Rain, Bugs, More Rain....Ahhh Camping!

Anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a camper, Randall isn't either so it works out well for us. However, we were beguiled by the Activities Committee with cabins, running water and large lawns to participate in the Ward Camp-out at Camp Joseph in Sharon, Vermont. The rain and the bugs were annoying and at times torrential but I am happy to report that we had a wonderful time and are looking forward to next year.

Cabin "Abinadi" our 10x10 home away from home.

Fitted with 2 bunk beds one window and one chair.

Addi amused herself with her friends and on the small playground.

I gave her the standard "girls camp" braids that were both stylish and convenient.

Randall enjoyed rare male time playing kickball, horseshoes, and corn-hole

If I had not seen Addi in a while I just started looking up trees, and sure enough I'd find her. I was so glad she experienced something I loved so much when I was a kid. (There are not many climbing trees at our apartment complex...or in Boston for that matter.)

Addi bringing sticks she'd gathered for the fire.

Randall, contemplating the use of the lighter fluid he'd gathered for the fire.

Happy Camper

Patiently awaiting a fire worthy of marshmallow roasting.

Dirty Piggies

At last! That warm gooey sugar makes it all worth it.

We packed up after two fun filled days, as we pulled out of the camp ground I looked back and Addi was already fast asleep....what a wonderful weekend.

Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial

Of course one can't visit Sharon Vermont without visiting the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial...this because the town consists of little more than a gas station and country store. On our way to the Visitor's Center it began raining as it had several times during our camping trip, but by the time we arrived the rain was coming down so hard we had to run so as not to be completely soaked. The rain deterred every other sane person so we were treated to a personal tour of the center and surrounding area.

The rain came down.

The rain stopped by the time we were finished with the tour of the Visitor's Center and the trees and grass looked so vibrant! The birds were singing and the sky turned a brilliant blue, it was as my friend S said a "Sacred Grove-type Moment"

Here we are in front of the Monument

In the Visitor's Center we heard the amazing story of how this monument came to be here are the highlights:

381/2 feet tall (one foot for every Year of Joseph Smith's life)

One of the largest solid pieces of polished granite in the world

Took 33 days, oxen and 22 horses to move the granite 5 1/2 miles

Shaft: 40 tons

Base: 60 tons

Dedicated: December 23, 1905

Addi sitting on the front step stone of the Smith Family Home.

Smith Family Hearthstone

View of the Monument from the Visitor's Center

*We were also taken on a fun golf cart tour of the surrounding area where we saw the surviving foundations of the Mack home and the home of Lucy's Uncle. We also saw a local creature that likes to come out during the rain...no not an earthworm a newt!

Friends At Camp

When asked what her favorite part of Camping was Addi immediately and emphatically replied, "Playing with my friends, playing with my friends, PLAYING WITH MY FRIENDS!"

Pictures to prove it:

Toby, Addi and Ben getting cozy by the fire.

the "gang"

Addi found a new (and very patient) friend, MB was a good sport pretending to ride horses with her.

Addi and Hazel, self-proclaimed best friends chat on the lawn. I would love to be in on the conversation, they always speak so maturely to each other.

Luckily they are not too wrapped up in pretending to be grown-up to enjoy the delights of childhood.

Climbing trees is childhood at its best!

Things That Hold Still

We went to Vermont this weekend for the ward camp-out (more details will follow) where I tried to practice my photography. Like many things, I want to be an instant pro at photography and I am struggling to find the patience to put in the work it takes to get good. This weekend I found it best to keep my camera literally strapped to my body at all times (looking like a bedraggled tourist I'm sure) and just snap anything that caught my eye, I found my best shots came from things that held still. As you may guess from the pictures it rained a lot.

Droplets

Mr. Newt

Heart-shaped leaf

Lone Bud

"The Old Stone Bridge"

This is an actual stone bridge constructed in the 1700's near Joseph Smith's birthplace in Sharon, Vermont. The grooves from passing wagon wheels are still visible in the rocks.

Special Helper

Addi and I have developed something of a routine, every evening when she hears the tell tale signs of me starting to cook dinner (pans clanging, water running, fridge opening) she'll jump up from wherever she is in the apartment and call: "MOM! I'll be your special helper!" then she'll grab one of her little chairs and drag it (at quite a speed I must say) to "her spot" in the kitchen (to my right at the cutting board) and jump up ready to help in any way I'll let her. She is usually the dumper and stirrer but this day she was DYING to cut some tomatoes. I told her she couldn't use a knife because they were sharp, she looked sad for probably a micro-second before she cheerfully said, "I get butter knife...I just get a butter knife" and before I could do anything, she had a relatively safe butter knife and was busily cutting away. She was so proud of helping in such an important way.

She did a good job I think.

Joy School Graduation

As we pulled up to the clubhouse where we were having the graduation I was kicking myself because I had forgotten my video camera. The girls had been practicing their program for weeks and I would have no record of it!!
Fortunately by the end of the night I was thankful that I'd left the video recorder home...yes, it was that bad.

I have decided that it must have been the time of day (around bed-time for most of the girls) that produced the surly bunch we were trying to get to stand still, sing and smile.
It started with the handing out of the thank you's to the teachers we thought it would be fun if each girl gave a mother besides their own the thank you, but when the girls figured this out they systematically broke down when another girl gave THEIR MOTHER a prize.
After nearly a half-hour of re-grouping the girls were standing in their line, smiling with tear stained faces and singing with all their hearts when Charlie (honorary Joy School member) came up to the girls and gave each one a direct blow that put them right on their hind quarters.
(Addi was not hit because she was still in the hall crying about not giving me the thank you prize)
We couldn't get them to do anything without being met with wails, collapses, and stubbornness.
At least one child was crying at all times and every child, even the mildest ones, were crying at some point.

We survived, and I'm glad that I have these nice quiet pictures to trick me into remembering a cute, sweet event.

We're hoping to have better luck next year.


Walking to receive diploma

I DID IT!!

The Graduates

Class of 2008

First Beach Day of the Year!!

At long last this winter has called it quits. We'll still get rain and a few chilly days because...well...this is New England. But never fear we are enjoying every gloriously sunny day to it's fullest! At the first hint of beach weather we high-tailed it to Good Harbor Beach. It is perfect for kids with shallow tidal pools that are inhabited with schools of tiny fish and a few crabs. The sand was soft the sun was hot and even though the water was freezing no one wanted to get out of it.

As I was talking to my friends at the beach we noticed a couple of differences between beaches here and beaches in say California or Hawaii. The most noticable difference is how you feel about yourself when you leave. In California or Hawaii the beaches are coverd with young, tan, tight bodies in barely there bikini's or nice board shorts. While up north you've got a mostly geriatric crowd with skin that has been taned to a leather, that is trying to be covered by the stretched out faded suit they've had since the 70's. The younger people are not much better, they're usually much paler and there is nary a toned ab to be found, let alone a celulite-less thigh. Now I am no Hawaiian Tropic bikini girl and these are generalizations of course but having experienced the above mentioned beaches I'm here to tell you that if you want a confidence boost just come on up to one of my beaches and you'll feel like a million bucks!


Places to go....


People to see


This picture kills me, it is so "Addi" she tries to be such a lady all the time, I think it's so funny.