Category Archives: Friends

Family, Food, Friends, Photo-A-Day, Travel, Vlog

Eva’s Amazing Singing at the 4th of July Neighborhood Parade

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Falmouth Fireworks
Photo-A-Day #4100

Our 4th of July celebration began rather early today. Andrew was up at 4am. Allison graciously took over trying to get him to go back to sleep. No luck. So when I got up and before the annual neighborhood parade she took a nap while he watched some videos on Netflix. I can’t even tell you what I was up to this morning except for maybe some coloring in my The Coloring Notebook. Eva did some sketching while I colored.

Around 11am we went over to the Dartmouth Ave Annual 4th of July Neighborhood Parade. We’ve been doing it each year and this year Eva said that she wanted to sing “God Bless America”. Well, I have never heard her sing a whole song before, except for goofing around at the house or in the car. I was utterly blown away to hear her sing “God Bless America”. She got right up on that picnic table and sang her heart out and did it so well. She had no musical accompaniment, just her singing. She was so poised and confident. It was a very proud dad moment.I caught it on video and it is in today’s vlog.

After the parade I went with my Dad, Uncle Wayne and cousin Scott to see the Hōkūleʻa over in Woods Hole. This is a double hulled canoe that is sailing around the world with no instruments. The sailors use the stars, waves and other means of navigation. It is a really amazing thing. The boat is 62 feet in length and has spots for 10-14 crew. I know one of the guys on one leg of the journey and thought that he would be there, but he wasn’t.

When we came home it was time for the beach. I went over and Eva and her friends had dug a large hole. They intended to sit in it to watch the fireworks but the tide had other plans. Then it was back home for showers and a cook out. We had a good amount of visitors and it was a very enjoyable meal.

Then it was time to head back to the beach for the famous Falmouth Fireworks display. I set up my camera with the fish-eye lens in order to capture the fireworks. They were good this year and luckily the winds blew away most of the smoke before the next firework went off. I was able to get a few decent photos.

Food, Friends, Photo-A-Day, Travel, Vlog

Pen Pals at Plimouth Plantation

Pen Pals at Plimouth Plantation
Photo-A-Day #4095

We had a fantastic day in Plymouth, MA today. My friend Chris Lewis from Dad of Divas and Dad Spotlight was coming to MA on a vacation with his family. His daughter, Paige and my daughter, Eva are pen pals. They have exchanged a few letters so far and they were going to meet for the first time. Chris got us tickets to Plimouth Plantation, The Mayflower II and we also visited Plymouth Rock. It was a great day.

We started off at Plimouth Plantation. This is some place that I have not been since 3rd or 5th grade, I forget exactly when but I’ve been there and it was interesting. It is still a very interesting place, especially for curious kids. The people on the plantation certainly know their stuff. We had some interesting conversation with many of them during the day. We learned how to make and cure a canoe, what foods are made for the people in the plantation and how to make the clay walls of the buildings. It was very fun. The kids loved it.

Eva and Paige were fast friends and there were many tears at their parting. Andrew became smitten with Juliana and she was great with him. She carried him on her shoulders and piggyback and they played games together. It was so cute. Eva rode with the Lewis family and Juliana rode with us. At the gift shop of the Plantation Eva and Paige got personalized pens which is quite fitting since they are pen pals. I’m pretty sure that both of them were probably writing their next letters in their heads on the way home.

After the Plantation we went over to the Mayflower II. We explored the ship for a while and then looked at Plymotuh Rock.

I think the most fun was our meal at Cabby Shack because the kids just had so much fun together. Eva and Paige kept running off to giggle and whisper. Juliana was so patient with Andrew, playing games with him and getting him laughing. Allison and I had great conversations with Chris and Jean. Allison and I also had an amazing Captain’s Platter.

After our meal the kids convinced us to go to Cupcake Charlies. Eva was in her glory since she loves making cupcakes. Each of the kids got cupcakes and the parents ate the leftovers. They were delicious!

Until our next visit together… Maybe next time it will be in their neck of the woods.