Irish cousins, etc.

Robin and the Irish cousins visited last week. As always, it was too hot and too short. But we had a lovely outdoor meal at a new train station restaurant, with beer and burgers and giant pretzel appetizers, then home for ice cream. The kids played ball in the yard and video games in air conditioned comfort. We tried to have them sleep in the yard in a tent. Worked for the jet lagged Mikey and Abbey, Jack and Kate soon moved inside.

The next morning I got them Dunkin' Donuts (check), and we went to our pool. Kate was glued to Abbey and they went down the slide, Jack was glued to Mikey and they went off the diving board. Then Jack's friends/teammates showed up and they all tossed a ball around. Just another boy for the gang.

We tried to go to Playland, only to find it closed. So we went home and got some much needed sleep, with the four kids in Jacks room sleeping all crisscross on sleeping bags, under air conditioning. Abbey read stories to Kate, and Kate to her.

We went to Playland the next day. (Well, Emily took Laura and Niamh into New York City, kind of their Playland.) we all did all the rides, including The log Flume where you got splashed and cooled off three times. It was pretty hot. Kids had a blast and so did Robin and I. Mikey did rides with Jack, and with Kate; great big cousin. Abbey did a ton of rides with Kate, including I suspect carrying her around at some point. Another great big cousin.

We went to Jack's baseball game at night. I think he struck out swinging and grounded out,,but he caught a fly ball in left field that looked almost professional the way he tracked it while ranging to the foul line and hauled it in. All smiles afterward.

Last day of their visit, we ate lunch at MaryAnn's. Because we always eat at MaryAnn's when the Irish cousins visit.


------------/////


Jack had one of the best baseball games of his career the other night. Made a diving catch in right field that I didn't think he had a chance to get to. Caught another screaming line drive. Laced a double to left and hit the ball hard to third two other times. Team won in extra innings, no small part played by Jack. We were happy about that game for days afterward. I figure, if we are going to feel bad when he doesn't have a good game, we had sure better enjoy the great ones.


--------/////


For the Talent Show next year, Kate needs to sit on the stage with The Day the Crayons Quit book and read it aloud. Because her reading, her delivery, her voices....high comedy. It is awesome. Tonight we sat down to read it, with me starting. But by page 3 she was saying, "I want to read this one!" And so she read most of it.

She is way better at it than I am.

--------------////