lake placid

At the beginning of the summer we made a list of fun things to do this summer. Some of them are little things- like eat a popsicle or go on a bike ride - and some of them are bigger things. A couple weekends ago we crossed one of the bigger things off of our list: a visit to Lake Placid, NY.

We have wanted to go to Lake Placid ever since we moved here. After all, it was home to two Winter Olympic games, including the 1980 "Miracle on Ice", and it is located in the heart of the Adirondack mountains. As it is only a couple hours from here, we decided to make it a day trip.

Our first stop, after lunch of course, was a horse show. We didn't plan this activity, but when we saw it going on, Ana absolutely HAD to go. We watched a jumping competition for a while, then went on our way.

Next stop was the bobsled run. You can pay to go down it, but we were content to watch other people do it. The kids thought this was awesome. 

Next we drove into the town of Lake Placid, parked the car and walked around. Eventually we got into the ice skating rink. There were two rinks: the 1932 arena:

And the 1980 arena: 

While we were there I told the kids the story of the Miracle on Ice. They thought it was pretty cool.

We spent a lot of time just walking around town. It was a bit touristy, but was still fun. I thought this was funny: even though it was the middle of summer, there was snow on the ground in this one spot. I don't know why. 

It was interesting to me how tiny of a town Lake Placid is. It seems that the Olympics always are centered around big cities. I couldn't help but imagine the traffic traveling on those little country roads to get to the Olympics, and wonder where the spectators stayed during that month. I can't imagine such a small place could host the Olympics today. It was pretty amazing to go around a bend on this little highway and see the ski-jump lift rise above the hills high in the air. The Olympic games always fill me with such a thrill; it was fun to get a little taste of it in Lake Placid.

drive-in

A couple weekends ago we were thinking of taking the kids the movies. They had earned it (though I don't remember how) and we all wanted to go. So we decided to head to the Drive-In. The double feature of choice was Monsters University and Iron Man 3. (Both shows were awesome by the way. MU was just as good as the original, I think.) Which brings me to....

Top 8 (because I couldn't come up with 2 more) reasons why going to the Drive-In is my favorite way to watch a movie.

1.) We can take the kids to the theater and watch two new movies for only 20 bucks!

2.) Bring your own snacks. This time we brought homemade popcorn and oreos. Perfect!

3.)The old-timey playground. It had an actual teeter totter and a merry-go-round. What?!?

4.) It's late enough that by the time the kid movie is over, the kids are so tired they just curl up in the back seat and fall asleep, leaving us to watch our movie.

5.) I didn't have to worry so much about keeping Katie quiet. She watched most of the movie, but then got squirmy and tired somewhere in the middle.

6.) Adjustable volume. (I really don't like that the music is so much louder than the dialogue in most movies. I usually keep the volume down and turn on the captions.) (Does that make me sound old?) (I also like game shows.)

7.) Bedtime consists of carrying the kids into their beds. 5 minutes instead of an hour. Yes, please!

8.) It is socially acceptable to curl up in a blanket to watch the movie.  I haven't tried doing that at a regular theater, but I have a feeling it is more on the "unacceptable" side of the spectrum.



After this trip, I now have 3 things on my list of "Things I need in (or within 30 minutes of) the town we live when we grow up and get a real job": a temple, a Target, and a Drive-In theater.

independence

 "In this struggle for freedom, at home and abroad, our greatest weapon, both a sword and a shield will be our love of and faith in God. "

We headed downtown Thursday evening with a cooler of snacks, a blanket and lots of bug spray to  watch the fireworks over Lake Champlain.  It was hot and muggy and there were people everywhere. We found a spot right on the boardwalk and danced to the music as we waited for the sun to set.

Our friends brought glow-sticks for the kids, which they loved, (and which were literally a lifesaver since we lost Katie for about 30 seconds and Ana found her because of her glow-stick necklace). The adults sat talking and laughing and munching.

The fireworks began. Katie was nervous. She liked the lights, but they were too loud. She didn't cry, she just watched with her hands over her ears. She started on my lap, the moved to Daddy's, then finally ended up on our friend Sara's lap next to her best friend Kenzie. I couldn't take my eyes off of Katie's face. At times the fireworks were so bright that her whole face lit up like noon-day.  I hope a love of freedom is always shining out from that little face.

