Our Summer 2000 Postcard!
Greetings from the Intorcios! We had a fun and busy summer and we wanted to share the highlight with you! Thanks for stopping by - please be patient while the pictures load - we’re sure you’ll enjoy them!
May was a big month for us all as Shawn made another transatlantic trip for work and John started his new Job at Nortel Networks. This time, Shawn’s journey took her to Madrid and back to London. Madrid was beautiful with many scenic plazas and terrific tapa bars! In London, Shawn again ventured into some very old and very quaint English pubs. Is there a pattern here?
Late in the month we climbed the back side of Mt. Wachussett in central Massachusetts. Though not the highest summit we’ve conquered, the trail was certainly the rockiest. Joshua and Jacob had to pull themselves up many waist-high rocks and ledges and fight off swarms of annoying bugs to enjoy the beautiful day at the summit. Though battered and bruised, we declared it a success and had a grand day out!
In mid-June we had an enjoyable visit from Shawn’s mom’s brother, Uncle Cleon, and his wife Aunt Ellie. They enjoyed a trolly tour of downtown Boston with Grams and we all had a fine Italian dinner in the North End. We always love having family and friends visit us - do stop in if you’re around!
Joshua graduated from the Pre-Kindergarten class at his daycare center. He and his classmates put on a fantastic show to cap off a great year of learning. With moms and dads in attendance, they recited poems, danced and sang, and were awarded their diplomas. Next stop kindergarten!
It was the summer of the dueling showers for Shawn’s girlfriends, Toni and Nancy. Both were to be married later in the summer and the parties were not to be missed!
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We did all the usual summer stuff - or as much of it as the cool wet summer would permit. Joshua and Jake did get out in the sprinkler a few times…
We attended several Lowell Spinner games this summer. With abundant mascots and plenty of between-inning entertainment, these games are just right for our guys. $6 for the best seat in the house and $3 to park across the street doesn’t hurt either! We got to a Red Sox game or two as well - though the boys didn’t seem to notice that much of a difference!
After taking in the fireworks in our hometown on the night of the 3rd, we spent the Fourth of July at Cranes beach once again with the boys’ friends Noah and Dylan. A beautiful beach with chilly New England water! We had a grand picnic and fun playing in the sand.
In mid-July, we were fortunate to be able to spend some time in North Carolina (where they have warm water) with Shawn’s brother, Scott, and his family. Scott’s in-laws have a beautiful beach house on Emerald Isle where we spent the week with Scott and Susan and their three kids. Joshua and Jacob had a blast playing on the beach with their older cousins. We hit all of the obligatory activities including the water park, mini-golf course, pizza parlor, aquarium, surf shops and so on. It was a great year with the boys! They’ve made it to the age where we can now say “go play” - and they do!
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We held our annual “Summer Bash” in late July. The weather was marginal throughout the day and that scared off some of the crowd - but by evening the skies were clear and the company was excellent! We had a grand time as always! After the kids had gone to bed and the lightweights had moved on, the usual group stayed late to party under the beautiful starry night!
Shawn’s dad had a bit of a mishap in a powered parachute in late May - the craft is shown here before the incident! An argument with a tree left him with a couple of badly broken legs and the inability to get around on his own for a bit. Shawn made a couple of trips down to Florida to help with his recovery. Joshua went along for one long weekend in early August and got the chance to do some clowning around with Grammy Susan!! It’s good to see her smiling - she encountered some health problems of her own this summer but is doing quite well!
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John was honored to be invited to lead one of the summer services at our church while Shawn was away. He enjoyed leading the congregation for the day - particularly preparing and giving his sermon.
In early August, Joshua and Jacob were abandoned as their parents headed North to make the annual pilgrimage to Otisfield and participate in the 19th annual Saco River Floating Happy Hour - a.k.a. “canoe trip”. The usual cast of characters managed once again to survive the wilds of Maine and the perils of whitewater adventure without spilling too many beers…
On August 19th we celebrated (or mourned) Shawn’s 40th birthday! We partied at home with the boys and at the Icarus Restaurant with friends. Stories are still being told of an evening that included a noisy dinner, a gay bar, and “just four drinks!!” We’ll conclude the celebrations in October with a hot air balloon ride for eight!
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Though they were actually married at Pukalani Falls in Hawaii by Capt. Howie a week or so earlier, on August 26th we celebrated Toni and Joe’s wedding, Hawaiian style! The kids wore matching Hawaiian outfits with surfer beads and we all went with the spirit! There were Hawaiian drinks and tropical decorations and we got laied right at the door! The boys were thrilled when the DJ played N-Synch at their request and we all had fun dancing and partying! Congratulations Toni and Joe!
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On August 23rd we celebrated Jacob’s fourth birthday. He had a crowd of friends at the house the following weekend for a Pokemon party. We played “pin the tail on Pikachu” and “musical Pokemons” and we ate cake and ice cream and we ran ourselves ragged! Jacob’s enjoying his new bicycle and all of the fun gifts he received!
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Joshua and Jacob attended their buddy Dylan’s birthday party on September 1st. Jacob (a.k.a. Lumpy) learned an important lesson: even if you really want to know if a bowling ball is coming, you shouldn’t stick your face into the ball return to take a look! Fortunately, this was candlepin bowling…
Nancy and Kjartan’s wedding was September 2nd. It was quite the gala affair that included a lovely service in Winchester and a festive reception at Cambridge’s Royal Sonesta. We feasted on Icelandic delicacies, enjoyed visiting with friends and danced into the wee hours! Who let the dogs out??!!
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That about sums up our summer! We hope yours was as busy and enjoyable and that good health and happiness will follow you into the fall! Please do drop us a line if you get a chance or stop by if you make it near North Reading - we’ll leave a sprinkler out for ya’!!
