RACE DAY!! The Team Hoyt 5K.

Brian (friend) and Jared post-race! Great job, guys!!

This is the annual 5K that Jared likes to do for Team Hoyt (www.teamhoyt.com). And before the race, they have a Kid's Fun Run, which the boys LOVE. They earned a "medal" and a coupon for a free Friendly's ice cream. Very exciting! This year, our friends from church, the Dawson's met us there. It was great. Following the 5K, there's pizza, drinks, snacks, casual games & general family fun. It's a great evening with the family!

Tucker (friend), Jonah & Merrik getting ready to race!

Merrik & his escort/coach (OK, it's me) getting ready to cross the finish line!

A speedy Jonah (front right, blue shirt, khaki shorts) approaches the finish line!

WE'RE # 1 !!!

The Kid's Fun Run is so cute. They have a police escort as they race half-way around the block and around the sponsoring building. I'm such a sap, of course, and things like this bring tears to my eyes! It's just such a treat for the kids, they love it & it's fun to watch them have fun! AND it's for a good cause. Thank you Team Hoyt, and God Bless!

Slliiiiiip! Slip-n-slide!

Jonah's approach and leap!

(Yes, we've added a Shark Slip-n-slide to our new backyard! Since the boys loved the one at Uncle Tim & Auntie Kat's house SO much, it seemed like a good idea.)

Mid-slide!

And the resulting exit - thru the mouth of the shark!

And here's the ONE photo Merrik "allowed" me to take of him! (my shy guy)

I'm so glad that we got this slip'n'slide for the boys! I'd originally gone to the store with the idea of getting a cool kiddie pool, since the one we'd had a few summers back in Agawam was so great. However, once the boys saw this, there was NO going back. And I am thrilled with the change in choice. This is completely their thing. The running, the jumping, the sliding, the splashing, the running, jumping, sliding, running, jumping, splashing,running (you get the picture). THIS is what they needed to expend that energy & fill the hot summer afternoons with joy & laughter. THANK YOU Slip'n'slide manufacturers.

A Toothless Wonder!

A proud moment! Jonah did it - he shed his 1st AND 2nd baby tooth/teeth. :)
Above: Before, with all 20 baby teeth neatly in place.
Below: Bottom 2 teeth conveniently "removed" (we'll call it)...

... Jonah proudly showing his new look!

So the story goes like this:
After a month or two of a somewhat wiggly bottom tooth, one day in May, Jonah made the "mistake" (?) of showing Jared how extremely wiggly his tooth now was. SO Jared decided the tooth had to GO. We all filed upstairs to our bathroom where Jared proceeded to "lasso" the tooth with dental floss. However, Jonah wouldn't hold still long enough for Jared to attempt the extraction that way. It did, however, cause some "disruption" in the gums, which then started to bleed a little. So Jared, under the guise of wanting to simply "dab" the blood and saliva out of Jonah's mouth and away from the offending tooth, Jared grabbed a tissue and wrapped it around the tooth. After waiting the obligatory 5 seconds, to confirm the task at hand, Jared made an executive decision. With a quick jerk, the tooth was no longer attached but was now resting in said tissue. With a look of concern/fear/confusion, Jonah looked at Jared as Jared proclaimed, "What?! What just happened? Look what's in my tissue!!" Jonah stared in awe, ran to the mirror & immediately showed off his toothless grin! (...and... a quick repeat for tooth # 2 and that was that!) It was quite a scene. Merrik is of course now asking when he will loose a tooth and get a visit from The Toothfairy!

OH - the TOOTHFAIRY! So, that night, the teeth were placed neatly under Jonah's pillow. The following morning, which would've otherwise been a quiet Sunday morn, Jonah came bouncing into our bedroom at 6:00am, literally yelling, "LOOK WHAT THE TOOTHFAIRY BROUGHT ME!!!!", whilst waving his monetary treasure for all to see. In spite of being torn from a peaceful sleep, it was very cute!

A Home of our Own!!

~ Home Sweeet Home ~

The Cowden Family Homestead!!!

... AND after only 8 years of house hunting, 5 different realtors (Bless their hearts!), and multiple towns in 2 states, FINALLY a home of our own!!! YAY!!!

COME VISIT ANYTIME!
The door is always open.

Enjoying North Carolina!

Jonah thinks he's a teenager & should be able to pick up his "little" cousins. Here he is w/ Tyler, who's 3&1/2. Cute! (this was at 1 of the 2 graduation ceremonies for my bro)
Slliiiiiipp! Slip-n-slide!

...it has multiple uses. Thirsty?

Alli (me) with my adorable twin nephews - Ben (on the left) & Dan.

Rachael & I have had to relinquish the Burton Twin thrones to these two! It's a good thing they're cute!! :)

Watching Jared play w/ all the kids on the trampoline, us grown-ups (if you can call us that) realized that all the youngest grandkids here are BOYS!!

Jonah still couldn't let go of the whole saluting idea. :) So here's to you, strawberries of North Carolina. You are so yummy. And we salute you.

Merrik w/ his bucket 'o berries.

The Fam. (poor Merrik looks like he's about to sneeze - bless you!) I've made the long drive south to visit family many, many times & it's usually just the boys & me. So this time, we were THRILLED to have Jared with us! Yay!

Arrg! Shiver Me Timbers!

M & Jonah were invited to a Pirate birthday party. Man, were they disappointed to have to dress the part! ...needless to say, they had a super fun time!

Quabbin Reservoir!! Google it. :)

Another favorite hiking spot - the Quabbin Reservoir!

If you google this, you'll find all kinds of really cool historical facts. But the gist of it is - this huge reservoir supplies Boston & it's surrounding towns with water. Back in the 1930's, 4 Massachusetts towns were leveled, burned & flooded to create this amazing reservoir.
We brought Flat Jake so he could learn all about it!
This is above one of the dams that supports the reservoir.