Max and Esme

We woke up to 8-9 inches of white this morning. Our proximity to the sound lessened the total snowfall, we heard it shift to sleet several times over the night. Max is helping the neighbors clear their driveway, but the small snowblower probably takes more effort than a shovel would! Nonetheless, Steve is enoying telling Max what to do, and Margaret is likely to reward him with desserts, so a good use of his morning. 

My friend and I spent a day at the MET this weekend. It was my first time in the city since Covid hit, a totally surreal experience. The museum was almost totally empty and eerily quiet. So we spent the time doing cartwheels and sliding down handrails. Also looking art I guess.  Most importantly, it prompted my first ever blog post- you're welcome Greta.  (Harold (not William) the Hippopotamus)

Esme is starting her sophomore year attending school two days a week and remote learning for three. Olive saw the backpack go on this morning and knew that we were returning to an old routine. First she watched out the window to see if Lilly was going to arrive (unfortunately she falls in the second half of the alphabet so Esme has to walk to school alone this semester). Then she kept close to Esme until she headed out the door. Ez has a full plate this year, taking Psychology as well as AP Global History, Geo/Trig and Honors classes in English, Chemistry, and Spanish 4. I'm sorry the semester won't be "normal" but I'm glad to have her around more :)  

We retreated from the pandemic to Maine for a long 4th of July weekend this year, staying with generous friends on their little island off of Boothbay Harbor. Following a full round of negative COVID testing we socialized with three families for a few days -  no masks, no social distancing - just sharing some time together feeling "normal."  We arrived before our hosts, and got the Squirrel Island mail boat to drop us off on Mouse Island - they ran a special trip just for us!  The rest of our visit was overcast and cool, but a welcome respite from the heat and humidity we left behind. We spent a few days filling our time with tennis, walking in the woods, playing on the beach, lawn sport "olympics", food, and lots and lots of fireworks!  The kids took a lot more photos that I did, so I'll entreat them to post some additional stories. 

Just sharing another graduation picture because no-one ever posts one of me. Kids have settled into their post-school routines. Max is doing some work for Climate Central and runs every day. He's had a haircut since this was taken and has had two wisdom teeth pulled. Esme is reading and writing and texting with friends. Life is pretty quiet, but it's all good. 

ok, so it's not a photo of Peter, but it was the best option I came up with for a father's day post!  We spent a couple of hours as a family on the boat yesterday, enjoying lunch and clear skies, and catching stripped bass and a fluke. We capped the evening with fresh tuna steaks, and Esme made tiramisu for desert. This particular shot was from a couple of weeks ago as Peter and I watched the weather front move from right to left (in this photo) across Manhatten and around to Long Island. It was really cool that you could see the line so clearly!

It might not look like a classroom, but it's served that purpose for the last few months of 9th grade!

Although Max technically has classes through Friday, and his last AP exam at 4pm on Friday afternoon, today was his last day of going to school in Rye. The senior class took turns stopping by the high school to return books, clean out their lockers, and pick up their cap and gown. Max didn't see the point in having his picture taken, but to me it was worth commemorating.

Olive had a visit today at the Dog House Inn where she'll be boarding next week while we're in Paris. She seemed to enjoy herself and looks right at home in her usual regal pose.

League Championships at the Armory in January. Max placed first overall in the 2 mile, first in his division in the 1 mile and his team medaled in the 4x800 meter relay. The small track (200m) with the sloped ends is great for spectators because we can see the whole race clearly. It's less fun for the distance runners who have to around and around and around the same loop. County Championships are on Friday - Max has qualified to compete in the 2 mile and the 1 mile.