Garden 2011

The Garden this year really had its trials and troubles. The Spring was tepid, but so much rain that it was near impossible to get into the garden to till. A few friends tried to forgo this step and just plant the seeds only to have them washed by heavy Spring rains into a puddle at one end of their garden plot... after every attempt. 

We waited until late-May to finally work the soil and plant some items. While it was late in the Spring to plant, we got most of the items we wanted in the soil and growing well by June. 

Here is the first harvest of broccoli of the season with some zucchini. I had started my seeds for broccoli, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes back in February. So I was THRILLED that we had this crown by July 1.

Three years ago we planted a red raspberry and three black raspberry bushes. The first two years we enjoyed maybe a handful of berries. Much to every one's joy, this year there was a continued abundance. Here's just one of the bowls we harvested (you have to realize that if the kids didn't "help" pick (aka eat) the berries, there would be a significantly fuller bowl. 

Two years ago we planted blueberry bushes too. Since we ate the handful of berries that grew before taking a photo, I am hoping that next year we will have a big bowl full to photograph.

Another big surprise in the garden this year was the discovery of a family of voles that "grew" under a broccoli plant. My green thumb is so good that I created LIFE. HA! There were 4 infant-just-born-nasty-closed-eye rodents in this hole. Farmer Zack was tasked as soon as he arrived home from work to "relocate" this family. Ick.

Round two of the pea picking and broccoli harvest. On a side note, when we pick the peas from the vines it turns into such a funny time. Apparently our dog, Ripley, LOVES, CRAVES, ADORES garden peas and pea pods. She stands right next to me or the kids and waits for a pod to fall and gobbles it up. Then when we sit at the table to shuck the peas, she anxiously awaits for a jumper to fall on the floor. So funny!

After returning home from vacation at the end of August, we found that most of the roma tomato plants were hit with late-blight. We pulled the green ones (see below) and stored them in the basement to ripen. I didn't take any other pictures of tomato harvest bowls, but we had a lot and now the freezer is stocked with sauce. You can also see that the eggplants did wonderfully!!! Too bad I am really the only one in the family that truly enjoys them.

Look at the size of this eggplant. It's bigger than my hand and then some. Oh, how I remember you back when you were just a mere little seed....

 This is the mid-September harvest of the green peppers, last tomatoes and eggplant. Not to bad, eh?

Remember the green tomatoes we pulled ? Ta-da!!! Ripe and ready for roasting. These beauties were the last of the harvest tomato sauce. Should be delicious over the winter!!

Wow. I just realized how much of a slacker I am with my photo taking for the garden record. I don't have any photos of the huge heirloom tomatoes, the 10+ pounds of red skin potatoes, the 5 pounds (at least!) of carrots, lots of zucchinis, and lettuce. Bummer for you -- but take my word for it... they looked great and tasted delicious!

Kids are funny.

Two conversations this weekend really made me stop, laugh, and appreciate how funny the kids can be. It has also made Zack and I realize that the kids look at the same thing with very different eyes and have a curiously, unique perspective. Hopefully we will continue to cherish it.

Alex

A new Crackel Barrel opened in State College months ago and Zack has really wanted to try it out. This weekend he finally got his wish and we all went to the 'Barrel. The kids love new restaurants and were overjoyed that we were going out. 

We were seated near a front window and the kids were captivated by all the decor hanging about the room (antiques, a deer head, old signs, old cans of beans, etc.). Then Alex looked out the front window to the porch and rocking chairs. He turned to me and said...

Alex: Mom, see that barrel outside?

Me: Yes. 

Alex: I BET  it has crackers in it! HA HA AH HA!

CJ

Took the dog for a long walk in the rain on Saturday morning with CJ. Now, CJ isn't a fast walker. She is more of a shuffler than a walker. Since our walking pace was slow (understatement), we had plenty of time to chit chat. 

CJ was telling me how most of her friends can bike very far distances. In fact her "magical" friend Rosy can go "like 8 miles". Rosy is a staple in CJ's stories. While Rosy is definitely an imaginary friend, I love that CJ calls her "her magical friend, Rosy". 

