The Etheredge-Krumey cousins spent ten days together this month and had a great time!

My sister – Actress/Singer Melissa Etheredge (not the one you’re thinking) arrived in Massachusetts on Saturday the 11th with her three crazy kids – Maisie (11), Jonah (10), and Madeline (7).

Here are the girls in the sand at Puffer’s Pond in Amherst.

And the boys rafting on the Pond along with Cody and Dustin Baglow.

Here they are running up and down the “big hill” at Amherst College. It’s always fun going down – but coming up is another story. Even so, they managed to make several trips both ways after collapsing for awhile at the bottom!

The gang at Amethyst Brook in Amherst. The girls spent the time wading and looking for minnows and frogs.

The boys used the backdrop of the woods/brook for a re-enactment of The Lord of the Rings.

Aunt Melissa spent her time building these zen rock towers – a positve response to a summer of non-stop activity!

Our BIG trip of the visit was a day trip to Ogunquit,Maine. We spentmuch of the day running from the incoming tide, but finally settled on dry sand and enjoyed many hours of beach time!

All cleaned up and ready for a trip into town and Perkins Cove. We enjoyed the two candy shops and my favorite store – Art & Soul. Aunt Melissa bought me a cute pair of earrings there – her usual treat for me when visiting – I haven’t taken them off since! The kids couldn’t wait to get to the PennyCandy store where they loaded up sand pails with their choice of any ten items.

Lastly, a walk on the Marginal Way and rock climbing. Don’t they look very J. Crew in this pic? Right out of the catalogue!

We ate a very late dinner, got compliments on our sleepy, therefore well-behaved/subdued kids at the restaurant, and made the 3 hour trek home! So tiring, but definitely worth it!

We already miss you, Etheredges! See you again in January!