O+

We've been on the road a lot recently.  I like traveling and getting away.  I do not like having to worry about finding Zephy care, packing for three member of the family, having to clean the house, load the car, remember iPad, chargers, activities for the car, and snacks.  Invariably I forget something, but usually it isn't super important.  John had been dreaming about going to the O Positive Festival in Kingston, NY for almost a year.  It's a gathering of artists and musicians, doctors, and health practitioners.  The idea is to offer free wellness services to under insured artists in trade for a weekend full of art and music. 

Kingston is a very hip town, made even hipper by this fantastic event.  We drove down on Friday night and stayed with our friends Tim and Sophia (although Sophia is in Milwaukee for ten weeks performing in a play) and their dear kids, Beckett and Iris.

Saturday was a gorgeous day and we had a great time checking out wall art installations, listening to music, and eating great food from a farmers market.

To end the day, Tim treated us to a harvest dinner fundraiser for a local nonprofit.  The kids continued to have a ball.  Swinging like monkey's from the tent and wrestling with each other.

They really do have fun with each other, sometimes. 

And they are goofballs!

Sunday was spent watching a kids music band and driving home.

We are all a little road weary, but so glad to have been where we have gone this past month.  

Harvest Market

The Harvest Market Parade is yet another favorite fall event for us.  The kids from Poker Hill School (or graduates, as is the case with three out of the four in this picture) love being in the parade and marching through town.  The Harvest Market is hard to explain-- a mix of flee market, old fashioned fair, town wide garage sale, and ecclectic gathering.

Hazey took his job holding the flag, very seriously.

Cally hanging with old friends

kids watching a pole climbing competition

Poker Hill has a tent where they offer face painting for a recommended donation of $3.  John made the mistake of excelling at this a few years ago, so I now sign him up for his duties.  He's really good.  Unfortunately, the booth was so crowded that I ended up having to attempt some face painting myself.  It was nerve wracking, to say the least.  Especially when a three year old asked me for a Curious George (which Cally informed me looked more like a turd on the girls face)

In celebration of the Harvest, we went apple picking as a family the day after Harvest Market.

And finally, here's a picture of Cally's t-shirt and banner that she made at Poker Hill Arts.  An after school arts class that she's been doing every Monday.  She absolutely loves it!  They were hung in the village green to advertise a local arts weekend. 

Freshgrass

One of our favorite events last fall was the Freshgrass Music festival in North Adams, MA.  We drove all the way down there and back in a day, but it was well worth the trip.  The festival is at Mass MoCA (an old mill that has been converted into a beautiful/funky gallery.  There are three stages, a kids tent, amazing local food trucks and beer.

This year, we decided to make a weekend of it.  There is camping on site, but pricey (and surely loud).  So John pulled some strings with his colleague at Williams College and we "roughed it" at their Outing Club cabin. It had electricity, running water, a wood stove, and friendly mouse housemates.  Our friends, the Dormer's joined us.  They were sort of horrified by the accommodations, but fortunately, we didn't spend much time there.

The weather was beautiful, the music so fun and the kids had a ball.

At one point, I ran into the father of a few of my students (who have all since graduated).  He saw me trying to hold a beer and an ice cream and wrangle kids at the same time.  He said, "I know it's hard now, but it's great that you are doing this with your kids.  We did this too.  Now I'm going to these events with my adult children and there is nothing better".  While it would surely be a little less hectic to go to one of these events without the children, but they have been doing it long enough that they are starting to "get it" and really have fun.

Soccer

We have entered the world of "soccer parents".  Try watching a swarm of five year olds play soccer. It's painful.  They actually don't spend all that much time looking as athletic as Cally does in the above picture.  They spend more time standing around, throwing grass in the air, twirling around, or just running -- but not with or towards the ball.   

The people who coach these kids are saints.  As John says, "they have amazing patience".  I'm glad that all I have to do is sit back and watch.

Cal is having fun.  She's more up for the 6pm practices on Monday evenings that we are.  We don't love that kids sports have suddenly started encroaching on our valuable unstructured weekend time..... but she's learning about what it means to be a good sport, to be on a team, and maybe, just maybe a few skills (but we aren't sure about that one).

As always, snacks are a big part of the experience!

Labor Day Weekend Sunshine

We needed one more summer time hurray before we really dove into the school year..... I didn't feel like we got enough beach time (without our annual Cape trip), so we decided to head down to Grandma and Bumpa's for the long weekend.  It took some serious rallying on Friday afternoon, but we were so glad we went.  We had a windless motored tour in Bumpa's sailboat on Saturday, spent the afternoon at the beach with old high school friends, had a fantastic final feast at Amore (my parents favorite restaurant which closed the night after we ate there!?!?!) and spent a fabulous day at Wee Burn.

All gussied up for dinner

Swimming in the "magic" pool-- because it gives Cally confidence to try new things (so she says)

Snuggles with Grandma

Before we left, we had a great morning at Cherry Lawn.... hiking and playing on the playground.

First Days of School

We can't believe we had a kindergartner and a preschooler!  In the weeks before school started, they were both so excited.  And all went really well!  Cally gave Hazey a big hug and then boarded the bus with pride and poise.  

They both came home with huge smiles on their faces and stories to share.  Of course, they were exhausted and later took us on their own emotional roller coaster rides....... Hazey throwing fits for no reason and Cally having a sudden "attachment issue" when I needed to leave for a meeting or run.  But we are all so excited to be starting these new adventures with each of them.  Watching them take on new responsibilities and opening their hearts to new people and experiences. 

On Top of Vermont

Summer, as I know it, is over.  I have no regrets.  It's been such a great 8 weeks.  And we ended it with a bang.  Cally summitted Mt. Mansfield on her own.  Her strength and persistence amazes me.  And Hazen made quite an effort, as well. He hiked at least half of the way!

Cal found a stick/root shaped like a C and used it as her lucky charm for the hike

Hazey going for it up Sunset Ridge