Adventures in Falmouth

I am going to put all the photos from our trip in one post so I can move on to blogging about something else (like Georgetown Cupcakes and lip surgery). Hi Pam.

This is my sister in law Alayna and I in the kitchen of the Heights house.

(I didn't get a photo of Sandy and I.)

This is the Nobska lighthouse, built in 1828. We missed the last tour of the summer by 2 minutes and we couldn't go in. The view is just beautiful. It is very close to Woods Hole - famous marine research area and where they filmed Jaws and found JFKjrs body. It is also the start of the Falmouth Road Race - family tradition to run in it.

Ellen on the beach. This beach is called Old Silver Beach and is one of the warmest, clearest beaches on Western Cape Cod. The sandbar went out for a long time and the kids really enjoyed playing in such shallow water.
This is the Falmouth Heights House. My grandfather was born in the house. My parents bought the house about 20 years ago. It was in horrible shape with weeds and overgrown and asbestos and rats and bats and squirrels - eventually they have updated and last year began to rent it on a limited basis. It is so much more precious than just this photo. There is a rope swing and my grandparents currently live on the adjacent property. We have many family members in the area that live within 20 minutes.

This is Frank the hairdresser.

He charges "by the age" for kids haircuts.

A new tradition that we will take advantage of.

Washington DC: $75

Falmouth, MA: $13

Sorry the photos are all random. I don't know how to fix that when I download them. This is the Road Race Award Ceremony. Traditionally, after the Falmouth Road Race, we host a huge family and friends party and everyone gets a prize for participation in the race. This was Nate's prize. As you can see, it is supposed to be a funny awards ceremony - hosted by my dad.

We also had a banana split sundae bar. That is a favorite tradition for the kids. We use 10 lbs of M and Ms.

This is my cousin Kate's precious daughter and Ellen.

Sam sitting in the horseshoe game.

Rita and Martha are two peas in a pod. Often I found them on the third floor of the Heights house wearing each other clothes and doing "first position." Martha told her mom that she likes to play house with Rita because they like to play "big sister gets into the makeup and jewelry." After she said this, I found my jewelry and makeup all mixed up on my dresser...

This is the night before the Road Race on a favorite beach. We have a huge cookout and the kids play and wade in the water. They love the hermit crabs. Nate always loads up on Gatorade and pasta.

Morning ritual: pancakes by Uncle Nate and fruit salad with flax seeds by Aunt Sandy...

These are 7 of my 11 nieces and nephews... one of the boys (on the right) is my sister in law Sandy's brother's son from Connecticut....

This is an extended family photo. Julius is my newest nephew on the right. He was adopted earlier this year. He is adjusting wonderfully and a really sweet helpful young man. My brother and sister in law are wonderful, Godly parents to him. They home schooled him this year with the other kids and he has almost mastered English AND ALGEBRA. I know many of you have asked about him.

This is during the Road Race while the kids are waiting for the runners to come by. They didn't make as much money as last year but they had a lot of fun and got rid of the donuts. My cousin Jeff is sitting behind them with his girlfriend Shelby from Oklahoma...

Here is Nate. I won't brag too much but let his stats speak for themselves. He was 294 in a race of 11,000 people. He ran just over 6 minute miles. He is very serious when he runs versus myself. When I run this race with my brothers, we wear headbands shaped like lobsters and yell at the crowd during the race. Our goal is to finish. Nate's goals are different.

So do you want to come next year with us? We love to have friends come and run the race and join our family festivities. The sign up is in January. Thank you to mom and dad for hosting everything and buying the ribs and clams!

Happy Birthday to Prec.