8 on the 18th

P and I celebrated 8 years of marriage on October 18th. P took the day off and we went to Apple Hill to pick apples (there were none left to pick) and then headed over to Venezio Vineyards where we had our wedding reception. We try to go every year. As we were driving I was saying to Patrick that I just had no idea how they kept that place running - It is literally in the middle of no where. Sure enough as we pulled in there was a HUGE for sale sign. It just broke our hearts. Even worse they were closed that day. Each year the Venezio family gets to see how our family is changing and they did not this year. On a more positive not, Jack has turned into quite the little photographer and get this - Stenn doesn't make his heinous "cheeese" awkward smiles when the camera is on a timer!!! For those of you at the wedding - you can see the new vineyard they have grown behind us which was not there in 2003.

Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Tradition Continues!

Bishop's Pumpkin Patch!

Now that Stenn is old enough to really enjoy these types of things - it just MELTS my heart! They are such SWEET friends - they enjoy each other so much! The other day Jack told me that StennyBen was his best friend - Oh my heart . . .




look at this? are you kidding me?

Frankie's First Birthday Party

Let the Happy First Birthday Harvest Begin!!!!

There was apple bobbing...


and crafts.....


(can you believe this cabin in the woods and this front yard????)



and pin the stem on the pumpkin!!!

Fall is in the Air!

I can't believe it! Little Frankie Campi - Robin's son (the one I was so privileged to witness come into this world) is ONE today! My contribution to the party are the caramel apple favors! I think my friend Stacy would be proud!



Who are these two little skeletons??

If you know me - you know I LOVE FALL! On October 1st the boys and I worked tirelessly to create a Happy Halloween House! We have skeleton and eyeball lights, a gauzy ghost, a gigantic spider above the door to greet you and SO much MORE!

Last year I decided to go ALL BOY with my mantle - The boys LOVE it! It's so fun because both the boys get just as excited as I do with all the decorations! Every single time Stenn sees a Halloween decoration, whether it be in a store or around the neighborhood, as high pitched as he can he puckers his lips and lets out a HUGE "Woooooooooo" with a pointed finger to follow!


Gooooooo Torpedoes! (The banner is spelled incorrectly - apparently that's how the real Russian team spells it?)
We are so proud of Jack! Stenn's latest on the field - "Goooo Jack Gooooo!"


This is the kind of coach we have - every week Jack gets a letter in the mail filled with words of encouragement - She is amazing!

School & Soccer

Well Jack has been in school for six weeks now and I am just getting the pictures up! It's his second year at James Marshall and he ABSOLUTELY continues to love it! He is the big boy in the class this year - he is actually in the middle of the growth chart! Last year he was the smallest boy. He has a new teacher, Mrs. Brown who is wonderful. He goes 5 days a week! (But doesn't have to)

first day of school






SOCCER!

We were undefeated until last weekend. The Torpedoes have been on fire! It was just this last game that Jack really started to feel comfortable and really "get in there"! It's precious to watch:)

Hmmm - what's wrong with this picture? The kids on the side lines are not really on the sideline but under a tree - annnndddd where's Jack's team? Or should I say? Where is Jack?

The team and the ball were on the other side of the field completely! This was his first game!

Bringing Grandma Shirley back Home to Maine

Due to some computer issues I have not been able to post on the blog. After many weeks all is fixed!

Last month we brought Patrick's beloved Grandma Shirley back to York, Maine for her final resting place by her husband Stanley. There were so many pictures, I decided to make a slide show.

The trip was amazing. It took 23 three hours of LONG (two planes, one heinous RED-EYE, and a rental car) TRAVEL but was all worth it. The state line welcomed us with it's fantastic sign that reads "WELCOME TO MAINE - THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE." As soon as we saw that sigh s huge smile grew on our faces and the 23 hours was then a blur.And boy is that quote on that sign the truth. It is more and more magical there each time I go. I can only imagine being Patrick and his sister spending their summers and some Christmases there. It truly is amazing, relaxing, quiet, and really - the way life should be.

Grandma Shirley's service was beautiful. One of my favorite memories was her best friend raising her Manhattan with a beautiful smile on her face (which is rarely captured) toasting her precious friend at the luncheon. We enjoyed the beach, the houses (I am always overwhelmed with the beauty of the coastal York Beach houses), the flowers, the lobster and the lighthouse. I drove the boys to Boston where we went to the New England Aquarium and saw my old friend Cara who I used to work with at Regus when I met Patrick.

Bill send it perfectly at the funeral when he looked out at the congregation at Shirley's church and said "Thank you all for being here to welcome Shirley back home to Maine - this always was her favorite place!" I know she was looking down and was so happy to see all the relatives and friends gathered together. Sandy did a beautiful job honoring her mother :)

Many more posts to come - we have a lot to catch up on . . .