Then she continued that her other friend, Halloween, can ride his bike "12 miles!" I was quite impressed and curious about this new friend.

Me: CJ, why do they call him Halloween?

CJ: Because that is when his birthday is.

Me: Oh. That makes sense.

CJ: You know what he wears EVERY halloween as his costume?

Me: No. What?

CJ: A birthday cake.

Of course he does. That cracked me up so much that when we returned home and she found herself drawing pictures, I commissioned her to make one just for me. I asked her to draw a picture of her magical friend Halloween, so I could see what he looks like. This is what she made:

Halloween trick or treating on his birthday. 

CJ: October 1, 2011

First Days of School

To date, I will definitely admit that we had the best summer as a family. The kids were a great age to run around and have fun, go to the pool and let me read a book (HEAVEN!), and traveling was the easiest we have experienced. It was fabulous. Wonderful. But come August 30th, I was ready for them to head off to school! Luckily for me, they are still at an age where they were excited too.

Big year this year with both kids off to elementary school. No more preschool payments and running back and forth to the church. Just a nice walk down the drive to the bus stop and then 6 wonderful hours until their return. Ahhhhh.....

Okay, back to the kids.

The first day of school, Alex was excited and anxious. Typical Alexander. Sporting his favorite Steelers t-shirt, here are the prerequisite first-day photos. 

 LOVE this photo!!!

CJ started Kindergarten this Fall, but on the official first day of school, kindergartners only come in with their parents for an hour orientation day. So, she walked to the bus stop, but you can tell she was a little dismayed that she would not be getting on too. She walked this walk for the last two years without getting on that bus and she is slightly upset that she has to wait ONE MORE day.

The Kindergartner ready for her semi-First Day.

The following day was CJ's big day. She was up early and ready to roll. I am pretty certain she was dressed, brushed and had her backpack full of supplies by 7am.

The Kindergarten 1st Day Photo Op.

 She picked this outfit out special. Can't you tell? No one can say that CJ isn't fashionable... in her own way.

 FINALLY CJ gets to join in the bus riding fun! She is so excited that you can see the skip in her step.

Click on the above picture and see the pure JOY on that little girl's face.

You may wonder whether or not my motherly emotions got to me this day. Seeing my two babies heading off to school without me or needing me to help them through the day, did I cry? Was I misty-eyed? HA! No way. Not a tear. I am proud of my kids and loving that they are excited about growing up and experiencing new things and life milestones. I love my babies, but instead of being sad about what is no more, I look positively and happily at what the next stage of life holds.

Besides, I had to run back to the house to prepare the drinks and eats for my 1st Annual Mom's Mimosa and Muffin party.

So how did the first day go?

The 2011 Summer Vacation Recap

After receiving some grief from people about not updating the blog, I am going to warm you that this post is A) long, B) a recap of the fun-filled, end of summer adventures, and C) filled with perhaps too many photos. 

In July and August, we had our master bathroom redone. It was a typical remodel headache, but in the end we are loving the new bathroom shower and finally having some storage space. During this ordeal, the kids and I made numerous trips to the home depot. They were good sports about it, but it was starting to be a too-frequent errand for them... Until the day we happened upon some kid-focused fun in the parking lot!

The Home Depot race car was there; they had a build/hammer project with aprons and "real" hammers; and lots of free stuff to take home. The kids were so excited! 

The kids loved the race car. It was SO LOUD when they started it up to pull it out of the trailer. 

Just another Tuesday at Home Depot!

 At then end of August, we took our family vacation to Deep Creek, MD. It was the first two week vacation  Zack and I have had since pre-kids. We were mixing it up a bit by vacationing with our good friends from Baltimore for the first week and then having Ann stay with us for a few days of the second week. Plus, we had big plans for being on the water for two weeks. Fortunate to have friends with a boat and another friend's sister who had two kayaks, we borrowed them all and were poised for water adventures.

The Sequoia has never been so happy!

The view from the house down to our personal dock.

Food is always a cornerstone of a great vacation. 

 Because adventure never waits, after dinner the kids launched the kayaks and started to enjoy the lake.

 There were two boats of questionable condition at the house already. Nate was not afraid of the numerous holes in the bottom of this canoe and lack of oars. He crafted an oar out of something and duck tape and launched it. Thankfully, it floated!

Laura the Action Adventurer.

The Banana: Day One.

The boat (AKA The Limp Banana) played a leading role in the story of our vacation. It provided some of the most wide grins and exciting times of fun and then would quickly cause the most heart-break and frustration. More on that in a bit.

More eating. 

The Banana Boys: Day Two

 The boat had some issues throughout the week. First off, once it was in the water it wouldn't go faster than a steady putt-putt without stalling. The boys took an hour and half to motor to the marina and have them take care of a fuel filter/line issue. The next day when they went to get it, it had just thunderstormed and poured. Not deterred, they lit some stogies and zoomed back in 15 minutes. They both were so excited!

Alpine Slide rollercoaster: Wisp Resort

 One morning, we all headed to Wisp Resort for some rollercoaster/sled rides down the ski slope. It is such a fun ride, but I hate how expensive it is for those 2 minutes of whipping down the mountain.

The Banana: Day Two

 Coming back to the boat and figured out that there was some issue with the battery. Off to Walmart to buy a new battery and a charger for the other, Zack was looking like quite the boat owner.

The Banana Lives: Day Three

 Back up and running. The kids loved it!!! Until, the boat took on some water. Thankfully the six-pack cooler was a excellent baler.

 When the Banana was running, there wasn't a cooler boat on the water. Just look at it: Retro and rocking.

 Tubing on the back of the kayak isn't as MUCH fun as the Banana, but it will suffice.

 Everyone in water-action mode.

Laura and Wrenny

I love this picture. Wrenny, CJ, Alex, and VanPelt. They have such a fun together and the fact that they think they are cousins makes me warm and fuzzy.

 We took a hike down to Cunningham Falls State Park on day. It has a few waterfalls that you can "walk" into. This, of course, appealed greatly to the kids.

 The rocks were SO SLIPPERY from moss and general creek muck. Most people were crawling on their hands and knees to get up into the fall.

 If you look in the center of the picture, you will see Zack sliding down the rock of the fall. At just right of center, there is Nate, Wren and Alex maneuvering to get behind/under the fall at center.

Our Happy Family

When we returned from the all-day hike, Zack went down to check on the boat and get ready for a cocktail-hour cruise. Pulling the rain cover back he screamed to us all to bring buckets NOW! The water in the boat was up to the steering wheel and the back end was inches away from submersion. Sinking our friend's boat would have really been a horrible vacation story. Horrible. Thankfully, we saved it from sinking, but then the engine was kaput. Wouldn't start. Wouldn't turn over at all. Then a slick of oil started to appear. Our fun with boat had ended. Zack was done.
Early the following morning, Zack called the marina again and had them tow the boat. The end to a Banana Saga.

The Limp Banana getting towed. Day Five.

 Laura in her party organizing mode: this was the craft project of the week. The kids loved it, but I am not sure if they loved it as much as Nate did.

Nate's masterpiece.

Another hike. Don't remember where.

CJ on the kid-zip line, obstacle course.

Alex ready to roll.

Now Ann is here to enjoy the fun. My friend from high school (who has a second home in Deep Creek) stopped over and hung out with us on Saturday afternoon/dinner. That was great to see her and catch up/reminisce.
The week did start off a bit slower, since the kids were completely sleep deprived and rain showers had set up over us for two days. But we had fun with Aunt Ann playing games and hanging out. Once the sun came out, we headed back to the falls for hiking and since the weather turned much crisper, no swimming.

There you have it: Our two week summer vacation. I think you can tell from the smiles on our faces that we all had a wonderful time! Even with the boat debacle, the earthquake later in the day of this hike that turned all the water in the house black and slimy, and then finding out that the car battery was dead, we had a lot of fun. No really, we did!