Willa turned 4!  Timing and venue availability resulted in three parties.  First on the actual date: a pedal bike from Mom and Dad and a couple fun games.  Next: a family gathering at home with cupcakes and plenty of gifts.  Then: the party with schoolmates at her gymnastics club.  Lots more presents and a fun dump truck cake (yep, I baked and decorated it).  Fun for all.

Tracy turned 30 something and Mike 30 something more.  The big 40 is creeping up on them.  Small gatherings but lots of well wishes.

The Ulster County Fair was a big hit.  Willa, Grandpa, Nana, and Aunt Carol hit what must have been the hottest day.  We nearly melted but still managed to ride nearly every Willa sized ride, checked out the animals and ate some totally non-healthy fair food.  Willa even won at a game of chance…a foam sword at a fishing game.

Kent and I headed to Boston for the 4^th.  Fireworks and the Pops have been on my bucket list for years.  We stayed in town so no traffic worries and some time to stroll the commons and botanical gardens and catch a quiet dinner at The Salty Girl. If you get a chance to try lobster waffles do it!  We didn’t ride them but saw the famous swan boasts in the garden.  I never knew they are pedal powered.  Fireworks were spectacular and I enjoyed the Pops when they played but was disappointed to learn that most of the fireworks’ accompaniment is actually pre-recorded, not live symphony.  Super bonus, we found and I rode two carousels.  One in the Commons at the Frog Pond and the other near Quincy market.  Overall, it was a fun trip.

Brain Johnna and RJ spent a week for us all to hang out together.  We rode the rails with Rail Explorers (bicycle powered four seated railcars), lunched at the Phoenicia Diner, checked out some local music at Opus 40, visited Kingston Point beach, took a dip in Big Deep the local swimming hole and just hung out.

York PA.  Willa was ecstatic to see Harlow.  It was a great time for all to catch up.

Kingston Soapbox Derby.  No speed records set but the cars were fantastic; space ships, a sea going ship, a “lava you” cake/volcano, a three-seater caterpillar, a flower covered entry and more.  Willa wants to run in it next year.  She is going to tell Daddy “To build a caterpillar, so she and her friends can be in it”.

NYC here we come.  Time for Women’s Weekend Film Challenge in New York. First there was prep; Mike, Tracy and Hazel headed into the city for 10 days.  We got some Willa time both at their place in Kingston and a week at Sylvan.  Willa got to try out a new big girl bed in the motorhome.  A great time was had by all…lots of lake time – it was 90s+ most days, hikes at Pawling Preserve and to Nuclear lake including a cooling mid-hike swim – ogres and trolls abound, chalk hill creations, and craft time.  Then it was WWFC Premiere time.  Mike and Tracy took Willa into the city for some quality Mom, Dad, and big sister time after which she went home with Grammie and PopPop.  She was exposed to Covid during her time in the city and came home from Grammie and PopPop’s under quarantine.  Luckily she and they had mild cases.  We kept Hazel first in Kingston then at the hotel (minus a couple hours covered by a great babysitter, Gabby) in NYC then again in Kingston.  It went amazingly well.  We got absolutely nothing else done besides grandparenting but we’d do it again any time.  Aside, we managed a dinner stop at Katz Deli while in the city.  Yum