it's a good time

Summer has arrived.

...sigh of happiness...

I love having the kids home. Pretty much everyone I talk to is all like "I have/want to have a good routine for the summer and the kids will do chores and homework" and I'm all like "yay! no routine! no homework!"

That's how we roll around here. But it's not like they sit around watching TV all day. They have chores (but it's more along the lines of "Ana, go pick up the living room" or "Jack, clean out the dishwasher") and they still read and play and whatnot. I love summer so much, though. Warm weather. Popsicle smiles. Running through the sprinklers. Going on hikes. And sometimes, sitting at home doing nothing.

We've had a pretty exciting summer so far.

*I turned 32.  I like being 32 so far. Actually, I love being in my 30s. I think it is my best decade yet. I actually feel like I totally like who I am. That I have talents and gifts. That I can do good things and make improvements and what not. It's very liberating.

*Jack turned 8 and then got baptized a few days later. It was a fabulous day and so far, I can tell he is taking his new responsibility seriously. Earlier in the year he was really having a heard time and I struggled to know what to do to help him. But he seems to have gotten past whatever it was and he has been wonderful lately. He also went to his first cub scout day camp and had a great time.

*Dave has had an easy schedule this month and it's been great to see him so much.

*We went on a family trip to Northern California to interview for a job there. It's a long story of how and why we ended up interviewing there, and I won't get into the details. But the town was delightful and gorgeous, the people were humble and kind, and in general we left with a very good impression. We still have a few more jobs that we are looking into, but NoCal was fun to explore a bit. It was beautiful. We even took a slight detour off of I-80 to go to Lake Tahoe and we loved every minute of the hour we were there. Okay, I didn't love pulling Charlie away. He was having too much fun throwing rocks in the lake and NOT being in the car. We also swung up to Rupert for a day to visit Dave's parents.

*Charlie is starting to talk more and more. It seems like it has taken him a lot longer than the other kids, but that might just be my imagination. This week along he started saying "some" (when he wants something) and he will sign please. He says "thank you" any time you give him something and it is adorable. He can be a little pill sometimes because he is busy and determined, but he has a charming smile that wins me over every time.

*Ana has been such a delight to have home. She plays with Charlie so much. I don't know what I would do without her. In general she is willing to do what I ask and she is so helpful. I'm going to homeschool her next year and I'm really looking forward to building that relationship.

*Katie is hilarious and as fun as ever. She is so ready for kindergarten. And this week she learned how to do the monkey bars. I am blown away by just how big and grown up she is getting. Today I was talking to her a little bit about being safe and what do if she gets lost, etc. After a few minutes, she said, "Mom, can we stop talking about this. I'm starting to feel a little sad." She has such a tender heart.

I love this life that I have. To quote Andy Dwyer (from Parks and Rec) "My whole life is a giant mess and I love it." That's pretty much how I feel. So if you stop by this summer, you will likely see toys in the yard, crafts of the table, dishes in the sink, and me doing the crossword puzzle while Charlie runs around in a diaper. You are welcome anyway. It's always a good time.

great things come in small states

We officially crossed the last of the New England states off of our "to visit" list this weekend with a trip to Rhode Island. We left after PTCs Friday morning and headed to Providence. We didn't really know what to do expect. I had looked a few options online, so we had a plan, but we didn't really know what to expect.

We started off walking down Benefit Street, which has a ton of really old (Colonial) buildings. One of the coolest was the First Baptist Church in America. And not just the "First Baptist" that you see on half of the baptist churches in the country and you jokingly say, "oh, hey, this is the first one. Haha." No this one actually was the first Baptist Church in the United States.

Then we walked up the State Capital and then into an enormous and ritzy mall right next to it so that Ana could go to the bathroom. While we were there, though, Ana and I walked into Tiffany and Co to look around and they gave her a bracelet. I told her she was a lucky girl to get a bracelet from Tiffany's. (It is a blue plastic blank armband bracelet, but still.)

 

We headed toward the car, but we decided to walk around Brown University for a minute on the way. There is something about University campuses that I love. There is an atmosphere of energy and excitement and hope for the future and it feels like there is knowledge just hanging in the air waiting to be grasped. So we started down a street hoping to walk across the quad but due to a concert we couldn't cut across. And then it was about 5 blocks before we could cut across towards our car. By the time we could, we were all starving and there just happened to be a little burger joint on the corner. The streets were swarming with college kids, but the place looked good enough so we decided to go it. Best. Decision. Ever. The burgers and fries were delicious. The obviously don't get many kids in there because they gave us a free huge cookie and when we ordered a nutella shake (which was DIVINE) they gave us two small ones for the kids in addition to the normal size one.We made it to our cars full and happy and headed to our hotel. (Of course, the kids favorite part of the trip was swimming in the hotel the next morning.)

Saturday we went down to Newport, RI. We had heard it was a cool place and to check out the Mansions. These turn-of-the-century homes were the summer "cottages" to wealthy families, including the Vanderbilts. We went to two (think Pride and Prejudice home touring) - The Breakers (the biggest and most grand) and the Marble House (the most lavish.) They were super impressive. The former had 70 rooms and was actually considered "simple" compared to other Victorian era homes, though they had platinum panels in one room and everything was ornate. The other was incredibly opulent, almost gaudy. A shrine to wealth. An entire room was gilded in gold. There was 500,000 cubic feet of marble used in its construction. The tours (self-guided audio tours that our kids really enjoyed) talked a lot of the women of the house and it was interesting that though they were sisters-in-law, they were so incredibly different in personality. (I am still deciding what I think of them. I will have to discuss more of this later.)

