Visitors on the Lawn

Today we had several visitors.

First was the same little rabbit that keeps sitting in our garden (he is inside the cucumber cage). Just sitting there, we haven't seen him eat anything. We are not growing any carrots! He's been around a lot lately, and does not seem to very scared of us - that's going to change once Barkly comes back from Montreal.


And we also had some other (invited) visitors. Julia's buddy Rosie (with lid on her head) and parents. They even brought beer and ice cream! Woo-hoo! Thanks guys, it was fun.

(Jesse, Rosemary, Julia and balding Ricardo)

Stefan is NOT a Clown

Despite some people's opinion of him, we at "Roxana, Ricardo and Julia" officially state here that: Stefan is not a clown. Accordingly, please disregard the photo below.


(François & Clara, JF, Ricardo & Julia, and Stefan)

Also, Stefan, you were probably not scaring Julia in this picture.

Aiyana's Eyes

The nieces visited again, and Aiyana was in a much better mood (compared to this this time). :)

Camping in the Berkshires: Last Photos

The last few photos from our very pleasant camping weekend.

Marcia and Andy on a really big rock.
(Marcia's reaction at having her picture taken yet again: "boy, you guys are dangerous!")












Andy eyeing the monstrous dessert at the Freight Yard pub in North Adams. Other than this unreasonably large "sundae", the food was excellent (especially the fish n' chips).




From the Natural Bridge Park, a marble dam.


And the natural bridge.

Party Station!!

We invited the nieces for an improvised party today. No special occasion, but we had balloons and even party hats. Just an excuse to be silly.

Sena, staying close to her balloons while eating dinner.


Aiyana posing.


Julia had fun.


This is what Sena looks like when someone holding a camera asks her to smile.


Girls and balloons.


More girls and balloons. Sena would run around yelling "Party Station! Party Station!!" and we would all jump around and bump our balloons against each other.


Then we ran around on the grass.


Julia was quietly demonstrating her ability to stand by herself.


At the end of running around: Sena, Aiyana and Ed.


Julia even warmed up to Uncle Ed enough to have a closer look at that fuzzy stuff on his face.


Good party. We should do it again some time soon.

Camping in the Berkshires: Other Photos

Some more pictures of the Berkshires, from our camping trip.

The lake was covered in lily pads, which made it very unusual. Must be spectacular when they are in flower. Was pretty nice even now... :)










This is the "Picasso Lily Pad", photo by Andy.


A few more photos to follow tomorrow or the day after...

Camping in the Berkshires: Julia

We went to the Berkshires with Andy & Marcia for the weekend to enjoy the fine weather, the great outdoors, and to do a little camping.

We took many pictures. The following are some of Julia. Over the next day or two, we'll post other pictures from this beautiful location.

Friday night. Andy and the Little Pyromaniac, watching the fire.


Marcia and Julia in the morning.


Julia gettin' down and dirty.


Ready for the walk.


Resting after a morning of hiking.


Julia really seems to be enjoying flowers these days...


Not wanting to nap by herself.


At one of the lake beaches.


The crew, walking along North Pond loop.


A little stop in Northampton, where Andy lived when he was little. (we saw his old house, and the current resident even invited him inside!)


A good time was had by all. We don't get out camping enough lately, but maybe we'll have to go back soon...

Tons of Kids

We invited some friends and their parents over for a bbq last weekend. A good time was had by all!

Proud papa Gary, Claire, and 6-week old Bennett.


Tony, his hands full, with Maura and Anna.


After the rain started: the inddors scene, with kids running in all different directions.
Clockwise from bottom left: Rebecca and Bennett, Bret (the only person who could enjoy all the fun without having to change a diaper!), Jill, Maura, Anna (or is that the reverse?), Amalia (great name!) in pink, Claire looking at Sara and Abby.




Not the parties we think we remember having a few years ago... but still a lot of fun.

Reunions

We finally drove up to Montreal again, finally saw the folks again, finally saw Mariana after so many months, and finally met Dylan. We also finally saw JF, who was taking a break from working in Dubai. We finally introduced Julia to Francois, Marie-Soleil and Clara. We had a great time.

Cousins playing:


Mariana and Julia, had not seen each other in months.


Julia's curls:


Ta-daaa!! (Julia managed to take a coaster from Mariana)


An impromptu get-together: (left-to-right) "The Dylan" (aka Unky Dylan), Mariana, Marie-Soleil, François (the tallest of the group, but you can't tell from this picture), Clara, Julia (a little tired...), Roxana, Jean-François (in town for a few weeks), Stefan (aka "Palhaço"), Susi, Andrew, Benjamin & Ricardo.