John, Lisa, and Layla visit Groton! ---

Wednesday through Sunday we had a lot of fun with the Yarmosh's; John, Lisa, and newest member Layla. Layla takes after both parents and we couldn't help but notice that she has John's smile.

They arrived Wednesday afternoon, Daddy and John stayed up that night playing around with Civilization just like old times. Later on they got Daddy's computer and John's computer playing Civ together (one upstairs one downstairs) to complete the reminiscence of times gone by.

Thursday was kind of a lazy day as everyone caught up on rest and got situated. The meeting was a lot of fun as the friends got to meet Lisa and Layla and we could introduce some of our newer friends in the congregation to our long time friend.

Friday we enjoyed breakfast at Oh Boy's! and took our first trip to the mall, which Lisa enjoyed. Later on in the day we enjoyed Smokey Bones for dinner. The women got great deals shopping at The Christmas Tree Store as the men window shopped Best Buy and Border's Books.

Saturday John and Daddy got haircuts while Lisa and Mommy enjoyed a morning out in service. Daddy was beginning to feel fatigued at this point, which would culminate in him getting sick that night. Mommy, Eliza, and Layla would all come down with something before long. We shopped some more at the mall as Uncle Micah joined us, catching up with his long time buddy. That night we hosted a gathering of friends including the Bliven's, Champlain's, Bailey's, and Benson's, as well as Sister Martin. Uncle Pepsi brought Scene It, a DVD board game, and everyone had a great time, even John who suffered an accidental black eye during the night!

Sunday there was one last breakfast with friends before the Yarmosh's headed back to Pennsylvania. Thanks to the Internet John and Daddy can still play Civilization together. Everyone had a great time and we are making plans for another visit sometime this summer.

Pictures here!

Roller Skating ---

After a nice day out in service we got to cleaning the house and getting ready for the Yarmosh's visit this coming week.

After that and our family study was done we got to go to the roller skating rink as some of the friends had rented it for the congregation for a couple of hours. There was a good turn out and all had a good time.

Sadly Mommy will have to buy a new pair of skates as one of her wheels broke. She's had the pair for over twenty years and only paid $15 for them! Unfortunately they don't make 'em like the used to.

More pictures here.

The Family Pulls Together ---

The last few weeks have been difficult for everybody, but as a family we've been getting through our various trials and have enjoyed each others love, company, and support.

First there was Grandpa's heart attack. Everyone was supportive and understanding as Daddy spent many a day at Yale New Haven Hospital with Grandpa, Grammie, Auntie Rissa, and Uncle Map.

Grandpa was brought to the Pequot Walk-In by Grammie and Uncle Map were he received medication in an effort to open his blocked artery. That having failed, Grandpa was then flown to Yale via the Lifestar helicopter and received a stent to open the artery. It was determined that a triple by-pass would be necessary to prevent another attack from happening in the near future. These proved to be trying days for the family as Grandpa was in a lot of pain but everyone held up and held together through it. It was impressed upon Daddy and Uncle Map that they needed to look at their own health condition more seriously.

The family enjoyed a visit by Brother Brainard, our substitute Circuit Overseer while Brother Crispen was away. Daddy had a great day out in service with Brother Brainard and felt the love and support of the congregation through the difficult times. The whole family, including Naughny, enjoyed a morning out in service with Sister Brainard as well.

Ella Grace received new glasses for reading and watching TV and has been enjoying them. She did not get them in time for her first talk but she didn't seem to need them as she did a wonderful job with it. She was relaxed and natural while giving it with Mommy and seemed as though she had been giving talks her whole life. Most importantly she was herself, fluid and natural.

Ella Grace did get her glasses before the Special Day Assembly however and enjoyed showing them to everybody. The family did well and we were able to get to the hall early as we were planning. Even though the Assembly Hall was renovated only about ten years earlier it had already become difficult to schedule everyone for Assemblies as the Organization grows quickly. While there we enjoyed association and meeting old friends. One Sister whom we did not know personally stopped us at the hotel the night before the Assembly and said that she always looked forwards to seeing what we would be wearing the next day as Mommy always does a wonderful job arranging our clothing around a particular theme. Mommy and Daddy had the privilege of helping to keep the bathrooms clean during and the session. Ella Grace and Eliza had fun running around and taking pictures in the wooded park behind the small lake on the property.

