Climbing & Wrapping up the year at UVM

Six months ago, John brought the kids to the indoor climbing gym and they lost interest within a half hour.  He hasn't been pushing it to bring them again.  However, on a recent rainy Sunday, the kids asked if they could go.  Hazen got a gift certificate for his birthday, so it was hard to say no.  Plus, we have all the gear and it was fun for the kids to get to use it.

Hazey is a "go for it" kind of kid. But when he gets to a certain point beyond his comfort zone, he definitely admits his discomfort.

Cal, on the other hand, is a heady climber.  She needs to scope, plan, and then try and retry her attempts before she eventually bounds up to the top of a climb.

 It's so fun to see their smiles of accomplishment.

As is always the case, right after we return from my April vacation, John gets busy wrapping things up at UVM.  It's a bit of a tease, as I still have six weeks of teaching before my year ends.  The kids love the gatherings with the college kids.

the senior Outing Club awards banquet at Halvorsons

The Outing Club picnic at High Meadow

Because John had already secured High Meadow for a late afternoon picnic for his Outing Club, we decided to invite some of our local friends up for some playing around the pond.

Pisgah!!!!

At this point, we've been doing this trip so many times, that we've got the whole thing figured out..... mostly.  We managed to get on the road by 4pm on the Friday school got out, ate a great dinner at Nana and Grandpa's, and the kids got out for a trail ride while I got in a 10 mile run.

Next stop was at Hester, Flora, Foofie, and Hudnell's place in Middleburg, VA.  The weather was perfect and the kids had a ball playing lacrosse, eating delicious food, and we all did a lot of laughing. 

Next stop was Davidson River Campground.  This would be our home for the next five days.  The Kelsey, Aubin/Weiland, and Davis/Thompson families all joined us.  It was heaven!  The weather was perfect.  The kids rode bikes, scootered, swam, whittled, read, hiked, and built fairy houses. 

 The parents did a lot of great mountain biking.  Some days the ladies rode together, some days two couples rode together, but everyday we all got out for a great ride in perfect weather on amazing trails.

Some nights we cooked, but some nights we went to the Oskar Blues brewery and ate from the food trucks and let the kids play in the sunshine.  

We stopped through Richmond, VA to see the Wootton family for a great dinner and a fun hike before hitting I-95 and stopping at Bumpa and Grandma's.

And Cally lost another tooth!  She's toothless!

Big Girl!

I can't believe what a little lady this gal is already becoming.  Cal and I went out on a girls double date with her friend Thompson and her Mom-- three months later to celebrate her 7th birthday.

The kids spent a Saturday at Chemistry Camp at UVM.  Hazen is technically too young.  He's supposed to be in kindergarten, but we know the guy in charge of the grad students who organize the camp and he told us it was alright to "fudge" the paperwork.  Needless to say, these budding scientists LOVED it.  It was great to see Cal look after her younger brother and the grad students said Hazey was great, asking questions and fully engaged.  They never would have guessed that he wasn't in kindergarten yet. 

Meanwhile, we continue to try to expose the kids to all sorts of extra-curricular disciplines..... like the local dance performance of Aladdin.  Hazey got to rub the magic lantern (although Cally said it just looked like a fancy gravy boat).

We all got to celebrate the arts at JES and see a few of Cally's pieces of art.

Here is a picture of a mask Cally made at Poker Hill Arts.  She loves PHA, but hates taking the bus there.  I'll never understand what it's all about, but all the worries of the past month are wrapped up in that darn bus ride.  She has gone so far as to convince the school nurse that she needed to come home twice in the last month because of that bus ride. Mr Lane, her guidance counselor, has convinced me that it's not about the bus, that she's just a worrier.  My friend Carlota recommended a book called , "From Worrier to Warrior".  It's been a really helpful read for both of us (it's actually meant for kids 8-12).  It explains the thinking brain and the fight or flight brain and the disconnect in between.  She gets it.  She knows that the worry monster comes in the days leading up to that bus ride and she knows that he's just a big bully.  It is getting a little bit easier every week-- because she is counting down until the end of the year.  Meanwhile, Hazey is being such a great supportive little brother.  He cheers her on and tells her "she can do it'.  

Another Year Older!

I can't remember the last time I got to spend my birthday with my sister!  It was a treat to come home from my morning exercise regime to find the dining room decorated with lots of birthday cheer.  Cally and I played hookey and we all went to Burlington for the morning and then Nif and I spent the afternoon getting massages and relaxing at the spa. John brought the kids to the Tavern at the Inn at Essex to meet us for dinner.  It was a great, great day!

Will and Hazey walked Cally down to the bus the following day!  Will was on his spring break and it was great to have him and Nif up for a few days. Sadly, both Nif and John left that day.  Nif headed south and John headed north for a delayed 50th birthday celebration with his local buddies.  

Easter & Niquettes

John and I had to head down to CT for his aunt Linda's funeral the Saturday before Easter.  Aunt Nif had already planned to come up to Vermont for Easter, so she kept with that plan and was able to hang out with the kids while we were at the funeral.  We reciprocated by treating everyone to a lovely Easter breakfast and Easter Egg hunt.

We even had a traditional egg roll:

Followed by a hike in the pasture to the "magic rock":

This was all followed by an afternoon of spring skiing at Smuggs.  Cally and Hazen wanted to show their cousin how to ski:

Uncle John was a patient and strong instructor:

And the day wouldn't be complete without a little "apres" ski scene: