Kirkpatricks & Clarice

This week we welcomed four houseguests: Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Doug, Aunt Lola and a hamster named Clarice. Clarice's family was away and she was entrusted to our care. She was a big hit. She could swallow a baby carrot without chewing, a feat Thomas tried to imitate all week. Here she is amazing us with her skills in the exercise ball (sorry about the vacuuming in the background-- Clarice is a little messy with her bedding.):




Meanwhile Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Doug got some quality time with Emmett.

Here Grandpa Doug discusses a topic of great interest to Emmett (sorry it is sideways), while Emmett shows off his baby guns:




more baby guns:

Emmett met Lola for the first time:

Thomas thought he was too cool to cuddle, but he wasn't:


Aunt Lola was a favorite, and only partly because she introduced him to purple nail polish:

We checked out the pool club. That's Thomas behind Aunt Lola.


Mom and Aunt Lola demonstrated canon balls for Thomas. These are harder than they look. Thomas was not very impressed.

Here we see Thomas at Mr. Joe's gymnastics class. He's gotten very good in a short amount of time. Here he is preparing to do a back handspring.


We were too slow to capture the flip, but here's the landing.

Amazing!

Zoo Concert and a Castle!

Lots to report. A few weeks ago we went to a sunset concert at the zoo with Addy and her family. Thomas tried to impress the ladies with his tree climbing.




Emmett snuck in a cuddle with Addy's mom.

Then we went to virginia for the weekend. there was a small mix-up where we thought we were going to our friend's rented cabin and it turned out to be an ancestral Scottish castle instead. Thomas and Emmett didn't mind.




Emmett frolicked by the tennis courts while Thomas hung out at the pool.


We played with pals Sophie, Cecily and baby Jamie.


Next up: We play host to the Kirkpatrick clan and a hamster named Clarice.

raspberries

Emmett wanted to be sure to be in the next post. Here he is, getting some love from Thomas:




Also-- 4 month stats are in. Weighs in at 20 lbs 11 ounces. Thomas was 20 lbs. But Emmett cheated by going two weeks late.

Vermont!

We spent a wonderful July 4th in Vermont with Grandpa Peter, Grandma Susan, Doug, Anna and the Friedman cousins. The pond was in full bloom and the estate was teeming with wildlife. Thomas, like a CEO on a fat-cat hunting retreat, bagged many a previously-caught and stunned trophy. Frogs, polywogs, fish, snakes and fudgcicles were no match for Thomas or Grandpa Peter. Jaxon, Grady and Marina showed us the ropes:




That's Jaxon with a frog on his head. Later, an obliging ring-neck snake appeared, and Thomas bravely let it slide between his fingers. He was aided by an extremely tall mongoose.


We celebrated the 4th in style at the Dorset Field Club. Thomas got his face painted like a tiger again, and loved it. Although, he did feel it didn't quite measure up to his last experience:



There was jump-roping, sack races and sand-pit digging. Thomas's impressive performance in the hula hoop contest was not captured for posterity.





And, of course, a few trips with Dad down the Alpine Slide.


Emmett came too, but he was so tranquil I guess we didn't take any pictures of him.