Indian Summer

I can't remember a September that has been so nice for so long!  We've been loving the sunshine and warmth, but it sure does make it tough to go to work (or school).  On one lovely afternoon, we had the pleasure of finally meeting my cousin, Lindsay's son Kai.  He is ten months old and the kids had so much fun with him.  He lives in Charleston, SC, but fortunately, for us, his grandparents (on his dad's side) live in Vermont.  Lindsay and Silas are great parents.  They seems so calm, cool and collected with their new role.

 

 

We got to get one more camping trip in.  This year we went to Branbury State Park (right on Lake Dunmore, near Middlebury).  The parents all got out for great mountain biking, the kids hiked to the Falls of Llana, swam in the lake, and did lots of biking.

Poor Cal had a terrible run in with a bee.  She had been drinking a smoothie, set it down, didn't put the top back on it, and when she went to take a sip later in the day, she had a horrible surprise. I'm not doing to lie, I ignored her cries, at first.  Having had a lot of tears from either or both of the kids this summer, I am starting to become immune/numb to their screams.  I've told them the story of the "boy who cried wolf" and recounted the story about me laying on the living room floor bleeding and crying for what seemed like hours (but was probably just 10-15 minutes) when I was four years old (because I cried all the time and my mom didn't even respond anymore).  Alas, this was one of those real cries because she'd been stung :o(  Her lip got huge, but she ended up handling it like a champ.

In other news, the kids had a great time at the High Meadow picnic with the College kids (Trek Leaders).  It continues to be so cool to see them so comfortably conversing and playing with all these great young adults. 

School is going really well for both kids.  Hazen is so, so happy at Poker Hill.  He is eager to go everyday and loves learning.  Cal is also, really happy.  She continues to love to read and is getting pulled out for some reading and math enrichment.  She gets herself put in the "thinking chair" quite a bit....... turns out she zones out and misses the teachers directions.  Not sure what is up with that.  I think she's pretty busy at school, so it's not uncommon for her to come home and do this for 1/2 hour just to unwind (which Hazey is building ramps for remote control cars or....... )