Summery Summary

September 19th, 2014.  It's a chilly fall morning, I'm sipping a cup of tea.  I have a few hours to myself, and it's a perfect time to think back over our summer and update this blog.  I think the good thing to say about not having posted in a while is that we did a lot of living this summer, and didn't spend much time on screens.  But now I want to put socks on, I'm thinking about a warming fire, and it is a good time to snuggle up and do some writing and reflection.

So, it was May the last time I posted.  The school year came to a close in a flurry, including Sylvie's big stage debut in the first grade play, the first farmers' market, a paddle board adventure, father's day, and farewells to Aunt Leah.

After all that, we hit the road.  Or the rail, as it was.  On June 19th we boarded the Empire Builder and started our eastwardly journey to Wisconsin.  It was a great trip.  I loved being slowed down and in it together with the family, stocked with books and crayons and plenty of gazing to do.  

We did hit some freight delays, as expected, but we made it to Columbus, Wisconsin, in the wee morning hours of June 22nd, hopped in the Honda waiting for us, and drove to Door County.  We were there by sunrise.  Ah, Wisconsin.  It was absolutely lovely to camp in Peninsula State park with my parents and and brother's baby with us.  And having the extended family in the Ephraim cottage made for a great start to our visit.  Us Corvallis folk were absolutely taken by meeting the newest member of our family, and couldn't get enough of Baby Hudson.  It was wonderful to be able to sit with my grandparents and all three of their great-grandchildren.  We swam, we paddle boarded, we mini golfed, we learned the "cups" song, we had ice cream, Swedish pancakes, and Sister Bay Bowl. 

 From Door County we went to Amherst, where we spent some time with my parents and our friends.  It was great to be able to walk down the street to the bakery, post office, coffee shop, bank, dam, and all of the charming little spots Amherst has to offer. We even got to do some time travel by touring the halls of my K-12 school.  Walking the halls came back to me like muscle memory, and it was fun to show Sylvie my second grade classroom as she prepared herself to be a second grader.  She thought the school was sooo big!  Nonetheless, the kids love small town life, and my do they love lakes!  I think they could swim each and every day away.  We tried to get them to several, including Elaine, Emily, and Sunset.  We even caught some fish.  I was very impressed at the bakery now being an incubator kitchen-style shop, selling local foods.  Add a local brewery (that is adding its own restaurant), a coffee shop, a Waldorf charter school, and the town has sure become quite the little enclave.  Oh Amherst, I know how I wanted to leave you, but that was high school...will you take me back now?

And then we went to Appleton, home of the Biesacks. It was like starting a new vacation.  Their house was so welcoming, set for everything summery and homey kids and adults would enjoy.  Shady screened front porch with comfy chairs and magazines, games, and puzzles, a backyard with a kiddie pool, art supplies, and cherry trees.  Oh, and another cousin!  Again, so great to have the kids be able to spend time with their cousins.  And what a great trip to Bay Beach we had.  Such a perfect place for small children, and just my style - vintage and simple.  The kids were able to do just about everything Bay Beach had to offer, and even refreshed in the pool.  

And speaking of starting a new vacation within a vacation, we also traveled to Townsend.  How lucky are we that we got to spend time at the Biesack's new property, and with Aunt Gail and Uncle Roger at their lovely lake home.  We got to do some more fishing, pontoon rides, badminton, northwoods dinners out, paddleboating, and did I mention fireflies?  What a treat.  The kids were able to catch their first jar, and to use them as a nightlight.  We don't have fireflies out here, so it was certainly magical for them.

We stayed for the fireworks...and then we caught the train back home.  Let me tell you, it was hard to leave.  I love you, Wisconsin.  I brought as much of you back as I could!  Including a necklace, which I wear almost every day.

Sooooo....back home, back in Corvallis.  

Back to work.  Back to weekends, camps, activities. The weekend of July 11th was the Oregon Country Fair, and we haven't missed that event once since we've moved here.  Wonderful food, fun activities, my favorite enchanted fairy gardens.  Such a nice time.

The next weekend, we headed off to Trout Creek for a group camping weekend with friends and neighbors, and got to spend some good time in the mountains And on the Santiam.  Which was fun...but freezing.  I'm spoiled, I like still water, and in summer, I like it warm!  Next, Sylvie was off to Benton County Girl Scout Day Camp.  It was rock/mineral themed, and Sylvie had a great time learning about geology...including some treasure hunting.  Kyran had a fun week home with Dad, who treated him to his own extra-special activities while his sister was at camp.

And then - I went off on my own adventure.  I was invited by a friend to spend a weekend in Central Oregon, involving both a day-long rafting trip on the Deschutes, and a day-long boat rental on Lake Billy Chinook.  I'll sum that up by saying that rafting is exhilarating  (especially when going over falls and being submerged in freezing water) and that Lake Billy Chinook is absolutely gorgeous.  And having some outdoor adult fun is good for the soul!

While I was off in Central Oregon, Ryan took the kids to have their own water fun, spending a beautiful day on the Alsea.

The next week, the kids were off to Sage Garden Camp, where they spent each day making a component of a pizza, from the grinding of the wheat, making of cheese, and harvesting tomatoes.  We got to join them for a pizza party on the last day, and Ryan said the crust was quite possibly the best he's ever had.

Pizza party turned into music festival, because we headed straight from there to Pickathon, where we camped for the weekend and got to experience an amazing gathering.  The festival is family friendly, very eco conscious, and just downright fun!  As I write this, one of the Pickathon bands came on the radio (shout out, Blind Pilot).  We will definitely be going back for future years. 

Straight from that weekend, the kids headed into their soccer camp week.  This was their first experience with organized sports, and they did very well.  Kyran even won the "inspired award" one day for being such a hard worker and encouraging of his fellow campers.  We celebrated Ryan's birthday on a lovely evening, going out to eat downtown and then having the neighbors all join us for meringue and berries. 

And then - Sylvie's birthday weekend.  Our eight year old.  We woke her up with a birthday coffee cake and let her open all her presents first thing, as we decided to spend the day building her birthday fairy garden, ending with an outdoor movie in Dallas.  Sylvie got some great gifts from family and friends.  I got her some cowboy boots, and her dad found her a great typewriter.  Grandparents and relatives sent amazing, thoughtful gifts and Sylvie had so much to open and be thankful for.  It was a really fun birthday, and we were able to eat our fill of delicious ripe blackberries at the movie theater before it started, and take a basket home for Sylvie's cake to boot!  

The next day was her party - a variation on the same theme she's had for the last few years, this year was "Water Sprite Enchanted Tea Party."  We painted faces, made water sprite mermaids to swim in the new fairy garden, had a scavenger hunt, dove for treasures in the pool, made the magic stew, dined in the orchard, and opened gifts.  We ended the party with the spanking machine, which was a big hit.  (haha).  

Our last big planned event of the summer was Girl Scout camp.  Sylvie and I trekked off for our second year to Camp Cleawox, where this year we were part of the Pirate's crew.  We had great weather and enjoyed all of our camp activities - canoeing, lanyards, friendship bracelets, swap pins, polar plunge, campfire, silly songs, flag ceremonies, gaga ball...  The next weekend we spent at home, lounging by our pool and eating apples.  It was nice to have some time in our own yard.  We stayed around for Labor Day as well, pressing our apples and getting 15 gallons of cider.  It was delicious this year.  We also got the kids (and Ryan) prepared for going back to school.

We received the sad news that Ryan's grandma Roseann passed on August 27.  Ryan made a trip back to Wisconsin to be with his family. 

So, that is the summary of summer.  Phew!