Winter!! Is Here!!!

As you can tell blogging has not made it to the top of my list of things to do lately. Admittedly the only way this post happened is that the kids are sleeping and Josh is studying for finals. But this post is not to reflect on how busy our lives are, because that just seems depressing. Today's post has a greater purpose, to share the story of my kids first ski trip.

I will start this story with the fact that Josh was not with us, he had scheduled time in the studio for his new CD and needed to be there. I guess we'll just have to go again!! Mom and Chris planned the trip from the start and graciously invited me and the kids along. They made the day so enjoyable for us. Chris was amazing with both of them, although Lennon was a bit harder to deal with. She enjoyed it, but got cold quickly (it was about 4 degrees) and was, as usual, hungry. Mom ran interception and worked her magic, like only a Grandmother can, and kept the peace. Meanwhile, Colton and Chris worked the mountain. By the end of the day Colton had learned how to stop (an important lesson I wasn't sure he would master) and found, "My new favorite sport!" We had a great day and can't wait to try it again.


As for today...I have spent the day in the kitchen, baking. I hope they all enjoy it. Josh and Colton spent about two hours outside snow blowing. Not that it did much good, because the snow just won't stop. So far I think we've got about 18 inches of fresh snow on top of the 18 we already had and the weather predicts 8 more overnight. Thank heaven for that snow blower. Shoveling our walkway is enough for me. We did go out in the storm and get our Christmas Tree. For me, that marks the begining of the season!! If, by chance, I don't find time to post again before Christmas...HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

It has only taken me since my first post on Mother's Day, to realize that with this blogger account I also have an account with Picasa. Talk about slow. I have decided that my loyal readership just doesn't get enough pictures of this family and I must dutifully provide you with access to more. So if you look to the left you will see a new link, Clement Family Album on Picasa, if you click on it, you will be treated to a new onslaught of family photo's. Enter at your own risk. I will try to give you new pictures frequently.

Meanwhile, Josh has donned his winter work wear and is running the snow blower for the first time this season. It is cold today, high of 12 and tonight we are supposed to dip into negative numbers. The cold and snow are at least helping me get into the holiday spirit. I think we have a good game plan...will we execute it properly? Only time can tell.

What a crew

We had a great time with the Dufort clan on Thanksgiving this year. We sat 22 in our dining room and enjoyed a feast. I have to thank everyone for bringing their delicacies, you made the day such a joy. The kids had a great time with their "cousins" fresh back from Hawaii, and baby Jackson stole every ones hearts; especially Lennon's!

Sunday we had a "quiet" dinner with Mom, Chris, Tim and Kimmy over on Green Pond. The perfect combination of snow on the golf course helped us enjoy some great sliding, thus burning off some calories before diving in to another excellent meal. (I am now eating only carrots, maybe a little celery so I don't turn orange) Lennon walked down the hill more often than slid but enjoyed it just the same. Here, Josh demonstrates how to seriously injure ones self!

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving! I feel Christmas looming over me...I am not ready!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

These next few days are destined to be overstuffed, frantic and brimming with family. I wanted to sneak a moment to wish all of you not with us on this holiday the happiest of times and know that we are thinking of all of you! I apologize for not being in the picture, but someone had to take it, it was such a good moment. Seeing that Aunt BJ will be here on Thanksgiving there should be plenty of pictures of all of us to post. Love to you all, may your days be filled with good food and good company!

Sunday evening with the Clement's

Somehow, an awe-inspiring "jam" happened at my house last Sunday night. Music is a very common thing around these parts but not usually agreed upon. The piano, or gpiannyo as Lennon calls it, is a breeding ground for argument. Taking turns is never easy but the sting is especially harsh when you can't escape the noise that represents you didn't get to go first. The stars must have aligned just right Sunday evening, because Lennon respectfully listened to a song that Josh and Colton have been working on (just guitars) before she suggested adding a gpiannyo part to the mix. The idea was embraced without coercion and the music happened.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Harry and Bat Girl (Abby Leavitt)

Watch out for pint-sized witches!

The new Colton!! Yes, he still has a mohawk under that hat.

I LOVE the ferry!!

A day to myself...

I'll make this brief.

Everyone is gone. I am alone. This is weird!

But don't fret I am not sitting in my chair with a cup of tea, enjoying my book, relaxing quietly. I am running up to Colton's school at 12:45 to help with journal writing, and I have torn the house apart in hopes of having time to put it back together later, maybe.

I do feel compelled to take a little time to share some bits of our lives (even if I don't have pictures). Lennon has successfully moved into her own room and Colton has glasses. My feelings? A little like they are growing up without me and I am trying desperately to catch up. She is too small for such a huge bed and he just looks way to old.

I promise to post a picture of his glasses ASAP, meanwhile just imagine that kid from Jerry McGuire(sp?) older!

Lennon's World

Josh, Lennon and I took advantage of a little schedule change and beautiful weather and walked in to Moose Pond Thursday. It felt a little like cheating on Colton, like we were sneaking off without permission. We had a great time. Lennon walked the whole way in, and was in the pack on the way out. Accounting for the fact that it took us an hour to walk in and twenty minutes to get out. In the picture Lennon is telling me about the leaves she picked up. Apparently her "teacher" told her to collect some leaves so she could make a caterpillar with them at "school". You also have to take a ferry to get to her school. Her days are filled with stories of "school" and her make believe world. I just hope that she likes school this much when she really goes next year.

Colton is getting a change in his appearance the end of next week. I'll leave it at that and share some pictures as soon as we get some. Meanwhile we are on the hunt for the finishing touches for the kids Halloween costumes. After hours of perusing the internet last night I had to bite the bullet and get things from two different sites...argh! I hope my little Hogwarts students are grateful for the wands and hats. Huge thanks goes out to Susan for all the work on their robes and scarves. Thank goodness someone in this family is crafty!!!

Still 29!!

Time has eluded me...how long has it been since I posted? I am ashamed. I have to admit that it wasn't lack of time, I am quite sure that I have had a moment or two where I could have sat down to task, but I didn't. Upon reflection I have come to the conclusion that I was avoiding the topic at hand, one you can't avoid, you watch it happen to your friends and think, "What's the big deal?" Well, as I read recently, it's funny...until it happens to you!

Yes, I am turning thirty (and for the two of you laughing...your turn is coming). Some people would think I was already thirty, due to the fact that everyone I know lied to me for weeks and almost gave me a heart attack last Saturday. Yes, I am now a surprise party victim. I have to give enormous credit to my husband, I don't know how he pulled it all together, but he got me good! After my sister-in-law, Ashley passed her LPN boards and my Mom her RN boards it was mentioned that a girls lunch to celebrate would be fun. So on Saturday both Moms showed up at our house to pick me up, we grabbed Ashley in town and off to Lake Placid we went. We had a blast, how they didn't slip I don't know. We were an hour later than planned because I kept shopping, yes me. Poor Josh, he kept about 40 people (including kids) holed up in our house for an hour waiting for me. As we pulled in the driveway, Josh came out onto the porch (in his pj's) asking if we had fun, yada, yada. I didn't think anything of it. He then ushered me into the house, there are no pictures of this and I am thankful, because my face had to look like an ad for crayola red.

It was a great party, even if I am still 29!

I can't forget a few pictures!!! Josh and Colton ran in Sunday's Stride for Pride at Fish Creek. Josh won his age class for the 5k and Colton did awesome in the kids half-mile fun run.

Saturday we went to the Wilder Farm outside of Malone. They were celebrating Almanzo's 150th birthday. Daddy likes to play with Lennon's hair.

85 degrees in September

Anyone who grew up in the Adirondacks would tell you that the weather can do anything, just wait 15 minutes. But they would also attest to the fact that once school starts you put away your shorts and grab a jacket every morning. If I hadn't kept Colton home from school today, I was going to take Lennon to the beach...yes it is September 25. There really is something disconcerning about wearing shorts and t-shirts during peak leaf peeping season. I just hope that we don't end up skipping autumn all together.

We have been busy little bees, as usual. Somehow we have managed to be gone both days of every weekend for the past 6 weeks. Poor Colton hasn't had a day of rest since before school started, maybe that's why he got sick (or maybe it is the oodles of germs swimming around school). This weekend I say, we stay home!! Then we can paint the porch, work on the fort, sand and poly the picnic table, go to Colton's football game, have Kyle spend the night, and move Lennon into her own room (shh, don't tell her, she's not happy about it). Sounds like a nice relaxing weekend.

Wood Cutting 07 and Football 07

Wood Cutting 07, was a great time. We all worked really hard, laughed a lot, and ate great food. What a day! The kids got along great. Lennon enjoyed playing with my cousin's little girls Lydia and Grace. At one point she convinced them to bury her in the sand! Colton, my little business man, sold purple wood to the adults...I think he came home with a pocket full of change, because I made out with a dollar-fifty in the wash. It was wonderful to see all of my family together, it doesn't happen often. We are really looking forward to next year.

Here's my little football star!! What fun to watch. He's bigger and stronger than last year and still most of the other kids are much bigger than him, but he loves it. It was hard to watch him get pushed down the first time, until I saw him laughing! Football has been great for everyone, Lennon has made a wonderful friend, Claire. They run and give hugs when they see each other and all I hear is "Does Colton have football tonight?" Then once we're at practice I get, "Mom, I don't have time for you right now." That broke my heart, until I saw how much fun she was having. My baby is growing up.

Field Day

We had a great day at the Firemans Field Day. Josh's band was great and the kids got really, really dirty. The three kids are Kyle Lewis, Colton (ofcourse) and Abby Levitt (Jen Donaldson-Levitt's daughter)

Now we are gearing up for school. Josh starts today and Colton starts tomorrow, my big first grader!! This weekend is also Colton's first football game of the season...hope to get some pictures...

Cold, Wet and Smelly

Rain coats, sweat pants, blue lips, oh my. Did you guess we were at the water park? Isn't it obvious. What a lousy job we did picking the "ideal" day for this adventure. Colton and Josh were not hindered in anyway by the freezing (64 degree) weather or the lack of sun all day. Colton went on almost every ride and Daddy is amped to have a new water buddy. Lennon was too excited not to get wet, but quickly changed her mind. Us girls decided to stick to the dry activities.
Like petting the smelly goats! All in all it was a good day, I would have liked to gone on a few rides, but being wet and cold all day is not something I truly enjoy.

Escape to Block Island

I knew that this blog would come in handy when I really needed a procrastination tool!!! The house is full of bags of dirty clothes, toys, shoes, all of the remains of being gone for four days. Josh and I just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary with a trip...without the kids. We went to Hartford, CT for one night and the free Ozzfest, then took the ferry from Point Judith, RI out 14 miles to Block Island. No kids, no cars, no stress. As we pulled out of the driveway, saying goodbye to the kids I couldn't help but ask the identity of the man sitting next to me. "Oh, Josh" I said, "nice to meet you. If my kids knew I was alone with you, they would be furious." I have to admit that I, at times, missed them terribly. Although there were moments, for example while waiting for the ferry, that we watched parents wrestling in argument with little people...stress barely hidden on their faces as they tried to have a fun family outing. I felt a little guilty...just a very little.

I'll spare all of the details of how we spoiled ourselves rotten. I do however have to talk about the many layers of deception that my wonderful husband contrived around this trip. Our first day on the island there was a concert at our hotel, (George Thorogood and the Destroyers...ie Bad to the Bone). The plan was to go back to the room and change for dinner, but as the show was coming to a close I suggested heading straight down for dinner to beat the crowds. When we get to the restaurant Josh squeamishly says he's in need of a bathroom. So I am abandoned at the table for almost fifteen minutes. I ordered drinks, wondered if he was okay, and watched the boats in the harbor. Finally he returned, beads of sweat all over. He said that some guy who didn't speak very good english (none of the staff on the island did) sent him across the street and down to the public restrooms. I bought it hook, line and sinker. Now that he had finally returned I could attend to myself and excused myself to the bathrooms just inside the door. When I returned we ordered our meals and talked for a few minutes, when the Host came over and put a little package and card on the table. I asked him what it was and he smiled and told me he found it on the floor. Then I saw the writing on the card and knew I had been duped. It is the most beautiful necklace I've ever had. He had sprinted the half mile, uphill back the the hotel, begged a room key from the front desk woman and ran all the way back...because he couldn't wait any longer. For the rest of our trip he kept remembering other things he had to do to keep the secret, like "forgetting" his wallet in the car, and praying that the kids hadn't given him up, since they were with him when he bought it. The list is long, but I love him for it, even though he made me cry in public and I hate that. :)

We had a wonderful time, as did the kids I'm sure. I have to extend a huge thank you to both my Mom and Josh's Mom for babysitting...now they need a vacation. My mom also deserves a huge congratulations on passing her RN boards!!! I knew you could do it.

Lennon's Video Debut!

Josh figured out how to convert this file...I just had to share it.
I think this was shot just shy of her second birthday. She's grown so much.
Don't forget the sound!

More Pictures

Now that I have a few...very few, minutes to spare I'll add a few more pictures from camping. I really like the one of Josh on the top of Bluff, what a place to feel inspired. Lennon has beach bum written all over her.

After coming down the lake on Wednesday, Josh took Colton to Albany to see Eric Burdon and the Animals...boys on the search for good music...they had a blast.

Camping on Lower Saranac

This is one of those times when pictures speak louder than words. We went camping last week on Lower Saranac Lake. Four glorious days. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, sunshine, sunshine, and more sunshine. Except for a little sunburn the days passed by peacefully. Colton caught 7 fish, and Lennon had to touch every one of them. Lennon practiced the art of peeing in the woods and getting as dirty as humanly possible. (I have to thank Colton for the picture of Lennon and I on the top of Bluff, great job buddy!) Upon leaving our site Wednesday morining, the kids yelled back..."Goodbye campsite, we'll miss you!!"

Sarcastic Wit

I was hoping to be a little more diligent in my posting, but time is precious and kids are downright needy. Ha! That might be putting it mildly.

Lennon has somehow discovered the art of sarcasam without really understanding it; and there is nothing funnier to a six-year-old than a sarcastic three-year-old. Last week during some of the few hours it didn't rain I attemped to rid my garden of its many layers of weeds. The kids to their credit played nicely for most of the time. I soon discovered why they were so quiet...the overwhelming amount of mud pies they had "baked" all over the front walk. The rain soon reared its nasty head again and I decided it was time to "clean up" the toys. I pulled out the hose, yes the hose in the middle of a rain storm, and began the task of cleaning the many buckets, pots, and pans. All I asked of the kids was, "Please, put them in the toy box on the porch." Pretty simple, right. Wrong! The toys kept making it to the porch, but instead of in the toy box, they were in a pile directly infront of the front door. Not keeping my cool, I yelled at Lennon, who at the time was playing nicely with her doll...in the middle of the toys. "Don't you understand what it means when I ask you to pick up?!!!" To this she replied in the most sorrowful tone..."Yeah, it means I get into trouble." I thought Colton was going to lose it. He was rolling on the ground in hysterics. Lennon didn't even crack a smile, she just kept rocking her doll in the middle of the toys. (I'm sure you will all be happy to hear that the toys did finally end up in the toy box, after I put them there!!)

Well, Mom and Chris are off on their three week excursion to Alaska. I hope they are having fun, but with Uncle Pat as a tour guide how could they not. They have worked hard and deserve a lot of fun. While they are gone we are borrowing their little boat and have discovered a rope swing on Rainbow Lake. I didn't catch any pictures of me and Lennon making our attempts today but we had the camera last Tuesday to document Josh and Colton in all of their high flying acts. And the "cool echo tunnel" as Lennon calls it.

Little Changes

Just a quick note. You no longer have to sign in to leave a comment for one of my postings. I didn't know that it was restricted.

Have a great day!!

Crafts, Forts and Soccer balls, oh my!

It seems silly to start each of these posts with the weather, but I have found that with children the weather dictates much of your day. Rain glorious rain! My garden must be so happy, the weeds too I presume. Colton has a summer party to go to today, those poor parents, 15 six-year olds all inside, yikes! A little one on one time with Lennon will be a relief as she doesn't like to share me much anyway. It looks like a day filled with games of Candyland and crafts. At this moment the dinning room table is covered in the little tiny pieces of construction paper...all "Birthday Presents" for poor Uncle Alex. Lennon has found scissors quite fun, and the smaller the paper the better.

Yesterday, Josh and I got a good start on a fort for the kids. I say the kids and I mean all three of them. Josh is insisting on having it be tall enough for him to stand in...I wonder how much time the kids will get in there. Lucky for us our house came with piles of left over wood from the remodeling stages, so our only investment is time and nails.

Soccer started last monday. I have 17 kids on my team!! That is a lot of little soccer balls rolling all over. I think the hardest part is going to be finding time for everyone to be goalie. By the end of practice I had everyone's names down, but will I remember on Monday?

Hot, Hot, Hot!!!

I guess we've had a pretty typical Adirondack summer week, completely ruled by the weather. Mon, Tues and Wed were blistering hot (for us anyway) and forced us to get close to water for most of the day. I'm not complaining by any means, especially as the kids have grown a bit more self sufficient and I can actually sit for a few moments while we are there. Monday, Josh "hiked" into Round Lake with the kids for the afternoon. Tuesday the four of us drove to Split Rock, one of our favorite spots on the Boquet River. Its about an hour away so we don't go to often. And Wednesday the kids and I met up with friends at Lake Clear beach. Colton was a pile of wrinkles by the time we left. I don't think he was out of the water for more than the five minutes it took him to refuel. Lennon enjoyed the sand more than the water, meaning "I'll get wet, but only if I can roll around in the sand after to see how much sticks!"

Now we are gearing up for the beginning of soccer, the continuation of t-ball, and the Forth of July!! Josh's band is playing a big show at West Mt in Glens Falls and the kids and I are staying home to watch the fire works in town.

Summer is here!

School is out, the sun is shining, and it's almost warm! Actually it was beautiful yesterday, high around 60, blue sky and a light breeze perfect hiking weather. We climbed Mt. Joe. The view from the top was spectacular, we only saw three other groups of people on the trail and had the top to ourselves. Lennon did an excellent job (when she felt like walking) and Colton is a professional hiker now. There were a lot of chipmunks on the trail, quite tame and looking for food. Lennon however has insisted that they are baby squirrels, and nothing will make her believe otherwise.

Mother's Day...Weekend

Well, I am fully rejuvenated and ready for the onslaught of life again. Josh gave me the most wonderful weekend of relaxing, gardening and no cooking. The kids behaved as best they can and gave me some beautiful home made gifts(the best kind). We had Nancy, Pete and the kids for dinner on Sunday...Mom was studying for finals, we'll celebrate with her next week. Lennon had a run in with her sippy cup which resultet in her first black eye. She was a little unsettled when she first saw it in the mirror, but now she thinks its funny.

After some unseasonably warm temps last week, the weather is cooling off again and we're finally getting some rain. Hopefully I can get some plants in the garden soon.

I finally did it!!!

It's a Monday evening, Josh is at class, the kids are in bed, and I just figured out how to create a blog all by myself!!!!!

On their last North Country visit, Kate and Ashley gave me an earful when it came to my inability to "share" my life, between sporadic emails. The peer pressure worked and now that I have established my place on the Internet I will do my best to keep it up to date. My biggest challenge will be getting Josh to share the computer...maybe the proverbial rolling pin will do the trick!!