Formatting

Perhaps if I had gone to computer camp like my father had wanted me to all those years ago, instead of going on that stupid pilgrimage to the convent in Boston, I would be able to successfully post a blog that doesn't have ginormous gaps, misplaced photos and off-center text.

I apologize for the look of my posts...perhaps I should just go back to photo-less posts...can't do much to screw those up...perhaps.

And just in case you were wondering, the pilgrimage to the convent was a disaster and all that holiness didn't do much for me anyway...

Independence Day

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!

Emily hates loud noises so much of the day was spent with her fingers stuck firmly in her ears.







From almost the moment we sat down till we got up to leave, Em's fingers were in her ears.



Parades, candy, snaps, fireworks and sparklers...it was a beautiful day and we all had a great time!
Happy Birthday, America!

School's Out!!!

This school year went so fast!

We are so proud of how well Maria and Michael adjusted to their new school and new friends.

Even though nobody was "graduating" we wanted them to know just how proud we were at the efforts and progress they made this year.

The sound all the kids on the bus made when everyone saw the balloons and streamers made it that much more special for Maria and Michael.

Kerplink, Kerplank, Kerplunk

We went back to the berry patch this morning to pick blueberries!

Blueberries grow on bushes (or short trees) so it was much more pleasant than all the stooping down we had to do when we went strawberry picking last month.

Lucy had a great time! She had us all in stitches everytime she grabbed a blueberry, usually a still green one, held it up to her Daddy and asked, "I eat dis?"

10.5 pounds of blueberries is nothing to sneeze at and that's just what the Massa family collected! Grandma and Papa collected almost as much as well. We each probably ate almost as much as we collected to bring home. Lucy may have even eaten her weight in blueberries!

In case you were wondering what Kerplink, Kerplank, Kerplunk is all about, it comes from this book. "Blueberries for Sal" is a favorite in our family and we all highly recommend it.

Strawberry Saturday

We all had a great time strawberry picking with Grandma and Papa. Everybody's fingers and shoes were red by the time we left. Lucy didn't do any picking but she certainly sampled a lot!

A Cautionary Tale

Improper use of your toothbrush and dental floss can make you look and sound like these poor children...

So sad...

So Far, So Good

Summer has started off with a BANG!

We celebrated Memorial Day in a big way.

Michael, Nick and the rest of the local Boy Scout Troops placed flags on the graves of veterans at all the many local cemetaries. Next we attended a Veteran's Memorial ceremony at the cemetary across the street (road). Emily and Lucy were not fans of the 21 gun salute but I'm a big crybaby and get all choked up at any display of patriotism.

After that, we raced over to Hyde Park to watch a parade. Parades up here are a big deal to the kids...they're frickin MARDI GRAS! Parade marchers throw beads and, more importantly, CANDY to the people lining their route.

From Hyde Park we drove back to our 'hood for the Native American Festival at Bowdoin Park. The kids got a kick out of the people in traditional dress and all the yelling, drumming and stomping they did. We closed the day with a BBQ because, as my husband says, "It's the LAW!"

Sadly, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are both finished for the year, but what a year it was!

Michael did great in the Pinewood Derby, the Space Derby and the Rain Gutter Regata. He hiked along the Appalachian Trail, visited the Museum of Natural History, marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and sold popcorn and more popcorn and more popcorn. At the year-end picnic he graduated from cub scout to wolf scout and he (and we) couldn't be prouder.

Monday night was the Girl Scouts bridging ceremony where Maria graduated from Brownie to Junior. Maria had an AWESOME first year of girl scouts. After the past couple years of dealing with nasty "friends" in Astoria, Maria was welcomed, with open arms, by the sweetest bunch of girls into an already established Brownie troop. Maria and the girls had a sleepover at the Children's Museum, toured our local Shop Rite, learned about different cultures, met other troops, had a Father/Daughter bowling night, sang Christmas carols at the mall, marched in the St. Pat's parade, and sold Girl Scout cookies. Best of all, Girl Scouts allowed me and Nick to relive our youth at Family Skate at the roller rink. At her overnight camping trip the only thing Maria wasn't a fan of was the bugs (she used an entire can of bug spray in only 24 hours).

The little ladies and I have been keeping ourselves busy too.

Hopefully, once school lets out on the 25th, our summer continues to be a blast.