July 2009

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July 6, Monday

Watching the Tour de France was too stimulating for them.  I loved it and saw every stage during the three week race. Betsi learned that all of the crashes happened when the bike slid out from beneath the rider while on the slippery, white road markings.

July 7, Tuesday

This is the international space station passing overhead.  Can't you tell?  :-) Betsi was watching the 6:00pm news at 9:30pm when a story aired about seeing the international space station flying by in 2 minutes.  I didn't have time to grab the tripod before taking this blurry shot between the clouds.

July 11, Saturday - NYC

We spent the weekend in NYC to check out the triathlon course.  We spent the afternoon at the USS Intrepid and dinner at Jekyll and Hyde's.  See more photos.

July 14, Tuesday - Ryan's 11th Birthday

Dinner and a movie with Jill B., Kathryn H., Timmy I., Roy H., Tim C., and Andrew D.  It sounds low key, but the kids took it up a notch.

July 17, Friday - Ryan's Band Camp Concert

Ryan discovered band camp with your friends isn't all play time.  He learned a lot in four hours a day for four weeks.

July 18, Saturday - Swim Meet

Ainsley's last swim meet of the season.  See more photos.

July 24, Friday - Betsi's Childhood Home in New Jersey (1967-70)

We stopped by on our way to the NYC triathlon to see one of Betsi's childhood homes.  Mike and Ann M. were hospitable to let us, the unannounced visitors, walk through their house.  See more photos.

Updated November 2014:

The newspaper article dates back to ?February? 1968 when Betsi was less than a year old.  It talks about moving the house a few miles to make way for the construction of Route 287.  The article was known to exist, but took until 2014 to find it.  Nancy found the article while making photo albums for the three "kids," Jon, Andy and Betsi.

Listen to Nancy, Andy and Betsi reminisce about living in the house.

0:00 Betsi hands Andy a phone with the photos from the above album on a warm night in July 2012 on our back deck.

2:35 Jon and Andy climbed out the bedroom window to go on the roof to play.

5:08 Nancy talks about renting the house before it was moved.

5:45 Lee's Navy squardron was recalled within 24 hours due to the USS Pueblo crisis.  Telegram.

7:52 Lee in Florida.  Nancy rented the house for a year and moved the family to Michigan to live with Larry and Anne.

8:34 Nancy discovered the boys playing on the roof!

11:10 Jon walked away from a birthday party.

12:47 Building the highway.  Andy walked away.

13:16 House moving in January. Rented a house in Morristown.

13:50 House raised 6 feet.  Lee guarded the house at night with a gun.

14:50 Furniture still in the house during the move.

15:20 Moved house in the mud.  Used planks on the ground to cross a field and over a bridge.

16:14 Lived with Lee's parents for a month in tiny house on Long Island.  Crib in non-heated room in February.

17:34 House moved.  Used plank to get to front door.  No heat, but had water.

18:28 Delays caused more delays as electricians and plumbers took other jobs.

19:46 Rain, creek, pond, yard - sump pump installed in basement.

20:14 Snakes

21:12 Six ducklings for Easter.  Lived on the pond as ducks.

23:10 Friend's casino party.  The family won a bantom rooster.

24:35 Kittens

24:40 Hunting dog

25:27 End

July 26, Sunday - New York City Triathlon

Team Betsi supporters at the end of the race.

She did it!  It was a great experience. Every emotion was felt: fear, joy, anxious, excited and by the end ROCK STAR! See more photos.

July 27, Monday

Jeff and Ryan drive over 6 hours to Camp Shenandoah west of Staunton, VA with the Boy Scouts for the week.  Ryan loved it and earned two merit badges for mammal studies and swimming.  Ryan also learned about first aid and shooting a .22 and took part in a day hike.  The food at the mess hall was... edible.

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