summer memories ~ my hometown

In some ways the most simple part of our summer, staying in one place! Sky flew into town to be with us. We settled into our house trade home. We spent lots of time with my parents, hosting them for dinners, visiting them in their home, and we showed them a hilarious Jerry Seinfeld special. Gary and I went clothes shopping, Sky and I went to garage sales, I visited my grandparent's old house in the city, we rented movies from the library and watched them with my parents, and we all went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant for my birthday. I spent a special afternoon with my mom, we went out for lunch and then walked around her charming downtown.

I love my parents so much. They are the sweetest people ever. How blessed are we to have spent time with them!

summer memories ~ california, my hometown, camp drop-off, dc

We had a great summer away from home. First we stopped off in northern California to see Amma, which was uplifiting and wonderful as usual. Shawn took his first solo Uber ride to visit old friends he had met when we lived there years ago.

Next we took Shawn and flew to see my parents in Upstate New York. We stayed with them for a week, while Skylar went to photograph a wedding back near home. While in New York, Gary and I took Shawn shopping to prepare for summer camp, we went bowling, to the library, to the Erie Canal, and I took him to the trampoline park. We visited a university and Shawn toured the very impressive engineering department. We had a lot of fun with my parents relaxing, watching movies and sharing meals. And lots of ice cream.

In mid June we left town with my parents to take Shawn to camp in Pennsylvania. On the way Shawn toured a beautiful, small private college. Then we all went to Cooperstown and stayed in a beautiful hotel on a lake. The next day we toured the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was so much fun! We enjoyed lovely meals, played croquet on the expansive lawn, and had lots of laughs. Then we dropped Shawn off at camp, and headed back to my parents' home. Gary and I got to spend time with just my parents, which had never happened before. It was really special, QUIET, and relaxing!!

A couple days later I flew to DC to see my dear friend Janel. Gary stayed with my parents a couple days and then moved into our house exchange home. Janel and I met when we were eighteen, first semester freshman year of college. I stayed with her at her home in Virginia for a few nights and we got to visit, gab on her porch watching the fireflies, tour her garden, and catch up with her young adult children. We went hiking, toured Leesburg, Virginia, and shared many meals. It was wonderful. There is nothing like an old friend who knows you well.

end of summer, 2017

me in front of my childhood home

Our last days of summer were spent visiting my parents in upstate New York, picking up Annabel in NYC after a month long trip to Nepal, picking up Shawn after five weeks at camp in Pennsylvania, and seeing him perform music and on the trapeze. The we went to Chicago and spent time with both of my brothers and their families, and Annabel and Shawn went on retreat with AYUDH, an international youth organization that focuses on many service projects around the world.

visit with mom and dad

There weren't many photos taken on this trip but that in no way reflects a lack of enthusiasm and happiness I felt being with my parents. 

Gary took Annabel and Shawn home and on the way stopped off and visited a college. I took Sky to upstate NY to see my mom and dad. We were there for my birthday. We relaxed, watched movies, went for ice cream, made nice meals. I painted my parents' mailbox. It was just what the doctor ordered.

I love the old family portrait, and especially how we are all looking to the side, smiling. I'm sitting on my father's lap. Both my parents and I are smiling. My brother is thinking about it. Even baby sister is looking. Someone got all of our attention and captured an adorable moment.

I come from a small town filled with wholesome, kind-hearted good people. Whenever I return I realize that, and I am proud to be from there.