Name change.....

We found out this week that our little baby was actually a little boy. This came as quite a shock as both Steve and I felt it was a little girl, thus the name Joy. We thought of keeping the name as Joy, but it just didn't seem masculine enough and it was a bit weird talking about him and using the name Joy. So, we have decided to name him Adam. I felt a very deep spiritual connection with this name and our little boy. Adam means, "Son of the Red Earth". This seemed absolutely fitting as the only remains we have of our little baby is his ashes. We were finally able to pick up his cremains on Thursday which helped in continuing the grieving process....our little boy has finally come home.

Our precious Baby Joy!

Baby Joy!


As some of you may or may not know, we recently lost our little baby. I was 18 weeks pregnant and went in for a routine ultrasound to find out how the baby was doing and hopefully if we were blessed with a boy or a girl. Unfortunately, the routine ultrasound turned into something not so routine for Steve and I. We found out our little one had passed away sometime within the previous week. Needless to say we were devastated. We were all so very excited to add this little one into our home. Michael couldn't wait to be a big brother again, hopefully to a little brother, and Megan was so excited to have someone to hold and kiss.


Although the week has been difficult, we have found much comfort in the arms and prayers of our ward family here in Belmont. They all have been absolutely amazing! We also have had the support and love needed from each of our families and truly could not have moved forward with the faith we have without them.


We have felt the awesome power of love the Lord provides to those who are hurting. We have gained a greater appreciation for the eternal plan....not just the earthly life we are currently living. Steve and I now look at our children with a different set of eyes; truly amazed at the sheer miracle of their life but also all they have brought into our family. They are the only medicine I needed. They have both filled the hurt in my heart and have helped me to move forward, remembering they are still here and still need their mom.


We know, one day, we will be with Joy again and be able to raise this precious spirit. We know, life is uncertain and so live every day to the very, very best we can....for we truly do not know what will come tomorrow. I wrap my arms around my loved ones tighter than ever before and say "I Love You" and "I am so proud of you" as much as I can to let them know how important they are to me.


We are given trials that at times seem bigger than anything we could ever handle, but, with the Lord on our side, we can be blessed with the strength to overcome all things. His ways, are not our ways, and if we trust in Him, have faith in the plan He created for each one of us, we will be just fine. He will never abandon us, instead, he will stand next to us and help us navigate all the pitfalls and mountains that come our way.


Without the trials in my life thus far, I would not have been able to gather the strength and faith needed to find my way through this most recent one. I give thanks to my God....for He will never, ever abandon me.


Here are some pictures of the furniture I painted for baby Joy. It was a painstaking process, but worth every cramp, every foot that fell asleep and every paint stain on my clothes. We did find a wonderful home for all of our baby items to go where a special little boy is enjoying all of it. Even in times of desperation and heartache, little blessings and joys pop up all around you. This was one of them.

First day of School!!!!

Another year has passed, and I am awoken by the realization that my babies are growing up really, really fast!  Michael, once a nervous 1st grader when we first arrived in Boston, is now a confident 4th grader.  Megan, entered early intervention four years ago and now is an excited 2nd grader.  How is that possible?  Did we have a time warp and passed through the last three years in hyperdrive?  I just couldn't believe the morning I took these pictures, that I had such big kids.

Michael was beyond excited to get to school.  All of his buddies are in his class this year and he just couldn't wait to see them all.  The summer had been a long one and he was ready for some social hyperactivity.  Poor Mr. Gleason, I am sure he is used to a bunch of really happy boys.

I don't think Megan slept a wink the night before.  She just couldn't wait to see all of her girlfriends and Ms. C (Megan's one-on-one aide).  She was literally trembling with anticipation as we pulled up to the school.  We went in and went around all her old classrooms, and then entered her class with her amazing teacher, Ms. Ely.  When her friends started arriving, she greeted them all with a big hug and an "I'm Back!".  

Memorial Day at the Lazenby's

The wonderful and ever giving Lazenby family opened up their Berkshires home for the ward to come and play in their pool, have a fierce game of tennis, jump on their trampoline and eat a mean BBQ. This year was no exception.  We had so much fun!  

Michael was so very brave.  He put on a pair of goggles and caught the swimming fever.  He had so much fun looking under the water and seeing everyone swimming around.  He also mustered up all his courage and jumped off the diving board.  Once he felt the rush, that was that.  He jumped off of the diving board for the remainder of the time we were there, like 2 hours!!!  

Megan loves the water.  She might as well have gills.  She just loves to walk around and splash, especially those around her.  The wind was a bit strong, so chibber chin was present, but she wasn't about to step outside that pool....shivering and all.

When we got home we received a shock, both kids were very, very red....lobsters...poor babies. I felt so bad.  We spent the remainder of the evening slathering Aloe Vera onto their backs and shoulders.  Second sun burn for both of them....lets just say the "not so great mom side" got a check mark.  

Walden Pond...afternoon outing

For almost four years we have been in Boston and have not visited the famous, Walden Pond.  So, we decided to take an afternoon and go swim.  Well, it was....lets say interesting.  It definitely produced the familiar pond smell.  Of course, that should not have been a surprise, considering it is named...Walden POND.  

Michael, again, took the whole 2 hours, with blue bucket in hand and tried to catch a fish again... maybe, as the parents, we will get the clue that he wants to fish and buy him a pole. But, then, what kind of challenge would that be.  A pole is just too easy for such an agile, stealth, coordinated young man, right?

Megan enjoyed splashing around and "pretending" to swim.  The pond was so shallow, she just had to lay down and push herself around on her tummy.  We were so proud of our little pretend swimmer.  Almost as proud of her and she was of herself.  ADORABLE!

Summer fun at Jellystone Park with None Other than Yogi Bear! - yes he still exists

Steve is dreaming this is his high handle bar Harley.....keep dreamin' babe!



Michael was adamant we get this picture, so, after much twisting and turning of the wrist, we finally took it. You think he was meeting someone really famous.


I think Megan was more concerned whether this big fellow was actually going to come alive and give her a hug....she was extremely uncomfortable.


Oh, yes, I gave into it and had them in the picture together....are they not just the most adorable little guys ever....


So serious....what gives?


After many hours of fishing....swimming....eating....they were finally wiped out!


Isn't this awesome! This was an original stage coach. We were so sad to see that it hadn't been taken care of though. It was so neat inside with the velvet seats. I couldn't believe how small it was though. If you were clausterphobic, I don't know if you could have made a very long trip.


Our sweet friend...Michael did not want to get any closer than this. The horse was not interested in Michael either though. Mutual feelings I guess.


If you know me, I had to get a picture of this stoic little green frog. So cute!

Did you know that Yogi Bear is still popular? Even amongst this new generation? We decided to take a few days in August and go camping. We found this really fun family friendly campground with all kinds of fun things to do. We enjoyed the great outdoors including little toads and frogs, which were everywhere. Of course, I love those little rascals and couldn't get enough of them. So cute! Megan spent almost every spare minute in the lake. Michael was challenged to try and catch a fish. He spent hours with bucket in hand, trying to catch those little boogers. He tried and tried, but to no avail, the fish got the upper hand. Next time Mickey, they are all yours!

We roasted smores, enjoyed popcorn and saw millions of stars; something difficult to do at our home in Boston. It was so much fun and we can't wait to go again.

Lions....and....tigers....and....dogs....oh my!

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, Michael and Megan decided to become a tiger and a dog. Not only that, but they spent a good deal of the afternoon as Tigers and Dogs. I never knew a tiger and a dog could get a long so well. A lesson for all in the animal kingdom I would add.

The ferocious lion and the tongue wagging, happy-go-lucky doggie!

Oh no! They are coming to get me.......Ahhhhhhhhh

I never knew a ferocious tiger could be so adorable!


And, who could ever forget.....(wo)man's best friend! He is one of a kind!

I think Megan could have starred as one of the dancers in the Thriller video.

Around and around he goes...where he stops nobody knows.....is he chasing his imaginary tail? I suppose.

Who ever knew they would become so much alike. I always heard that a dog and its master tend to look alike, but this is just uncanny!

A spring outing

During Steve's spring break this year, we decided to take some mini-vacations and tour around a bit of Boston. The Paul Revere House was celebrating an anniversary and the cost of admission was only $.25 cents (the same price at the time it opened). Steve was kind enough to get the directions on how to get there from the T-Station to the Bus Stop. Well, needless to say, after two hours of walking through Dorchester and then through South Boston, we asked a kind elderly woman where Paul Revere's house was? She looked at us as though we were from a different world.....she said.....his house is in the North End.......

Well, a few choice thoughts passed through EVERYONE's heads and we decided to pass going to his house and found our way to California Pizza and enjoyed some homemade pizza and peach lemonade....YUM YUM.

Well, the very next day we were going to go on a hike. I found a really great family estate just South of Boston where you can go and walk through meadows, farm land, walk beside a bubbling brook and tour the old estate house. Again, Steve got the directions off of the website and we headed off. After an hour's worth of driving and several u-turns, the location was no where to be found. Poor Steve.....he was so frustrated.....he had done it again. So, at the spur of the moment, we decided to drive to Rhode Island. We had never been there before, so off we went.

We, of course, had absolutely no idea what to do once we got there. We found a little beach and spent some time in the water and building sand castles and then headed home. We were absolutely exhausted when we got home and didn't want to take a drive for a really, really, really long time.

Okay, so I could resist this picture. This is such a classic picture of Megan. This great feature on our camera allows for you to put it in a "cartoon" format. I thought it was just beautiful. But, it is just as wonderful in Black and White and in color. It is very rare to get a picture of Megan like this. This is a keeper.

On the last day of Steve's vacation we walked around Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Truly an extraordinary place! I guess, it is Martha Stewart's favorite place to come when she is visiting Boston....a little strange....but to each their own I guess. The really incredible part about this cemetery, besides the fact that is humongous, there is a tower built up on the hill that overlooks all of Boston. You can see everywhere. One of these days, I am going to go back and take a panoramic picture. It truly is a remarkable sight!

After that long walk in the cemetery, Sammy needed to have his own walk. He wasn't allowed in the cemetery, for obvious reasons, so off I went with my camera in hand. I could not resist the Magnolia trees this year, they are absolutely gorgeous! There were two trees in particular in our neighborhood I had to get a picture of, plus a few other flowers.

And, then Sammy. I could not resist getting these pictures of him and Michael. They are absolute buddies!

Michael is so photographic....lucky guy...

Sammy is going to get that flower......he was sure it was going to eat him! What a tough dog!

This past fall, Michael Megan and I planted tulips and daffodils that filled up our front and back yards. Absolutely stunning! It was such a special moment when the flowers came up and then bloomed! The kids had waited months and months and then, there it was, the fruits (colors) of their labor. I am so happy to know that for years down the road, those that rent this little place will enjoy a surprise of color each and every spring.