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!!"