Great Grandpa fell and broke a couple of bones, so the family visited him as much as possible at the Windham Hospital were he was recovering before being moved to the Mansfield Rehabilitation Center. Ella Grace made a card for him selecting Winnie the Pooh stickers to help cheer Great Grandpa up and invited the rest of the family to join in. Eliza is writing her name now and enjoyed adding it to the card.

We also got news that Uncle Map was in the worst pain of his life regarding one of his teeth. We were glad to hear that he was doing better but it was hard to hear that he was going through so much pain.

Recently Daddy and Daddy Poppy were able to get the web-cams working between Daddy Poppy's computer and Ella Grace's. The whole family enjoyed being able to see each other live on the computer.

Through it all the family has been enjoying each others company and the time we get to spend with one another.

Pictures of the Assembly are here.

Explorer of the Seas in New London ---

This is a late post that got lost in editing.


This weekend we were treated to the first cruise liner to dock at the State Pier in New London. The sight drew quite a crowd.

Pictures here.

Illnesses ---

Happy and Daddy have been a bit under the weather of late. Daddy was able to get some medicine for sinusitis and is feeling better. We're still not sure what's wrong with Happy.

Happy lost about 3 lbs and is looking very skinny even though he continues to eat regularly. The vet isn't too sure what's wrong with him, so he spent the day getting tests done today. We're still waiting for the results. Happy has been in good health for a cat 14 years old. He's been spending most of his time following Mommy around and snuggling her at night.

Groton Day 07 ---

The family enjoyed an afternoon at Washington Park for Groton Day. Naughny-Na, Daddy-Poppie, and Auntie Ann were also there for hamburgers, hot dogs, and moon bounces. We collected a lot of freebies from the various kiosks of local companies. The free sno-cones were much appreciated on the hot day! We left as the mosquitoes came out in force but Ella, Eliza, and Daddy snuck in a ride on a horse drawn wagon first.

SailFest 07 ---

Saturday was our first SailFest at the new house and we were happy to entertain family and friends for the day. Grammie, Grandpa, Aunt Fran, David, Alex and Erica attended, as well as the Glovers who were able to make it in time and cousins Dillon and Emily along with mother Sarah. We got the grill running for the first time this year and Grandpa helped out getting things ready for a BBQ. The kids played in the lopsided pool (the terrain isn't flat enough, a problem we'll be working out later) but the kids got lots of fun out of it before it collapsed later in the evening.

Grammie and Grandpa also got us an anniversary cake, a chocolate one, that was delicious. Thank you! The burgers were good and so was the wine. We started a fire for roasting marsh mellows but the kids weren't interested, probably shouldn't have given them smores just the day before. :)


It was nice to not have to fight with traffic, before or after the fireworks. Everyone enjoyed a game of Apples to Apples and some Walmart fireworks before heading down for the real show about 20 minutes before it began. We got a real good view, probably the best I can remember, of the show and everyone enjoyed it from beginning to end. Afterwards we all sat out in the front swapping stories while we watched the traffic slowly clear out. The kids enjoyed sparklers.

Pictures here!

Follow the Christ! District Convention ---

Sorry! No pictures! We forgot the camera a couple of times this past week. On Wednesday we took our annual STA trip to Six Flags and for the most part had a great time. Daddy was becoming ill with some kind of respiratory infection and had a splitting headache which kept him from the rides, to his disappointment, but he got to rest by the pool with Daddy Poppy and enjoy some good conversation. The kids enjoyed the pool greatly and later on in the day went on rides, Eliza enjoying the new Wiggles section of the park, enjoying the kiddie rides. Ella Grace got to run around with the big kids for awhile go on big rides that she loves so much.

Thursday it was on to Amherst for our Convention. Things were not going well at first as Daddy Poppie became ill and missed the convention, but our prayers were with him. Daddy also became more ill Friday night and ran a high fever as his lungs seemed to try to hack their way out of his chest. But Jehovah provided, Daddy woke up on Saturday feeling much better and was able to continue the convention. The convention itself was one of the best we'd ever been to, it really emphasised Jesus love for humanity and for each one of us.

The girls of course enjoyed the pool. It was outside and freezing but they didn't seem to care. The children did very well all weekend and made their Mom and Dad proud. They got to spend time with cousins Emily and Dillon who sit very nicely. Dillon did get lost at one point but Daddy found him in bathroom, apparently he had to go and then waiting for someone to come find him! :)

Anjuli's Graduation Party ---

The family spent a wonderful evening at the Denobrega's house Saturday night helping to celebrate Anjuli's completion of high school. It was a fine night of volleyball and dancing along with good food and lot's of laughs. Ella and Eliza got to play on the rope swing in the backyard as well.

