Sam and Clare visit!!!

Dear Maya and Emi,

We have had the best month! Mommy's dear friend Sam visited from Australia for about 4 weeks--the first time we've seen her in 7 years! And then mommy's dear friend Clare joined us for the last weekend. What a wonderful time we've had!

Maya, you finished 1st grade! You had a stellar final report card and we will miss your teacher Mrs. Farrell so much. Then, after a week free, you started summer camp and are spending nearly every day swimming in the stream with your friends.

Here are some of the highlights of our time with Sam and Clare:

•  Hiking Bash Bish Falls
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Wandering around Hudson and Olana (while you were at school, Maya)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Wandering around Rhinebeck and having ice cream after the last day of school
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Walking/biking/scootering along the Rail Trail
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Visiting the world's largest kaleidoscope and hiking Poet's Walk with Aunt Kelsie and cousins
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Visiting the beautiful gardens at Wethersfield
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Having Japanese food and playing with sparklers (while you were at a sleepover, Maya)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Going to the library story hour (while you were at camp, Maya)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hiking up to the cool cave at Dover Stone Church
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A surprise tropical birthday party that Clare and Sam threw for mommy (with baba's gyoza!)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A trip to the hot air balloon festival (you stayed home with Baba, Emi)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A belated 4th of July/early birthday party for mommy at Grandma & Papa Stan's house
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• And a bunch of other random photos of fun times we had, in no particular order
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Well, that was a LOT of photos and a LOT of awesome memories. Now mommy needs to sign off and catch up on emails and other work. Love you both! (And you both, too, Sam & Clare!!)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ***lots of photos in this post were taken by Sam, Clare and Baba!***