Author: Shaun Setlock

Congratulations to Gabby for being selected as “The One” from her grade who demonstrated Responsible, Respectful, Kind, and Safe behavior this week!

Thanks so much to our friends, The Shufelts, for inviting us to join them on their visit to The Butterfly Place. It was very exciting!

Some of the butterflies started to get friendly …

Then some got really friendly!

And there was no better ending to the adventure than lunch + playground at Ronan McElligott Park.

Happy Mother’s Day! We love soooo much!

Daniela and I met Rob and Katie way back in 2013, when they joined the Mansfield Mill family. We spent lots of time together over several years, and it wasn’t easy to say goodbye when we parted ways in 2016 for Daniela and I to start our next life chapter.

So, we were so excited when Katie reached out about a work conference + family vacation they were planning for Boston / Cape Cod!

This was the first time our young families would be together, so we had to plan for some fun!

Ms. Maddie chose The Museum of Science 🙂

And we enjoyed lunch at Fowler House before sending them off further south for their stay at The Bursley Manor in Barnstable, MA.

HINT: To find Gabby in the videos, look for PINK tape and WHITE socks!

Hard to say who was more excited!

Arrived at Hockeytown in Saugus, MA.

Geared up!

First steps onto the ice with a stick in her hands!

She did great as the first in line for skating drils.

Then her first time with a hockey puck, and she hit the bucket several times!

Then some pair passing. 🙂

They scrimmaged a bit at the end, but I didnt get any videos. They did play “socce-y” which was a pretty natural cross-over for Gabs. HA

We also grabbed a couple of hockey balls because wanted to practice her stick handling.

There’s something really amazing about walking past her room and seeing the pads laid out to dry. <3

Gabby’s so excited to get out on the ice with a stick in her hands! Her fitting (included in the program) was today!

First stop was to get signed in and grab her jersey, then quickly over to helmet fitting!

Then along to shoulders and elbows.

Then pants.

And skates and shins!

Daddy taped up her first stick. 🙂

Blades came by for a high-five and photo!

Then grabbed a lanyard and stickers on her way out!

Ready for her first hockey ice time!

She pulled it out all by herself!

We attempted to make our friend Kedar’s spicy potatoes recipe. 🙂

It turned out pretty good, but we did forget a couple of things. Whoops!

Our first time cooking potatoes in the pressure cooker. Worked pretty well!

We also never cooked with Green Chilies before … so Shaun tried one before chopping. Long story, short, yes, they’re definitely hot!

Other ingredients were tumeric, olive oil, salt, ginger, and garlic. And cilantro, which we forgot!

Much more authentic naan from the Indian market down the road. Very yummy.

About 10.5” in Burlington, MA. First real storm in about two years.

The kids were super excited!

By the way .. No, we did not get a puppy, despite what Sammy seems to be suggesting at the end. HAHA

Stockings!

Unwrapping together!

Then …. there was a special pair of gifts for the end.

Gabby got a brand new iPad Mini! (Sammy’s tablet is the one they’ve always shared, but in a new case and with everything setup for just him.)

Building Daddy’s gift … a Land Rover Defender LEGO! <3

While waiting for the Christmas Day tradition of monkey bread to finish in the oven!

Off for a walk since the weather was so nice!

And back for some mini hockey! Sammy loved it.

And Gabby played with ~2-3 gifts, simultaneously, for the remainder of the day!

Finally, a lovely traditional-ish Christmas Day dinner prepared by Mommy. (Ham, Buffalo-style Cauliflower, Yams, Corn, Mac and Cheese, Kings Hawaiian Rolls)