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Monday, June 30, 2014

Happy Ninth Birthday, Lon!

Hard for the Mommy and Daddy to believe, but Lon turned NINE today.  He is such a wonderful boy!
Our day started out with Godfather taking Lon to Hillyers Tackle Shop to pick out some tackle for Lon.  Lon is so excited to get real fishing equipment.
His own tackle box!
Picking out some new tackle!
Only the best stuff for Lon! A red tackle box too!
We then went to the Old Lyme Beach Club. We had a wonderful lunch.  Lon was ready to go into the water while we were still finishing our lunch.
The mask and snorkel were an early birthday present
Finally into the water.  Lon was having a blast using the boogie board
Hmmm, I wonder what Daddy is thinking...
There ya go
Lon did not want to adorn himself with seaweed
Mark looks good in a seaweed wig
Dragging Godfather back into the water!
Things to do! Places to go!


Found some trucks in the toy closet! What a great feature to have at a beach club!
The view from Mama's chair

we cleaned up and went back to Grammalyn's house
There were PRESENTS!
But first we had to have pizza from Illanos, they had the fresh basil Lon wanted on his pepperoni pizza!
And cake! Yes, it was a store bought cake, but it was not bad
Then we made him wait till everyone was assembled in the living room. Lon's new tackle box is in the presents pile!
FINALLY -- he gets to open his presents ! I have heard there are presents waiting for him at home!
He had a great time opening his gifts.  He fell asleep on the couch, he had a super busy day. It was a good day to turn nine!


Sunday, June 29, 2014

Nautilus!

Today we went over to Groton.  The Nautilus is there!
First we had breakfast for lunch at the Shack in Groton.
Playing with his new stuffed animal.
Such a goofy boy on the last day he is 8
The Nautilus! It is a wonderful museum
Here is some history bit:

Construction of NAUTILUS was made possible by the successful development of a nuclear propulsion plant by a group of scientists and engineers at the Naval Reactors Branch of the Atomic Energy Commission, under the leadership of Captain Hyman G. Rickover, USN.
In July of 1951, Congress authorized construction of the world's first nuclear powered submarine. On December 12th of that year, the Navy Department announced that she would be the sixth ship of the fleet to bear the name NAUTILUS. Her keel was laid by President Harry S. Truman at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut on June 14, 1952.
After nearly 18 months of construction, NAUTILUS was launched on January 21, 1954 with First Lady Mamie Eisenhower breaking the traditional bottle of champagne across NAUTILUS' bow as she slid down the ways into the Thames River. Eight months later, on September 30, 1954, NAUTILUS became the first commissioned nuclear powered ship in the United States Navy.
On the morning of January 17, 1955, at 11 am EST, NAUTILUS' first Commanding Officer, Commander Eugene P. Wilkinson, ordered all lines cast off and signaled the memorable and historic message, "Underway On Nuclear Power." Over the next several years, NAUTILUS shattered all submerged speed and distance records.
CDR Anderson On July 23, 1958, NAUTILUS departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii under top secret orders to conduct "Operation Sunshine", the first crossing of the North Pole by a ship. At 11:15 pm on August 3, 1958, NAUTILUS' second Commanding Officer, Commander William R. Anderson, announced to his crew, "For the world, our country, and the Navy - the North Pole." With 116 men aboard, NAUTILUS had accomplished the "impossible", reaching the geographic North Pole - 90 degrees North.
In May 1959, NAUTILUS entered Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine for her first complete overhaul - the first of any nuclear powered ship - and the replacement of her second fuel core. Upon completion of her overhaul in August 1960, NAUTILUS departed for a period of refresher training, then deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to become the first nuclear powered submarine assigned to the U.S. Sixth Fleet.
Over the next six years, NAUTILUS participated in several fleet exercises while steaming over 200,000 miles. In the spring of 1966, she again entered the record books when she logged her 300,000th mile underway. During the following 12 years, NAUTILUS was involved in a variety of developmental testing programs while continuing to serve alongside many of the more modern nuclear powered submarines she had preceded.
In the spring of 1979, NAUTILUS set out from Groton, Connecticut on her final voyage. She reached Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California on May 26, 1979 - her last day underway. She was decommissioned on March 3, 1980 after a career spanning 25 years and over half a million miles steamed.
In recognition of her pioneering role in the practical use of nuclear power, NAUTILUS was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior on May 20, 1982. Following an extensive historic ship conversion at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, NAUTILUS was towed to Groton, Connecticut arriving on July 6, 1985.

On April 11, 1986, eighty-six years to the day after the birth of the Submarine Force, Historic Ship NAUTILUS, joined by the Submarine Force Museum, opened to the public as the first and finest exhibit of its kind in the world, providing an exciting, visible link between yesterday's Submarine Force and the Submarine Force of tomorrow.

The latest technology, the invisible sub! 
The walkway to the sub
Lon in front of the conning tower
More Turtle! Lon loves the Turtle
Periscope depth!
Back in command central 
He has such a vivid imagination. He had a whole scenario that he was acting out. He was having a blast
Had a wonderful time!
On the way home we stopped and got Lon a snorkle and new facemask
He was having fun playing with it!!
We went out to dinner at the Dockside. Lon loves his fish!!
Tasty Freeze for dessert!
It was a good last day to be 8!!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Fish On!

Today, one of Lon's fondest wishes came true! He got to fish! For real fish!
Godfather, this is my fishing pole. It has never been opened. Godfather Damian said that he learned to fish on the same rod and reel. A 404.
Finally out of the package! Lon is looking at the tackle that came with the fishing pole.
Learning to cast in the backyard. Lon caught the tree a couple times,.
They dug up a bucket of worms and they were ready to go try to catch a fish.

Before we left for the lake, we looked around the gardens and the back yard. Lon found the coolest bamboo pole. It was not too tall, so we told him he could keep it.
It had a jagged edge, so Godfather fixed it.
Lon is thrilled with his new stick
Did a little exploring of Uncas Lake.
What the boys were looking at
Godfather baiting the hook for the first time. Godfather gave Lon that amazing fishing vest. Lon will grow into it.
Godfather is staying close while Lon is learning to cast.
Lon's first fish! On his first cast!  Look at that smile!
Getting more confidence to cast by himself.
He would still hook weeds, but he was getting better
Getting a new worm.  At first he would not touch them, but this whole fishing thing is just too much fun!
Fisher boy
Casting
Another sun fish!
Lon said he wanted to catch 5 fish
Three!
Learning to take the hook out. It was all catch and release today

removing the hook from another fish ! That makes four
Baiting his own hook!

Gotta get another worm
That makes 5.
Lon met his goal for the day! WOW
As Lon kept trying his confidence level
increased. He kept doing better and better
with his casting.   He kept interested in it, and he
wants to fish again soon.
Next time we bring a change of clothes and a couple of plastic
bags for clothes and shoes.
He went home dressed only in the orange fishing vest.
I did get a photo of  that but he asked me, please, don't
post that Mom!
He very much enjoyed himself.  He is going to get a real
tackle box and some tackle for his birthday