Some of My Favorite People Live in Vermont, Part Three: Uncle Ron and Aunt Sue

Okay, so I am finally finding a few minutes to post about our Vermont trip again! I still have so much from our trip...It will be done by the end of the year I swear! :)

Uncle Ron is one of Mom's younger brothers. A few words that describe him would be: sensitive, caring, fun loving, and young at heart. Aunt Sue is an amazing lady. She is a great cook and one of those people that you could sit and talk to for hours. We were so glad we got to spend an evening with them both at Camp. Aunt Sue was able to come during the week a couple of times to visit and Jake made sure to tell her, to tell Uncle Ron to come ASAP! Uncle Ron took Jake fishing, which Jake had been wanting to do all week...I am not that into fishing, so I was happy that I got out of that one! They had a great time fishing and Aunt Sue and I had a great time talking. They stayed for dinner and it was just a great evening.

That night when Jake and I were going to bed, he told me that when Uncle Ron is around it feels like he has another Papa. :) (In my opinion, you can never really have too many Papa's.) So, it is official Uncle Ron, you have been adopted as a Papa to Jake. I am sure you won't mind that at all. Thank you for the fun time and awesome memories! And thank you Aunt Sue for the salad dressing...shaker things??? Why am I blanking on what they are called?...You know what I am talking about. :)

See why some of my favorite people live in Vermont? Sometimes I wish I did too...

Who's the new guy?....

...That would be the Jakester with his new glasses! He was all smiles and excitement when I picked him up from school. (He even wanted to wear a polo shirt to dress up for the occasion) I asked if he was excited and he said "No I'm not excited. That is not the right word. I am....EXTREMELY EXCITED!" He was so funny when he was trying them on the other day. He tried on one pair and said "These look good... But, it would be like bragging if I got them because they make me look so smart." And that in a nutshell is my Jake. :)

Randomness...Decluttering my brain.

*I had to do something because Jake is finishing his math project right now (a poster about how I use math at work. I love making posters...) and since it is his project I have been forced to walk away while he is finishing it...Something, I confess, is hard for me to do...

*Check out my parents missionary blog! Oh yeah..Mom I made it public for you! (She told me to, I just forgot to tell her I actually did.) It is called "Our Missionary Moments" and is listed on my blog list. There 33 posts total, but only a few are posted. Mom is still working on the others-uploading pic's and stuff. They are BUSY and obviously the Lord's work comes first!

*I had a real "I hate U-Scan" day on Wednesday. Wednesday is Senior day! Anyone over 60 gets an extra 5% off our already low prices. (Did those last 2 sentences sound like a commercial?) I love Senior day when I am running the cash register. They tell they cutest stories and little jokes. They know exactly how much everything they are buying costs. They are a hoot! When I am running U-Scan...Let's just say it is not fun. Older people have problems with this "new fangled technology!". Or they say "I am too old to learn this. Why don't you just check me out?" Well, I would if there weren't 3 other people here that also need my help. Not to mention the fact I actually have buttons to push up at my register for all 3 of those other people. I have to run that persons check, and scan that persons coupon, and hit the button repeatedly for that sweet little old lady that keeps putting her purse down on the scale and then can't figure out why it keeps beeping at her...So, no I can't just check you out. If you don't want to check yourself out then I guess you will just have to GO WAIT IN LINE!!!!! No, I don't actually say that to people I just tell them I can get them started...

*I have found, what I think would be the perfect hair...Seriously! It never gets messed up and has just the right amount of body. I am seriously jealous of Rachel. That's what we named the Lego women. Probably because she looks a little like Rachel Ray. When Jake was about 4 he said he thought she was pretty and "a good cutter". I am not however jealous that she doesn't have a nose. But, if I could pop my head off and put it on another body like she can, I would be stoked!

*Jake is already done and it is AWESOME...Truthfully I would add a LOT more...But it is his project and I am letting go!...Unlike the collage that was due last week. After he went to sleep I couldn't stop adding a few things here and there...I know I am pitiful, but I really love to collage. (He thought what I added was awesome and I asked him before hand it is was okay with him.)

