wedding weekend: the clambake

Last weekend, there was a wedding! At my (parents') house, no less.  Since then, we've traveled what feels like 1000 miles (but really, just 250), but wanted to recap the magical weekend as much as possible, before things get too foggy in my mind.

Jessica Hammon is the youngest daughter of one of my parents' oldest friends (got that?).  Her mom, Margot, was the first person my dad spoke to at Gordon when he was entering his freshman year. Talk about history! Jess wanted a small, simple and yet meaningful wedding, so when my dad offered her the use of his house -- overlooking the Essex Marsh, really quite idyllic -- she readily agreed. 

But before there's a wedding, there's a rehearsal and the all-important meal after it.  They opted for local flare, going with a Clam Bake.  I'll be honest, I'd never been to a clam bake before, and wrangled a seat for myself (but sadly not Dexter) for the big event.  A clam bake often includes digging a pit in the sand, building a fire, and grilling/steaming all kinds of goodies. . .lobster, clams, mussels, etc.  This wasn't exactly that, but it was catered at beautiful (and private!) Tuck's Point, overlooking the water in Manchester.  A good time was had by all.

 The happy couple. . .

"David Alan Webb" and Jess

David is the third David to join the Hammon/Mering family at large (my dad, and Brooke Hammon's husband being the other two), so he is often called by all three of his names to keep things clear!

Jess was feeling no pre-wedding jitters and had no problem digging in.

mmm. lobsta. the perfect summer in New England fare

Jess' uncle, Glen, and her Mom, Margot.  You must wear bibs when eating lobster. It is messy business.

We took the time to do some photos after lunch. . .

 Craig & Margot

 There they are again! 

crazy kids

 Jess and her friend Kara, who read in the wedding

practice makes perfect! :)

It was nice to have the rehearsal dinner actually be a lunch. Gave us time to relax in the evening and to prepare for the festivities the next day. 

white coat ceremony

The reason we had to dash down to New Jersey last week -- and probably another prompt for Kyalo's haircut -- was because Dexter needed to attend a White Coat Ceremony at the school.  This is a big-deal event for incoming freshman to the dental school, and, in the last few years, the incoming international students (who enter the third year) have been a part of it, as well.  There were a lot of talks, words of encouragement and talks to be upstanding dental citizens, etc. The key note speaker spoke a little too much about herself, but she clearly loves being a dentist, and perhaps that was encouraging to the fresh-faced students?

Here he is after the ceremony. All official now, with his lab coat (which will not likely ever be worn again. Details).  He is with his good friend, Joel, who is from Cuba.

 happy, handsome men

The hallway outside of the lecture hall where the ceremony was held has a museum-like display all around it.  One of the items in display? This cabinet unit, which is apparently deemed a relic in the US, is still in use in Kijabe. Dexter got this shot for the folks back home.

some old looking dental chair

It was a quick trip back down to New Jersey, but it was a nice reminder of our life there.  It is always nice to go back home and think, "hey, I like this place!"  Still, it was nice to return to Massachusetts to finish out vacation. . .there was a wedding at my house that Saturday.  But now things are winding down - we head down to NJ again tomorrow, with a stop in Connecticut to see some friends, and then Dexter's back to school (booo) on Monday.

Oh vacation, you've been good to us.

baby's first haircut

I know, I know. Kyalo isn't really a baby any more, but last week he had is very first hair cut, so that's what we're saying. Sounds better than "toddler's first haircut," I think.  Getting Kyalo a hair cut has been on the "to do" list for a while now because the hair was getting out of control.  And yet, it just wasn't happening.

Lately, I'd been finding huge chunks of hair in Kyalo's car seat, so the situation was getting desperate. I didn't want him to go bald by pulling out all his hair!! After California we had to jet back down to NJ and our morning was free so I suggested we just do it ourselves.  So we did!

This was basically a clean up job...some shape, and ditching the dreads.  But we kept most of the curls!

We missed a few spots, so the next morning I snipped off some more. I think he's looking much older now with a tamer do'.

And yes, I DID save some of the hair and even a dread, for his baby book! Dexter thinks that's totally weird, but it had to be done.

Here's hoping it isn't another 16 months til the second haircut!

poolside vacation

Last week we were in California, to see Adam & Noelle and their six kids.  The trip there was pretty awful - Kyalo did not sleep much, and spent most of the flight climbing all over me.  I was totally worn out by the time we got there, and ready for some pretty chill time by the pool.  Which doesn't really happen when you have to keep an eye out for the 16 month old.  Still, I was able to rest and recover, thanks, mostly to Dexter and his willingness to give me breaks.

I was in California last year, but without Dexter who had to stay behind in Kenya. It was great to be there with him this time, especially since the only other time he'd been in California it was "June Gloom" the entire time we were there and we spent our days on the beach bundled up.  This year, California weather came through, and we spent most of the time at the pool.  There were many talks and plans about "field trips" to wineries or museums, but then I think we realized that seven kids might make that a little challenging, so we stuck close to the pool.  No one complained.

