Mid-summer recap.

I've failed to recap a lot of our summer because I don't have corresponding photos. But for the real die-hards, and I mean the real die-hards (this is a lot of text), here are some highlights:

1. Visit from Aunt Jane and Uncle Gordon from Scotland, which I briefly wrote about but failed to mention the easel they bought Theo (which we have not quite yet put together . . .). During their visit, we had -- what I'm sure Theo would deem -- a successful trip to the Toy Box in Hanover, where Theo scored the easel, paint, a new boat for the tub, and a Thomas train. As you can imagine, Theo warmed right up to them.

2. A ride on Aunt Terry's and Uncle Skippy's boat Fourth of July weekend. Theo drove the boat for awhile and spent a long time in the lake being tossed around by Jon and Skippy. I got in the water but Theo had no use for me since I am not strong enough to toss around his massive body. We spent the night at their condo in New Hampshire, and Theo was the most well-behaved I have ever seen him. He danced, he marched, he sat on Skip's lap, he listened to me when I said not to climb on the hearth of the fire place, he ate chicken which he never eats at home, he took a good nap in the portable crib that his legs are practically dangling out of.

3. Last Saturday, which included a trip to Hingham Bathing Beach, Weir Farm, Holly Hills Farm with Auntie Kate and Tom, and Minot Beach. Theo had to be woken up after the ride home so I could shove a grilled cheese sandwich in his mouth and wash the sand of him before bed.

4. A Sunday with Florida Grandpa which consisted of a trip to Hingham Playground, a visit with Jon, who was working at the local movie theater (where he is a projectionist -- his latest hobby), and Theo's first ever experience at the movies. He sat in Cars 2 for about 15 minutes, and seemed engrossed, but decided quickly that he wanted to "see Daddy" which he appeared to find far more interesting than Cars 2.

5. Numerous trips to "the airplane" with me. There is an old air base around the corner from us which is allegedly being made into condos but for now includes only this weird little park with an old fighter plane and monuments dedicated to war veterans. Theo loves it. He loves the plane, he loves walking all over the monuments (nice -- I should probably not let him do that. Disrespectful), he loves running up and down the hills, playing hide and seek with me, smelling the flowers. At first I dreaded going there, always trying to steer him to something else when he asked, mainly because I found it dreadfully boring. But now I kind of like it, the routine of it all(we have a very particular order in which we observe the jet, jump off the monuments, play hide and seek, then run up and down the hill), how happy it makes Theo, and the old security guard who has started coming out of his truck to chat with us.

6. A pending visit from Grandma. More on that as it occurs.

7. Trips to cousin Eamon's house. Those are not a highlight for Theo, and he continues to ignore Eamon for the most part, wanting Grammy, me, and Auntie Tara all to himself. In fact, the other day he refused to go in the pool while Eamon was in it but the SECOND Eamon got out he jumped right in, splashing away until Eamon got back in then right out of the pool Theo went. I continue to expose Theo to Eamon weekly in hopes that they become friends.

8. The Hingham Fourth of July Parade with Jon. I bowed out but apparently Theo was mesmerized by all the trucks and fire engines and horns and marching bands. The only dark spot was when he got hit in the face with a lollipop by some kid whipping candy from a float in the parade. Fresh Hingham kids.

More highlights as they develop.

Photos from Sunday: