This Week In NH/Tämä viikko New Hampshiressä

This week is going to be so strange! We dropped our four older kids off at camp today, and returned to a very quiet house with just Little Miss.



Our four have already been away to camp for the last two summers, and spent a weekend at this particular camp this winter. They have each other, and we had planned for two friends to be there this week. Today we also counted four other friends they know from their old school or church!



I know they all will have such a wonderful time, and might not even remember their parents and little sister this week. There is so much to do at camp, and they will enjoy being with their friends too.



It's the mama again, who will do all the missing. And Little Miss & the Captain, too. It will be a strange, quiet week, that's for sure.

But Saturday will be here in no time. And with it, four loads of dirty laundry, all the noise and laughter, too :)

I am linking this post to Stefanie's Sunday Snapshot & Hip Homeschool Hop.

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Veimme koululaiset tänään viikon kesäleirille, ja palasimme Pikkuneidin kanssa tyhjään hiljaiseen taloon. Tästä viikosta tulee outo ilman koululaisiamme! Mutta isoilla lapsilla tulee olemaan hauskaa, tämä on jo kolmas leirikesä heille, ja talvella he olivat juuri tässä leiripaikassa viikonlopun. Lisäksi kaksi heidän ystävistään tulivat samalle leirille, ja perillä törmäsimme myös kolmeen vanhaan ystävään edellisestä koulusta (ja kirkosta)! Koululaiset tulevat tuskin muistamaan vanhempiaan ja pikkusiskoaan, heillä tulee olemaan niin kiva leiri, näin uskomme. Minun on heitä jo nyt ikävä, ja Pikkuneiti ja Kapteeni tulevat ikävöimään nelosia myös.

Mutta lauantai tulee kuitenkin oikein pian. Ja sen myötä neljä isoa kasaa pyykkiä, melua ja naurua taasen :)

Beached Whale/Valas rannalla

So sad! Today a dead humpback whale had washed up on shore at Smith Point on Nantucket. Yes, the same Smith Point we were at last week! Read more here.

Niin surullista. Tänään kuollut ryhävalas oli ajelehtinut Smith Point'in rannalle Nantucketiin. Samalle rannalle, missä olimme viime viikolla! Englanniksi voi lukea lisää täältä.

Goodbye Nantucket!

Goodbye Grandma, Grandpa & Nanny, goodbye family visiting from Ohio, goodbye Brandt Point lighthouse, goodbye beaches and downtown, goodbye foggy evenings and fog horn, goodbye Atheneum library, goodbye old grey houses with white trim, goodbye rose-covered cottages on 'Sconset, goodbye harbor and goodbye Nantucket Island! We threw our pennies and will be back soon :)

Great Point

Even though the best area of Great Point was closed again, this year, like it was last year too, we took a trip there yesterday. Usually you can drive all the way to the most Northern tip of the island past the lighthouse, but apparently the beach was closed due to nesting piping plovers.



Maybe just as well. There had been a great white shark sighting off Great Point last week, so we decided we'd rather not be shark bait.







What fun!! Eating, swimming (very close to the shore), boogie boarding (very close to the shore), water fights, resting, reading, collecting rocks and shells, building castles and digging holes. We didn't spot any sharks, but saw a few seals swimming by.



Filling the tires again after letting off air before driving on the sand. Great Point was great. To a point. As the Captain would say ;-)

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Eilinen seikkailu saarella oli Great Point-rannalle, saaren pohjoisimpaan osaan. Paras alue, niemen pää, oli taas suljettu (kuten viime vuonna) lintujen pesimisen takia, eli harmi kyllä emme päässeet edes majakalle asti. Mutta ihan kiva rantakeikka oli puolessa välissäkin. Viime viikolla oli nähty valkohai saaren päässä, joten ehkä ihan hyvä ettemme sinne asti menneet. Ja tosi varovasti kaikki uivatkin, ihan rannan lähellä. Hylkeitä näimme, mutta onneksi emme niitä haita :)

Viimeisessä kuvassa isoisä lisää ilmaa renkaisiin, ennen kuin ajoimme hiekalla piti päästää ilmaan renkaista pois. Olen ihan kiitollinen ettei minun yleensä tarvitse ajaa näillä rannoilla tai kapeilla saaren teillä, mutta toki osaan ja pystyn, jos pakko.

Boys Will Be Boys/Pojat ovat poikia

(Click larger to really appreciate the pictures :)

The boys joined the Captain & I on a walk one evening. We like to walk to the docks to look at all the boats. The downtown looks so pretty in the evenings, too, and on this particular night the Captain stopped to talk to his friend J, while I very nicely asked the boys for one pictures of them together. Simple request?

Yeah, right. :)

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Olimme iltakävelyllä tällä viikolla, ja Kapteeni pysähtyi juttelemaan ystävänsä J:n kanssa. Pyysin pojilta, että saisin ottaa heistä yhden kuvan yhdessä. Yksinkertainen ja helppo pyyntö?

Aivan. :)

Smith Point

One day when the cousins were still on the island, we packed up two cars and took a trip to Smith Point.



Love all Grandpa's cars - especially the Willy's!!



Grandpa giving out instructions before the brave ones ventures into big waves.



Some of the big kids actually did go swimming here! With several sets on eyes peeled on them, counting heads constantly...!



But some of the kids decided to chill and read..




Or walk to the other side where the water was still.

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Yksi päivä kun serkut olivat vielä saarella, pakkasimme kaksi autoa ja lähdimme Smith Point rannalle. Toisella puolella oli julmat aallot, toisella peilityyni rauhallinen ranta. Kaikille kaikkea, oli se sitten aalloissa pyörimistä, hiekkalinnan rakentamista tai vain lukemista.

Laying Low/Matalalentoa

Little Miss has been sick for a few days with a bad cough and fever, and various family members have had trouble with their tummies or heads, so we have been laying low. Hopefully everyone starts feeling better before it's time to leave Nantucket island (in less than a week).

Pikkuneidillä on ollut kuumetta ja yskää muutaman päivän, ja eri perheenjäsenillä on ollut joko vatsapöpöä tai päänsärkyä/migreeniä, joten olemme olleet aika hiljaisia viime päivät. Toivottavasti kaikkien olo paranee ennen kuin on aika lähteä Nantucketin saarelta (vajaan viikon kuluttua).

Surfside

Seven out of our eight kids (including cousins) hopped in Grandpa's Grand Willy's today, our destination Surfside.



On the South shore the waves are bigger, and boogie boarding is great.



First some tag. Probably to warm up, brrrr!!!!!



Then braving the cold seas with boogie boards.



Fun!!!! (You have to believe the kids - none of the adults got in :)




All the kids went in the water, even Little Miss. I think she actually lost her balance and got a surprise swim, but hey - that counts too!



Since it wasn't a really hot day - quite foggy with a cool breeze, actually - we didn't stay out too long.



So glad Grandpa's Nantucket Edition came with an attached shower to wash all the sandy feet.

(The Nantucket Edition is really the Grandpa Edition - this truck is one of a kind!)

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Tänään lounaan jälkeen lähdimme Surfside-rannalle, saaren eteläosaan. Oli sumuista ja viileää, mutta lapsilla oli silti niin hauskaa lautailla isoissa aalloissa. Tietyille rannoille saarella saa ajaa autoilla, jos on ostanut luvan sitä varten. Kätevää lapsilauman ja rantakaman kanssa!

Fourth Of July, 2011

Fourth of July, 2011, is going to be one of the most memorable Holidays in our family history. We can already hear it: "Remember the year when Nanny won the watermelon eating contest?"

Yes, the Captain's 94-year old grandmother joined the contest and won the "18 and older" category in watermelon eating!! We are so proud of her! Our Nanny rules!!!



Nanny wasn't the only one who brought home a watermelon. Missy didn't disappoint this year either: she won her age category and the finals, and can be now called The Machine. Here is a blog post The Captain wrote about her last year. We actually have great video footage (very short, obviously) of her murdering devouring one of her watermelon pieces, but due to trade secrets we cannot release it to public viewing, regretfully.



After pie eating and the watermelon eating contests, the firetrucks came out. One of the highlights on Nantucket Island during the 4th of July festivities is definitely The Great Main Street Water Fight. Here the fight is just getting started - you cannot be on Main Street and not get wet. Little Miss wasn't feeling well, so we headed back home for a few hours of respite before more contests started. All the big kids (and some of the adults) stayed back to fight. (If others got any pictures of that, I'll add them here later.) Such great fun!!!



A few other people had decided to spend the holiday on the island, as well... This is a picture of Main Street, closed for vehicles (except for firetrucks).



After lunch and some napping, we took our crew (18 of us celebrating this year; 9 adults and 9 kids) to the Children's Beach for running races, sack races three-legged races, wheelbarrow races and tug of war. Our nine children brought home quite the collection of ribbons, and everyone had a wonderful time. After much encouragement Little Miss agreed to join in a couple of her age categories (earlier in the day she would not participate in anything), which was a huge step for her - even with daddy being her partner. Maybe next year she'll do all the races, too?