Friday morning we again packed our blanket and bug spray and sunscreen to head out to the parade.  As the parade began, two boy scouts at the front held signs to remind spectators to stand as the American flag progressed down the street. My heart swelled with pride. I was always a little bothered here at how few people stood up when the flag came passed, and it made my heart so happy to see so many people rise to the occasion. (Thank you, Boy Scouts!)

The parade was great. I loved the community bands riding on floats. Jack loved that Captain America was in it the parade and we all loved getting candy and popsicles and stickers. Katie waved to everyone through the whole thing. Several otter-pops later, the parade was over and we packed our things and scurried to our car.

Independence Day is a perfect holiday. It is a celebration without expectation. It is wonderful in its simplicity. Fireworks. A parade. A gathering of friends for hamburgers and homemade ice cream. Katie playing in the mud. (Though that is a daily occurance). The day ended with sparklers and baths.

I am proud to be an American. My heritage is rich with people of faith and perseverance and loyalty to their country. America is a beautiful land full of abundance. It is a land of so much promise. So many times in its history it has been a beacon of liberty and light. I choose to love it. I choose to believe in it. I choose to go forward with optimism. All over the world, there are good, wonderful people. I choose to believe in those people and the force for good they can be all over the world.

"I think it is time we should all awaken. Our concern isn’t about the flames of freedom which burn so brightly in our generation; the concern is that in the upcoming generation the fire has never been kindled. Our youth have never known anything but criticism of the United States of America. We need some faithful, free-loving patriots who will issue forth a clear, loud trumpet call. Remember Paul’s counsel: “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare … to the battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8.) Freedom ought to ring in the heart of every Latter-day Saint regardless of his country." 

(source for both quotes)

like mother, like daughter

"If she was taller, you could be twins!" The woman sitting behind the check-in table at Ana's summer camp was looking right at me and my oldest daughter. I was somewhat taken aback.

"You think so?"

"Oh yes! You even walk the same. Her eyes are a little darker, but other than that she looks exactly like you. You are both beautiful."

I thanked her and smiled, gave Ana a hug and walked back to my car.

I have heard it said before. Especially when people see this picture of me from when I was 5.

That's me on the left.

People say we look just alike. Here is Ana at 5.

Photo by Heather Dahle Photography

Truthfully, I don't see it.  At all. I can sometimes see a little bit of Jack or Katie in old photos of me, but I never see Ana.  Maybe it's the bangs?

Usually when I think about the way we are alike, I am frustrated. Mostly frustrated with myself.  I am emotional. She is emotional. I get irrational when I am tired. She gets irrational when she is tired. I am always ready to enter into a debate/argument/fight. So is she. She gets it from me.

The other night I sat on my bed thinking about her.  I was thinking, specifically, of what I love about her and I began to write them down. Her eyes. Her observational skills. Her uncanny ability to find her way around any obstacle. (Even if that obstacle is just Mom saying "no.")  She gets those things from Dave. As I sat over looking the list and smiling as I thought of my little girl, I noticed that most of the list were things that she got from Dave, or things that are uniquely Ana. At the top of the list, the thing that I wrote down first, was written:

Ana is generous. She is always willing to share what she has and to give to others.

She gets that from me.

what we do when the weather is good

I. love. summer.   Have I mentioned that before? ;) Summer in Vermont is amazing. Humid, but amazing.

I simply cannot stay inside when there is fun stuff to do outside. Stuff like:

*Family bike rides to the beach. Burlington has a really great bike path down by the lake. We drove to the bike path, rode the path (Jack and Katie in the trailer, Ana on her own bike) for about 3 miles to the a beach, ate a snack and rode back the way we came. Perfect!

*Beach days! We've had 3 so far. Two of them got rained out, but this time Ana caught a butterfly.

*A strawberry festival. We let Ana ride the ponies and she was in Heaven! We also had some fresh strawberry milkshakes and Ana entered a strawberry shortcake eating contest. She didn't win, but she finished it all.

