Brooktondale Baby Birthday Bash

Wow, it's been awhile. Gonna try to get back into this. I feel like it's a better way to communicate long form, but more so, I enjoy the journaling. Anyway, I have some pictures to post.

Last weekend, July 12-15, Mom and Dad and Simon joined us for the usual... food, festivities, and some hiking.

Simon and Abe got along marvelously and played and played and played and then... played some more.  Check out those tongues.  Hot dogs!

The main festivity was the third annual Brooktondale Babies Birthday Bash.  It was held at the B-dale community center.  I grilled, the kids played, and everyone seemed to have a good time.  Lots of people thanked me for grilling, but it's mostly a selfish act.  I am fond of saying that it's better for both parties when there is a fire between me and the rest of the world.

Emmett and Willa mostly playing nice at the tetherball.

Sarah and Emmett, and Margaret and Willa swinging together.

Dad is most comfortable seated above the fray.  We should have given him a whistle.

We had a good crowd and great weather.  The kids really played a lot.  When we finished, we cleaned up and headed home.

Of course we had to hit the farmers market.  On Sunday we planned to go get some breakfast at the market and then go to Havana Glen Park to swim at the Eagle Cliff Waterfall.

"Hmmm.  What are you guys having?  Can I have some of that, too?"

Sarah found this waterfall for us when she went to a friend's daughter's graduation party at the park earlier this year.  The park is a traditional style with baseball fields up front, a big playground and lots of pavilions.  There were a bunch of people in the park, but when we got there, there was almost no one in the swimming hole.  It was so fun, and great to go to a new place.

Sorting it all out.

Vinnie rolled in Sunday afternoon and we grilled some shrimp and corn and Sarah made some sautéed squash.  We had a great dinner together at the picnic table and hung out and chatted into the evening.  On Monday morning, Sarah and Emmett went to work, Vinnie and I packed, and Mom and Dad headed to Syracuse.  

Jackie sent some brownies with the resupply shipment for our trip.  We decided to share them out.  They were good.

Emmett got several tiger themed gifts for his birthday.  This one is a real stand out.

Next up, canoeing inside the blue line.

Meet Emmett Charles Harrington

Born at 4:54 AM on July 1, 2016

 Photo by Veneta

Smitten.  Photo by Sarah

ECH Stats: 9 lbs, 21 inches long, dark blue eyes. Photo by Veneta

Photo by Veneta

Postapalooza!

Thought we'd jump in on the posting fad.  Three or so will come up over the course of the weekend as I take breaks from my school work (read: procrastinate).

A couple weekends ago we celebrated Zhora's birthday with a picnic at Stewart Park.  Veneta was here and several of her friends from school came and brought their families.  Sarah and I went, too.  The spread was pretty great!

Bob and Zhora tended the grill.

Definitely family.

Zhora and I performed the electric slide.  This thing was brutal.  I got such a charge that every time I hit the ground the shock was startling.

After the third time, I asked Zhora, "Does this slide shock you, too?"

"Yup," she said, on her way back to the ladder. 

"I really don't want to go down it again."

"C'mon Hinkle Keith!  It'll be alright."

Sarah and I made some pizzas out of the dough that Veneta and Jenn brought.  Note the piggaroni!  That's a berry pizza cookie you see in the background.  Thanks Jenn!  It was pretty good for gluten free, but I still think a little gluten sprinkled on top woulda done it right.

Honestly, the playground is pretty sick.  There is even a carousel to ride for just $.75!

4!

Also, there is a sprinkler park.

I opted for reading some Chuck D in a hammock.  Everyone worried that the branches would break.  I guess I'm looking a little chubby, now.

What a great day!  We swung and slid and ran and laughed.  Bob and I played some bocce (hoping Dad brings the full set up with him when he comes, but we made it work).  The kids ran through the sprinklers, the parents hovered.  Everyone got along.  If only we'd've found the balloon thief and hung him like Mussolini the day would've been perfect.  All in all, a great time.  Looking forward to it again next year!