2009 NORTH READING SENIOR PROM

If it seems like Rebecca hasn't missed a party this Spring, you've got a pretty good grasp of the situation. Tonight is the 2009 North Reading Senior Prom, which Rebecca is attending with her friend Chris, who she knows from the track team.

Here is Rebecca getting her wrist corsage.

Here's Chris getting his boutonniere.

This is Rebecca and her friend Haley, who she's known since Haley was 6 months old and Rebecca was 3 months old. (They were in the same daycare center.)

Here's the group that shared a large limo to the prom.

Here's that same group, looking slightly more suspicious than before.

This is Rebecca just hanging out while other pictures were being taken.

Here's the three of us in what's becoming a traditional parent/child prom picture. (Everyone was taking these pictures with their kids.)

Here are Chris and Rebecca getting ready to take off in the limo.

Here are Rebecca and Chris again, this time at the Grand March, which took place at the local Ipswich River Park. All of the couples parade through the crowd in an organized fashion so that you can see them all. After doing it once, they switch sides and then do it again. It's fun to see all of the kids so dressed up!

(Photo by Erik Hansen)

After the second pass through the crowd, they were off to the limo which then took them to the prom. Hopefully they're having a good and safe time!

DUKE'S NEW FRIEND!

It's been almost a year now since we inadvertently caught our friend Duke, better known as the "Duke of Turtle." We've successfully kept Duke and this sunfish all this time and it's been a lot of fun, not to mention educational.

Today, Steve and Erik were at the local pond, playing around with some nets and trying to catch smaller creatures. Instead, we accidentally netted this guy.

When we caught him, we thought that he looked a little bit like a snapping turtle, but he didn't have the ridge on the top of his shell that snappers typically have. We brought him home and after a little online research, found out that he was a "common musk turtle", which are native to this area. They're also referred to as "stinkpot turtles", apparently because they have glands on either side of their body that can emit a musky smell. Thankfully, we haven't experienced this smell yet.

Duke and his new friend "Snappy", so named because Erik still thinks it looks a lot like a snapping turtle, seem to be getting along well. We got them a fresh batch of feeder fish today and it appears that both have taken part in a little feeder fish savagery.

As has been the case with Duke, we hope to learn more about these turtles by observing them. So far, it's been fun.

GRISWOLD 2009 - "GRISWOLDS GO FOR BROKE - THE RECESSION TOUR"

GRISWOLD 2009 began a little earlier than normal, starting on Memorial Day since it's going to be a little different than our typical Griswold excursions. In short, the global recession has impacted us like everyone else, with one of us unemployed and the other having to take a recession-based pay cut like so many other people these days. The intrepid Griswolds will venture forth though, experiencing things a little closer to home, things that we may too often take for granted or just have not gotten around to seeing yet. So today, Memorial Day, was officially GRISWOLD 2009 - GRISWOLDS GO FOR BROKE - THE RECESSION TOUR - DAY 1!

For the first day of our extended Summer-long vacation, we hopped into the P.T. Crusier and headed west towards Springfield, MA. In Springfield, we visited "The Zoo In Forest Park", a smaller zoo in a city park kind of setting.

While Dad and Rebecca waited for the zoo to open...

...Erik decided to goof around on the playground. Note the large drop-off on the edge of that asphalt walkway...

...Erik didn't notice that drop-off until he'd taken a tumble off of it. Mom and Erik walked to the car and took care of it, so we finally ventured forth into the zoo.

Inside we saw a number of animals, like a cougar...

...some foxes...

...some peacocks...

...and a number of other animals. It was a cute little zoo.

From the zoo, we took a fairly short drive to the town of Westfield, where we went to Stanley Park. Stanley Park was a pleasant place with ponds, gardens and lots of active and passive activity areas. We had heard that this park was famous for its black squirrels, though we didn't see any. We did enjoy a casual walk through the park though.

While walking through the park, we noticed that in a small pond area, there were a number of tadpoles...lots and lots of them. This immediately brought Steve back to his days as "nature boy." We hatched a plan to bring some of these tadpoles home with us, to add to Erik's ever-growing menagerie. We quickly left the park and headed to a Wal-Mart which we'd driven past earlier. After grabbing a small butterfly net and some containers, we headed back to the park. After a nice picnic lunch back in the park, we grabbed our net and containers and headed back to the pond.

In the end, we came home with two different types of tadpoles. First we collected around 50-60 (maybe more) of these little tadpoles.

These tapoles are quite small, their heads around the size of a nail head or maybe a small pencil eraser. They will eventually turn into little toads, which we'll release in the woods behind our house.

We also caught some bigger tadpoles. These required a little more skill to net. We captured 6 of them with heads around the size of a Susan B. Anthony dollar coin and another 3 with heads just smaller than the size of a dime. The larger tadpoles will likely turn into bullfrogs eventually, if we're lucky with them. The dime-sized ones may be leopard frogs in the end.

They all made it safely home, except for one of the tiny tadpoles which didn't survive the trip. That's not a bad percentage. We've now got them all safely housed in appropriate tanks for their size and needs and we'll wait and see what happens.

Griswold 2009 - Day 1 was a lovely day, sunny and with highs in the low 80's. We had a very nice day and enjoyed the four of us being together. The wheels are already spinning and if you're in New England, watch out, the Griswolds may be coming near you sometime soon!

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

On Thursday, May 21, Rebecca was inducted into the North Reading chapter of the National Honor Society.

The induction was comprised of a few brief speeches, some music selections and candle-related ceremonies.

Here's Rebecca after the ceremony, including her friends who collectively refer to themselves as "HARK". (Haley, Amelia, Rebecca, Kiara) I guess Rebecca hangs out with a brainy bunch, even though sometimes they have a hard time keeping their tassles on. (Particularly Rebecca!)

They're a happy bunch...

...but they also know how to be silly!

We're very proud!

THE 2009 NORTH READING HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR PROM

Friday night, May 15, was the night of Rebecca's North Reading High School Junior Prom. Rebecca had recently picked out a lovely dress and she looked stunning in it.

Rebecca and her date went to the prom with a group of friends and their dates. Below...Kiara, Rebecca, Amelia, Nicole and Haley.

Here's Rebecca again with Haley and Nicole.

This is Rebecca and her date, Rich, who is getting his boutonniere.

Here's Rebecca getting her wrist corsage.

Here they are together...

...and again outside.

Here is the whole group, who all looked great!

One last pose outside with the ladies.

Mom and Dad even got to sneak into a picture!

And then they were off to the prom!

A crowd gathered outside of the Thomson Country Club for the Grand March, a chance for all of the well-dressed young men and women to show off their outfits for everyone.

Here's Rebecca as part of the Grand March.

And then there was one final shot as they headed in for the prom.

Between the prom itself, the after-prom party and the sleepover at her friend Nicole's house, Rebecca had a very late night, but she also had a great time. We were very proud of her, but we're not sure we could stand how grown up she looked!

Starting To Feel Like Spring

The temperatures are starting to rise, flowers are blooming and trees are opening up. (...and Steve's allergies just love those trees!) It's finally starting to feel like Spring! Our Magnolia tree bloomed beautifully this year, a great, early indicator of Spring.

One nice day recently we took a walk around our small, local zoo, as much for the walking as for the animal viewing, but the animals are a nice distraction. It was great to be able to see this guy up close...

...and even closer!


The flamingos were in full color as well!


Our container gardens are now fully planted and we're already seeing the beginning signs of what we hope will be a bountiful Summer! (...and no...those flamingos were NOT stolen from the zoo!)

The Magnolia tree is beyond its blooming, but some nice color surrounds it now.

Spring is blooming everywhere!