Our last activity of the day was going to to dock after dinner to watch the fireworks. As tired as we all were by then, it was worth it, and everyone was ready for bed immediately afterwards.

Such a great day of celebrating this nation's independence - and a great reason for having a Grand Party! Below is a slideshow sampler of some of our photos (I would like to know how many pictures were taken by the three papas, the Captain alone too almost 300 :)


Our Paparazzis

"FourthOfJuly"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

I am linking this post to Hip Homeschool Hop.

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Yhdysvalloissa osataan juhlia itsenäisyyspäivää kunnolla (Suomessa juhla on arvokas ja hillitty, täällä raisu ja hulvaton). Me vietimme juhlaa Nantucketin saarella Kapteenin perheen kanssa.

Tämän vuoden kohokohta oli 94-vuotiaan isoisoäidin osallistuminen vesimelonin syöntikisaan, ja kisan voittaminen! Nanny toi kotiin vesimelonin palkinnoksi, aivan kuten Missykin. Missy jälleen voitti oman ikäluokkansa (muistaakseni 11-14-vuotiaat), päihittäen myös veljensä ja serkkunsa. Minulla on lyhyt, todella lyhyt videopätkäkin hänestä, mutta se paljastaa Missyn voittojen salaisuuden, joten en valittavasti voi liittää videota tähän julkiseen postaukseen :)

Syöntikisojen jälkeen Main Street'llä oli jokavuotinen Suuri Vesisota, jonne kaikki kahdeksan isoa lasta jäi taistelemaan. Pikkuneiti ja mama lähdimme kotiin vesisodan alkaessa, Pikkuneiti oli saanut auringosta ja väenpaljoudesta jo tarpeekseen.

Iltapäivällä lastenrannalla oli lisää kisoja, joihin kaikki lapset ottivat osaa. Hauskoja kunnon pihaleikkejä: säkkihyppelyä, 3-jalkajuoksua, kottikärryjuoksua ja köydenvetoa. Päivän päätteeksi menimme satamaan katsomaan vielä ilotulitusta, minkä jälkeen me kaikki 18 juhlijaa olimme valmiit kaatumaan sänkyyn. Onnistunut juhlapäivä!

Sunday Snapshot {Nantucket Island}

It's that time again! Every summer we pack up our crew and belongings, and head to Hyannis to catch the ferry to Nantucket Island off of Cape Cod. It's our family time with Grandma & Grandpa, Nanny (Captain's grandma), Aunt & Uncle, cousins, family members and often friends of the family.



Almost always during the 4th of July holiday.



Sometimes we take the fast ferry, but there is something special about taking the slow boat (especially if mama has remembered to take the dramamine early enough). We pull out snacks and games, and get comfortable for the 2+ hour ferry ride.



The ferry ride gives time to unwind from the long car ride, usually accompanied by heavy Cape Cod traffic.



It gives time to be excited about getting to a special place and being with loved ones.



Plus it's fun to be on the ferry!



The sunset was gorgeous, naturally.



We made it! Grandma & Grandpa were waiting for us, and good thing Grandpa brought the Grand Willy's!! We all fit in with our luggage, too.



Since we arrived I haven't really taken pictures yet, but will definitely take plenty tomorrow, of all the festivities. Nantucket is a really great place to celebrate the 4th. Wait until you see what happens to this fairly calm looking Main Street tomorrow :)

Happy Independence Day!!!!!

Linking to Sunday Snapshot on Stefanie's blog Ni Hao Ya'll.



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Saavuimme eilen Nantucketin saarelle Cape Cod'in rannikolla. Joka kesä vietämme aikaa täällä isovanhempien, tädin, sedän, serkkujen, muiden sukulaisten ja usein perheystävien kanssa, yleensä näin Amerikan itsenäisyyspäivän aikaan. Ajoimme useamman tunnin New Hampshirestä liikenneruuhkissa Hyannis'iin, josta tulimme autolautalla (tosin ilman omaa autoa - jätämme auton parkkiin) saarelle. Isovanhemmat olivat meitä vastassa, ja heidän kesäkodissaan odotti myös täti, setä, isoisoäiti ja serkut. Tänään saapui myös Kapteenin setä pienperheensä kanssa (isommat lapset eivät tulleet). Huomenna suuri itsenäisyyspäiväjuhlinta saarella, kuvia tulossa illalla tai tiistaina :)