Benjamin Blog Relapse

As of 16 July, the Adams' have arrived in Newport Rhode Island to a large cheering family horde at the T.F. Green Airport (in case anybody is keeping track, Auntie Katie and Uncle Jimmy were the first relatives to lay eyes on target; Dad Silva and Monica were parking cars) and for all you's guys who have missed checking up on the blog, here is an insulin shot of Benjamin to cure those shakes - chew slowly, this is a big one.

Before we left Hawaii, Dad was conferred two awards. The only award worth mentioning was the austere "# 1 Burper Award" signed by none other than Benjamin William Adams himself (The humbled recipient with his lei of burp cloths):

We did find time in Benjamin's busy social calendar to visit the Kailua-town 4th of July parade:

Benjamin's buddy Wyatt Korth checks up on a sleeping Benjamin:

A visit by Erika's childhood friend Jessica Chaloupka:

A farewell stop at Bill and Mary Kearns' house:

One last stop on the Kaneohe Lanai - ALOHA!... and then a move downtown Waikiki for a 5-day 'staycation' (like a vacation, just in the town you live in). View from our swanky hotel room at the Marriott:

Benjamin after one too many white-Russians (hold the kalua, vodka, and ice):

Working it off at the pool with Mom and Auntie Tiffany:

... Then begins the travel whirlwind. There are no pictures of the actual act of traveling, because it consisted of lifting 10 pieces of checked baggage, 3 carry-ons, a stroller, car seat, and baby - on and off carts, buses, trolleys, planes, and cars... But! there is a story worth telling. The Navy Football bag below (yes, 1 of the 18 items of people and STUFF) caught the eye of a West Point football player. None other than USMA Class of '61 and retired General, George A. Joulwan. After some friendly Army-Navy banter back and forth, he introduced himself and invited the 3 of us in to the United business lounge at LAX. For once I was glad I got to the airport 3 hours before my flight. Erika, Benjamin, and I sat and ate yogurt covered raisins for 2 and a half hours. It was glorious! By the way, I found the following excerpt about General Joulwan on the internet:

"A distinguished soldier whose extraordinary achievements as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, were instrumental in building post-Cold War security structure, a Commander-in-Chief of Southern Command who made significant contribution to bringing peace to El Salvador and democracy to Panama, and a Commander-in-Chief, Europe, who conducted over twenty successful operations in the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East wihtout loss of a single soldier to hostile fire, George Alfred Joulwan has served his country with distinction in a military career for over thirty-six years. In every assignment, from platoon leader to four-star general, George Joulwan has lived by the motto of the United States Militaqry Academy: Duty, Honor, Country."

... But has he ever been awarded the # 1 Burper Award?

We stopped over in LA to break up the long trip. We had the opportunity to escape the airport hotel and visit with some friends from Hawaii. Low and behold at a random Starbucks in Laguna Niguel we ran in to Cara Henry, former Boston University Women's Ice Hockey Captain (2006-07).

Casey and JoAnn Hughes (expecting their first daughter in September; Haillee), invited us to their newly opened (6 weeks) Chik-Fik-A. Pictured here is the proud Owner/Operator Casey Hughes and JoAnn's sister RoseAnn: ***I say again, this is RoseAnn, not JoAnn***

The Parents-to-be, Casey and JoAnn Hughes, taking Benjamin for a test drive. All smiles - that's a good sign!

And the arrival at 8 Circle Drive to the open arms of both Mimi and Pop-pop Silva and Grandpa and Grammie Adams:

The Proud Grandpa:

The Re-incarnation of "Mr. Tuff" - who's got the moco?:

There's enough Benjamin to go around... who's next? Somebody loves his Grammie:

There's something that makes a new parent gravitate towards their Mothers. Maybe it's the 7 hours of labor that does the trick:

Grandpa Adams breaks it to Benjamin that the monkies in Zamboanga have no tails. The look on Benjamin's face says it all... what are monkey's?

Benjamin meets his Auntie Alana... they have the same size head:

Benjamin gets a front row seat to cheer on his Aunties Alicia at her Wednesday YMCA workout sessions. Go Auntie Alecia!:

This picture belongs in the outtakes file: