Hinman Cabin

We spent the night in an amazing Dartmouth cabin - this one even easier the the ones we tried out in the winter, because it was only 40 min from our house and had stove, lights, and awesome pond to play in.  Ethan LOVED pumping fresh water with our little filter and catching newts.  And being naked naked naked - a treat now that he is more self-conscious of his body and wanting privacy in public.  Sleep was poor with no big beds and everyone shifting on their creaky mattresses but we suffered for the adventure and enjoyed a huge family nap when we got back home.

First time in a canoe.  This one we called "Red Blood".  The aluminum canoe with the crack in it was dubbed Tin-Man.  The canoe ride was not as exciting as wading and newt-hunting for Ethan, so there was only one brief paddle.

Sam blessed us with a good long nap while we splashed and cooked noodles.  He very rarely naps when he is not in arms or in the baby carrier, so there won't be many more photos like this one.

 

Ethan swam into open water (with life vest) for the first time.  I was a water loving kid - I still am - and really look forward to sharing lots of time in the water with Ethan as he gains confidence and learns to love the smooth weightlessness of swimming. 

Newts!  Jeremy and I tried to catch them with buckets but Ethan taught us just to grab them with our bare hands.  He is clearly our fearless leader in many ways.  I used to collect these little guys as a kid in their bright-orange, land-loving, youthful forms.  Who knew they grew fins and starting swimming when they grew up?

A few fireworks were left in the cabin.  Scary excitement.  In a demonstration of our unsafe parenting, at one point Jeremy actually said, "Either sawing or fireworks, Ethan, not both!"

Ethan was so wired from the day that he couldn't focus on books at all.  I tried to persevere with Paul Bunyan and Punk Farm on Tour, but no one was buying it.

 

Sam relaxed while we unpacked back home.