Summer Memories

As the summer winds down, we remain plenty active, indoors and out-of-doors.

Vivace got to go to his first official "Awana Cook-out". He had a great time playing in the creek, doing the zip-line many times (even standing up!) , roasting marshmallows and making s'mores over the bonfire, and much more. It is strange to think he's old enough to be a Sparkie, but seeing as he adds tons of spark to our rather dull lives, it will be a great fit for him.


Andante really enjoyed swim lessons this summer and took them three times (thank you Papa Bear!). He worked his way through level 5 in the first two full-length classes (one in June, the 2nd in August), and in the short 5-day session last week, he knocked on the door of mastering level 6 as well. Truly I must say he is a delight to watch swim; his little body is developing some real muscles and his strokes are really improving, so watching him do laps is actually quite enjoyable (I know, I am really easily entertained). Patience and I were both admiring his strength and speed a couple days ago.

I delight to see my slow, steady child developing some real interest in things - like Harry Potter books, swimming, and baseball. He's always been so non-commital and rather uncertain about what he likes. This pursuit of swimming speaks volumes to me about his growing maturity. We're hoping he will be able to join the village swim team next summer and that it will help refine his technique. Stay tuned for more info next summer!



Speaking of Harry Potter, Dante is almost done with book 6. I am requiring him to read each book twice before getting the next book. He is reading a lot this past week, hoping to get thru it at least once before school begins. He says it's his favorite! All of the kids have read a lot this summer and I actually got a cool picture of each of them reading in their own spot one recent afternoon - it was after the fact that I realized even Dante was in the photo!

Picnics are a staple of our summer, especially at the park before or after swimming or playing. Here we are with our cousins who visited for a week earlier in August. We had a nice time with them and are so glad they no longer live 2000 miles away (now we can see them more often!).

Swimming, playing, and reading pretty much sum up what we do all summer. Better go do some more while we still have time before school starts!

Rainbows

I love rainbows.

Not sure who doesn't like them.

Several nights ago, we were treated to a double rainbow, both full bows, and the brighter one had multiple iterations of the colors.

It was a pretty amazing sight to behold - and merited interrupting bedtime among other things. (Note we're out there in slippers and socks!)

New digs

Well, for the 2nd summer in a row, we have rearranged furniture rather significantly. I am pleased that it was easier for me this time around (I'm learning! Thank you Lord!).

The bunk beds got moved from this room (which used to be the "older kids'" room and is now the girls' room) to the (much) smaller room (which used to be the "little kids'" room and which is now the boys' room). That left us with the toddler bed dismantled and in our dining room and the twin bed here in the bigger room but nowhere for the 4th child to sleep (we used an air mattress for about a month).

The needed items have been purchased, assembled, and now put to use. Patience has "her" bed back (it's been years since she slept on this bed, purchased for her when Dante was an infant so he could have the crib). Constance is thrilled with her loft. And while it may not seem spacious, the room is actually quite nice, with plenty of floor space and room for their things. We're still getting things set up and arranged (toys and books don't quite have homes yet, lamps and cords are not quite in place, etc - though I think we've completed the shopping for the most part), but it's all coming together. They wanted me to show "everyone" (that's you) their room so here they are to show you! Don't they look happy?!

Grandpa's Conference

Every August, the kids love to attend breakfast and the exhibitors' booths with Grandpa when he comes to town for the annual VCIA conference. Not only is it a fun time with the grandparents during the days before and after the event (more on that in another post), they enjoy getting dressed up, eating the food (this year's highlights were bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and fruit smoothies), dropping Grandpa's business cards in all the fishbowls hoping to win Wiis and Ipods and Kindles, and collecting cool "junk" like felt computer screen cleaners, measuring tape keyrings, highlighters, and foam fish. They like the "Bermuda" bags best (I'm with them on that one) and we have amassed a collection of colors over the years.

This may well be the last time for our annual treat with Grandpa, as my Dad sold his company at the end of June. He's with the new company (the one who bought his) for at least the next few years until he officially retires (nevermind that he's way past retirement age already). As he puts it, when you own your own candy store, you can make decisions you want to even if it doesn't make fiscal sense. Translation: when you own the company, you can choose to go to the conference because you enjoy it and get to see the grandkids, but when it's not yours, well.... let's just say this may well be the last year he attends.

I'm not sure how many years we've come to this with him, but it's been a good many, and the kids look forward to "Grandpa's Conference" a lot. They've more or less grown up with it, and have tons of memories. Many of the exhibitors comment on them and how they've grown each year. One time a number of years ago, the older two even met and chatted with the governor (then Douglas). It's fun. So, this year, we enjoyed ourselves and said our "good-byes" just in case it's the last one. Thanks Grandpa for bringing us!

