It is amazing what one learns as one travels across country.
Here are a few things that Sam not only learned, but talks about constantly: sewers, unleaded gas, diesel, tractors, septic
tanks, septic trucks, burps, landfills, air compressors, trash compactors, farts, forklifts and bucket attachments. Of course,
we still hear about excavators, bulldozers and other big machinery. For some reason, Sam has been showing us his sense of
humor by picking up on lines that he hears in movies or from his own imagination - here are a few. He saw Steve Martin do
his, "Exxxxcuuuse me" routine on the muppet show and so now he makes little farting noises and burping noises just so he can
say , "exxxcuuuse me!" From the movie Nemo, he likes the seagull that farted in the water and his seagull friend says, "nice!"
and flies away. So Sam has picked up saying "nice" a lot. For some reason Sam wanted a sticker before going to bed - it is
an usual request so we asked him what kind of sticker he wanted, he said it needed to say," Caution - Wet Butt". He did mention
once on the hike to Lonesome Lake that his bones were going to fall out (and his feet were going to fall off).
Sam did survive the trip to New Hampshire although he liked to say that it was, "a
long, long, long, long way away." This year we added a DVD player to the list of essential equipment and we were happy with
the hour of quiet that it gave us. We had a great time with Susan and Steve on the shores of Lake Huron over 4th of July.
Sam got to ride in his first motorboat, he was in his first parade and got to see and hear fireworks! Even though we got kicked
out of my parent's house - Sam had a wonderful time with Poppy Laurie and Pam. Life on the "farm" was good for Sam. He got
to ride the big tractor and drive the lawn mower. He got to see chain saws and air compressors. We swam in many lakes and
went raspberry picking. After we were asked to leave Henniker, we had fun seeing Adam and his family, Cynthia and her growing
family, the Walkers and Ruth. Thank you all for letting us stay with you.
We did gain a member of our family - a new pop up camper! Thanks mom and dad! We
had fun trying it out in Maine and in the White Mountains. Sam was a super hiker charging up the trail to Lonesome Lake. I
wish Abby was in shape to do the same.
We have just a few more days before Haviland flies home and Sam, Abby and I drive
back home.
