Summer in the US 2021 Part 3: Lake Time

A summer trip home is not complete without some time at Twin Lakes. We were spoiled with two nights of Cathy, Dave, and Jessie all to ourselves. Gatherings are usually of Durning-sized proportions so the quality time was really special for us. 

We arrived on the last day of the heatwave before storms rolled and got some time out on the lake.

The kids got to make homemade strawberry ice cream. By the time it was ready to eat the following evening, Maeve was falling asleep in her bowl! 

Nagma, still as sweet and patient with the kids as ever! 

We spent a foggy morning down on the dock for Jude's first attempt at fishing. Beginners' luck was an understatement. He started catching them as soon as he cast his line! He and Pete easily caught and released 10 fish that first morning. Maeve and I enjoyed a short kayak ride. 

This girl started our trip fearing dogs and fell in love with so many on our trip! 

Later that afternoon, we got to reunite with Nonnie. Popsie had moved into a nursing home during the pandemic, but we had the opportunity to see him twice while we were there. 

We drove from the lake house to Millerton, NY where we'd spend the long 4th of July weekend celebrating Oma with Uncle Matt, Aunt Krista, and cousin Addy in a rental house. We stopped at the grocery store on our way and got to experience the quintessential kid meltdown in the candy aisle moment. I have come to the conclusion that American grocery stores are just TOO much. Too much of everything! Choice is good, but it is overwhelming and overstimulating. Take me back to my small Albert Heijn!

Three peas in a pod. These kids had a lot of fun playing together and getting into mischief. 

We had a fun afternoon at the Grove where we had both a bear and celebrity sighting (we couldn't figure out who she was). 

BEAR!

We were very grateful to get to see Popsie, two at a time under strict COVID protocols. 

Pete and I got our second COVID vaccinations at CVS! Pete tolerated it well, but I had the nighttime fever and chills that afflicted so many others. Thankfully I was feeling better by mid-day because it was the 4th and we had a lot to celebrate! 

Steve, Dawn, and Nonnie joined us for dinner.

S

We spent a very fun 4th at the lake house. Lawn games, tubing, more fishing, an American feast, and then a sunset boat ride to watch the fireworks set off by neighbors around the lake. 

A surprise visit from cousin Jonah! 

If this doesn't say America on the 4th, I don't know what does!

On our last day together we all went to visit Popsie and Nonnie, armed with ice cream for an outdoor treat in the gazebo, arranged by Matt. It was such a positive visit for us all and Popsie even pulled out a joke about Matt's beard. 

Swim time at the Grove

Later that night, we had a birthday cake for Oma. 

Dave and Cathy stopped by the house and staged some fun photoshoots! 

Pete wrote a very touching song for Oma for her birthday. 

Summer in the US 2021 Part 2: Williamstown

We drove from the Cape to Williamstown in time to help Oma celebrate her 70th birthday. The special day started at the Clark Art Museum's outdoor sculpture walk. In the afternoon, Oma helped the kids run a lemonade stand, which was a huge success. Lots of neighbors and Oma and Opa's friends came by to say hi and buy some lemonade, tipping generously. We visited during another heatwave so lemonade was in high demand! The kids were so thrilled and couldn't wait to spend their money (Jude on Pokemon cards, what else?!). We had a delicious dinner out at Coyote Flaco and cake back at home. 

We visited Mass MOCA and did their kids craft. 

We attended a crawfish boil held by some friends of friends in town. Jude lobed playing with the crawfish and the kids just disappeared, making quick friends with all of the kids in the bouncy castle. 

We had a pool party with Pete's high school friends at the Rothchild's where the dads exhausted themselves throwing all of the kids around the pool. 

We drove to Brattleboro to visit the Amidons at Stefan and Zara's new home. Includeing a bonus visit from an old friend of Pete's, Gil, and his family. Vera had just been born when we visited three summers ago. Photos are edited so I could include her in the photo dump :) 

We drove to the top of Mount Greylock. Jude was the highest person in the state for a brief moment! We enjoyed Oma's new solo stove for another s'mores night. 

We went to Margaret Lindley State park where we met another old friend of Pete's. The kids caught so many tadpoles! 

Another pool with a view and pizza lunch

Oma and Opa enjoying live story time with the kids after over a year od reading bedtime stories to Jude through Facetime. 

Saying goodbye to Longview Terrace, but not yet to Oma and Opa.

And in between it all, Pete and I were on a mission to clear out our "storage unit" aka Oma and Opa's basement. It has been 7 years since we "temporarily" deposited our belongings there and it was time to purge! We made it through a lot of stuff, donating, discarding, and choosing select items to bring back to Amsterdam. I had a beautiful aftternoon going down memory lane, looking through boxes of every card and letter I'd ever received (sentimental much!). I kept one letter or card from each friend over the years and trashed the rest! KonMari!