USA Summer Tour: Twin Lakes, Connecticut

We had a 3+ hour flight delay leaving Martha's Vineyard (for a 15 minute flight) followed by a 50 minute Lyft cab ride from Boston Logan to Holliston followed by a 2.5 hour drive through torrential rain to Twin Lakes. Oh, not to mention my face- (nay, knee-) plant leaving the jet bridge in Boston- ouch! Our brief visit with Steve and Dawn was a sweet relief from the arduous journey! We were so happy to wake up the next morning at the lake and to be with Pete's family including his relatives from Japan! We had the next 4 days to spend with Oma, Opa, Uncle Matt, Aunt Krista, cousin Addy and the numerous Durnings coming and going! Such special family time together. Pete and Matt were the oldest of their gaggle of cousins, playing with them all when they were little. Now Mio and Issei are the bigs of the next generation and were so great playing with and caring for our kids! By the end of the first few days, Jude was referring to Mio as "his favorite person." 

Happy Oma having all her grandkids playing together

Maeve loved running the dock and jumping into Pete's arms! 

The evenings at the lake are just magic. Wonderful memories sitting with cousins and Nonnie on the dock, drinking wine.

With Quentin and Mio

Nonnie and Chandra

Laurel and Mio

Popsie, Steve and Jude

Dancing to Uncle Matt's tunes

Sofa bed wrestling with Mio and Dawn

Bubbles with Mio and Oma

Soccer with Issei

Playing with Alex and Hayley

Popsie taking in all the he helped to create. 

Addy styling Krista

And giving Maeve some fashion advice

I look forward to the sunsets there every night. This one was something special. We felt Emily with us, knowing she would have loved all of the family fun around the fire pit.

Mini golf time

Meeting Laurel's uber talented fiance, Aaron

Helping aunt Krista in the kitchen

With Mike. She's a total softie for the Durning uncles. 

Opa got called out of retirement to play doctor to Jude's deep splinter. Poor guy and poor Opa!

Popsicles make everything better

Story Time

Nature walk

Maeve disappeared at Popsie and Nonnie's and we found her sitting in front of the TV, which she turned on herself!

Not cooperating for our transgenerational photos

Chandra, Quentin and prepared Japanese food night

Dave and Cathy, thank you for allowing us all to make beautiful memories at your home. You've found a piece of paradise and we are all fortunate to be invited! 

USA Summer Tour: Martha's Vineyard Retreat

From Maryland, we flew north to Martha's Vineyard for a little R&R at Sarah's dream vacation home. I had such a lovely visit there last summer without the kids and was so happy to get to bring the whole family this time. The kids hadn't seen each other in quite some time, but were soon playing happily together. 

The pancake makers.

The pancake eaters

A shot taken on Pete's evening run- he was psyched to learn he ran the trails Obama runs on his visits.

We went into Menemsha for a kid-friendly dinner at Galley.

Stories with Mamu

Great memories swimming in the pool, picking veggies from the garden, playing together and the highlight- kiddie dance party complete with a synchronized dance to "Here Comes the Sun" by Sarah's cuties. And for the adults, nightly feasts, while dealing with sleep-resistant little boys!

Beautiful beach day at Lucy Vincent. The kids spent the time digging for sand crabs and watching them swim through the pools they created.

Living their best lives :)

In the afternoon, we got a tour of the island while the kids played with the babysitter. 

Aquinnah cliffs

Picking Isabel up from pony camp.

Thank you again, Sarah, for the wonderful few days together! A real highlight of our trip home.