Summer in the Western Mass

Well it is summer here in the Pioneer Valley. That means hot days, cool nights, and lots of farm activities.

McCray's is still a family favorite. August loves to feed the animals and drive the tractor. Baby ducks, randy peacocks, classic cars, and who can resist ice cream.

August and I also went strawberry picking with our friends Anneka, Vedrana, Katja (18 mo), Sabina and James in Brattleboro last Sunday. He loved it. In fact he ate so many strawberries that his hands were stained for days.

Then on Tuesday we joined our Friends from work Gabe K. and Baby Gabe (age 3), Danny and Arden (age 3), Sara and her 2 year old. For berry picking and ice cream making. Sara's family owns 16 acres in Hadley with lots of blueberries and raspberries. Lets just say that with 4 boys, lots of dirt, toy tractors, running chickens, and ice cream that serious fun was had by all.

Then Thursday afternoon, August and I went to collect Aunt Neva's farm share. We collected greens, scapes, squash and salad mix. Then we went and looked for strawberries...they were few and far between so we caved and went to pick sugar snap peas instead. We gathered a quart of the green sugary treats. These were all consumed later that evening due to a bus riding snafu. Yum!

Feeling the love of the season and enjoying our move.

The motivation....

It appears that we have stumbled across August's motivation for potty training. It seems to be a three part motivation:

1. A proper taunting from an older and respected cousin.

2. The promise of no more diapers. (There was a slight misunderstanding on this front. After one successful potty trip he was enraged to be once again forced to wear a diaper. So now he knows that we must have 2 accident free weeks for us to put away the pull ups.)

3. Nudity. After a few minutes of nudity after another successful visit prompted 10+ visits in following two to three hours. most of which were successful.

So now that the motivation is known maybe the potty training will begin in earnest.

Current S. Hadley Favorite....

August has begun to settle in here in South Hadley. He enjoys being out side, adores his cousin, he is the apple of his aunties eyes. However his most favorite thrill is McCrays. He loves the animals. He told me that we would get 3 cones for a dollar to feed the animals. August and the animals love the feeding process. All the nuzzling and lip smacking on his hands make him super giggly.

Once you factor in the ice cream, put-put golf (yet to be enjoyed by the little man), and classic car Monday's. McCray's is his favorite place in South Hadley.