A Perfectly Perfect Day...

Today we quite spontaneously decided to go to the Saratoga Race Track. Actually, it was our little giveback to Grace for all the time she's spent on the lacrosse field since May when the season began. She majorly deserved this day of "horse fun". This was her first trip to the track and it was great to share in her excitement. The fun started right away when we were parking the car and she saw all the horses in their stalls. She was SO excited, turning heads with her squeals of delight out the window from the back seat.

Little did she know what lay ahead. Awe set in again as we walked to the gate and she watched the thoroughbreds getting their baths from the grooms.

Today was "Hats Off to Saratoga Day" where the ladies wear their fancy hats to the track. We did our best, but it was a lame attempt compared to others. Perhaps next year I'll get out my hot glue gun and really do it right.

At the gates, ready to buy our tickets...

Girls in Hats, what fun!

When we got inside she played on the playground, ate some yummy track food (I suggest the sausage and peppers personally), checked out the bathroom (she was amazed at the lady handing out towels and candy), people watched...

...need I really say anything?

Then, finally, the first race started. She must've asked a million, no two million, questions. Thankfully, she's only four 'cuz I know zip,zero, nada, about racing. But in her eyes, I knew EVERYTHING. Oh how, I miss those days with the boys, lol!

And their off...!

Equally fun to our Grace was the cooling off walk where these gorgeous animals come up close and personal.

Or the Post Parade...

All in all, it was an awesome day at the track indeed. But, all good things must come to an end sooner or later. So to help soften the blow, we decided to take a stroll in Congress Park. Much to our delight the Shakespeare Actors were there performing Hamlet. So, naturally, we pulled up our chairs and enjoyed this wonderful talent. Miss Grace again, asked a million questions (mostly she needed translation, lol!). She was good up until the part where Ophelia died. Then when Hamlet got in the sword fight, she decided she couldn't watch any more. She kept hiding her eyes, then peeking out asking if it was over yet. It was half cute and half not when she just couldn't get the concept that they were REALLY just pretending.

Thankfully, when the play was done the actors strolled the lawn and she got to see that Ophelia REALLY was alive and well.

And Hamlet too...

Not wanting to end the fun times, we had a picnic dinner in the park too while we waited for a concert to follow. Naturally, we needed dessert too. So we strolled Broadway to find a potty yummy treat.

Thank you Coldstone Creamery!

No trip to the park would be complete without some photos our our little one in the beautiful evening light at the Canfield. Well done, Daddy!

Or some candids taken by our own budding photographer, Miss Grace...

Warm, beautiful summer days like this just make you wanna dance...

It just brings out the kid in all of us...

What a perfect day indeed!

Joyfully,
Kate-Lyn

Girls Day Out...

Yesterday I called Elizabeth's Mommy and asked if she was available to do something spontaneous. She (as I 90% expected) said, "Yes".  I love that about her! So we took Elizabeth and Grace to the "Spa City" or "the City in the Country". To most adults this beautiful city represents horse racing, gambling, our own Socialite Marylou Whitney, trying to catch a glimpse of a celebrity in August, entertainment on Caroline Street and shopping on Broadway.

Speed ahead to two good friends who are 3 and 4 years old. To them it has an entirely different meaning...

....like

Playing Ring-Around-The-Rosie in the Rose Gardens

Or...

Pretending to be movie stars at Yaddo

Or...

A smiled-filled ride on the historic carousel in Congress Park


And the best for last....

An ice cream at Ben and Jerry's on Phila Street

Ah, does summer get any sweeter than this?

"Best friends are the most important ingredient in the recipe for a happy and fulfilled life."
Author Unknown

A Lovely Place To Share...

We are fortunate to have an artist's retreat near our home. It provides peace, sanctuary, inspiration and fertile ground for musicians, filmmakers, writers, composers, photographers, sculptors and artists to create their masterpieces. To me it is a place where to reflect, to let your mind slow down and appreciate God's beauty all around.

Yesterday Grace and Daddy went there for the first time this year. Likely, the first time she truly remembers being there. She loved it and had some inspiration of her own as she shot these great photos

...of her Daddy.

...and of the pergola which has recently been lovingly restored to it's original grandeur



A few more shots from Daddy...

Welcome to the Garden!

Koi Fish

Cooling off by the fountain

Ah...oh so sweet!

Beauty to behold

A Lovely Place Indeed

Side Note: In August our travel group is coming to visit (I'm SO excited!!!) and I have this on my list of "must do's". I CAN'T WAIT to shoot some photos of the girls in this lovely setting! Did I mention how utterly, overwhelmingly excited I am that we will ALL be together again??!! Somebody give me a pill!!

Only 37 more days, but who's counting...?

Fourth of July 2010

The Fourth of July is my second favorite holiday of the year. Christmas comes first of course. I guess what makes the Fourth so special is because it encompasses so many significant elements of life for me.

Things like...

