The trip back home

Alot to cover. I've not been updating the blog in awhile. Last month, I took a road trip back to New York to spend cleaning out my grandmother's home. The boy and M saw me off, of course and we took a group photo before I left.











On my way out, I decided to get off the interstate after I got on I495. I hadn't crossed Massachusetts this way before, but like my dad before me, I had to take the road less traveled, and it was certainly less traveled especially after I got into the western part of the state. This impressive bridge was the French King Bridge. I couldn't find anything about the origin of the name, but it is impressive straddling the Connecticut River on Route 2. You could feel the up and down vibration through the ground beneath your feet as trucks passed over it. It disappeared back into the woods on either side.









In western Massachusetts, the drive was really rewarding when I pulled over to discover all sorts of unknown treasures when the road stretched alongside the river. I found this small 18th and 19th century graveyard alongside a boat launch. Being on a Monday, it was very quiet, just a few fishermen.



Eventually, heading into the North Adams area, the road started to climb up into the mountains alongside the same rocky river. I think that this was the Deerfield River.





Before North Adams, the road heads upward sharply for a bit and then drops you out at this vista before coming down the other side of the mountain. From the other side, (where I should have stopped for photos...), you can see North Adams far down in the valley below.




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Melissa and the boy came on a surprise visit, too. Walter had a good time visiting his Gramp's old place.









Of course, Walter, had a great time just playing in the dirt with a plastic bucket and an old spoon.



And by the time he got back home, Walter was so tired that he just collapsed into his easy chair. Thanks, Grammie!

13 months!

Lucky 13!

The Big One-Point-Oh! Birthday Party!

So, Walter's birthday party was last month on the 2nd a couple of days short of his actually birthday on the 4th, but it allowed everyone from far and wide to show up.
On the guest list was the "Gruncle" Jim and Aunt Kathy his Grandma and Grammie and Elie and several others in spirit.











Walter, as usual was more interested in the noise the paper made as it was ripped.



One of Walter's favorite gifts was from his Gruncle- a small push wagon. He has one at his school and has wanted to test drive one at home for months now. Of course, his favorite activity was running it into doors and the wall.



BOOM!



Right between the uprights!



And away we go!
Thanks again, Gruncle! We think that its helped him pick up the walking thing.



Celebration continued with cake of course.



Though Walter needed a hand blowing out the candle, he still enjoyed the cake.





For all of you who couldn't make it, Walter wants to share some of his cake.

ONE!!!

Walter turned one year old officially this past Wednesday April 4th. Last year, it was raining heavily. This year, it was snow. So like his old man who was born in a snowstorm.

11 months!

So close and so hard to believe that we got him almost a year ago! Definitely one of the best investments we ever made.

Trouble with spaghetti

Its really self explanatory...


Trouble? What trouble?

Beards

Kids... they seem to grow up so fast. One moment, you're bathing them and feeding them and the next they're growing facial hair. Albeit, its a bubble beard and spaghetti sauce stubble.

10 months!

Walter at 10 months. It won't be long before he's one year old. Such a big boy! He's wearing his "Monkey see, monkey do, monkey get in trouble too..." t-shirt.

In addition to all of his other toys, the low tech stuff is always fun. Walter has fun in his box when he can wrest control of it from the cats. After some initial difficulties, he found his way out.






















Thanks for the Oswego State stuff, Aunt Mini-Me! The boy looks like a future Upstate New York football hooligan.

With all of the hectic scheduling that vacations entail, Walter's 9 month photo was slightly delayed by 10 days. But, he got a chance to pose with not only his bear, but his Uncle Peter's and Aunt Peg's xmas gift of Walnut II.

Vacation 2006-7

The last day of the year, we three set out on our vacation. First, we visited old Gloversville and his Grammie's.



Walter had to be restrained behind the couch cushions at times.

After a couple of days, we traveled to see Syracuse again and his Grandma's.



Walter had a few heart to heart talks with his Grandma about priorities in life.



On our way home, Walter remembered the talk with his Grandma and insisted that we visit the last remaining Krispy Creme shop in New York State. Walter enjoyed the hat.



I enjoy this picture immensely; I'm not sure why. Walter is staring around the Johnstown Price Chopper parking lot very seriously contemplating why his dad worked here through college for so long.



We visited my dad's old '35 Ford pickup in the shop where my mom is having it restored/customized into a hot rod. It was a project of my dad's that never got out of the garage for 30+ years. Of course, the youngest Walter had to have his picture with his Gramp's truck.





Walter also got to see his aunts Madeline and Amanda and cousins Abby and little Lennie.





On our way back home after a nice long week. We went back over the mountains on our way home to Maine. Up to Troy, through Bennington, VT, over Hogsback Mountain and into New Hampshire, we trekked back to Vacationland after vacation.