Round Hill

The Houghtons have found a new paradise called Round Hill. Just an hour south of Boston, it's much easier to get to than Nantucket - and it's much more calm than that foggy old island has been for years.

Round Hill does have an interesting history. It was once the estate of the eccentric Colonel Green, son of the famous miser, Hetty Green. Unlike his mother, the Colonel loved to spend money and he used it lavishly to pursue his hobbies in communications and aeronautics. His old radio telescope still looms over the property, where you'll also find remnants of an old zeppelin hangar in which Robert Van de Graff once performed experiments with a 40-foot tall lightning generator. There's an old dock that used to be the home of the whaling ship Charles Morgan.

We had a blast exploring the place via golf carts. Willa learned to ride a bike. I got addicted to sodoku. Click here for all the pics.

4th of July

Spent a couple of days in Ventura. It's barely an hour north, but it felt like a million miles away. Beach, street fair, pony ride, fireworks, etc.

Click here for all the pics.

Talia's 4th

Our youngest turns another year older. It was a fun party, complete with bounce house and rent-a-princess.

Talia had specifically requested Sleeping Beauty, so Sarah tracked her down. But upon arrival, the Princess was asked by someone, "Are you Aurora?" To which the talent replied, "No, I'm Sleeping Beauty."

This was obviously a royal faux pas, and several of us parents exchanged worried looks since we knew all too well that Sleeping Beauty's real name was Princess Aurora. Remember it was Flora, Fauna and Merryweather who dubbed her Briar Rose during her underground years in the forest, and only near the end of the story when Aurora pricks her finger and slips into a deep sleep does she earn the Sleeping Beauty nickname.

The blunder didn't go unnoticed by discerning experts like Talia and Willa. Willa was particularly relentless in her disdain, and she kept needling the actress about her costume and her flimsy crown.

Eventually it blew over and a good time was had by all.

Click here for the pics.