We also spent some time driving around Newport, walking the streets and looking in shops. We ended the day playing at the beach. The air by then was chilly, and the water was freezing (I am told.) But it was a good way to get the kids last few wiggles out before the drive home. Ana and Dave put their feet in the water. Jack chased the waves. Or rather they chased him. Katie mostly shivered and was very worried about the waves lapping on the shore, but it was still fun. We got as much sand off as a could and loaded back in the car, headed up the smallest state through farms and vineyards, got a quick bite to eat, and the kids drifted off to sleep.

At one point during the weekend, Katie exclaimed, "This is the best day of my life!" She probably got it from Olaf, but still, it does make a parent feel good. Here's to wholesome recreational activities and small states.

train ride

On Friday we knocked off something off my bucket list.

Way back before I knew what a bucket list was, and before I ever thought I would actually LIVE in Vermont, I wanted to take a train ride through Vermont in the fall. I don't know where this came from. Probably my particular mix of nostaligia, Anne-of-Green-Gables-esque romance, idealism, and my love of American geography/history came together to form this idea that it would be the quintessential fall experience.

Of course, I couldn't live here for 4 years without it. Friday we made it happen. Dave worked nights all week so he was off on Friday. (Well technically he got home from work at 6 on Friday morning and went to sleep until it was time to go.) We had to drive a couple hours to the depot, and the ride was a little bit shorter than we thought it was going to be, but it was the perfect length for the kids. We had a great time and it was every bit as fun as I hoped, even though it was a bit past peak colors. 

Waiting at the Depot

Jack with his shiner.

Along the Connecticut River

We drove over this cool waterfall and gorge.

These pictures don't do it justice.

The Green Mountain Flyer

At the Train Station. We got to watch them change engines.

My beautiful girl with her maple stick.

Enjoying the ride

This house used to be a major stage coach station on the route from Montreal to Boston.

Even Katie loved it.

This covered bridge was rebuilt last year after Hurricane Irene washed it out. Can you believe how high the water was? Seriously, that was a crazy storm for the Green Mountain State.

Another covered bridge.

Ana's turn behind the camera.

Pretty trees. And this is PAST peak season.

on the scenic route

Fall has descended upon New England and it is fabulous. The weather has been phenomenal and we spend almost every afternoon basking in the beautiful sunlight. Dave and I have been anxious to go on a leaf-peeping drive, but we couldn't quite figure out when to do it. Monday seemed like the perfect day because Dave had it off and we were trying to decide what time to get the kids out of school to go.

Then we realized, "Wait a minute. We don't have to get the kids out of school. We can go while the kids are gone."  They really didn't seem that excited about it anyway. (And anyway, it isn't like they don't see fabulous color right around our house.) We got the kids shuffled off to school on Monday morning and Dave, Katie and I took off to the Northeast Kingdom. It was a beautiful drive and as Katie slept most of the time, it was very relaxing and enjoyable.

Lake Memphremagog, Newport, VT

 
God's artistry at it's finest.

i live on the scenic route

I love the beauty of the west: the high mountains, the sprawled towns, the mountain streams, the smell of pine trees. I love how the mountains are so easily visible from everywhere and that the towns are spacious and open. I loved the smell of pine trees high up in the mountains.

I miss those things. Admittingly, sometimes I feel a little claustrophobic with all the trees blocking my view of everything. And I miss my sense of direction.

But there have been moments when the beauty of what surrounds me here leaves me speechless.

This weekend was full of those moments. Friday night after Dave's first comprehensive final of his medical school career, we headed to Shelburne Orchard to pick apples. The apple picking was fun enough. We brought home a couple bags. We also purchased some apple cider and apple cider donuts and sat down at a picnic table to devour our goods. (Have you ever had apple cider donuts? They must be devoured immediately.)

Then I saw it.

Tucked back behind one of the old farmhouses on the property was a large tree with a rope swing tied high in the branches. There was a slight slope downward that opened up to more orchard, a few old farmhouses, and in the distance, a glimmer of Lake Champlain.

And I died.

Or at least I thought I had because surely I must have stumbled upon Heaven.

Amazingly, no on else was there. We spent the rest of the time playing on the swing and on a way cool slide (Think mini-alpine slide.) Our friends took some awesome pictures of Jack running down that thing and crashing into the hay at the bottom.

It is probably my favorite memory so far.

Saturday we went back up the Farm for their annual Harvest Festival. That place is beautiful. Awe-inspiring. We snacked on corn on the cob and cotton candy, listened to fiddle music, played with toy tractors and sat on big pumpkins.




Then Dave and I decided to go on a little fall foliage tour up to a town called St Albans. Gorgeous. Quintessential. It was a lovely afternoon. The town square is lined with cool old churches and the square park has and fountain and beautiful, tall red-leafed trees. And the drive home was gorgeous and relaxing and rejuvinating.








Its heaven I tell you!

Friday my sis gets here and then it will really be Heaven.

Drive to Rochester

I took a ferry across Lake Champlain. It was really cool. The guy who was operating it used to design armaments for government contract stuff. He said he outfitted a C-130 with two Gatling guns during Vietnam. Anyway - here is the area the ferry took off from and then a picture of me on the ferry.




This is a picture of my rental car enjoying the scenery. They upgraded me from an economy car to this one for free because it is what they had.


This was an awesome little road I got to drive on for a few miles - leaves flying behind me just like the commercials.


Then I went to Palmyra. This is a replica of the Smith log home that my uncle Eddie helped build while he was on a service mission there in 1998.


One last picture.