Dave's 75th Birthday Party 2016

Dave celebrated his 75th birthday! We've been talking about this one for a long time. Congratulations Dave!

Blowing out his candles with granddaughters Ellen, Lillian and Linny

Yay!

Partygoers enjoying the pond

Being serenaded by the Hyannis Sound acapella group

Yaya gets DOWN

Caroline and Katie having a great time

Ending on a romantic song for Dave and Dolores

Post-Christmas on the Cape 2014

We were just on the Cape for Thanksgiving, but since Kevin's brother Andrew came up from Florida for Christmas, and his cousin Katie came up from Baltimore... we put the kids in the car and went back up. Miranda was very unhappy to drive in the daytime. But we extended a trafficless drive that would have been 4.5 hours and got there in about 6 hours. We arrived in the afternoon of Friday, December 26, but they had so many presents waiting that it looks like it's still Christmas.

Opening presents with Great Grandma Ruth

You can see Great Aunt Nesie and Grandma Kathy in this one

Grandma handing James a camera from Aunt Katie

Helping Great Aunt Mary pass out some presents

Uncle Andrew in the back, Great Uncle Steve and Great Aunt Nesie with Miri

Miri modeling her new hat

Miri discovered Harry

Aunt Katie and Miranda looking angelic

Ooh, Uncle Andrew is so fun!

Saturday was a pretty full day too.

Selfie with Uncle Andrew

We took James for a little hike. I kept thinking he was going to fall over the edge.

Then I slipped on wet wood!

James got to go back out because the other kids were going to the park.

Nancy and Doreen came for a visit.

Miranda got really comfortable with Doreen

Nesie taught Miranda how to use an iPhone

And then Miranda had a little dinner date with Dave

Sunday was much quieter.

Miranda tried her new walker

Ellen "babysitting"

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More selfies with Uncle Andrew


Visiting with Great Grandma again


Bath and pajama time at Great-grandma's


Oh look who found James's firetruck

Monday, Grandma Kathy watched the kids for a little while so we could spend some quality time with Andrew. We went to lunch and then went for a walk on the beach.

West Dennis Beach

Bros

The sky did this.

Grandma says the two kid thing is easy.

• Our last visit to the Cape- Thanksgiving and more days
• Our last visit with Andrew- May 2014

Cape Cod- November 2014

We were actually in Cape Cod for a few days, so here are more pictures of how we spent the time there.

Wednesday- Miranda reacquainting herself with Grandma

James gets "jello"

We got some solo time with Miranda while James slept-over Grandma's

James spent a lot of quality time with Dolores's three youngest granddaughters: 

Ellen (7), Lillian (5-almost-6), and Beatrice (2-almost-3)

Miranda is chill with Dolores

If you don't let them have swords, they just make their owns!

Second round of the tournament

On Friday, Casey and his kids came to visit and stayed through Saturday afternoon.

James (3.5), Oliver (4), Miranda (.5), and Laurel (6.5)

Friday night dinner at Dolores and Dave's with Kevin A and Monica's family

Dave, Granda, Kevin, and Miranda 

Cute and yummy turkey cupcakes!

This is like 1985 all over again

Saturday morning chaos with 6 kids (bonus: Ellen and Lillian) and a dog Toby 

Then on Saturday before we left, we took the kids to visit my grandmother Catherine in Brewster, and Miranda met my Aunt Elaine, Uncle Richard, and cousin Griffin.

Miranda and Aunt Elaine meeting

Post-Christmas on the Cape 2013

So we stayed on the Cape for a full week, which was maybe longer than advisable, and possibly longer than anyone wanted us there. But we had so much fun!

James got to spend more quality time with Dolores's granddaughters Ellen (6.5), Lillian (almost 4), and Beatrice (almost 2). Ellen is a under-represented in the photos, especially since she practically babysat James one morning.

James with Lillian and Beatrice

James and Beatrice on a mini-Roundabout

James also spent a lot of quality time with Grandma, who among other things took him to the train store. He also had an afternoon with Aunt Mary doing puzzles and reading books, and an evening with Aunt Nesie doing holiday crafts and drawing.

At the train store- here comes the elf on the train!

James loves it

A little hands-on train time.

He also got a visit from his Great-great Aunt Barbara, and Grandma's cousin Mike and his wife Melinie, and their daughter (and Kevin's second cousin) Abigail who's close in age to James.

Grandma, James, Abigail, Melinie, and Mike

Kissing cousins James and Abigail

Kevin and I also got to go for an easy little hike at Fort Hill near the ocean and we saw two movies with Andrew. And a big highlight for me was our two trips to the 28 Club on our trip. Granted, I can't drink, but the company was so fantastic I didn't even mind. Tuesday evening Kevin, Andrew, Katie, Chris and I joined his uncle George, cousin Mike, and cousin Megan for a few quick drinks before dinner.

Saturday, my friend Jaime and Kevin's friend Casey came up and joined us for a family dinner and drinks at the 28 Club. Another one of Casey's friend James joined us too. Hilarity ensued. And I successfully drove everyone home despite being pretty rusty. We had a big sleepover.

Casey and Kevin enjoying drinks

Casey, Andrew, Kevin, me, Jaime

It was a wonderful break, and now we're looking forward to 2014-- the year we have our little girl and Kevin's short story collection gets published. Good things ahead! Happy New Year!