Let the trick or treating begin!

Last Saturday we took Abby downtown for some trick or treating at all the stores. Even though it was pouring rain it was nice to be outside and fun watching Abby enjoy herself. Luckily she hasn't fully figured out where her candy is now or who is eating it. Why else do parents take their kids trick or treating at this age?

Sunday tradition

On Sunday afternoons, when it's nice out, we have been going to a dog park. It's such a great place for Joey to get out and get some exercise off the leash. There is a lot of land for him to run, many different dogs to play with and a creek for him to swim. What more could a dog want? We also like it because Abby runs just as much and loves playing with all the different dogs, especially the ones small enough for her to try to pick up.

Our second marathon weekend

This past weekend was jam packed. I don't know if we are trying to get as much in before the baby comes or what, but it's been fun.

Saturday morning we kept up with tradition and went apple picking with Joe, Liz and Liam. It was the best time to go. All our favorites were good for picking that day. Macintosh, Empire and Cortland. Great for eating, making apple sauce and baking pies. Yum, yum!
























































































Saturday afternoon/evening we were in NYC photographing an engagement session. You'll have to check out my photo blog for pictures when I get the chance to post some.

Sunday Brian and I drove to Providence, Rhode Island to have lunch with our good friends, Rachel and Grant, from VT. After a little walk around town we headed to Massachusetts for a U2 concert. Rachel is the biggest U2 fan I know. We jammed out to many of their songs in our dorm room in college. We had a blast sharing this experience together.

































Before the concert. The stage was incredible. It was designed to be 360º so everyone could have the same view of the concert no matter where you were seated.

















My brother and sister-in-law were there too. They had field tickets, so they stood in the inner ring of the stage (just above Brian's left ear). We were a bit jealous. That's one of the reasons texting is such fun technology these days. We were waving to other friends across the stadium too.

just can't resist

my little cutie pie. more photos from the wedding.

waving to poppie and may-may as she walks down the aisle.






















this one is just fun.

















just before she left, getting ready for bed.

Our friends are hitched

All three of us were in a wedding last Friday. Since I wasn't the photographer I didn't get many pictures, but tired to at the end. We had a great time celebrating with our friends, Jamie and Jason. It was also a blast catching up with many friends I grew up with. Abby was a very adorable flower girl. She walked down the aisle with three other kids. She dumped her bucket of flowers out and then went back to pick them up. When she got to the front she kicked off her shoes and rolled around on the floor with her feet in the air. It was pretty funny. She also hammed it up on the dance floor all night long. This kid loves music and dancing.

Bentley's prognosis

The vet came to visit Benny last week ready to put him down, but he rallied so she did some tests. He has a severe case of Lyme disease as well as another serious disease that is similar to Lyme. He is now on heavy antibiotics and feeling good. My dad says he hasn't seen Benny feeling this good in a long time. Wow, we were all amazed and very happy. He is still an old dog, so I'm sure his time will come soon, but for now we'll take it! Thanks for thinking of us and our furry member of the family :)

Benny

The first time I saw Bentley I was woken up by him in my bed licking my face. I was a senior in high school and my parents had just picked up Esther for Christmas break. As they drove through Boston to bring her home from school she had them stop at a pet shop to see this adorable puppy who reminded her so much of our Springer, Katie, we had growing up. Katie passed away my freshman year of high school and mom put her foot down that we weren't getting another dog because soon I would be out of the house and there wouldn't be any kids to play with it.
Once my parents laid eyes on this cute little puppy, begging them to take him home, they were hooked. Mom figured it would be good therapy for dad since he had been having health problems at the time and it was his birthday too. They named him Bentley, which is where my sister went to school and it was a nice stately name.
Bentley is the happiest dog I have ever known. Seriously, his tail never stops wagging.
Today we went to my parents for Labor day. I was talking to my mom on the way to their house and she warned me that Bentley wasn't himself. It seems he suffered a stroke one night this week because he can't use his right two legs. He can't go down stairs at all by himself and cries a lot. My parents will call the vet tomorrow, but fear of what they might hear. It's so difficult to see Benny like this because he is still so happy. Tim played with him in the yard today, tossing him sticks. Benny just laid there with his tongue hanging out and tail wagging a mile a minute.