A visit with Honest Abe

Towards the end of the school year, Andante's teacher assigned a fun, several-week long biography project that culminated the week before school let out for the summer. Each student selected an historical figure to learn about and present to their class. They had to choose an appropriate level biography to read and then give a 10-minute presentation in character to the class, including costume and artifacts. It was one of Patience's favorite assignments a few years ago, and we understand the purpose behind the assignment well. Dante remembered it and thought it would be fun to do and got into it right away. However, our dear second-born found this assignment a bit daunting, perfectionist that he is. To summarize, he chose a book he really liked and stuck to it tenaciously despite how difficult it was to work with (no index, no table of contents, and over two hundred pages). He was behind from the get-go, and truly was in way over his head most of the way. So much for "fun" and "appropriate level." Balancing his homework and research with baseball and simply getting through the last few weeks of school was a tearful and stretching process, and this assignment sent him into a tailspin.

We stood by him, engaging with him at every step, and worked to help him learn to address his struggles, his challenges, his desires, and his stubbornness. It was difficult to know when and how to help without doing the work for him. We succeeded, as did he. It was a very hard time, but one full of great fruit in character, relationship, and learning as well. My shy child was anything but intimidated when he stood up on his "stump" and gave his speech. I helped him by typing up his notes in bullet format so he could read them and so that he didn't lose his place during his talk, and the content and the order were all dictated by him (and he had very VERY strong opinions about what he wanted to do and how!). He was creative and thorough, but did a good job deciding what to and not to share with his class. He fielded questions, in character, with poise and confidence. He maintained eye contact throughout his speech, he did not hurry or lose his spot, he knew his material, and I was incredibly (incredibly) proud. I think we were also greatly relieved when it was done. Bravo to our slow and steady boy! You did it!

Summer has begun

You have to love summer in Vermont. We do for sure. So far we've enjoyed swimming (including lessons), strawberry picking, several teeth falling out (note the obsession with pointing to the empty space in Constance's case), board and card games, and cooking with fresh fruits and veggies from the garden or the CSA.


We've tried out the new fondue pot (a broth fondue and a chocolate fondue so far), made homemade jam (Berry Cherry and Blubarb), and even made our first strawberry rhubarb pie (complete with homemade crust!).


Dante was proud of that especially and Patience and Papa Bear are begging us to make another one. We have had two birthdays, enjoyed fireworks, s'mores, the youth retreat, dinners out, and special visitors. What gifts each of these things is to us!

America

Some 25+ years ago in July, I left my country to be an exchange student in Geneva, Switzerland. This changed my life in a thousand ways - all for the better. I have befriended online the grown daughter of an acquaintance from years ago who is just completing a stint in that same place. She has reminded me of so much of what I love about Europe, and especially Geneva. That said, her words this morning describing "being American" and her love of her country resounded so vividly to me as I read them, because they are the words for the very sentiments I discovered during my time abroad, and which I still have today, so many years later. It's very similar to the way one understands "There's no place like home" when one goes away, or in the way that I discovered, after all my moving around growing up, that I was actually, in truth, "an Easterner" (and New Englander more particularly), after living in California. I couldn't get away from it, and I didn't want to - it was me. Not better, just very much who I am!

The truth is, I love the whole of the United States now in a way I could never have experienced if I had not left her for this year and a half. Eleven days ago on July 4th, I connected to the celebration of my country in a way I've never felt before. In the past, I always enjoyed the fireworks, but that's about it. I didn't have a strong sense of belonging anywhere, so naturally I couldn't connect to this celebration on a deeper level. Spending a year away has granted me the gift of "belonging." Some people leave the country of their birth and find belonging in another country. Much like the spirit of adoption, they are grafted in and a new country becomes their true home. On the other hand, the majority of us will always belong in the country of our birth, whether we're given the gift of appreciating it or not.

I've received the gift. In five weeks I'll be stepping off a plane in the United States, this time to stay. I've always thought it was super silly when people get off a plane and kiss the ground, but now I understand. The asphalt will be hot enough to fry eggs in August, so I think I'll still pass, but I finally understand the sentiment.

I still have no idea to which state I belong. I used to think it was Virginia, but now I'm not so sure. What I do know is that I belong in the United States of America and it's the most wonderful feeling.

America is not better than all the other countries. There are many other countries which deserve equal respect. To say America is the best would be like saying "my family is better than your family." I never want to have that attitude. Nonetheless, America is an amazing country, one to be proud of and worth fighting to protect. Whatever America may experience in the coming years, for better or for worse, I want to be there to experience it with her.