Cousin Emma started Kindergarten last week, and loves "everything" about it, especially recess. She also loves her new uniform, which she happily modeled for her Mom.
Emma's gym uniform.
Emma also earned her pool badge this summer, which means she can swim in the deep end all by herself and dive off the high dive! Our niece has always impressed us with her determination and fearlessness.
Last Sunday, Kate and I went to the Arboretum to ride her tricycle and feed the ducks.
When I told Kate that she was feeding female ducks, she said, "Hi, Momma ducks!" and then held out a piece of bread for me --"Here you go, Momma. I'm feeding Mommies."
We then explored an art installation made up of saplings ("Catawampus" by Patrick Dougherty). Kate thought it looked like a giant bird's nest.
That afternoon, Kate's friend, Isabella ("Isa"), her parents, and baby sister came over to play and have dinner.
While Kate was in NY and NJ, Isa spent a few weeks in her mother's home country of Venezuela. Isa's mother told me that Isa watched the camping video of Kate dancing over and over. Kate asked me everyday, "When's Isa coming back?" and asked her Appa to show her where Venezuela was on the map. When Kate and Isa were finally reunited at school, they ran across the yard screaming each other's name and hugged, toppling each other over.
Both Kate and Isa will be moving on to new preschools in two weeks, and they're very sad to be leaving each other. Luckily, Isa and her family live close by.
Thursday was our last full day at the shore, and we went to the beach bright and early. We had the beach practically to ourselves.
A short time later, a friendly little girl, Isabella, appeared and joined Kate and me as we ran from the waves. Isabella was "three and three quarters" and really wanted to play with Kate. Since her grandmother was busy with Isabella's younger sister, I offered to watch Isabella.
Then Isabella's grandmother spotted something in the ocean...Jaws?
Dolphins! Three of them! Kate was so excited. "A family! Where are they going? Are they going home?"
At one point, Kate decided she'd had enough of the beach and her new friend, and wanted to go back to Pop-Pop's house for a snack and a potty break. Isabella and I spent the next half-hour digging and burying things in the sand while waiting for Kate to return.
Kate eventually came back, her belly full and her bladder empty, and she and Isabella were buddies again.
That night, there was a huge thunderstorm. Uncle Glenn asked Chris to get a photo of the lightening rod Pop-Pop retrieved from an old building around the corner. Pop-Pop decided to hold it out like Ben Franklin, risking electrocution.
A million photos later, Chris finally got a shot of a bolt of lightening with the rod. Luckily, Pop-Pop was safe inside, sleeping. 
The next morning, Pop-Pop invited Kate to help him put out the flag in order to "start the day." He does this with all his granddaughters, and wanted Kate to be a part of the tradition. Give Kate the title of "helper," and she'll do just about anything. Except dishes.
Dr. Lisa gave Kate the stuffed bear as a gift. Kate named him "Fuzzy," and thought he was the bees knees.
Grammy told Kate she might see dolphins in the ocean, and Kate wanted to try and "catch" one, so she brought some tools. Kate was obviously anticipating some pretty small dolphins. As for the shirt she's wearing, she saw it in a local store and it was love at first sight. It became her favorite shirt of all time. Or at least of all week. 
Chris, our pack mule.
No dolphins...just a handful of baby clam shells.
Kate and Appa going for a dip.
Our friend Laura drove down from Manhattan just to meet Kate. When Chris was in high school, Laura's parents bought a "shore" house a few down from Pop-Pop's, and by coincidence, they ended up going to the same college as well.
Not surprisingly, Kate liked Laura immediately.
Probably because she was such a great dance partner.
And because everyone who meets Laura likes her immediately.
That evening, Pop-Pop and Grammy cooked up a shellfish extravaganza.
Kate said hello to the lobster before he met his fate.
Which may be part of the reason why she refused to eat him. That, and the texture. She ate shrimp instead. She didn't meet them first.
Kate, taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. After dinner, Kate helped Pop-Pop take the flag back in to "end the day."
It was a very good day.
