Southold Day 3

Nice weather can really improve a day out in Southold so we were glad we got one.  Joe woke up around 7 and headed out the door saying Uncle Scott said to wake him up. So pancakes with Scott was the first activity. It wasnt soon after that we were headed to the beach. Joe was determined to build a sand castle with a moat just like he heard from the "Moe and Sara" story Ted told him the night before.  So he dug and scooped various structures, sometimes while wearing his snorkel mask. He was convinced to go back to the house for lunch and soon after we all went to Greenport. He rode the carosel three times and even geabbed a few brass rings.  We also went and toured a fire boat that was as old as Grandpa, and stopped in at the tiny nautical museum.  When we got back to the red house Joe, Scott and Ted took out the kayak for a little spin collecting some clam shells on the little island across the water.  After that everyone enjoyed time on the porch.  He greeted Aunt Susie and Uncle Les with big hugs and showed Susie how his ipad worked.  There was one last trip to the beach to swing with Nick and look at shells and sit in a big hole in the sand.  Back at the house just as dinner was ending Aunt Mary Jo arrived (also greeted first with a big hug from Joe).  Over dessert Mary Jo asked Joe to read to us, so he got a "Harry the Dirty Dog" book and read the whole book to the room. By then the little man was done and asked to go to bed, upon whichhe requested another Moe and Sara story at the beach, "but a different one."

Southold Day 2

There is nothing quite as disappointing as a rainy day in Southold, but that is what we had so we made the best of it.  The boys were up early so they took a walk along the beach before the rain kicked in.  They collected fun looking shells along the way and watched the seagulls. After pancakes by Grandpa Tom, we headed over to Orient Point (or as Ted talked it up for Joe-the end of the world) to collect a few souvenir stones for Julie, and by then the rain was there to stay. Back at the house Joe played with silly glasses, did a puzzle, and explored the attic. Joe found 3 Berenstein Bears books so he clambered up on a bed to read one, and Ted found a painting and some jam jars. After lunch Ted took Joe on a drive. By the time they got to Horton Point lighthouse Joe was asleep, so they did a car nap for a while, and when Joe awoke he dragged himself out to look at a lighthouse still half asleep. They stopped off at the grocery store to get sugar and gelatin and then drove to a farmstand for strawberries and rhubarb, and finished with an ice cream cone too big to finish. 

Back at the little red house Joe went back to playing when Lynn found a bag of balloons for him and Ted settled in to make a batch of jam. Grandpa Tom took everyone out for a nice dinner, probably the nicest restaraunt Joe has ever been in.  All things considered Joe did well. Plain pasta and lemonade were procured for Joe, and there was a guitar duo to serve as entertainment. The pinnacle of the evening was when Joe had tied his napkin around his neck and had fingers in his ears because the music was too loud. Back at the house Joe tried all his silly games on Lynn and Grandpa Tom while everyone waited for Aunt Kate, Uncle Scott, and cousin Nick to arrive. Only then could the little boy finally go to sleep. 

Southold Day 1

Joe and Ted are on their big trip to NY to visit the family home in Southold one last time before it is sold.  Their adventure started with a full day of travel on Thursday. Joe was a trooper through the long lines and long layover and car ride. We amused ourselves with books and playing with Monkey.

While the Boys Are Away. . .

The Birds will play. Joe and Ted left for Long Island this morning, and Julie and Clara already miss them.  In an effort to cheer themselves up, after Clara's swimming lesson tonight, they went to a Mexican restaurant in the same strip mall called El Patron.  It's been there maybe ever since we moved here, and Julie figured now was as good a time as any to give it a whirl.  Brigade, they were playing the equivalent of Mexican MTV.  Imagine the way videos looked in the 70s--before MTV--but in Spanish, and you've got it.  Birdie loved it.  She was dancing in the booth.  And, there was a waitress who was singing softly as she worked.  We have mentioned that Clara moves through life to a soundtrack of song? Kindred spirit in the waitress it would seem.

Now the birds are home and Julie has said that Clara can sleep in the big bed while Joe and Daddy are in Long Island.  When Julie announced this to her, Clara said, "For the whole night?!" The Birds agreed that three animals could accompany Clara to the big bed.  She selected Elsa, Anna, and a baby from the basket of babies in the green onsie.  (This last is a bit of a dark horse.)

Sweet dreams, Long Island.

Missing you in Minnesota.

Chess Class

Monday was, of course, Joe's last Monday of kindergarten.  For most Mondays of the year, he had chess after school, but that ended a couple weeks ago.  So this past Monday, Ted ducked out of work early to get Joe at "parent pick up."  Joe emerged from the school in a sea of kids but quickly caught Ted's eye and spied the bike with tagalong, which Joe loves to ride home.  Upon arriving home two minutes later, Ted asked what Joe wanted to do, but Joe had no ideas, so Ted suggested a bike ride to get ice cream, to which Joe was quick to agree.

So off they went along the trails for about 20 minutes until reaching the Galaxy Drive In (formerly Wagner's which was old school cool, but is now a burger drive in by the creator of Rainforest Cafe so it's overly kitchy). The boys each got a shake (strawberry for Joe, oreo for Ted) and ate in silence until the last slurp.  Joe wasn't even done with the last bite when he got off his stool and ran to go see the giant chess board.  So they set up a game and played.  Ted managed a victory, but maybe because he wasn't skipping around the tables between turns. So Joe got his chess lesson after all. 

Then they saddled back up and road back home, stopping briefly to collect Clara.

Both boys wish every Monday went like this.