Hawk!

Our book tells us it's a broad-winged hawk (a heavily marked light juvenile). Sitting on a branch in the backyard, hunting. I wanted to follow it, and maybe get an in-flight picture... but it was way too fast for me.

Monkey tricks

Ricardo hung up a trapeze for Julia in our back yard:






And here's Stella's latest trick:

Stella, sleeping

Bath time

Julia helping to wash Stella (it's just water in the bottle):


What is this bath thing?


Ready to come out:

The end of Julia's first year of preschool

Julia's school had a party to celebrate the end of the school year (her last day is today).

Here's Julia standing by the easel, wearing the pink shirt and red head-band. Her favorite teacher, Miss Natasha is sitting down (black shirt, black hair).


Julia chatting with her best friend Hannah under the easel (Stella and I are by the window).


The school invited a guy from "Curious Creatures" to come put on a show for the kids. He brought all kinds of interesting animals to show the kids, and the kids got to pet them all, except for the tarantula. Here's Julia about to pet one of the snakes (yes, I also got to touch it):


As the guy was encouraging the kids to pet the animals, one of the kids said: "No thanks, I'm not one for petting." So funny...

Stella, 4.5 months old

Some more recent pictures of Stella... she is getting so big!



She started sucking her thumb recently:


Little hands, little feet, little baby:




Julia always loves to hold her little sister:

Coventry Farmer's Market reopens

The market has reopened for the season.

As usual, it's more than just food. For example, Julia got to ride a horse (named Axel Rose). She seemed to really enjoy it.

She also got to buy a Johnnycake muffin from the "Muffin Man".

Vinnie and Dudley finally met an animal taller than Dudley...

Stella also had a good time.

Hartford Greek Festival

Just like last year, we went to the Hartford Greek Festival for a nice evening of Greek food, some music, and then a walk in the park.

The girls, dancing to some Greek music.

Then some relaxation, mosquitoes, and baklava, in the park.

Acadia 2010 (Part 2 of 2)

Another beautiful day in Acadia. Julia hiked all the way up Day Mountain, then down on the other, then all the way around on the carriage path. A good 3.4 miles or so (>5 km). Since the alternative would be for me to carry her, I was very relieved (Julia is heavier than she used to be... and I'm not in very good shape).

The girls at the summit of Day Mountain.

Some decorations that Julia picked for me.

Cutie pies.

Back at the cabins, two little plumbers were picking shells.

Julia was really happy to have friends to play with.

Enjoying a sunset.

With vôvô.

The next morning, walking around Jordan Pond (again, Julia managed to do the whole walk by herself!).

Taking a break near a bridge, with vóvó.

And then some popovers, with jam.

Yet another hike, this time along the Ocean Drive trail. Sand Beach is in the distance.

She loved playing in the water at Sand Beach.

But it was too cold for anything more than ankle-deep.

Then back at the cabins for a last evening in Acadia.

BBQ fresh fish, salad, and a bottle of wine.

A last little game with Rosie (Julia's already wearing pajamas).