Great "Daddy Day"

Syl and I joined the O'Learys for a quick Fathers Day picnic this morning at Hopkinton State Park.  We were late, the dogs ran a little wild, Pax popped a perimeter around the picnic table, and then Baxter one-upped him by vomiting a in a very major way right next to the table.  So it was what one might call an abbreviated visit.  Trystan did manage to snap this shot, which may now be my favorite photo of the kids together.

After some hammock "relaxation" (as Sylvie calls it), we got the bright idea (inspired by her outfit) to visit a nearby farm that features pick-your-own strawberries.  Syl LOVED that.  As we crouched in the rows, all of a sudden she turned to me and said, "this is awesome! This is just the best day!"  There is nothing quite like those little berries right off the vine.

Before

Mmmmm...

After

Fruits of our labor

Then of course there was ice cream.  Syl has had a good weekend ice-cream wise.

On the fence

After berry picking I took off for a good, long bike ride (perfect day for it).  When I got home, I found my girls had been hard at work - cooking homemade pasta and a fruit/custard cake!

Good Stuff

I'm a lucky Dad.  But of course I knew that.

Happy Fathers Day!

Love and best wishes to all the dads in Syl's life.  I was awakened this morning with an extra-special (meaning longer than 10 seconds) snuggle, and a bunch of new socks (which Sylvie somehow decided are the best - and only - possible Fathers Day gift).  They are now my favorite socks.

First Swimming Lesson

We rushed home from Newport first thing this morning to get Sylvie to the Suburban Athletic Club in time for her 10 AM swimming lesson. Boy did she have fun!

Going for the coffee?

She's kind of a natural water-bug.  No fear (except for on the slide a little bit).  A few more of these and she'll be swimming on her own in no time.

Here she is after the fact, explaining the lesson in her own words:

Another Saturday, another impromptu dinner with the O'Learys

This time it was Chinese.  Turns out, Sylvie LOVES Chinese.  A ton of edamame, a healthy portion of shrimp lo mein, a couple of gyoza, and three (THREE) full orders of salmon sushi.  She put it all down and still wanted to go for ice cream.  I don't know that a grizzly could eat that much salmon. And yes, it was raw.  She looked like a seal.  Almost killed me.

Just a wonderful wedding

The venue

Some of you have met my friend John Crowley, who a number of years ago lost his wife (and high school sweetheart) Jenny, who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer shortly following the birth of their daughter Caitlyn.  Obviously John (who is just a great guy) went through some really tough years.

Yesterday evening, at the Rosecliff Mansion in Newport, Melissa and I had the honor and the pleasure of attending John's wedding to a really great woman named Geneva.  Geneva and Caitlyn have a true mother/daughter relationship (Caitlyn was integrated into the ceremony, just after the vows, in a moment that had created more than a few moist eyes).

Caitlyn, waiting

Best Wedding Favor Ever

Best of all, Jenny's parents and sister were right there up front with John's family, happy as anyone in the crowd for him and for Caitlyn.  The wedding was outside, with the ocean as a backdrop, and the perfect weather made it hard to doubt that Jenny pulled a string or two from on high.  

Melissa, feeling a bit Downton

Father/Daughter Dance

Just a great time - and a really, really happy occasion.

Styled!

Sylvie has been in desperate need of a hair cut for weeks now.  On Saturday, while her dad golfed (sort-of), Melissa took Syl to the salon - where she got not only a cut, but her first braid.  She was quite pleased.

A sudden giant leap in the staying in the lines department

Touch-A-Truck

Such a simple idea for a fundraiser.  Get a bunch of trucks in a parking lot, tell kids about it, charge a few bucks, get some uber-volunteers (like Trystan, who is more a Hollistonian already than I've ever been or ever will be), and there you go.  Success.  Sylvie had a blast.  And her Dad got a LOT of great photos.

Too soon!

Hi Uncle Pat!

Too comfy!

Got some more good ones in the new June 2012 Gallery...

Saturday lunch with Daddy

Sylvie and I decided to check out Twist, a new bakery near our house.  It wasn't until we were seated and had ordered that Melissa texted me an explanation of the "Twist." Apparently the place is gluten-free... which means no wheat... which strikes me as a significant handicap in the bakery business.

I can honestly say neither of us would have noticed.

What to order...?

What else!!?

Gluten-free brownie?  Seems fine by Syl.

Perspective and symbolism

This "Mommy and Daddy getting married."  Melissa asked why I am smaller than she is, and Sylvie looked at her like she was an idiot. "Because Daddy is behind you, and things that are behind look smaller."  Not sure who taught her that.

Then she explained, "You're looking in the mirror, but the reflection is me!"

That's just too deep.