Thanksgiving in FL

One cold November Sunday we ventured to the Blue Hills for Tessie's first hike 

At the top we had a panoramic view of Boston 

Nantasket Beach was chilly 

Let's call this pose Neptune's Trident 

The cold ocean was good preparation for...

...Thanksgiving in Naples, FL. The pool was plenty warm for our girls and with a swim-up bag of Cheetos supplied by Nana, what more could you ask for?

These were no ordinary carrots. Thinking that they would be hard to find in Florida, we actually packed a bag of Wilson Farm's New England carrots to make into shepherd's pie. 

Jack showed the girls some crazy filters on Snapchat

Chris Gray was pleased that we didn't choose white shirts and jeans for our sunset photo shoot 

Grampa Mike turned the big 7-0 

Brain coral from the touch table at Biscayne Bay National Park

At 25.28 degrees north, Homestead FL marks our southernmost point in the continental US. Coupled with Fargo at 46.88 N we've nearly spanned the entire mainland US in the last 4 months. If only we'd made it to Voyageurs NP...

Back at home to start the Christmas season

Tessie story

Playground in FL

November Downs

For the last 6 months Max's kidneys have been failing and the week before Election Day we took him in to the vet and learned that his red cell count was 11%. Although he seemed OK, it was clear that he was slowing down. Everyone was able to say goodbye over the next few days until one night, he ran out of gas. Two nights later the girls stayed up to watch the first female President fail to win the electoral vote. What a $#!!!^ week.

Clio could tell that her brother was dying. The day before Max died, she jumped up next to him

and lay down beside him

We held a funeral celebrating Max's life and the love and joy that he brought our family 

his remains were buried with pompoms, a toy mouse, some chicken, and blades of grass 

 The girls are going to lobby Congress to create a National Park site for Maxyboo