Carpet Stains

I am now in possession of more child-free hours than I have had in eight years, six months and 13 days, and I'm a bit lost. That's not to say that I am sitting alone in quiet introspection desperately trying to find something to do, that I am not. I have found that when both of your kids are in school for the full day, your closet of demons explodes right in the middle of your living room, leaving you disoriented, confused and not sure how to remove demon from a wool carpet. I have tons to do.

The summer months have left our house in camouflage mode, that is to say if you walked in for a visit you would find it perfectly presentable, a little bedraggled but nothing you wouldn't expect from a house with two kids and a dog. Stay for a few days and you might notice that things aren't what they seem. Sure there aren't any bits of sand sticking to the bottom of your bare feet as you pad around the house but in the shower you wonder how they got so black. As you step outside into the bright morning sunshine to greet the day you might notice how it didn't seem so intense in the dining room. And you must be cautious while exploring the corners of any room for you might be taken down by a great, floating, sticky, creepy phenomenon known as the cobweb.

I have to admit that in spite of the floors, windows and cobwebs I have taken a little time in these first few weeks of school to enjoy life a bit...I even went back to bed after the kids got on the bus last Tuesday! I do feel the joy ride coming to a close. If I am going to spend the next eight months sequestered from the cold and snow in these four walls, they might as well be clean. And who knows, maybe while toiling in the midst of cluttered kitchen cabinets and demon stained carpet I might figure out what I want to be when I grow up!

Football 09

I just LOVE this picture!

First day of school!

No time to reflect on the absence of my kids for 7 hours every weekday now, I just might get teary. Gotta go walk with Mom and Grandma and not think of how independent they are.

(They still need me, right?)

I have been sitting at the computer with this same blank screen for over an hour now. I had hopes of capturing the last month, pulling it down and weeding my way though the memories and pictures and then somehow producing this amazing synopsis of life with the Clement's. This however is not in the cards. My lovely children have decided against sleep tonight and will not give me a moments peace to think. I have been up and down the stairs exactly 14 times in the last 40 minutes, not much of a window for creative thought.


9:11 PM. Lennon hasn't made a demand in a few minutes (maybe she's sleeping) and Colton has just finished his book. Here goes!

After months of waiting we finally went to Maine! We were there for 7 days and enjoyed every one of them. Our first day was a little turbulent and led to the purchase of a new tent, screen tent and air mattress at Wal-Mart (not the ideal place to spend your first day in Maine). Once camp was set up we settled in for the week.



Thursday we met up with Kate and Adam. We talked, ate, talked, walked down the long breakwater, talked, found a great little beach and talked. So much fun and it left me wishing we lived closer to eachother.

I could go on and break down each and every day after that but I think a few pictures will do the trick. We didn't want to come home and will go back soon! Vacations are wonderful!

(Lennon took this picture!)

Site 36, Lower Saranac Lake

We enjoyed a beautiful little camping trip on Lower Saranac Lake two weeks ago and the proof is still to be seen by the enormous tent hanging patiently in the back yard waiting to dry out. I will spare the details of how incredibly wet this summer has been and I will not complain about the lack of sunshine or warmth. Instead I will post a few pictures, make a few comments and continue to procrastinate my packing list for our upcoming adventure in Maine. (We leave in 5 days...plenty of time, right?!)

Someone had fun being barefoot!

Fishing was the all-time favorite past time.

(With that view who can blame them!)

The big catch...sure was tasty!

"Polar Bear" club in May

Anyone who has ever visited the Adirondacks in the summer and stood at the edge of one of our lakes can attest to their beauty. If ever a visitor got a little notion of enjoying a swim in one of the aforementioned lakes, they might be in for a surprise. When a body of water is frozen for what seems like more months than not, the water might be a little chilly. I'm not sure exactly when the ice left Lake Clear this year, but it hasn't been long enough for me. Yes, Thursday was hot, 86 degrees hot to be exact, but the wind was pleasant and I had no desire to submerge myself. My family had other ideas!

It only took them a few minutes of tip-toeing around to get out to a decent depth. After a few bounces of self assurance, Colton was the first to go under. It had to take his breath away and with the wind blowing full force he quickly opted to remain in the water.

Josh followed suit and poor Lennon trying to return safely to shore fell to her own demise. Being more wet than she intended, she opted for her favorite beach activity...rolling her wet body in the sand. Being the only "wise" member of the group, I dutifully took pictures and held up warm towels around little wet bodies. It was a good start to swimming season 2009. Let's see who's brave enough to endure the waters of Maine this summer!!!

Keeping up

It is a quiet Monday night. The kids are sleeping and Josh is in Plattsburgh until tomorrow afternoon. Bailey must have had a rough day because he has commandeered the couch and is snoring. The hum of the computer and the occasional whirl from the sump-pump is all I can hear. My ears just might go numb!

In effort to keep my blog current and somewhat entertaining I will share some of the creations that have taken over my refrigerator since the purchase of "Magnetic Poetry" over the long winter. (Josh and I are rarely allowed to post anything...or if we do it is swiftly demolished by idol hands)

--mother diamond
--always worship music or chocolate
--d for d
--summer goddess needed
--hot have ugly
--the flood of whisper
--diamonds drunk
--all leg