Daddy and Uncle Pepsi also got to reminisce about high school days, learning that Alex Denobrega also went to Grasso Tech, as they had. They also got to play several games of foozeball.

Mommy and Daddy had a blast dancing to several swing songs, and Gene taught us the Cotten-Eye Joe dance. It's obnoxiously fun. Ella Grace got in her first game of manhunt, and Eliza did pretty much a little bit of everything.

Pictures here.

Great Grandpa's Cookout 07

Thursday night we finally got back up to Great Grandpa's, as it had been far too long since we saw him last. When we first got the invitation we were disappointed as we thought we'd have to miss it as our meeting is on Thursday night (and Daddy has a talk this week). However, due to one of our sister congregations having their circuit overseer this week our Thursday meeting got changed to Friday, so we were able to attend both.

It was good to see family again. Everyone had a good time catching up with one another, roasting marshmellows, running with sparklers, and sharing a few stories from yesteryear. Mommy enjoyed talking with Uncle John, who tended the fire, and Ella Grace had fun spinning glow sticks with Alyssa, who is learning fire twirling.

A couple times we had some rain come in, Eliza did her best to chase it away singing "Rain, rain, go away!" We heard some thunder but never actually saw any lightning.

The backyard looks great, and Daddy spent some time reminiscing with Mommy about how it used to look with the old fire pit. Eliza felt right at home at Great Grandpa's, running around the house several times and enjoying the yard to the full.

We left shortly before midnight and everyone had a nice time relaxing and enjoying nature.


Pictures here.

Camera phone now working! ---

It's taken awhile for Daddy to figure out how to get pictures and video off of his phone, but with a $10 card reader it can now be done with ease. We've only got one video up now but more will be coming, and pictures have been added to the Flickr account.

Pictures here

Backyardigans ---

We've been getting a lot of work done in the back yard of late. Daddy's taken to mowing the lawn, Mommy's planting flowers, and Ella and Eliza are always ready to help. It's nice to have a yard of our own, and our landlady has been very generous in allowing us to use the fire pit (though Daddy was unsuccessful in getting a fire started there) and her grill, which we'll be bringing upstairs for the summer soon. Eliza particularly loves running through the sprinkler. Ella had devised a water slide with the basement trapdoor, but we sadly had to stop that as the water was leaking through downstairs.

Eliza planted her own flowers. Digging with a spade like it were a shovel she threw the dirt over her shoulder. She's careful and meticulous with her handiwork. Ella's been terrific at tended to her sister outside, trying to make sure Eliza stays safe and tending to her when she falls down.

Parties Galore! ---

It's been a busy week in the house, lot's of fun! Eliza had an end of year party at Headstart that Mommy and Daddy attended with her. Then on Saturday Eliza had a tea party. A couple of her friends weren't able to attend for reasons beyond anyone's control, but Emily and Dillon made it and had a great time. From balloon popping to cake eating there was never a dull moment.

Friday Uncle Micah came over and we got a new toilet to replace the last one that never stopped running. We also got the screen door fixed (mostly) so now we can leave the door open in the summer time, as well as finally getting some glass on our side door so we could take off the plastic baggy that was covering it. Daddy also brought up one of the air conditioners and a window fan.

Eliza's tea party

End of year party

Weekend Vacation ---

This last weekend the family traveled up to Boston and then Manchester, New Hampshire, for a little weekend getaway. We prevailed through some difficulties on Friday through Boston (where Daddy discovered the GPS on the Verizon phone to be quite handy, given his knack for getting himself lost), and arrived that night in Manchester, Uncle Fubbies home town. Mommy got us a great deal on our hotel through the mother of a child she drives to school on the bus. The kids enjoyed the pool and Daddy enjoyed the Red Sox / Yankees game in the weight room.

On Saturday we all enjoyed the petting zoo where we saw mountain lions, lynx's, bears, and a whole lot of goats. Eliza was timid about feeding the animals but did enjoy giving them some food (so long as they obeyed her directions) and Ella Grace particularly enjoyed the horses, remembering her riding days which will hopefully come again. Eliza did not, however, like all the mud and water left from all that rain we got as she thankfully remains a very clean-minded child. That night Daddy took the kids to the pool for more swimming and Mommy went out with Auntie Lala to see Lala's friend play her guitar at a local restaurant.

