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Yesterday was RB's third birthday party.  Today is my great nephews's second birthday party.  And tomorrow is Aidan's first day of kindergarten. 

The first two are very exciting, but the third one is very scary for my son.  I will be going in to work late so that I can take him to school, and G will be leaving work early to pick him up (he is terrified that we will put him on a bus-a bus took him away from his foster home, remember) and just plain scared of the change.  This week I sent him to his old daycare, which he loved after the first few days, and still he cried the first morning.  His best friend was out on vacation, so that added to his upset, and of course he was not used to getting up and leaving the house early in the morning, either-part of why I sent him.  So this week will definitely be tough.

Birthday Party #1

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RB's best friend (center) and Aidan's beloved daycare teacher, both guests at the party.
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The birthday boy with LB

Kindergarten Open House

Birthday Party #2

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The two year old birthday boy

His Sisters
His Parents-My Nephew and His Wife
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We got the pool filled enough for the kids to cool off.  PB and I went toy store shopping with the three boys-what fun-and Aidan got a baseball bat, plus I picked up birthday gifts for BB and RB.  And today we went to BB's first birthday party.  Then on the way home I stopped in the meadow where my brothers were haying and took these shots of my nephew's kids on the hay and my brother on the tractor.
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LB's hair is almost as blue as the pool lining, though you can't really tell in this picture of she and MB

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Some people think one year olds need motorized cars.  Here is BB with a remote controlled car run by his uncle, behind him.  And then, like most kids, he wanted to play with the packaging more than the toys.

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We finally have long, hot, sticky days.  My fifth brother went haying for the only time this year-it was finally dry enough to cut-and Aidan got to drive the tractor.  He loved that, of course.

My second brother was exhibiting at the annual League of NH Craftsmen Fair this week and sold a table and chairs, so he's psyched.
http://www.nhcrafts.org/index.html
http://www.myrlphelps.com/
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My third brother called and asked if my grandsons needed a swingset.  When I said they do not, but we do, we got a swingset.  MB hasn't used it yet, but the other three had a great time on it today.

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And last, my first brother was here for a day and a half with his wife.  He'll be back again later this month for his birthday (let's see-he'll be 62 this time!) for longer.  Then he'll be able to see his daughter-she lives in NH, he lives in WA, and she was out West while he was back East.

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MB could not get enough of my sister in-law!

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Today ends vacation week for both PB and myself.  I actually ended up watching the grandsons on and off, but it was still a good week.  PB and I took all four boys (BB was with me that day) to the beach for one afternoon.  We played in the dirt a lot.  And on Friday, despite the constant pouring rain, Aidan and I went to Santa's Village, which he loved.  On Saturday we went to an Asian families gathering (adoptive families) hosted by the biology teacher at my school, who has two Korean children.  Their son, also named Aidan, is eight, and their daughter is four.  The other family that came has a 15 year old Chinese daughter.  The fourth family had to cancel last minute.  Then today we spent the early afternoon at Mom's house where I had MB and GB was there with his son, BB.  Here are shots from the whole week:
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You can see that I was thrilled to take this plunge but that Aidan was not so much so.  He asked, as we ascended, if he could get off.  He also insisted that I keep my arms around his waist the whole time, even when the ride was gentle.

Guide to these shots:
1st row left-BB (grandson #2); right-Brandy (dog), Aidan, BB, & RB (grandson #1)
2nd row left-PB & boys after beach; Aidan after beach, w/black cherry ice cream
3rd row left-Aidan; right-PB (our first daughter)
4th row left-Brother #2 with Aidan and my niece (from sister #4) in the workshop (my brother makes furniture); right-BB & MB (grandsons #2 and #3)
5th row left and right-the boys again, with cabbage
(other rows identified below)
6th row left-the boys and me; right-GB (our 1st son) and his son, BB
7th row left-sister #4 with MB; GB and BB again
8th row left-my sister's girls and MB; right-brother #5 and BB
9th row left-Mom and kids; right-my 2nd brother's girlfriend, doing a crossword puzzle in the shop
10th row left-Aidan; right-my 5th brother's wife and BB