Columbus Day

Columbus Day had the kids and I off on a new adventure. We drove down to Essex and boarded an old- fashioned steam train for a scenic ride along the Connecticut River. We then got off the train and took a cruise up the river for an hour. Great fun! The leaves were not at their peak yet, and it was freezing, but it was a beautiful clear day and a good time was had by all--well, the teenager's fun level was questionable!

(see photos) :)

Let it Shine, Let it Shine(r)!

Last Wednesday evening, Emmy's ever-watchful parents left her to her own devices at the church, and she joined in with some other kids in climbing the stacks of chairs in the cultural hall. Needless to say, it ended badly! Wednesday night at the emergency room her eye was a lovely shade of blue, but by Thursday morning, it was a large and swollen mass of purple! Luckily, by Sunday her eye ball had re-appeared. I wear my parent-of-the-year badge with honor!

My Baby is Growing Up! :) :(

In the last two weeks, Em has started taking tap and ballet and she's now going to preschool. How can she be that grown up?! I guess it's the lament of every mother, but the time has gone by so quickly. She loves them both, but has confessed that she thinks craft time is a little boring---a girl after my own heart!

Take Me Out to the...Baseball Hall of Fame

Labor Day found us crossing off another spot on our "To See List." Well, I don't know if it was on my list, but it's been on Dennis's! We made a 3 hour trip to the village of Cooperstown, NY. It really is just a village, surrounded by rolling hills, cows, barns, and a beautiful lake. The museum offered a kids' scavenger hunt, so Cardon, Em andI were off to find the items on the list. Dennis and Chiara, on the other hand, spent a few blissful hours drooling and breathing heavily on glass cases displaying the bats, baseballs, and old cleats of long-dead players! A good day was had by all :)

These Are A Few Of My (Idaho, Wyoming & Utah) Things

When I was downloading photos from the first day of school, I couldn't help but admire some of our summer vacation photos! (OK, so the photo with Em's eyes closed is not one of my favorites, but I put the wrong photo in!) I will figure this thing out eventually--I think.

Back To School

Well, 6:00 am. came awfully early, but we are officially back in school. Chiara survived her first day as a freshman, Cardon survived his first day on the 2nd floor of an un-airconditioned building, and Em spent the day learning how to ride Clippity-Clop, our wild, bucking stallion!

OK, so I'm having a little stress with the photos. I can't get this dang photo to rotate! Any suggestions?!

Does This Thing Work?

Testing. One, two, three.