How I Spent My Summer Vacation - Part 3

Visiting with family! July was a whirlwind of activity. Hilary, Chuck and Joey came to stay with us during the weekend of Garrett's graduation party. I was frantically trying to reassemble my home, yard and pool after the roof destruction but before their arrival. I think I was successful. We spent all of Saturday in New Hartford, feting Garrett and enjoying great food and drink with the Dinnie's and Evans'. I recall Ian climbing a tree to retrieve a ball and walking to the park to play a game. I stood in the sun so I wasn't prominently chewed by mosquitoes. A good time was had by all. Alas, I took only one picture the entire weekend. On Sunday, we stayed in Syracuse and Joey enjoyed the pool all day and into the night. The boy doesn't stop....on land or in the water. I happened to catch him disrobing behind the daisies and I made him stand there until I grabbed my camera....cracked me up. Still does. What a flower child....NOT.
The following weekend Ian and I went to Arlington to see Chris, Laura, Owen and Elliot during the annual pilgrimage back to the states. We had fun eating and drinking and visiting. On Sunday, the girls (with the little boys) went shopping at the Container Store and Crate & Barrel and had lunch while the big boys went shooting in the hot sun. I was nervous as I am not a gun person but I trusted Mike to keep Ian safe. Owen was alarmed that he had to spend the day with the women but Aunt Erika tried to make things right with a manly purchase. Again...only 1 picture all weekend and this one was using my phone. Ten years from now Joey will hate me for posting a picture of him naked in the daisies while Owen gets to pose with a rifle.

On the ride to Arlington I complained to Ian about Erika's directions. Granted, she probably knows best since she has driven north from Arlington for over 10 years but the route seemed so convoluted. It seemed to me that there should be a straight shot from Syracuse to Arlington instead of the the mass of 17 different routes, highways and exits we used to travel south. Ian suggested abandoning Erika's directions on the way home. Did I mention that we left Arlington about 7:00 in the evening and Ian had a 6 pack of Guinness assisting his brain function? He used his iPhone to create a route...said it might go a little west but we could pick up 81. He gave me the directions and promptly fell asleep. At one point I screamed him awake with, "IAN, WE ARE IN FUCKING WEST VIRGINIA!" We arrived home very late but safe and sound. There is a lesson to be learned here.