Freedom

though it doesn't come for free by any means. Yesterday I said "Goodbye and God be with you" to one of Ryon's good friends who leaves for Afghanistan on the 21st of this month. He's 19 years old. He's flying a world away to defend his country. He's one of SO many who choose this honorable duty. I am humbled by his commitment and those who have gone before him. I am grateful for those who we owe so much to. And their families who sacrifice too for their countries sake. May God keep each and every one safe and hold them in His grip until they return home.



Family

 in all of my Forty-something years I have spent this holiday at the lake. OK, technically I missed one when I was 15 to take a trip to Florida with my sister. In our family the Fourth of July = time at the lake, a parade, a BBQ

Cousin's Looking for Lucky Clovers

Getting Ready for the Beach

The Parade

And Friends...!

Ross and Bob

Fishers of Minnows

Sweet and Sweeter

The Mom's Club

"Father" John leads the masses

 

A Merry Group Indeed!

Joshua Ryan...

This year was Joshua Ryan's senior year. He's one year younger than our Ryon and I have so enjoyed watching these cousin's grow, share and walk through life together. As with all kids time just flies. I remember the day he was born, the day he first walked, his first day of Kindergarten, his first crush (it was his first grade teacher), his first girlfriend,and the day he got his license. But most fondly, I remember how his birth changed my Sisters life forever. He was her first Grandchild. She's his Grammy. He's the center of her world.

Congratulations Joshua, the world is your canvas, color it something beautiful.

Congratulations Grammy, your little guy is all grown and ready to fly.

Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.
Martin Luther King Jr.

Whew! What a week, what a weekend...

In a word, lacrosse. Lot's of lacrosse--and lots of rain. Hence, not a lot of photos.

I'll spare the details but suffice it to say that from Friday to Sunday I've logged over 28 hours on the lacrosse field (or enroute from one to the other). So has Miss Grace. She's a trooper. Not one complaint despite the rain, despite the waiting, despite the wet feet, despite the soggy clothes. She just does it. She does it for her brother, who is her bud. Actually she calls him "Cocoa". When he's not on the field he IS her horse. She rides on his back, she puts "saddles" on him, she trains him, you get the idea.

However, this weekend was a defining moment.She won a girls lacrosse stick at a tournament.

From the moment she has held this stick in her hand, she's been so proud of her new possession. But the best part is she has an awesome trainer, Ross. Can you imagine his relief to now have a little break from being Cocoa?! Now that the rain has subsided (at least for one day) I took a few shots of training "in session". Funny how the tables have turned :)

Learning to scoop and cradle...

Shooting on the goal. What form, she sure has learned alot from those sidelines!

On Tuesday Miss Grace had her Celebration Picnic (inside because of the rain-of course) as she wrapped up her first year of Preschool. It was too cute for words. They performed three songs then received gifts from their teachers. I sure will miss these sweet teachers who have made her year SO special!

The Performance

Lovely Parting Gifts and Class Photo

Oh, how we will miss these lovely, talented, sweet, nurturing, fun, lively, did I say sweet, teachers!


**side note** See that faraway look on Miss Grace's face? She is s-t-a-r-v-i-n-g as she was so excited she did not eat breakfast. The helpers are putting lunch out and I could not get her to focus on anything but FOOD, lol!

After lunch and much livelier indeed with her best bud Olivia

What precious days these are...they go by so fast. Thank God for photos and for blogs.

Wistfully,

Kate-lyn

May in review...

Whew, where does time go?! I am SO overdue so I'll try not to ramble...all right I may ramble a bit.

Our month started with lacrosse season in full swing. Ross is becoming quite a player, if I may brag a bit. His coach has really helped him reach new heights this year. This a new coach and he's awesome! He has required that the boys give their best, and only that, nothing less. He's encouraged them to work hard on areas where they need to build skill. Then, he notices when they've improved and pushes them to work even harder. He tells them stories of successes and failures, of heroes and those who have let their dreams slip away. He's not just building a team, he's helping build character and tenacity by pushing them to never give up, no matter how hard the fight.

This month we have also made some new friends and each Friday have been getting together for some playtime. Miss Grace, of course, looks forward to Fridays!

And, to my family's joy (and relief, I'm sure) I have finished my schooling, whew!

Then, of course there is the first annual (long awaited!) trip to the lake for Memorial Day...

Quite memorable was Monday morning. We all awoke to the smell of smoke thinking it was our still smoldering campfire. But upon fully waking, we realized it was not, and that it was truly smoke hovering all over our property. After some research (thank you Paul) we realized that it was several h-u-g-e brush fires burning in Montreal, yes Canada, that was spewing smoke all the way down to the Adirondacks. To get some perspective, that would be about a 2 1/2 car ride!

Here is a photo of the visibility at the lake on Sunday...

 And then on Monday...quite memorable indeed!

 June is in full swing and we have much to look forward to. Miss Grace finishes her first year at Preschool, Ross graduates from Middle School (sheesh--how did that happen so quickly!) and he also begins some serious lacrosse training at a local university--pray for his safety pu-leeze!

Loving Summer and reading now for pleasure (no more textbooks!)...

Kate-lyn