Camping in the Berkshires
August 2026
Lunch on the way to the campground
Tents are set up. Thank you, Bud!
Listening to live music and playing after the long drive.
peanut butter and jelly and ants on a log for dinner
River is a unicorn
Marshmallows our first night
Night 1- Books before bed
Day 2- Walking to the playground
Day 2- Waiting while Dad prepares lunch at Memere's RV
Lunch Day 2- Hot dogs on the grill!
Everyone fell asleep in the car after our first night, so River and I stopped for coffee and a munchkin and took in the view
A selfie with Lake Pontoosuc in the background
Morning day 3- Thunderstorm threat and flash flood warning drove us to a hotel for our second night where we enjoyed hot showers/baths and a dip in the pool!
Breakfast day 3 at Ottos Kitchen and Comfort
Spending the rainy day at the Berkshire Museum
Aquarium in the Berkshire Museum
Soft serve at Dairy Cone
Hanging out while Bud set camp back up after the rainstorm
Night 3-Jack fell asleep under the mat!
River says, "Mom, write 'Zzzzzzzz.'"
Morning 3- Up at dawn and out for breakfast
River initiated a family selfie!
Breakfast day 3 at Bartlett's Orchard
Breakfast at
Hiking at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Refuge
River crossed this creek all by himself!
River and Eleanor got a prize for completing the hike's scavenger hunt!
Bud and River improved the game room at the campground
Cleanup and drying the gear after camping
Cleanup and drying the gear after camping
August 2026
Dinner at Sivalai Thai Kitchen
Setting up for Jack's birthday
Make cards for Jack and Pop Pop
Jack is changing Bear's diaper
Jack enjoying Bami Kua
Urgent Care Picnic during long wait
Carousel of Light in Falmouth
Quick visit to the river
Exploring the herring weir
Starting a garden with Dad
Running errands with Eleanor
Bud put "magic" on the kids' hands so they could catch bubbles
Making "brownie in a mug"
River made lunch for a squirrel
Yesterday, River was expressing some complaints about how Bud and I decided to organize the day. Finally, I replied that if he was so dissatisfied, I would find him some new parents.
Me: “Okay, River. I’m on ‘Parent Finder.’ How old do you want your new mother to be?”
River: “Older. Like Memere’s age.”
Me: “Okay. I have some parents here. What would you like her to look like?”
Eventually, I told him I’d found a match, but he would have to move to Canada, so we would maybe see him in a few years, since it would be quite a drive to visit in Canada.
He knew I was kidding, of course, but he also knew I was genuinely annoyed by all of his griping.
About 15 minutes of quiet driving passed; then I heard River’s voice from the backseat: "Actually, I don’t want that mom you chose.”
Me:, thinking he wanted to continue the game. “Oh. What would you like me to search for now?”
River: “The mom should have… what color is your hair?… blond hair. The dad should have a beard and… dad, what color are your eyes?… brown eyes. They should be younger. The mom should have on a white shirt and blue skirt. The Dad should have a green shirt…”
And, of course, he was describing Bud and me. Because although I told him he was being ungrateful and unkind in his complaints, he is the most kind, most compassionate person I know. So what started as a complaint about not getting to go to a playground when Jack did, ended in River showing his true colors, and apologizing in a very sweet way.
Eleanor’s First Haircut
Visit to Plymouth Plantation
Jack Turns 2,
And Eleanor Learns to ride a bike!
Jack is two. He loves to dig in the dirt, ride his bike, dance, look at boats, talk about robots, and read. He loves his mom and dad, his Lala and Riva, and his grandparents. When he wakes up, he wants “milt (milk), please, sit, news,” which means he wants to drink his warm milk while sitting and watching the news. He is very good at expressing himself. He can speak in three word sentences. He is an excellent hugger and he gives tight hugs and kisses freely, often accompanied by a “Luv-ooh.” He is tough. His knees have scabs on top of scabs. He is smart. He has used the potty, can follow multi-step instructions, and make jokes. If I mention we may be leaving the house, I need to be careful, because I might find Jack has already let himself outside, found his shoes, and is trying to get them on, repeating to himself, “Shoes on.” He is smart, self-advocating, loving, and high-energy. He is the baby of the family, having had the most time as the youngest now of all three of the kids. He keeps us laughing as much as he keeps us all on our toes. Jack wants to work on not getting in trouble at day care, every day. We all love Jack very much, and we cannot wait to see what the twos have in store.
Dad’s Birthday at Shipyard Park
16th Wedding Anniversary
For my and Bud’s 16th wedding anniversary, the kids had their very first sleepover at Pop Pop and Nana’s! This was a big step for them, and for us. They had never slept at someone else’s house before. We were nervous, and River was nervous. But they did fantastic!
Bud and I had almost two full days to ourselves. We decided to go back to what we love to do, and walk, walk, walk. We explored our favorite place, the town we live in and love- Mattapoisett. After dropping the kids off in the morning, we changed into walking shoes, strapped on a backpack, changed the batteries in our cameras, and started out. We walked to Eden, a new coffee shop down the street, stopped in Dunseith Gardens where we take the kids for a town fire near Halloween time, had lunch at The Slip with a view of water in Shipyard Park. We explored the historic streets and read the historic markers. We took in the serenity at Munroe Preserve. We walked off our dinner at Ying before stopping somewhere we had wanted to check out, but cannot with kids, a dive bar called “The Stowaway.” From the serene quiet of the evening, the bar looked empty, but when we stepped through the door I wasn’t even sure was the entrance, we walked in to another world of cacophony and laughter. We got one drink, chatted with some locals, and took in the lively vibe. A day shift bartender who had stayed on for a drink after her shift, shared all the bar’s traditions. We declined a second drink and walked down to the harbor where we enjoyed an ice cream before trekking home via the bike trail in the falling darkness, feeling a little spooked by the dark, and watching the bats fly overhead.
The following day, our actual anniversary, we walked some more. The celebration culminated with a swim at Town Beach before driving to pick up the kiddos.
After arriving, I told River I missed him so much. He gave me a kiss and said, “I didn’t have time to miss you; I was having too much fun. But I love you.” We are thankful for my dad, Odile, and Odile’s cousin Amy, who was visiting and with whom the kids made an instant connection.
We are grateful for our 32 hours of reconnection, relaxation, and rejuvenation. It was perfect.