We also had a friend of Noelle's come to their house to take family photos. . .the whole point was to get a big group shot of the whole family, but my mom & I were talking today and we realize we didn't even do that! Whoops!!! Next year . . .

Kyalo adored being with his big cousins who were such good playmates for him. Caroline is non-stop activity and kept him thoroughly entertained.  And Abby became his first official babysitter, staying with him (and the others) so the six adults could go for dinner.

Kyalo is still a huge fan of pushing things, and pushing  people is way more fun than anything.  He spent a lot of time pushing his cousins around in this cart.

 Jack and Vivienne

 Vera - the newest member, 6 1/2 months

 Abby & Kyalo

 cousins!!

 Vivienne

Jack

I didn't get a shot of Adam and Noelle, either.  The photographer had her own camera so these photos were the ones I could catch on the side. Maybe in a few weeks I can post some of hers.

The rooms we had at the hotel had a little patio, and Dexter, Kyalo & I were standing outside one day. I thought the light was nice and snapped some photos...

 I love this photo a lot.  Kyalo's always pointing at something.

It was another whirl-wind trip, filled with lots of good meals (hello, Lobster flown in from MA!, and Adam's home made, home ground hamburgers), good conversations, and lots of laughter. 

I can't wait til we're all together again!

beach day

Our vacation has been long and relaxed. . .with travel to places including MA, NH, CA, MA, back down to NJ, and then today, back up to MA.  To be honest, it is kind of tiring! But we've enjoyed lots of time with family, and seeing (my) old friends.

One of those friends is a dear, dear friend from college. She now lives in London so we don't see each other too much these days.  She married a British-Nigerian (? is that right? African-British? British-African?) man, and has an 18 month old son.  It turned out that we were on the east coast at the same time, and worked hard to get together - to see each other, of course, but mostly to meet each others' sons :).  We went to a small beach in New Hampshire (a beautiful ride along the ocean wasn't too shabby) and had a great, but far too-short time. Kyalo certainly was sad to leave the beach!  I was sad to leave Jenn.  There's only so much meaningful conversation you can have when collecting buckets of water for the big hole the boys are digging.

 sandy feet!

and sandy mouth. guess someone needed to sample the sand

Kyalo & Xavier are at that stage where they really play around each other more than anything, so these pictures are definite gems.

And cutie Xavier in all his glory. . .

We did manage to get a shot of the four of us (thanks to Dexter who was along for the ride, too!).

Xavier (18 months) Jenn, Jenna, Kyalo (16 months)

August 6, 2012

It was so good to see Jenn again, to to meet her son.  It is also so great to have friends with children because they just get the ups and downs and exhaustion that come with motherhood!  I wish Jenn wasn't across the pond.  I think you've lived there long enough, come on home!

vacation!!

We are on vacation!!  After the last 4-5 months (packing, goodbyes, moving, hellos, settling, school, adjustments, etc) it feels good to not be so go-go-go all the time.  Dexter finished up the first part of his program at the end of July, and after a few days relaxing in Belleville (and hanging pictures and unpacking another suitcase - that only took four months) we headed to Massachusetts.

Here's the thing.  When I think vacation, I think relaxing on the porch with a good book and an ice tea.  Somehow, throwing a 16 month into the mix throws that off - especially when we're at Grandma's house and there are so many fun things to pull down off shelves, and so many things that can get him into trouble.  Needless to say, I haven't powered through the books I've checked out from the library.  Dexter's idea of vacation apparently includes sanding and staining the railing of my parent's front porch in 90* temps.

vacation?  really?

(getting the house ready for a wedding there on the 18th!)

He was working hard, and Grandma took Kyalo for a walk, so I seized the moment and sat on the porch and read magazines and relaxed.  That was a real treat.

We also spent a few hours one day at the little pond at Gordon to escape the heat.  Kyalo loves the beach and the water.  I love taking him to places where I grew up going, and I love running into friends there, too!

So while it isn't exactly what I'd envisioned in terms of vacation, we're really able to rest and relax - Dexter most importantly.  Why can't life be more like vacation all the time? :)

16 months

Last week, Kyalo clocked 16 months. I've been so wrapped up in the Olympics and vacationing that I haven't had a chance to blog.  We head tomorrow to California to see Adam and his family, so now's the moment!  It'll be short and sweet.  (Or, at least, relatively short and sweet. . .)

This was a pretty low-key month for us, after that initial travel at the beginning of July. Dexter was finishing up his school, and Kyalo and I were trying to survive the ridiculous heat.  There were a lot of days of buckets of ice in the backyard.  The month also included. . .

 frozen blackberries!

best eaten without a shirt

fresh New Jersey corn

someone couldn't wait to cook it

Early morning in the house:

 July 25

looking like Grandma here!

Dexter wrapped up school on the 27th, and we quickly headed to Mass for our first true vacation since being in the US. We definitely need it! I think Kyalo loves being back in Mass.

 August 3, 2012

See? Happy to be in Mass!