I know 4 months is a long time to take a break, but here are some highlights. . . . 

We missed strawberries and blueberries but made it home in time for raspberries and friends.

We spent some time with Dave's sisters, brothers and their families in Denver.

Again this year we went to Wildwood for a Cru Summer Project. Since we leave Albany five weeks before the school year finishes, we bring school work with us. To celebrate the end of a great school year, we walked to the Boardwalk and enjoyed ice cream together. We even walked home in the pouring rain.  

This year our dear friends from Albany came for a few days to visit us in Wildwood - what a treat! And a highlight. How sweet is this picture? the girls and their friend, holding hands and walking on the boardwalk - sweet! 

we swam and swam and swam at the ocean one day during their visit  . . . . boogie boards, sand castles, 

And then the boys did this on the couch

All the kids hanging out together 

I didn't take this picture of Dave at Robin's house, but I love it! 

The women staff, staff interns, and deaf interpreters for our Summer Project - a great team! 

Our students and staff

 Will at Robin's lake

Will fell in love with our friend Robin's dog, Kelly. He thought Kelly was his to take home one night, and even left crying because "where's my dog?" I thought it would be over in the morning, after a great night's sleep . . . . nope, "where's my dog?" was my good morning greeting from my little guy.

 The last couple of years in Wildwood, we have spent Father's Day morning at the fantastic Cape May Zoo. After visiting the zoo, we enjoy a picnic together. 

We had the great joy of celebrating the marriage of one of our former students in May, before we left for Wildwood. Hannah is a graduate of Sage College and was the force behind getting Cru started there. She's such a joy and her day was beautiful. Here she is with a crew of Cru students we love. 

Happy Easter! We hosted 11 RPI students for Easter dinner. What fun! 

The girls looked fabulous in their dresses we picked out while Heather and Decker were here 

(I love that they matched!) and Will was sporting the sweater vest!

The week after Easter was Anna Kate's spring break, so Lucy took it off from homeschooling too. We spent a chunk of Monday at the eye doctor's office, Tuesday morning we went to choose frames, and by Thursday, she's looking like this: 

Heather and Decker visit

Before Heather and Decker arrived for their spring break visit (where it was still winter), Will potty-trained! Hats-off to one of the easiest kids for us to potty-train! I was sure it was going to be difficult, and so I kept putting it off. What a pleasant surprise that he's "taken to it" very easily.

Despite the "late winter" snow storm soon after H & D arrived - inches fell!! - we trekked out to the Plaza and Museum at the end of the week. It was cold but most of the snow was gone! 

Will was attached to Decker always.

 March Madness at the Sheehan house looks like this:

Will's 3rd birthday

Will's third birthday marks the end of our "birthday season." We had a great celebration, a few days late because we were at Camp of the Woods on his actual birthday (February 17), and Peter and Myra joined us! Since Will doesn't eat any meals the rest of us would consider a real dinner, I made Parmesan Chicken and Rice - a family favorite. One thing we can count on, though, is that Will eats chocolate! So, we repeated Daddy's cake - Chocolate Sheet Cake from the Pioneer Woman's cookbook. 

 He wanted a helicopter cake - just a bit more than I was willing to undertake. But I did make a helicopter landing pad, which the helicopter missed! :) 

 Will has enjoyed blowing out candles throughout the birthday season, and finally it was his own cake and candles!

Camp of the Woods President's Day Weekend 2013

What a treat it was for our family to spend President's Day weekend at Camp of the Woods in Speculator, NY. We think this weekend had some of the best weather yet, at least Saturday did! Once again, our family was able to rest well and spend really quality time together, making memories. 

One of our favorite places: the tubing hill! 

We had the hill to ourselves for a long time on Saturday! 

Anna Kate was the only one who time after time pulled her own tube up the hill (and sometimes someone else's tube, too)!

 Will wanted to run down the tubing hill and climb back up it, rather than using the path. 

 Will walking up the tubing hill

 Anna Kate and I had a lot of fun riding together down the hill!

 Everyone loves the tubing hill!

Will even rode all by himself this year!

 And, of course, a sleigh ride on Sunday, which was frigidly cold and windy. But who can say no to a horse-drawn sleigh ride? Not us! We bundled up and enjoyed ourselves, even getting the thrill of experiencing a sleigh-drawn "donut" in the parking lot.

We were very surprised to come to a house that was just over freezing - 36. We were thankful! Much colder and we would have had a big, huge mess on our hands, since our furnace malfunctioned over the weekend while we were gone. So, our pipes had (miraculously) not frozen - a warm February weekend had saved us! Dave figured it out quickly, but it was slow to warm up our house. Thus, the picture below: