Chase-Salerno Family Events

On Sunday, 9/30, Mike and I hosted our website’s Hudson Valley Parents Forum 2nd Annual Fall Fest. This gathering is basically a chance for our on-line community to come “off-line” for the day and meet/connect with other members. We had a beautiful day, a large turn-out, lots of families, fabulous music from bands of fellow parents, fun children’s activities, and fabulous prizes in our penny social. All of the proceeds of the day went to the local charity, “FAMILY”* and we were able to present them with a gift of $1,400!
*(For more than thirty-five years, FAMILY has been a leader locally and in New York State, in Ulster County and beyond, developing programming and supports for people in need. FAMILY’s shelters, emergency food pantries, court advocates, counseling and case management services, hotlines, and child care supports, all work together to help people achieve the changes they seek. For more information, visit http://www.familyofwoodstockinc.org/ ).

Gemma and Papa spent a lot of time with Declan and Quinn that day as Mike and I ran around. Thanks, guys!

Mommy and Quinn sporting the new HVP t-shirts at Fall Fest

Declan and buddy Jack playing tag during Fall Fest

Playground time

Here’s Declan along with friends Ellie (L) and Olivia (R) decorating cupcakes, one of the children’s activities during Fall Fest

The bok-bok-bok BIG news this week is……..OUR CHICKS ARE LAYING EGGS!! Yippee!! I found my first cute, small, round chick (well, now they’re hens, but that’s how it goes, isn’t it? The youngest is always the “baby”, etc.) egg one day, in a nest right next to the adult hens’ nest (under our electric meter next to the house). I showed the kids, Declan announced gleefully, “Mom, the chicks are all grown up, now!”

Later that day, after Mike came home from work, I shared our excitement with him. Then I casually mentioned that one of the chicks seemed to make a lot of noise behind the house lately and I wondered if maybe an egg was being laid out there, in a different spot. Mike headed outside to check it out, and he said, “Holy crap, oh my god,” and I ran out to see what was the matter. He just pointed down, shocked, and right up against the house was a nest with 18 chick eggs!!!!! Which meant that our little treasure we’d found earlier was totally old news. At this point, we think they’re all laying, who knows…we’re just excited to have all of these eggs around! It feels like graduation in a way, they started as little baby chicks, and now they’re full-grown, laying eggs.

I can’t WAIT to get six new chicks in the spring to raise for laying. I’m also thinking of getting six meat birds, chicks we’ll raise to the 10-week mark, then have a slaughter. I think that will determine whether I ever want to raise meat birds again, we’ll see how it goes. The rest (the ones we have now) will be “old” next year but good for soup stock at some point.

Declan was so excited to become the proud owner of a skateboard this week!! His friend Liam called to invite him skateboarding at the SUNY New Paltz campus and to feed the ducks, and we decided it was time to get a board. Declan really enjoys it, and he used it a lot this first week!
Very first time skateboarding!

Doing tricks with buddies Liam and Jack (Quinn was running after Jack’s little brother)

Feeding the ducks at the college

We went skateboarding (again!), then bike-riding, on the local rail trail with Livi and Daniel. Here’s Quinn enjoying a snack of goldfish crackers, pampered, just the way she likes it…

We’re looking forward to our website’s big event next Sunday, “Hudson Valley Parents Forum 2nd Annual Fall Fest” in Rosendale! Lots of fun, good music, great penny social prizes, yummy bake sale, and kids’ activities! All proceeds will benefit the charity Family. Hope those of you close enough can come!

We couldn’t resist. After the fantabulous time we had at Robert Moses Beach last week, my friend Vicki and I headed back out there with the kiddos again. This time we also took in a pleasant stroll on the boardwalk to the lighthouse.

Splashing in the surf

At the local annual “Family Farm Festival,” Declan had the opportunity to do some blacksmithing! He made a beautiful iron heart decoration.

The kids had a great time going apple, pear, and raspberry picking at an orchard near our home. It was cute – after she picked them, Quinn kept trying to put the apples back on the tree!

We had a wonderful time visiting Grandma and Grandpa up in Schenectady this week. Here’s Quinn enjoying a ride on her new bike, chauffeured by G’ma!

This action shot is a little blurry, sorry about that. But the kids were so cute as they squealed with delight, yelling “Faster, Grandpa, faster!”

This week was just one awesome adventure after another!

We found an inexpensive used trampoline on Craig’s List (happened to be right in New Paltz) and we’re having a great time with it!

This was lots of fun – we made a crazy Mentos/diet soda geyser (diet doesn’t leave a sticky residue).

We attended a local minor leagues Hudson Valley Renegades baseball game this week (we won!!) – as you can see, Quinn really got into it! Staff people kept giving her treats, like this baseball, for being so cute.

I took the kids down to Robert Moses beach on Long Island for the afternoon. We met my friend Vicki and her son Joshua down there (see in background). We had such a fantastic time we are hoping to go back this week!

We were sad to hear that Stella, Grandma and Grandpa’s wonderful cat, died last week. She was such a fabulous cat, and she was so sweet with the kids. Here’s a picture of her with the kids from last month at the Homestead in Whitefield.

Yes, Labor Day weekend has come and gone, but we are still living like summer is in full swing!

Quinn enjoys her playdate with brothers Tommy and Jake, twin sons of Erica’s friend and former colleague at Cornwall, Randi

Declan and Quinn meet tortoise “Hercules,” at Forsyth Park Zoo in Kingston

Quinn has developed a real love for the pool!

Declan has really made progress in his swimming, too, thanks to buddy Livi showing him the ropes last week! He now can do swim-like moves underwater and jump off the side of a pool into the water.

The kids and I took an impromptu trip to Boston this week, joining Mike for his business trip out there. We enjoyed New England Aquarium (the penguins were Declan’s favorite part!), Quincy Market (the kids still aren’t sure what to make of the “human statue”) and Boston Children’s Museum, which was great!!!

Working hard at the construction exhibit at the children’s museum!

Coming down the slide!

Jumping hurdles!

Bye-bye, Boston!

We had fun at the annual New Paltz Rod & Gun Club BBQ on Sunday and hung out with Gemma and Papa; Aunt Tracey, Uncle Jim, and Luca; and Aunt Nikki, Uncle Mike, and Norah.

Declan invents his own form of “badminton ball” while Daddy and Quinn relax in the background.

Here’s Quinn, “having a ball!” (Yes, that’s a giant boo-boo under her nose from the faceplant she took the other day.)

Summer’s not over yet! We enjoyed the warm weather with friends last week playing outside and splashing around in the pool.

Shooting bugs with Callie, Abby, and Alyssa.

Quinn gets a lift from buddy Karsten.

Finally, I am writing to report the end of an era…..this weekend, we traded in the red Honda CR-V for a silver Mazda 5. I wanted a car with an optional third row to transport occasional extra passengers, like playdates or friends who come visit, and this “micro-van” has a pass-through between the second row seats to get there. Plus it gets good mileage. And, it’s a stick shift! It’s SO much fun to drive! Come on by and take a ride sometime! If you Google “Mazda 5,” you can see pictures of it.

The kids and I had lots of fun last week in Whitefield, NH hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Chase at the Homestead and enjoying playtime with cousins Kai (2.5 yrs.), Alex (4.5 yrs.), and baby Elizabeth (6 mos.)!

Party time on the Homestead porch!

Declan and Alex discover effortless bubbles, letting a fan do all of the work!

Hanging with baby Elizabeth at Trails End cottage.

Kai gives “baby Quinny” a pine cone.

D and Alex take a break from making sand castles to check out a freshwater mussel shell at Forest Lake.

Quinn’s first time blueberry-picking…..looks to me more like blueberry eating!

Tool time! Declan gathers all of the play-tools to help Grandpa assemble some fans.

Happy Birthday, D!! And Happy 16th Birthday to cousin Andy, who shares the same special day!

This was the first year Declan was really able to share ideas to celebrate his birthday and to help plan them, which was lots of fun. This year’s festivities included crafts, games, splashing around in our small pool, and making s’mores around our own campfire!

Thanks to everyone for your well-wishes — Declan loved hearing from you!

Yippee, I’m 4!

The kids loved the temporary tattoos! Here’s D applying one to Liam while Olin looks on.

This was so much fun! Thanks for setting up the fire, Papa!

Quinn didn’t roast any marshmallows, but she ate plenty of them!

Beading with Gemma