Back to the Rink

Today was our first day back at the rink this fall (it just opened late last week). Vivace and I had the place to ourselves - all of it. Fresh ice, one hour, two dollars... we had a blast. I do so enjoy it, though it will take me a couple weeks to get my "ice legs" back. We are looking forward to this time together once a week from now until April!

Soccer for Two

Two of our kids wanted to play soccer this fall. Vivace and Constance are both signed up for the six-week rec league. It's fun, and both are on teams with good friends (two different teams, playing back to back times), which is a nice thing. So far, the weather has been fantastic. We are looking forward to enjoying lots more fresh air watching them run around after a ball - really it's quite fun, at least for me!

First day of school Fall 2011

Off to school again - this time everyone goes!
Wow how time flies.

Flooding on the Winooski - part 2

Here are some pictures of the local farm stand, August 29 after the remnants of Hurricane Irene blew through VT. It was the highest they have EVER seen the river rise. The fence was in the water! Just click on the pictures to see a larger version. The water was still rising and topped out just shy of the bottom of the gray "roof" of the stand.
And yes, those are fields - fields full of herbs, flowers, and many, many crops. Our farmer had to throw out $70,000 worth of contaminated produce, not to mention the damage to the stand and its contents. They raised everything to shelves about 4' high, having never seen anything like this before, never dreaming that wouldn't be high enough. The water was at least twice that high.

Locally, we saw little damage except a few branches down here or there - with the exception of the Winooski rising to completely unexpected heights. As you can see, there's some "drowned corn".

Upriver, not too far away, it was a different story, with the same record heights deluging the main streets by feet of water, and debris everywhere. Our state is a mess and these pictures are about some lost crops, not about destroyed roads, bridges, homes, and infrastructure. I cannot even think of trying to share that story - only that my heart aches for the loss sustained by my fellow Vermonters.

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?!