Ten Posts in One (it's a big one)

I know the summer isn't technically over, but we are starting to feel the fall creeping up, so here are 10 posts in 1 that I was meaning to get to before the the end of summer.

1. 8TH ANNIVERSARY!
We celebrated by going to the Kings of Leon concert, then to The Firebox on the actual day.


2. LYMAN ORCHARDS

We picked peaches,
checked out the sunflower maze,
and fed the ducks.

3. BACKYARD CAMP OUT


Complete with s'mores over the BBQ and scary stories you can see in a video at the end.

4. IN RICK'S SPARE TIME

For the past few months every spare second has been spent working on the cars. The biggest project had the engine of the Passat suspended by that orange cherry picker in our garage, and me carless, for about three months.
In the end the Passat is hanging on, but we said farewell to our Jeep
and we are loving our "new to us" Pilot. Wyatt likes to call himself "the king of the Hondas."

5. HARTFORD GARBAGE MUSEUM


6. OWEN'S SURGERY

Owen had his dermoid cyst removed on August 20th. Here are some pre-op pics, I was trying to document his bump. It is above his right eye, your left.

Waiting "patient"ly.
Dad told him all the secrets of the OR. This was a case Rick would have scrubbed in on, but they wouldn't let family in so Rick's coresident, Ankur, took good care of Owen. Owen was a great patient, he didn't cry when they put the mask on him for his anesthesia, just sucked on his pacifier until he was out.
Still under anesthesia, no bump. The cyst was the size of a marble.
This is the best picture we have of his "no-nos." He had to wear these to keep his arms straight so he wouldn't touch his stitches.
24 hours post op. Obviously there was some swelling.
Owen handled the whole thing so well, even when we had to strap his no-nos on. I don't have any real post-op pics, but you can see how he is healing below.

7. YARD WORK

Wyatt loves to help Rick with EVERYTHING. This has been one of my favorite things to watch every week this summer.
Wyatt harvesting the first of two cucumbers from the slightly sucessful garden we planted this year. We also reaped several tomatoes and one green pepper. Hopefully we will have better luck next year.

8. HAMMONASSET BEACH

This was Owen's first beach trip, he was definitely a fan, you can see a video of him at the end.


Kimi and Jake were there with their fancy camera so there were a lot of high quality pictures and I couldn't narrow them down.







9. LIGHTHOUSE POINT PARK

We liked the beach so much we went back two days later when Rick had the day off.

10. QUASSY AMUSEMENT PARK

Wyatt rode all the roller coasters and did really well, I think he is ready for our Disney World trip next month!! The classic carousel picture, do carousels make anyone else sick or is it just me?


Wyatt's scary story. Can you tell we have Wyatt freaked out about the fox that frequents our backyard?

Owen in the ocean for the first time.