Massachusetts Fun and Brotherly Love

Just so you know for my summer posts when I refer to "Massachusetts" I'm talking about being in Massachusetts but not on the Cape. We're usually staying at my mom's house in these posts, which is about a 90-minute drive from the Cape house.
And now you know!

At one of our long-time favorite ice cream places, Uhlman's. I've been going there since my high-school days, so it really is a special treat (in more ways than one) to bring my kids there.  

This is the boys' favorite playground in Hopkinton, my hometown. It's not far from my old house.

Little did we know when we were there that day that we'd be living in our own house in this very town not far from this very playground at that time in a year!  

It was John's last summer being young enough for the indoor playplace we've been going to for the last few years.

Way to have a great time, Sam! Ha ha.

I drove by my old house and snapped a few pictures, hoping I didn't look like a stalker or wannabe robber. 

I have such good memories of this house and of living here.

My bedroom was in the basement behind that big giant bush by the driveway. When we lived there, that bush was very small, so I did get some light in my room which was good because I need light in my living spaces!

 Classic New England.

At another one of our favorite playgrounds.

A nice end to the day.

And me, being mysterious (?).

The Lake Beach is Just Ducky

Every summer when we're on the Cape we try to make at least one trip to "the lake beach" as we call it. This is the neighborhood that we rented three different houses in over the course of five years, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts. We would have liked to have bought a house in this neighborhood and we actually could have, but the one we ended up getting was a better fit for us. 

We first stayed here nine years ago when I was pregnant with Sam and John was a preschooler. So we've been going to this beach since Sam was in utero and John was in Pull-Ups! It's a nice area that's close to a lot of things we like, including this pretty lake with its nice calm beach. And very friendly ducks!

This duck had something a little funky going on with his beak (bill?), but he seemed fine.

See how friendly they are? They just want food, but I still like them! 

The boys found some other boys to play with and they had a great time together. I love how kids have the ability to make instant friends like that.  

There's a fun little playground on the other side of the parking lot that the boys thankfully haven't outgrown yet (though John is getting close!).

For old times' sake, right John? 😄

Sam looks like he's re-enacting Samuel the Lamanite here (one of his namesakes).

  We love this beach!

A Nice Water Park on the Cape

Last summer we discovered a good new water option for rainy days and winter days on the Cape: an indoor water park that recently opened, the Cape Codder Water Park. It's at a hotel resort but it's open to the public. It was really nice and the boys had a blast. It was pricey and it's not something we'll use a lot, but I do recommend it for a rainy day, or even to stay at if you ever vacation here (and don't want to stay at our awesome house). The resort also has a nice spa, so I went and got a massage while my mom stayed with the kids for an hour. 🙌

I didn't take a ton of pictures but I did take these (obviously). 

 

Lazy river 

The interior design of the place was cute and well-done.

We ate a yummy lunch from this cafe.

The roof is retractable so it can open up when the weather is nice.

 

We went in the morning before it was crowded. By the time we left in the early afternoon, it was definitely more crowded, but still not that bad.

There are other sections of the park that I didn't take pictures of--a big wave pool, more slides, a little kid play area, and a big jacuzzi hot tub (that felt so nice!) and a sauna.

 We liked it here, so we'll go back!

Lovely Beauties

The hydrangeas at the Cape house bloomed nicely last summer, which I was especially appreciative of because the summer before they didn't. They're nothing like the glorious, full bushes that other people have, but that's okay. I appreciate the simple beauty they lend to the yard. 

To me a hydrangea resembles a bouquet of baby butterflies. 🦋

The only hydrangeas we have in the front are these vibrant purple beauties at the end of the driveway. 

I do have bigger hydrangea ambitions. I'd love to have them bordering the fences in the front yard and especially the backyard. Maybe someday, but for now, I appreciate what we have, even if it's all we ever have. I hope they'll bloom well again this summer.

Clouds to Sun

The other beach I like to go to in the evenings (or any time, really) is Bayview Beach. It's a quick drive down back roads and it has a great close-up view of the boats as they go in and out of Hyannis Harbor, which can make for some pretty fun waves, too. On this particular evening last July we had the beach to ourselves.  

Although we did have this flock of geese to keep us company.

I told you the boats get really close!

Sunbeams starting to poke through

I like this house and how and where it's situated.

I love these shots 💓

A fishing boat calling it a night.

When the sun broke through the clouds, it lit up the sand and water all nice and golden.

This picture made it on to last year's Christmas card. It's a good one!

Cloudy or sunny, we love our summer evenings on the beach!