Mid-August (Post 1 of 2)

What seems like many weeks ago, we met up with Madeline's friends Holden and Lily at Casimir Pulaski Memorial State Park to chill out on a freshwater beach and munch on Rhode Island-style party pizza. Good times were had by all.

Then on Victory Day -- a Rhode Island holiday -- we took Madeline and Oliver to the zoo. The kids pretended they were butterflies ...

... admired the giraffes ...

... petted the goats ...

... and, again, generally had a good time.

Afterward, Madeline watered our garden.

Later in the week, Grandma Mandy and Grandpa Paul arrived from Oregon, and Uncle Marc came in from Dublin!

Madeline wanted to write a birthday card for Oliver.

If you look carefully and think creatively, you can find all the letters in "Happy birthday Oliver - Madeline" in the card:

Over the weekend, Great Uncle Marc and Aunt Lucy came up from Maryland.  We went to the Temple of Music in Roger Williams Park.

Then we wandered around to see what else the park had to offer.

Afterward, there was reading at home ...

... and lunch on the patio.

That night, Marc and Lucy treated us to a lovely dinner at Cranston landmark Twin Oaks.  Then the next day ...

... Oliver turned one!

[To be continued...]