You would think will all this outside time, my house would be spotless, but we are inside just long enough to make a mess, and not long enough to get it cleaned up.

Today we spent the morning outside playing in the kiddie pool. Just after we came inside (because I had neglected my housework long enough), dark clouds rolled in and it started pouring! There was a crash of thunder so loud it shook the house. Crazy weather! (You would think it would cool things off, but it just makes it muggy. )

Life is good.

a revelation, in parts

"In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 

(John 16:33)

1. A few days ago, what seemed to be an average day, turned sour. Nothing particular happened. A few unplanned errands popped up, but mostly it was just a typical day. Most typically, right around dinner, the children started acting up. (I know why they call those late afternoon hours "the witching hours.") The clutter from the housework I never got to began to cave in on me. Suddenly I found myself in the most sour mood. At the earliest possible hour, I got the kids into bed and I sat on the couch sulking. Somewhere during the course of the evening and the next morning - I can't quite identify how or when it came - it occurred to me that I was allowing the choices of others to dictate my mood and emotions.

I needed to stop it. My children will most likely always make choices that are different from what I want them to do. Am I going to let that cast a gloom on my life? No! I have always been a happy person, and I will continue to be a happy person.

The next day, I put it to the test. I decided to act happily, even if I didn't feel like it. The most amazing thing happened: my children were much better behaved. Perhaps, of all the things society thinks children need or don't need, all the lists and books on parenting and discipline and what "good parents" do,  my children just need a happy mommy.



2. My mind has felt cluttered and foggy. The clouds that bring so much beauty and greenery to this beautiful state happen usually seem to settle on my soul as well. At times it seems the clouds will never lift.  A few times this week the sun has shone itself and my spirit reaches for the sunlight and pulls me outside. I work in the garden and push Katie on the swing and connect with friends and neighbors and finally the clouds and fog begin to dissipate and I can breathe. During these times I have asked myself, "Why is it so hard to find joy each day?" The answer has been blossoming before me for a few days, and yesterday it was given a name and I saw it in all its glory.  The combination of endless to-do lists (there is always something I could be doing)  and the call of the social media have been choking out those things that bring richness to my life. "Peak experiences," I heard them called, are experiences that add joy into our lives. They are moments of real, true connection. With others. With God. With ourselves. Peak experiences make me happy. Lately they have been few and far between.



3. Last night, I was putting sheets on the children's beds before tucking them in. I heard laughing from the other room and Dave called me to come in. Usually I would finish my task, then go stand at the bedroom door and smile for a brief minute, then continue putting the kids to bed.  This time, I was drawn to it.  I climbed into the bed with Dave and Ana and Katie and we laughed at the silly things Katie was doing. (She always knows how to bring joy into this house.) Soon a pajama'ed Jack joined us and we all laughed and snuggled and tickled. At one point, Ana turned to me and said, "Mom, you are actually laughing!" That's when I knew for sure.

The revelation came in parts:

I need to seek out daily, joyful experiences that make me happy, because what my children need most is a happy mommy.

today summer is here.

*Today was the last day of school. Finally! I have big plans for our summer. We are setting goals and making a list of fun stuff to do. It is going to be great!

*Today I walked to the park with the younger kids. On the way home from Ana school this morning, my body and soul told me to be outside. Jack would only go if he had his friend Tanner to come along, and they both are new to training wheels so they were happy to ride along with me.

*My garden is finally growing. The kids' have been growing for a while but I planted later and then it cooled off and rained for months (or so it seemed). So today when the sun came out I could almost see the tiny little buds growing.

Summer is good for me.

party time

I am not usually a party planner. I like to attend parties, but I don't love the planning and executing of them. But this one was actually fun to put together. It helped that Jack only wanted to invite his 3 closest friends. He had a great time, and was perfectly satisfied with his Space party.

five

My little boy is 5.

I can't believe it, yet he's been 5 in my head for a long time.

