June 2013: June was about transitions and traditions. Another group of seniors graduated from Walnut Hill, Aurora began to phase out of Knowledge Beginnings for the summer, and we continued to do more things at her new school, Cabot Elementary.


June 1, 2013: Graduation day. While Kathy attended the ceremony in Natick, Jon and Aurora headed to the Cabot Fair.



June 2, 2013: We head into Boston to attend World Oceans Day at the New England Aquarium. We got to see the new Giant Ocean Tank for the first time.


Since the tickets were free that day, we decided to try to see an IMAX about penguins. After getting the 3D glasses, popcorn, and an Icee, Aurora lasted about 2 minutes. Shortly after the movie began, she asked to leave because it was too loud and scary for her.


Much better! Aurora preferred to touch sea urchins and sea stars, and watch the sea lions swim around.



June 3, 2013: After the end-of-year BBQ at Walnut Hill, Aurora decided to climb a tree.



June 6, 2013: To kick off their summer program, Knowledge Beginings invited Jenny the Juggler to entertain the kids. Aurora bravely volunteered to go up and help Jenny with her act.


Video: Speckled frogs


June 8, 2013: Assemblying an herb planter for Mother's Day.


Let's go fly a kite! We biked over to the Cabot field to try out Aurora's first kite.


Back at home, as Jon grilled some salmon for dinner, Aurora played with her new bubble maker.



June 9, 2013: In the morning, we went to the Children's Museum for a birthday party. After the pizza and cake and ice cream, Aurora discovered that the craft room was open and she made a mask.


In the afternoon, we headed over the Cambridge and the annual Dragon Boat Festival. Aurora watched carefully as her name got written in calligraphy. Jon showed off his chopstick skills by picking up marbles.



June 16, 2013: Happy Father's Day! We made our annual trip out to Davis' Farmland. Aurora is much braver now around the animals, as long as they are not much bigger than she is. She touched a frog, a tortoise, and a chick, along with a pony, assorted goats and sheep.


After lunch, we left the farm area and headed over to the play area. While Jon got a massage, Aurora tried out the Goat carts and scooters. When Jon returned, we all tried out the new giant hill slide.


Video: Scoot



Video: Slide

Aurora started out in the baby spray area.


Before jumping into the bubble pool.


Video: Run!

We still had some food, so Aurora got to feed a few more animals on our way out of the spray park.


And a stop of ice cream. Of course, Aurora wanted to try some of Jon's ice cream too!


Aurora was too cold inside, so we headed outdoors to finish our treats.


Aurora's "one last thing" was to go on the hay ride.



June 17, 2013: A sighting of our backyard bunny!



June 23, 2013: We tried to increase our biking this summer. That day, we drove to Brighton and biked from there into Cambridge, along the Charles River. We stopped for a picnic lunch before heading back.



June 27, 2013: Aurora was very proud of how she set up her train tracks that day.



June 29, 2013: Aurora saved some watermelon seeds and a peach pit. Here she is planting them.