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.