Admittedly, 4 has been a rough age for us. He started to exert his will and defiance, surely to test ME as a parent. Sometimes I feel I am not passing that test. He goes a little nuts if he doesn't have a specific, defined activity and starts picking on/climbing on anyone and anything in this path. Especially his big sister. I keep telling her that little brothers like to be obnoxious and that she needs to learn to deal with it. (That doesn't really help.)

But most of the time, he is a wonderful little boy. He and his Dad are of the same mold. He looks and acts just the same! The other day Dave took him out to play catch and I was struck at how much he has grown. He loves to do anything with Dave - play catch, work on a project, run errands - you name it, he'll do it with Daddy. Unless it is time for bed, then he wants Mom to read him a story and scratch his back.

He loves legos, but doesn't typically build creatively. He would much rather follow a pattern.  Also, Jack is a reader! We are currently working through the BOB books and he is doing great. He is a hard working little boy and is easily motivated by a quarter or a treat. He planted his garden a few weeks ago and tends to it very well, picking weeds and watering diligently.

He still loves Space. He acquired a Space Shuttle Operator's manual from a friend of Dave's and he often will choose to read two pages for his bedtime story. Lately we've been reading the section on how to use the bathroom in microgravity. (Having no gravity provides an interesting dilemma if you think about it.) He told me later that he doesn't want to go into space anymore because he doesn't want to have to go the bathroom in space.  Incidentally he also ruled out police man from his Possible Future Careers list because "it would be too hard. I don't know where any bad guys are." Right now at the top of the list is "surgery doctor."

We gave Jack a bicycle helmet for his birthday and last night as he was riding his (formally Ana's) bike (now that it has training wheels back on) he said to Dave, "I could do this all day." I have a feeling he is going to be one happy boy this summer on his back.

Happy Birthday Jackers.

use your words (and other stuff)

We often tell our kids "Use your words." Instead of whining, instead of hitting, instead of screaming. "Use words." I need to remind myself of that as well sometimes. Words save me. When I need to escape, I read. When I need to connect, I talk and listen. When I need to clear my head, I write. I write lists and I write in my journal and I write here.

The last few weeks have been a crazy emotional roller coaster and I read and I talked and I listened, but when I tried to write, I couldn't. The words wouldn't come. So I talked and listened and read some more. But I couldn't write.

This morning I woke up and decided that today I would write. I would force it to come. So, here I am writing. Let me write about the last 3 weeks.

1.) The kids and I got home from our fun trip. I was so glad to see so many great friends and it was good to be back in the groove. My wonderful friend (little Zach's mom) even had my house cleaned spotless for me when I returned which was such a blessing. I have great friends. Dave stayed behind in Utah for an extra two weeks while he finished his rotation, so I was on my own for a little while.

2.) A few days after returning home, some of our best friends moved. They were here when we got here and we (and our kids) grew to be such good friends. It was a sad day. I already miss them a ton.

3.) I managed to do 2 weeks in a row of sitting alone with my kids in church and didn't die. I even thought, "That wasn't too bad."

4.) We got water in our basement (see previous post). That was crazy for a minute. These pictures are from that day. The kids went out and played in the puddles before dinner.  The downpour happened after dinner. The last picture is right before I discovered water gushing into the basement.

5.) Our traditional Memorial Day BBQ was a hit. Somehow I returned home with more food than I took.

6.) Dave got home! And he had a few days off before returning to the hospital today, so that was awesome to have him home.

7.) Another family that we love moved. They were awesome and Vermont will not be the same without them.

8.) Saturday we went to a parade and a Super fun birthday party for our friend's daughter.  The kids came home with awesome Superman capes and they spent the rest of the evening running around in them. Katie wanted one too so we pulled out Dave's old one and she ran around saying "Superman!" On Sunday afternoon the kids put them on again with nothing else but their undies and ran around saying "I am Super Underpants Man!" Nothing like a cape to make a kid happy.

9.) Yesterday Dave was called to be a counselor to our Bishop. Crazy! It will make things a little bit more busy, especially on Sundays, but he is awesome and I know he'll be great.


So, there you have it. A glance at my roller coaster. I keep thinking things will settle down, but life doesn't really ever settle down does it?  I think as long as I keep using my words, I might be able to handle it.