family fun times and celebrations

three weekends ago:

we went to ride the tioga railroad dinner train. the kids had never been on a train and weren't sure what to expect but ended up really enjoying themselves. lasagna dinner was delicious, the 3 hour ride was beautiful, the weather was perfect, the dining car was classy and the open air car took your breath away. we got to see an osprey, an eagel nest, and lots of deer along the way. we got a ton of pics and it was genuinely a family memory.

two weekends ago:

we started out by going to eldridge park on friday night and the kids rode the carousel (it goes so fast it makes me sick so i sit and watch, or cam or clic pics) and we rode the jasper (boat). the weather was beautiful, the water calm and the sunset was like a painting. but that wasn't the best part (for me anyway). the best part was the dance hall that has been rebuilt and is actually in use. there was a "big band" with a singer who looked like she was straight out of the 1940's. and there were these people, ... these really elderly people like in their 80's, who were dancing the night away! oh my it was SUCH fun to watch. of course the kids were bored out of their minds but all i could think was, "Goo would looooove this". (Goo, my grandmother who passed away last year). There must have been 30 or so couples dancing song after song, the two step, the box step, a little rumba. and to be sure these people had set out to dance when they left the house that night! ...matching dance suits, patten leather dance shoes, a flower behind the ear. it was all very lawrence welk. and another 30 or so elderly couples sitting watching. i'm pretty certain i looked out of place at my age but i swear it was one of the best times i've had in quiet some time. i felt like Goo was standing there watching with me.

last weekend:

we went to PA to see john's family. his niece was having a graduation party and while the 4 hour drive is a bit of a toll with 3 kids and a dog, once we get there i'm always happier. it's the only time that i can read or take a nap or sleep in or whatever. the kids play with their kids and john spends a lot of time hanging out with his sister. there's 4 wheeling and a pool and a trampoline (can i just mention that as i was flying through the air and suddenly got queezy i realized that it's been a l-o-n-g time since i was on a trampoline). of course there's always the crazy family drama but really, what would family be if not crazy and/or dramatic? we also made it out to lake erie for a sunset picnic. it truly was beautiful.

yesterday and today:

quiet family time. ...and ice cream =)

and so how are the kids?

isaiah received the president's award for academic excellence (only 3 kids got this in his class). while he loves to read and is super smart, ... he also best enjoys a gazillion hours on the computer. it will be a conscious effort this summer to remind him that a world exists out there but i bet once we get him in a pool all will be well. he's funny and a peace keeper for sure. such a pleasure.

noah has decided, totally on his own, that he wants to continue his violin lessons through the summer and at the same time has created his own website. he was voted best smile and best writer in his class. he's showing interest in sculpting. he's such an interesting kid. he's artistic and musical and creative, ... and will get so mad so fast he'll scare the heck outta you vs look at ya twice. i guess the word to describe noah is passionate.

mary will be attending girl scout horse camp this summer. she keeps reminding me that i told her i'd buy her one but strangely enough i do not recall such a conversation. hmmm. she suddenly has a big interest in lacrosse, much to john's delight. and while she's dressed in all pink with a huge bow in her long curly hair she will be the lacrosse player who clips you on your ass. she's a tough girl. a tough girl who makes me turn off lights in the house 'so we can save the polar bears'. oy. she will rule the world one day.

this summer we'll be camping and going to the zoo and to the water park and chuck e. cheese and sonnenburg gardens and to canada (provided john's passport thing works out. long story).

we will live life.

why do i share all this with you? b/c i don't want to leave the impression that life here is all illness and worry and dread and detoxes. it's not. life is good.
k