Sunday Daddy had to return to work (again using the GPS as he again got lost in Boston), and everyone else stayed with Lala to stomp around Fubies old stomping grounds.

Suessical ---

We attended the Suessical musical at the Garde Arts today and enjoyed it, though Eliza got up for a couple of minutes near the end as she got a little bored. The play takes a number of Dr. Suess books and combines them into one story and sets the whole thing to music. It was well done and imaginative, and Daddy remembered how creative imaginations can be once you get wrapped up in a play, your mind filling in all the blanks made by the limitations of what you can do on stage. All the limitations movies spoil us by filling. It's more fun letting imagination do the special effects. Mommy loved it but was a little bothered by the fact that the Cat in the Hat had no tail. :)

At home the family has been enjoying reading the Bible together as we prepare for the Memorial of Christ's death on Monday. Ella Grace was amused by Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple.

Assembly, Cars, and Snow ---

Unfortunately our camera was not with us as we trekked up to Natick for our Assembly. I think we just forgot it with everything that was going on that day. Daddy's car wasn't well as an exhaust gasket had come detached (the bolts holding it together had rusted out) and Mommy's car went into the shop because it wasn't shifting again. When the guy called Daddy back he simply said "Your transmission is, ahhh... is no good." This turned out not to be true (Daddy was a little suspiscious how the mechanic would know that definativly just by hooking it up to the computer) but it did mean we were without car for the weekend. Not to worry, Daddy and Mommy had a car rental in line and picked that up for the trip.

The Assembly was on the subject of not storing up material riches, which was perfect for the weekend, and putting first things first we got through the weekend and had a great time. The kids went swimming, the food was great, and a good time was had by all. Ella Grace continues to make friends at every Assembly (they kind of attach themselves to her like barnacles on a ship as she walks around the Assembly Hall), and this time earned the privelege of sitting with one of her new friends for a session. Eliza was Eliza and pretty much ammused herself wherever she went.

After the Assembly, on the referral of a good friend, we got Mommy's car fixed at Stop and Go Transmission (the transmission was fine, it was a little black box outside the transmission that caused the trouble). It wasn't cheap but not too pricy as far as car repairs go. As Daddy can't free two of the bolts from the gasket to repair his car he spend $6 on C-clamps and put the pipe together that way. It's running fine for the time being.

We enjoyed the snow and tried to put together a snow man but it was difficult with the limited snow we've had this limited winter. The last snowfall was better and both the girls had a blast sledding down the hill at Fort Griswold, which is only a short walk from our house. Daddy had a good time too until the snow got into his shoe and melted, his nervous system is a little bit more developed than when he was a kid so the cold is more of a nuisance now.

Snow pictures are here.

New Beds ---

We've gone a little IKEA mad over the last two weeks. Last week we were trying to make the flea market in New Haven but found out that they close at four o'clock, and it was after four that we found this out. So we decided to hop on over to IKEA for a look around and ended up purchasing Eliza a new bed, as we'd been wanting to get her one for awhile. She loves it. After bringing it home Eliza was very helpful in setting it up with Daddy. She busied herself with putting the screws together (which she figured out how to do watching Daddy do it, unbeknownst at the time to Daddy), and by helping hold the frame in place while Daddy screwed it together.

Yesterday, after roller skating with the kids, Mommy and Daddy decided to make another run down to IKEA to pick up the bed that they had been eyeing for some time in the catalogues. Feeling like old pros we were in and out in record time, even after stopping to get a bite to eat at the concession stand. This time it was colder, but that was alright, because it wasn't nearly as windy as it had been the week before. Getting the bed back was a small adventure, as the box stretched from the very back of the van to about half way between the two front seats.

This bed was a little harder to put up, but Mommy and Daddy got it done that night and enjoyed their first night at the new house in a proper bed. It was wonderful.

Eliza Gets High Fever, But it Subsides ---

Last night Eliza woke up with a temperature of 102.3. We quickly gave her Tylenol and tried our best to make her comfortable and to bring her temperature down. Mom sat with her upstairs so she could watch some TV to comfort her and we were able to get her to go back to sleep. She slept most of today and Daddy was very relieved when he got home from work to hear that her temperature had dropped and she was up and about.

Not sure what it was but she did not become symptomatic in any other way, no cough or congestion or sneezing. Hopefully just one of those things.