In the Moment

February Retreat

Our bi-annual Scrapbooking retreat was fun!  We stay at the same house we've been at for the last couple of retreats, right near the water.  I didn't get out much this retreat. It was just too cold and I couldn't motivate myself to get out there.  It's colder by the water, you know...

We began this trip with breakfast at a place near our new favorite scrapbooking store in Massachusetts, Right at Home Scrapbooking.  We had one that we loved on the Cape but it closed so the closest one we could find was RAH, closer to us, actually, in Attleboro, MA.  Most of us met for breakfast beforehand because the scrapbooking store didn't open until 10 AM.  So we ate breakfast and took our time and was at the store right when it opened.  

Tammy (a newbie), Cynthia, Pam, Anna and Shai.  Mary couldn't make it and Judy had Jury Duty.

They have tons of paper...

Mary was able to meet us at the store.  

And this store also allows you to take photos of their idea pages, which we love!

And then we "caravaned" to the Cape together in 4 cars, Shai's, Cynthia's, Pams and mine. 

Hard at work

This house has so many windows, the natural light just shines in.  I just love natural light.

This trip we did something a little different, great idea Mary.  At January's crop Mary brought up the idea that we should do something different.  Her idea was for everyone to pick up an item and to present it to a person for a specific activity/reason.  It could be something silly, funny, etc.  We all decided that the limit should be $10.  We can always find scrapbooking supplies on sale!  The gifts were given out over the entire weekend.

I'm not sure if I remember all the reasons but here are what some of them were...

Cynthia got a paper pack from Tammy for thinking that her phone was ringing when it was actually a song on the radio.

I gave Pam, borders, tape runners and decoratives for being the first one up that morning.

Shai got paper and large letters from Pam for being the first one to leave the house (she brought her supplies in the house and left to go get groceries for her meal).                      

Judy got sports paper from                    and Santa hat brads for                

Aren't those Santa hats just adorable? 

Anna got a scratch ticket and a Michael's gift card from Mary for              

Tammy got a pack of paper from                          for                              

Mary got this awesome bag (you know me and bags) from Judy for being the person who left the house the most (most of the time it was for exercise so it was for a good reason).  

I got a stitch piercer and embroidery thread from Shai for being the person who received and texted the most.  

Our group picture.

Happy Birthday, Jenna & Hannah!

Jenna turned 14 this year. And for some reason, I keep saying she is 13, I just can't get over how fast these kids are growing up. Maybe because 14 is closer to 16 and I don't want her to be there yet???

We had our gathering with Rob's family at our house and celebrated Hannah's birthday as well.  Hannah's birthday is a little later in the month and she turned 11.  She gets along very well with Alyssa.  They are such good buddies...being only 6 months apart.

And you can see this little guy can't wait to get his hands on a piece of cake.  :)

It was also my birthday as well, so all of us girls took a picture together.

 Happy Birthday to All of Us!

Happy Birthday, Rob!

Rob had to work extra on his birthday.  He came home after work, then had to go right back an hour later because of the play at the school that evening.  He is the sound person and has to be at all plays/musicals, etc.  Job security, eh?

So I made one of his childhood dinners, goulosh.  Don't ask where the name came from but basically it's a spaghetti dinner except with rice instead of pasta.  

When he got back from the play we had ice cream cake, a favorite in our family.  We also invited Bob, Chaylee and Evelyn back to celebrate with us.  Evelyn was in the play so they were all over there.  It was nice that they came over.  

And Bob, Rob and I had a shot in Rob's honor for his birthday.  

Happy Birthday, Babe!  I hope you enjoyed your day!  xoxox

Celebrating...

Father's Day - Dept. of Agriculture and Fishing, Jamestown, RI.

Rob went fishing while Lina laid on a blanket reading and Alyssa and I went to explore on the rocks. Jenna was in Vermont with her friend Kayla.

While we were there some boating event was happening.  It was beautiful.

This is near the place we stopped for ice cream.

Later on that day, we met up with Steve & Lana back at our house.  We celebrated the Dads.  Lana and I made supper while the boys played with the kids in the gym and the playground.  

Later that evening we sat by the fire and roasted marshmallows and had s'mores.  Jason brought Jenna home that evening from Vermont) and relaxed by the fire with us for a little while.

Hannah, Alyssa, Myles and Jason.

Jack

Myles, Kayla and Jason

Hollyn

 Jenna and Kayla got Henna tatoos on their hands.

Lana and Hollyn (amidst the smoke)

 Landon

Landon and Steve (Uncle Fribble)

My favorite picture of the night.
 

Gordon School Centennial.

The kids' school turned 100 this year.  The celebration was Columbus weekend and there was a bunch of festivities.  Alumni night Friday @ Dave & Busters, a mini carnival on Saturday and a wonderful adult only evening under the tent with music celebrated with friends and colleagues of Rob's.  They showed pictures, gave out recognitions and had a slide show of the teachers and kids.

 Some of the activities...

Pumpkin Decorating

Chaylee, Alyssa and Isabelle

Meghan, Mia, Alice and Lina

Norma and her son

Hula hooping

high/low fives

They made a brick walkway.  You could buy a brick and have it engraved.  We bought one for Lina since she graduated and Rob's aunt bought one for him in honor of him.

Alyssa and Madeline

and they had some rockin' music.

The adult only evening party was held under the tent.  Above is Jai and her Mom.

Jamie & Liza

Siobhan, Kay and Paola

Kim & Linda

Marianne and Irene

Martha, Ralph (headmaster), Dorothy (ex-head-mistriss) and her husband

It was a very nice night.