Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Wednesday, October 24

Golly Pete! I just can't seem to keep up with it all! We've been all about the children's Halloween party around here: ordering supplies, coordinating getting everything done, getting head-counts via email, etc. It looks like we're going to have about 65 kids at the party. A terrific response, but way more kids than I thought. So, I had to go back and order more of everything for the party. Plus, Tim and I have been trying to figure out what we're going to be for the adult party. I think we've finally settled on Gandalf and Galadriel from LOTR (even though they're not really a pair). The kids' costumes have all come in and all fit, thank goodness!! They're going to be so cute!
We've done so much since my last post! And I still haven't filled in the details of our trip Columbus Day weekend. Ok, here goes a quick rundown.
Columbus Day Weekend Trip
We left on Saturday after the kids got out of Saturday Music School and drove up to Bethel, ME. It is in the northern section of the Appalacian mountain range. The AT actually crosses over the road where we were hiking! There was a message board for hikers, and one of the notices there informed hikers that the last day to ferry across the river was that weekend.
We stayed in a country inn called the Sudbury Inn. It was very nice!! We ate dinner at the Pub there in the inn and enjoyed live music while we ate.
Our room had a whirlpool tub, which the kids thoroughly enjoyed! We put a little shampoo in the water and turned on the jets, and there were suds everywhere!!




On Sunday, we got up and drove to Sunday River Ski Resort where they were having a fall festival. There were games for the kids, a craft show, and free ski lift rides up the mountain. Rachel and David both got knit hats to help them keep warm this winter, but they came in handy on the chair lift ride too. It was quite chilly up at the top! We rode up as high as we could go and then walked around a little. David got his first chance to "teetee" on a tree while up top. He thought it was really cool. Ah, boys and their simple pleasures. You just gotta love 'em!


We also visited a covered bridge that day.
It's called Artist Bridge because it is so picturesque. Jamie picked up a friend down at the creek - a large rock which he named "Milkshake". Yes, he brought home a Maine river rock as his souvenier. Then we went for a very nice hike out to a waterfall. Jamie and Rachel had a terrific time exploring the rocks. Tim and I just loved being out in the woods! The leaves are turning here, there is lots of color, but not quite peak. Still, quite beautiful!



On Monday, we took the Mount Washington auto road tour. It's a driving tour up to the peak of Mt Washington, known for having the world's worst weather. And it did!! The day was cold, windy, and cloudy. At the peak, we had no visibility! I would say it was about 50ft. We still enjoyed going to the top and having hot chocolate to get warm. There is a weather observation station up top and a museum too. We did see a few nice views on the way up and down the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain, there was a museum of all the modes of transporation used to travel the road (stage coach, woody, cars, and vans). Jamie also got to do a climb on a rock wall there. He made it all the way to the top and rang the bell while we all cheered him on!

On Tuesday, we tried to go do a corn maze, but it was closed. Then we tried to go to the Sabbaday Shaker village, but it too was closed. So, we drove over to the coast to see the ocean. We went to the little town of Old Orchard Beach where almost everything had closed for the season the day before. It looked a lot like Gulf Shores or Panama City, but a ghost town version. We did find a spot to eat that stays open year round. It was really interesting to see that the seaside towns in Maine really do roll up the sidewalks after the first of October. After that, we decided we'd just better head home. It was a good trip all in all, even if the last day was a little strange.












Thursday, October 11, 2007

Thursday, October 11

How in the world did it get to be October???? We've gotten into good routines here in Belmont. All the kids are enjoying school. David even likes the toys at his school so much that he doesn't want to go home when I pick him up!! Rachel is loving riding the bus and continues to make new friends. Currently she and her friend Emily are busily planning a Halloween party. It's supposed to be at Emily's house, but we'll see. Jamie still enjoys the independence of riding his bike to and from school. He has also gotten an after-school job. He takes the landdog (our landlord's poodle) for a walk every weekday afternoon and makes $1 a day. He is a very responsible employee, and this first job should look quite good on his resumee!

I have been busy with working on the children's Halloween party for SF08. I have a committee full of willing helpers none of whom celebrate Halloween in their home countries. I feel right at home as the "Halloween expert". My friend Susan (the coast guard wife) has actually jumped in and is helping out too. We're doing a party like a carnival with games, crafts, and a costume parade through the student center. I've also introduced a whole group of women to Oriental Trading Company. That was fun!! Too bad I don't get a commission!

I've also nailed down my children on what they're going to be for Halloween and ordered their costumes. David is going to be "Rocket" from Little Einsteins, Rachel is going to be Clepoatra, and Jamie is going to be the young Tom Riddle (it about killed me to order a Slytherin robe and tie). He is quickly making his way to the end of HP book 6 and says that he's going to jump right in to book 7. I won't be surprised if he's finished by Christmas.

Family wise, we've done lots of hiking over the past two weeks. The last weekend in September, we discovered the Belmont Habitat (a Mass Audobon reserve) just a few miles from our house. There are lots of trails to walk on and the weather was beautiful the last weekend of Sept. We took a picnic lunch out on Saturday and ate in a field, under a tree. There is also a house you can tour, but it was closed due to hosting a wedding that day.
The two families from Mexico from SF08 hosted a Mexican Fiesta that same weekend. They really went all out!! Tim came home with a sombrerro, me with moraccas, and the kids with goodie bags. The food was catered by an authentic Mexican restruant. It was very good, but a little different from Las Vias.

Jamie and Rachel have both started Saturday Morning Music School - a music/band/orchestra program held at Chenery Middle School. Rachel is still enjoying her violin, but is tired of just plucking it. She's ready to bow!! Jamie has started drumming all over the place. We may end up with a drummer yet. Time will tell.

We had a long holiday weekend October 6-9, so we decided to head up to Maine in hopes of seeing fall color and maybe a moose. The trees were in high color (not quite peak) and georgeous!! No luck on the moose, though. Well, maybe next time. I'll write more about all the details of the trip in my next posting. Until then. . . God bless!!