Let the Photo's Do the Talking

 the significance of a hamburger AND cheese

both of which were actually consumed

will not matter to many other than me...

a time of joy!

And a note...

he takes his games

face painting

and tattoos 

VERY seriously...

but throw a couple of cute teen girls

on riding toys at him?

All smiles and charm

and endless chatter!

Score so far?

Culture camp 1

Bad attitude 0

It's hot...really hot.

But the Delaware River area is lovely.

We had 4 hours to kill 

between check out and check in

so we took the scenic route from

Hancock NY to Ellenville NY.

Ben is tired of travel.

Glad to be staying put for several days.

Maybe he will snap out of the 

"I already have lots of VN'ese  friends.

I don't need any more.

I'm not saying hi to anyone!" funk.

It's special.

Busy, Busy,Busy...stop

Yup.
That's us.
Auntie Carol's retirement.

Auntie Kristen's baby shower.

Auntie Barb's retirement.
School year wrap up
and preschool retirement.

A day full of laundry and packing
while my child pranced about the house
on a mission to never dirty laundry again.

Then off on our epic summer journey...

First stop, for a few days, Auntie Kristen's house
where we found our precious Auntie timing her labor pains...
seems to have passed.

Spent hours having fun in the backyard pool.

Today off for pho
while working to keep the precious Auntie calm
and not high blood pressure-y,
fat ankle-y,
early labour-y.

Here til Wednesday
when we drive off for our over the border fun
at the Catalyst Camp!

Take a look at this LINK to peek at the fun!
We can hardly wait!

Hee, hee...

Mama, this is my sari.

I'm an Indian girl.

You can only talk to me in Hindi.

Makes a sweet Indian Girl, doesn't he?

Hee, hee...

______________________________

And today?  

Auntie Barb's last day as principal of our school after 11.5 years.

An Indian tradition, the teachers towed her out of the school lot at 3:45

(in a VERY fancy corvette...not quite as traditional).

I was holding a very tired and very hot Ben in my arms.

We waved good-bye.

In the car a few minutes later

"Mama, is Auntie Barb going home now?"

Yes

"To our home mama?"

No sweetie, to her own.

"Oh, but our house is where retired people live."

Hee, hee...

_________________________________

In the car, driving home

I apparently made him angry.

"Mama?  You are a cod fish!

Not a cuddle fish!"

Hee, hee...

________________________________

A (not so) lovely interaction at the grocery store...

Looking the cashier right in the face

"Mama, humans get older and older and older...

(big dramatic pause)

and then they die.

That's just the way humans work."

And that cashier was very very old.

And I was simply so relieved when she laughed so hard

she could hardly catch her breath. 

Hee, hee...

_________________________________

And in other laugh invoking news???

Tomorrow is the very very last day of work.

Hee, hee...

2...more....weeks.....

Until a whole lot of this:

Photo fun in the Sun

Lots and lots of VERY hot air show fun on the weekend... 

No real interest in the air show...

but mini golf?

big blow up slides?

Hagan Das (sp?)

Yeah, so much fun.

And today?

Special visitors for Ben at school!

From nana's neck of the woods!

So much fun sharing with friends.

Summer fun-coming to you real early!

Ahoy maties!

Each year we celebrate little dude's birthday 

with his sweet friends from Hai Duong.

We also have traditionally served ice-cream

to a few close friends on the street,

on a different day of course.

Families have grown.

And we aren't on the street anymore.

Combine our little Vietnam group

with two friends from town?

What do you get?

A pirate crew.

An a very very good time.

Pirate scopes

A captain to lead the way

Treasure boxes, to collect you booty

Treasure

 4 or 5 treasure stops total on the way

to a full treasure chest.

And then?

Dinner.
And Cake.

He was soooo pleased.

Gifts from friends

And great big bags under his eyes...

What a glorious birthday it was.