

Ria's nugs played with Mormor's Lemon, the yellow dinosaur.

Pool noodle joy in a friend's pool:

And 3 of us flew home, as William jetted off to Ireland & England.

June 2018 - visit to NH

So, in the crazy schedule of the California school system, the last day of school was 1 June, and we were almost immediately off to visit New England.  First up, Eva's family in New Hampshire at the inestimably nifty Crow's Nest Campground.

Needless to say, the weather wasn't California style early June, so we had fun in the games hall.  Ria worked on her basic billiard skills while Iain practiced his Mad Skillz.

We snagged Björn and Eva for a little outing - this is the longest wooden bridge in the US (according to the lovely plaque), and the longest 2-span covered bridge in the world!  Whee!

We went to the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, which had a pretty nifty display.  Below is a cool short lacrosse stick with the bucket made of a turtle shell -- I hadn't known that lacrosse's origins were from the Native American tribes.

This huge rug was made from moose, with the designs (I think, memory hazy) made from porcupine quills.

The funky grandfather corn had a small husk around each kernel of corn.  I think the more modern versions are easier to eat, but it would be cool to know the flavor of original corn.

Taco night!  Mexican & Tex-Mex are awesome for the gluten intollerant.

And, for dessert, marshmallows / smores at the campfire.  YUM!

Cousins!

Andy looks thoughtful and intelligent while William defends his marshmallow from the invading wife hoards.

The weather finally started warming up the day we left.

June 2018 - end of school and start of summer

Ria is the queen of the June blog post - pictures galore as she finished 5th grade and graduated from elementary school.  Here she is with Mrs. Bassett, her teacher (the one trying to get taller on her tippy toes!), and with Ms. Purvi, her classroom aide.  It was a great year!

Mr. Chesley, the principal, gave her her certificate

Through the tunnel of hands!

And with this year's inclusion specialist, Adelina.

Back home, games were played

Extreme annoyance was had at offensive graphing techniques (AAARRRGGGHHH!)

Cats were cute

Boys cleaned up the cards they dropped

Girls enjoyed cute kitties

Girls improved their chopstick skills (Iain's elbow had lunch too....)

Ooh, proof of Iain again!

And a cool dragonfly.

May we have May, please?! (May 2018)

Wow!  It looks like I might just meet my goal of having the blog up to date BEFORE school pictures come in September!!  Only a few more weeks to go, though, and months of busy to document.

May was similar to the previous 4 months, in that it was pretty non-stop, full of crazy busy. School ended on June 1st this year, so all the end of school year crazies were happening, amped up with 5th grade graduation from elementary school.  Middle school for Ria in the fall!! 

With Henry now in the nursing home, mom was able to visit for the first time in years.  She had some quality time reading with a cat and Iain:

Out for yummy tapas!

Watching Ria at karate

... and getting awards at school.

Watching Iain and friend Sarah doing aikido (Iain is allergic to wearing a gi, but they don't mind).

Also, when mom was here Ria had her last session of occupational therapy, as she had kind of plateaued with the progress she was able to make there. We had a little party with Jenny, her OT, and brought a GF cake to share at a mini-party.

When mom wasn't here, Ria had her 5th grade band concert,

5th grade Colonial Days, in which she particularly liked the dancing,

and 5th grade park day w/ bubbles.

The cats continued to be cute, and Iain cleared out some super tall dead bamboo canes

Finally, William got to see a talk by Kari Byron, one of the MythBusters!