Autumnal Bliss

Oh how I adore New England in the fall!

Field Trip

Last summer the kids reminded me that I have not accompanied them on a class field trip since 2014.  Bad mom!  So when Thane's teacher asked for chaperones for their trip to Campobello Island (Canada), I volunteered.

Campobello is the site of Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt's summer home, and it also contains the world's only international park (co-owned by Canada and the U.S.).  We even had to cross the border, which generated much discussion and awe amongst the 7 and 8 year old participants! (What?  You didn't go to another country on your 2nd grade field trip?!?)

 

The park staff were AMAZING with the kids.  The kids were so busy having fun that they completely missed the fact that they were being educated.  We learned about the Roosevelt family & presidency, toured their (ahem) modest cottage, watched a video, played games, and walked like Egyptians (see photo below).

The children even got to learn about the hilarious antics of the 12 dogs that lived off and on in the Roosevelt White House, and then did some arts and crafts related to what they learned.

It was great fun, and I'm already planning to ask for time off for Annabel's field trip.

Child's Play

Life just isn't the same when Jordan is gone.  The kids especially count the days until Daddy returns.  In an effort to refocus their thoughts, I sent Annabel and Thane out to their little workshop to create something for Jordan.  They had recently watched "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and ended up recreating some of Father Christmas' gifts.  They re-purposed an old buoy into Susan's quiver:

Annabel used a broken hammer handle and some other wood to make Peter's sword.  Then she strapped some odd pieces of scrap lumber to the frame of fishing net to create his shield:

Annabel also became an overnight fan of Calvin & Hobbes after learning that it was her Daddy's favorite comic.

When he returned, Jordan brought an old train set from Grandpa and Grandma.  Thane immediately set up the tracks, and he has been happily playing with the train ever since.

We really enjoy the kids' imagination!

Abundance

Jordan spent the first couple weeks of October hunting in the beautiful Big Horn Mountains.  Joined by friend Troy and Grandpa Frank, Jordan had the time of his life.  Between the 3 of them, they got 2 elk and 5 deer.  Jordan and Troy came home with over 300 lbs of meat each.  Sound like a lot?  While we are incredibly grateful for the abundance, 300 lbs doesn't last long with our ravenous brood. 

More importantly, the boys got to spend a significant amount of time with Grandpa and Grandma.  Jordan says that hunting with Grandpa was one of the highlights of his life.  We are abundantly blessed!

Happy Fall Y'All

The front door is finally painted, and it was finished at the perfect time of year.  Happy Fall!

Crazy Eight

This little man turned 8 years old last week.  How is that even possible?!?  In honor of the occasion, we had a Lumberjack party.  It was great fun!

We had a chili bar, with corn muffins and all of the fixin's.  We also served some appropriate snacks and a super fun campfire cake Thane found online:

For activities, we had a firewood throwing contest, attempted to throw rings onto a set of deer antlers and a forest-themed scavenger hunt. 

Thane's friends were super into the party - they all came dressed in plaid and made homemade beards made out of sheep fleece.  It was totally fun!

At the end of a wonderful (yet exhausting) afternoon, everyone went home with s'more ingredients packed in a lumberjack lunch box.  The lunch materials could also be recycled as a marshmallow roasting stick and napkin. 

Happy Birthday Thanie!  We are so happy that God placed you in our family, and we love watching you grow up. 

Beautiful Bodfish Valley

Some of my favorite times as a child were spent in Bodfish Valley.  Located some 20 miles or so south of Mooshead Lake in western Maine, my grandparents first began spending summers there in the early 1960's.  For years, my Dad's family of 8 stayed in a tiny, one room camp (2 girls on the top bunk, parents in the lower bunk and 3-4 boys in sleeping bags on the floor).  By the time we grandchildren came along, we also made use of a slightly larger vacant cabin next door.  This is where my grandmother gathered lots of discarded furniture to make a life-size playhouse for us kids (when we weren't fishing in the brook or climbing trees).  Fast forward many more years, and 3 sets of relatives now have built cabins on small parcels of land down the valley.  I'd heard about the new camps, but haven't been back to the Valley for over 30 years.

Last weekend Aunt Bonnie invited the kids and I up to camp for the weekend.  What an amazing time we had!  Lots of things have changed (the old camp is long gone), but many things were the same - including the (lack of) amenities.

 

The Appalachian Trail runs through the valley, and we hiked a bit and replenished Aunt Bonnie's store of "Trail Magic" (food and medical goods for the hikers).  We stopped at Otter Pond to look for wildlife, and then we checked out Toby Falls where one can slide down a natural water slide made of giant boulders made smooth by the force of untold gallons of water over the years.  The temptation was strong, but luckily enough the ice cold water kept the kids from plunging right in.  Brrrrr!

We fearlessly walked along the train trestle that my Dad has written about in his book of Bodfish memories.  Annabel and Thane were thrilled to be up so high, and they enjoyed the view of Borestone and Barren Mountains.  And Mom?  She was counting the seconds until we were back on good old terra firma!

We worked up quite the appetite with all of this adventuring, and we even got a taste of amazingly fresh water from an old fashioned well.

After a traditional Saturday night bean and hot dog supper back at camp, the kids roasted marshmallows, finished a puzzle and played card games with Great Aunt Sandy and 3rd cousin Charissa. 

It was such a great time of reconnecting with loved ones and carrying on family traditions.  We are so looking forward to the next visit.