November pics

Early on in November Joseph and I joined an event at the Ilsley Library.  The new librarian organized a fairy making workshop for school age children on a Friday when the schools in the area were off, and we joined the fun.  It was a great time.  Joseph loves this kind of thing.  He worked on his fairy house for about an hour and a half!

 

 

We had a fun, wild time at a Jon Gailmor concert that was fundraiser for Joseph’s school.

 

And then the Friday before thanksgiving Joseph, Bob, and I headed to Philly to visit my grandmother Selma and the rest of the family.  This was our first time driving straight through during the day, which made me very nervous.  In the end it went better then I expected—but in a strange way.  Joseph managed to stay entertained most of the time, with only a couple truly difficult moments, but he NEVER FELL ASLEEP.  This was a huge shock to me.  I would never have thought it was even possible for a child to be in the car for 8 hours and not sleep.  I still sleep in the car all the time!   Confirmation he does not have my sleeping genes.

It was really wonderful to see everyone!

 

Joseph was on a huge crafting binge and was wonderfully behaved for a lot of our visit, which made lots of sitting around and chatting possible.  Joseph drew and cut out numerous intricate life size images, such as a pirate and a skeleton.

 

We hit up a park.

Found some baseballs and practiced a bit.  (T-ball this spring!)

And he found a $20 bill!!  Crazy.  He took us out to Indian food that night (well 20 didn’t quite cover it, but we didn't mind)

And we had a great visit to the Martin guitar factory!

And then we headed home.  Again, pretty well behaved, but NO SLEEP.  This is the kind of thing that kept him occupied (tying random stuff together to make a dirty sock launcher). 

 

Quick stop to take some pictures!

 

And that’s all for now!  Hope everyone had a great holiday and I’ll keep on posting soon.

Final Score (holiday cooking wins and losses)

I usually like to cook—or experiment in the kitchen, as I think of it.  But I don’t really enjoy cooking under pressure.  So, at times like xmas, I always dream a bit too big and get myself in over my head.  This year things started of with a couple fails and I though we were headed for culinary disaster, but in the end the tally ended up in my favor ;-)

Losses:

1. First batch of fudge
2. second and third attempts at re-canning our maple syrup for gifts

Wins:

1. Pecan pie
2. Second batch of fudge
3. Ice cream sundae bar (Included in this list because it still involved planning and shopping, but I’ll admit it’s pretty fool-proof.  I probably should do this kind of thing more often!)
4. Maple granola
5. Apple pie
6. Pineapple upside-down cake
7. First batch of maple syrup

Dear Santa,

“Dear Santa,

1) Green guy

2) ninja
3) pirate

4) microscope

clay

legos  and turn over [stuck in at the top]

[on the reverse, of which I did not take a picture] toy story 3 toys

pirate stuff”

(you can also see that it is framed with toys he cut out of catalogs and taped to the letter)

Kids crafting, story-time, Halloween, hiking

 

A couple of my friends and I get together when we can for craft nights.  We leave the kids and enjoy some adult conversation, snacks, and crafyness.  Well, my little guy, not liking to be left out and having begged to join me for years, finally came up with the idea of having his own, “kids craft night,”  Always thinking ;-)  I thought this was a great idea.  It took quite awhile to pull together (seems as our children grow things get busier and busier) but finally we made it happen. 

 

We made “stuffies.”  Super simple fun project.  We drew on linen with fabric markers then cut out the picture and a back, sewed them up, and stuffed ‘em.

Here’s Joseph’s version of Buzz Lightyear.  He actually sleeps with Buzz and is a little bit attached to him, which is way more interest then he ever showed in any other stuffed animal.  This makes me quite happy.

 

April organized one of my favorite moments ever.  Could there be anything more wonderful?

 

Of course, Halloween, a very, very important time of year for Joseph, has come and gone.  This was our new children’s librarian, who we adore, doing a Halloween story time.  See how she matches the book?

 

Joseph was a cop.  A cop who does not pose for pictures.

Just before Halloween Middlebury hosts a party called the “Spooktacular.”

 

We had a blast!  Old fashioned games and obstacle courses, hot cider, TONS of kids, and of course tricker-or-treating up and down main street.  Joseph also had his picture taken for the local newspaper which was an important milestone, at least for me, who reads each and every edition.

Here is a link to the Addy Indy photostream (a couple of the other kids pictured are second? cousins on Brad’s side): http://www.flickr.com//photos/addisonindependent/show/

 

Joseph got the Berenstein Bears books out of me and has been loving his loot.

On the real Halloween ;-)  We had a blast tricker-or-treating all over Bristol and handing out candy with Dad and (grandpa) Bob.

(Before hunting season) we enjoyed a hike behind our house with friend Ben.  We love exploring and it is so wonderful to have this right out or back door!

 

first snow and work ethic

This past Wednesday we had our first real snow!  Here on Shoreham we were recorded as having received 7.5 inches, though it seemed like even more to me.  Whatever it was though it was a considerable amount for starting of the season and quite a change from the mild weather we had been experiencing.  Joseph was, like every other kid around here, completely overjoyed and began the process of rounding up his outside gear as soon as he woke.  He played outside for quite a bit.  Then I asked him to clean off my car, which you can see he took very seriously!  ;-)

Message in a bottle (from Joseph)

I need treasure.


I really need it.


I am a pirate at home in a house who needs lots and lots of treasure.


(The other day Joseph asked me to get down a glass bottle I had on display.  On his own he decided to dictate this note and then place it in the bottle. I just think it is so cute and so Joseph.  He is still waiting to set it to sea.)

New to the world!

Joseph and I just returned from meeting Ethan Richard Quesnel, the child of one of my oldest friends, Alice. He was darling and adorable, Alice was calm, happy, and beautiful as always. What a great family! It is amazing to meet someone so very new to the world.

Congrats to Ricky, Alice, and Ethan!

Excuses, a beautiful wedding, Devil’s Chair, and a 50th anniversary

First, I would l like to start with my explanation/excuses for my lack of photos:

1) Joseph, and Brad for that matter, are not fans of my constant picture taking.  I mean, I have had to bribe Joseph for posed pictures for at least two years.  Now he is harder to bribe and I care less.

2) My phone doesn’t seem to take as great pictures anymore.  My camera is pretty much dead.  Meaning it really is time for a new camera, but if you know me you know this is a major decision which takes quite awhile. 

3) I am kind of ambivalent about all this photo taking.  Sometimes I really feel that the focus on the photo takes away from enjoying the moment.  But, then again I do think later it helps with remember the moments . . . hmmmm.

For the pictures I did take (or cut and paste from other sources):  most notably we had cousin Heather’s wedding to Marcel, mid-September.  The wedding was at my grandmother’s cabin in Lincoln.  It was GORGEOUS!

wow.  just wow.

Cake made by Heather’s cousin Jamey-Lee.  It was beautiful and soooo YUMMY.  Jamey-Lee also did Heather’s dress alterations, including an emergency fix right before the ceremony when some flower pollen stained Heather’s dress. 

 

So pretty!

 

And speaking of soo pretty, Heather’s mom, my aunt Eileen, was GORGEOUS (as always)!

 

We spent the night at the cabin and then Joseph and cousin Jasper had a blast playing on Sunday.

Heather and Marcel also had their engagement photos taken at the cabin and I just LOVE them:

  

 

Hiking, something I often mean to do, but don’t actually do as much as we should.  It really is such a blast for both of us!  Here we climbed Mt. Philo, and as usual I let Joseph persuade me to take the adventurous route. 

 

It was stunning and exciting.  We ate our snack in a cave!  And then there was a nervous point when I was trying to figure out where the heck we were—but finally some came by and helped us out. 

Brad’s Uncle Victor and Aunt Pat’s 50th anniversary.  Lots of fun to see all the Bergevins! (Of which there are a lot.  Apparently Pat and Vic didn’t want a big party so only immediate family was invited.  There were about 80 of us there.)  

As usual we took a break for the bustle to explore the old dairy barn.

Like shopping, but not spending money?

Me too!  And most everyone probably.  Fortunately, there are lots of cheap options for us.  Yard saling is one of Brad, Joseph, and my favorite pastimes.  Sometimes we go all out; find them listed on craigslist, MapQuest ‘em, head over at opening and FIND TREASURES!  Town-wide sales are fun and annual fundraisers are great.  I am a little sad about the end of yard sale season, but realized we have enough thrifty options to make up for it.  So I decided to make a list!

Thrifty shopping favorites:

1) Yard sales

2) Craigslist:  We are always checking this.  Great for buying and selling.  

3) HOPE:  Used to be ACCAG, housed in a complex of local non-profits, just one part of which is a resale shop.  You can donate ANYTHING and find lots of treasure for really cheap.  My primary source for books (I love used book stores as well, but am almost too cheap for them.  HOPE is cheaper.)  And the money goes to the charities and it is staffed by participants in the programs. 

4) Junebug: Local children’s store, same idea as Once Upon a Child, but cheaper, friendlier, in Middlebury, accept more items, and proceeds go to charity.

5) Neat Repeats, Your Turn, and Sweet Charity:  More awesome local non-profit thrift shops.

6) Ebay:  I have just started using this myself.  My first score was 22 Berenstein Bear books for $7 plus $5 shipping.  I’ve been coveting a collection such as this since, well, since I was a child.  Joseph’s xmas present!

7) Friends:  We trade and hand stuff down all the time!  Sadly Joseph has outgrown Wyatt, our best source of hand-me-downs.  But now we are getting them from my cousins.

Where does he get it from?

Coordination/athleticism:  Brad (thankfully)

Sense of adventure/ interest in trying new things:  Me

Sense of direction:  Brad

Very keen observation skills: Brad

Life of the party-ness;  ???

Being extremely OPINIONATED and STUBBORN (or we could say he knows what he wants, isn’t afraid to express it, and is very persistent):  BOTH (no question about it)

Dark, dark brown eyes and long lashes:  Brad

Perfectionism: Me

Competitiveness:  Both

Flexible tongue: Me

Potty humor to umpteenth degree:  Brad

Creativity/imagination: Me

Long, fast growing nails: Me

“Husky build”:  Both

Great appreciation for food, especially sweets:  Me

Impeccable memory: ??

Love of books:  Me

Compulsion to climb anything:  Brad

Non-interest in ever playing by himself:  Neither

Interest in talk, talk, talking and a immense vocabulary to go along with it:  Me

Fair skin:  Both

Skin issues:  Me

Tons o’ hair:  Me

Tech savy:  Me

Apples!

I am coming to terms with the fact it really is fall.  This summer seemed to go so fast (though I know it always seems that way) and had such highs and lows.  But, I do love the traditions and beauty that go along with autumn.  Last week Joseph and I headed down the road for our own little apple picking expedition.  

This was the first year he tried out the climbing tree method of apple picking and that certainly added to the fun.  He was also very methodical this year .  He considered exactly which apple looked biggest and then very carefully checked the apples for any blemishes.  We also did some taste testing and selected Golden Delicious and Macintosh as our current favorites.

 

Joseph requested an apple pie and so we later went all out and had a wonderful backing project and made my favorite apple pie I have ever made.  Fall at its best! 

  

Happy Fall!