Labor Day 2011

Due to the events of last week, first day of Kindergarten AND High School oh my gosh how did that happen??!!!, I am delayed in my posting the events and fun of our Labor Day weekend at Cedar Ridge.

What ended as a wonderful weekend started as NOT a wonderful time for our Ryon. You see he had tonsillitis last month and we thought he'd tackled it. Nope, it came back. With a vengeance. After a full day in the ER, three prescriptions, one visit from the ENT Dr. who used scary sharp medical implements to cut and poke him to no avail, he was sent home for some rest. Thank.You.God. Now we wait for his infection to subside. Then those little nasty tonsils are comin' out! Say a prayer for him please.

After returning home to the rest of the family who waited and worried, we headed north. By that time all of our family and friends had arrived at camp. They had the fire started. They were all cozied in. It had never looked so good.

This was Baxter's first trip north. In fact, it was a weekend FULL of firsts for our little guy. He met his furry friends at camp. He met his human camping family. He played with his Cuzin' Merlin who gave him the cutest toy, a doggie Binky! He swam in the river. He went camping in the RV. He took his first road trip. Well, you get the idea.

Another highlight of the weekend was our Low Country Boil done Adirondack style. Thanks to our Virginia friends, we couldn't wait to try this out. I'm happy to report it was a huge success and very well received by all at camp. I'm thinkin' that we'll be making this a Labor Day tradition. At least I hope so. We are now on the hunt for the official cooker that our Virgina friends have 'cuz theirs is way more fun and infinitely easier to manage.

On Sunday we participated in the annual Duck Race in town. It's a cute little fundraiser for the Lake Association which helps fund the processes that keep the lake water clean and safe. A very worth cause. We bought a pink duck.Of course, Miss Grace picked it out. She (the duck) did not win the race; but I'm happy to report I did see her bobbing downstream and she did not get stuck in the pools along the way.

Here they come!

Silly Spectators

Finish Line

Our friends and neighbors from here in town joined us up north at camp for a day at the lake and for our special dinner. The kids had a great time on the lake. I even got a chance to ride in their really cool three-seated tube they tow behind their boat. Me and Miss Grace rode with Matt and Julianna, it was awesome! Miss Grace was SO serious the whole time, but I knew inside she was smiling BIG. Later on she told everyone how she rode in the tube. Too cute.

The boy children had a good time at camp, the furry one too that is...

Digging a hole, napping in the cool dirt.

Big boys, big toys

All in all it was a great weekend. The bitter sweet part is that it's the last summer camping weekend. It always comes so fast. But, I am grateful for all the good memories beforehand.

Sweetly remembering summer days,

~Kate-Lyn~

First Day of Kindergarten

I am so proud of her. Really proud.

For more than three days she insisted that she needed to ride to Kindergarten on the Mommy Bus. She would have more time with me. It was faster. It's the way it's always been. She never shed a tear or wavered from her matter of fact delivery. So I never thought it was anything more than a preference.

Then came the day before school. Bedtime.

The truth was revealed in a flood of tears that she could not longer hold back. After a busy day her coping skills were gone. It was then that I realized it wasn't about convenience, or Mom Time or routine. The tears fell in buckets. She was afraid. Really afraid. Of being safe with a stranger. Of not knowing the drivers name. Of the fact that she was in the care of someone she'd never met. That I'd never met. I never knew until then how deep her fears were set in. Oh boy.

I learned something about her that night. She didn't want to burden ME with HER problem. I was floored that she would hold this all in. Creating a mask that I might buy into, trying to tackle this on her own.

Thank God, she opened up to me. Thank you God that You gave me the words to quell her fears and the opportunity to learn more about my amazing daughter.

After a long heart-to-heart chat, day one came and she was ready to tackle her fears. Praise the Lord!

A Soggy, Rainy Stroll to the Bus Stop

Telling me all about bus safety tips from Mr. Mike

It's coming!!!!

Sending her on her way

I must say, sending a daughter off to school for the first day is entirely different than sending a son off. I'm not finding the right words to express it, but it just is. Maybe the fact that she is the last one to fly the nest has something to do with it?

Post Script: She sat with her little friend Luca. The bus driver is a wonderful, kind woman named Cathy. She is doing just fine.

I am so proud of her courage to tackle life, even when it's hard. She amazes me.

In Awe,

~Kate-Lyn~

Good Dog...Bad Dog!

Ah, life with a puppy. I left him one second, happily nibbling on his buffalo. All is great...

Then I turn around and he has Cowgirl Kate's leg in his mouth!? Really?!!









Baxter, THIS could be the end to a very harmonious relationship!!

On watch for little furry piranhas,

~Kate-Lyn~

Savoring those last days of summer...

Due to the storm Peter had most of the day off today and so did I.

It also was our 24th wedding anniversary. Yikes! Neither of us can believe that it is possible! But we sure had a great time reminiscing. It's been a good life all in all. I pray we have 24 more.

It was a beautiful day. Sunny, clear blue skies and perfectly warm. What a sharp contrast to yesterday when Irene visited. We have much to be thankful for and gladly accepted this beautiful day and tried to make the most of it.

So naturally we headed off to one of our favorite spots, Saratoga Springs. Joining us was Elizabeth, Miss Grace's BFF.


We strolled Congress Park. We fed the ducks.

We met the infamous Spit and Spat.

We rode the carousel.

We ate frozen yogart on Broadway.

We went to the playground and found some friends from school.

Well, this one requires no explanation, lol!

All in all it was a great day.

Later on, we solicited the help of Ross our capable big brother babysitter so we could enjoy an anniversary dinner out. Just the two of us. It was very nice. Seafood of course. Then we went for a leisurely stroll because we ate so dang much food around the neighborhood.

A perfect end to a perfect day.

Thankful and Grateful,

~Kate-Lyn~

A Moment in Time...

Captured.

Priceless.

As parents of three...

we know how fleeting these days, weeks, months and years really are.

That, is why I blog. Yes, it takes time. But it's oh, so worth it.

Four years ago we held her in our arms for the first time.

Four years later it seems she's been in our lives forever. The joy is immeasurable.

She fills a spot in our hearts that is uniquely hers.

She can be oh, so, silly.

Today was one of those days. Right from the moment her feet hit the ground.

So, I got out the camera and let it roll.

And then, there is the other side. The one I'll never truly reach. No matter how hard I try. This poem taken from my friend Debbie's blog says it better than I ever could. It is written by the Mother of Cami, another parent to a child from China.

"I look at my daughter and usually I see a laughing, happy, healthy child. But sometimes I look at her and I see a thousand layers, a depth I will never visit, and a memory I humbly respect but cannot share. Her heart beats a thousand years story, with the blood of China, and a history in her short life more vast than mine will ever be. I owe it to her to never forget. I owe it to her to protect the fragile pieces of her story until the time comes for her to claim it. "

For this reason, I strive to make her past blend with the present. To be sure that nothing is off-limits in conversation. This will be one of my biggest challenges. But with prayer and God's guidance, it will be OK. After all He gave her to me. He loves her more than me. And oh, how she loves Him. She knows she belongs to Him. And what a beauty He created.

What a joy that He chose us to be her earthly parents. Thank you God.

Humbled by His Goodness,
~Kate-Lyn~

Getting Ready for Kindergarten...sigh.

Yup, it was the first step. Today was Bus Orientation at Miss Grace's school. I'm in a bit of denial.

Firstly because she is my baby and I'm not sure I'M ready, never mind for a moment that she is.

Secondly, every year I hate to see summer slip away.

Thirdly, I absolutely LOVE the loose scheduling of summer and ABHOR the time crunching busyness of school season.

Lastly, it's sad to not have as much time with my kiddos.  Giving them back to their teachers is tough every year, no matter how big they get.

But...such is life and this was not the point of my post.

Back to Bus Orientation. It was cute, and the bus driver who spoke to the kids was (I swear) born to be a bus driver. He. Was. Perfect. The shirt says it all, if ya know what I'm sayin' :)

The Cool Driver

All Ears with Mr. Mike

Here They Come!

All Smiles and Ready to Go!

They're Back!

It Was Awesome!

Wishing I was as ready as she is :)

Sighing Heavily

~Kate-Lyn~

Day Three, Oh Dear Me...

...we just don't stand a chance.

A chance that is of not being absolutely head over heals in love with this little guy. Already.

I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Learning to play fetch

I'm a Retriever, this is easy stuff!

Well, except when my body gets ahead of my feet

Recharging

Uh-huh, so he could dig in the downspout

Any amount of water is positively irresistible

I clean up pretty well huh? You couldn't possibly be mad at me could you?

So many plants, so little time

Practicing cuteness, it works every time

What's next Mom?

This guy is very photogenic, just warning ya...

I'm just sayin', I can't help myself with these cuties

Smiling' so much my face hurts

~Kate-Lyn~