*Jake had an eye appointment today. No surprise: he has to get glasses. I wear glasses and Della, Nee, Papa G, and Papa Harmon do to. Aaron is as blind as a bat without his contacts, and so are Nana and Ranee. It is on both sides of the family, so we knew it was a matter of time. Jake is on Medicaid right now so the eye exam was free! Score! And so are the glasses!....But we won't get them for 6 to 8 weeks...Awesome? Luckily Vision Works is having a 2 for $99 sale on kids glasses right now. We are not so poor that we are going to have him wait for another 2 months. This is what we will all be doing when we get our Obama health care!!! Can't wait! (And poor Jake his eyes are still hugely dilated! He has got to have a headache.)

*Roasted Garlic Triscits are delicious! You should totally try them.

*I am finding it hard to sleep with Aaron gone 5 nights a week working 3rd shift. I feel a little better knowing there is a gun (HIDDEN AND WAY OUT OF JAKE'S REACH...and almost mine for that matter...) in our bedroom. But only a little better because I have only actually shot a similar gun one time and it scared me...And the real reason I can't sleep is because he usually leans on me...I tried piling up pillows but it doesn't quit work.

*I will finish blogging about Vermont...

*I will post picture's from Jake's birthday...And anything else that may have gone on that I haven't posted...

*We had an Open House at Jake's school on Tuesday night. It was for parents only. I have never heard of it done that way and didn't know it until 7ish on Monday night! Luckily Sharon and Ron agreed to watch Jake so both Aaron and I could go. It was really nice to see what they are working on and learn exactly what the teachers are expecting. And I am getting over my public school blues. (I still wish we could just home school but that is not in the cards right now...) I think there was peer pressure (other mom's), and not feeling heard, but I am feeling better now. I really like Jake's AIG teacher and his regular teacher. I am not sure I agree 100% with all the techniques, but I am involved and making sure it is all going well. I am actually the class parent so that is a good thing...And I need to start typing a letter to the parents in Jake's class...I guess I should stop blogging and do that...

*One more thing: I love the Nate Berkus Show! Have you seen it? He used to be on Oprah doing room makeovers. The show is so good I am DVR-ing it everyday and watching after Jake goes to bed and Aaron isn't home. He came home from playing b-ball last night (yes he still works in b-ball) and watched a little with me. I should say he made fun of it while I watched it. :) No surprise there either!

September 11, 2001. I remember....

...just like it was yesterday, but really it was nine years ago. I remember being a brand new Mommy, to a brand new 2 week old baby boy. I remember thinking what is this little person going to have to deal with in his life, if on his 2 week birthday, the Twin Towers were brought crashing to the ground? I remember wondering if he would ever know a life with out seeing this kind of horror committed toward innocent people in his own free country. I remember feeling helpless and wondering to what lengths we would have to go to protect him. Now fast forward 9 years, to today and I remember the people who died that day. I also think of all the people that have put their life on the line daily, to protect mine...And my sons, who is 9 years, and 2 weeks old today. Thank you to all the troops who have been fighting to stop this from happening again. I know the President says the war is over, but I am sure the 50,000 troops still in Iraq and their families, who pray every second of every day that they will see them again, don't think it is over. I am thankful for the Government agencies that have worked tirelessly to stop this same thing from happening over and over again. I wonder how many other 9/11's they have stopped from happening that we don't even know about. I am thankful for the fireman and police officers who stand ready everyday to help us and protect us. I remember the ones who did just that 9 years ago today and died doing it. I remember so much from that day that I know I will never forget and I will not let my son forget. I don't want to forget because, when we all forget we will be opening ourselves up to it all over again. I will always remember that my family was blessed to be born in a free country that only has one 9/11 to remember, one Pearl Harbor. Today I am going to say an extra prayer for all those who have to live with that fear ever day. I am going to say a prayer of thanks that I am an American, and that we only have to remember one 9/11. I am also going to pray that it never happens again.

Public School Blues....

I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT LET JAKE SEE THIS POST!!!
Yes, I am up at almost 1:00 in the morning blogging about this...I can't sleep. Aaron is working. Jake has been sleeping. I have been praying,searching, asking for advice, crying, and praying some more. I am feeling the public school blues big time...I was so excited for my first chance to help out in Jake's class room...Lets just say it didn't happen and Jake's teacher scared me and several other mothers with her rudeness...Does she talk to the sweets kiddos in her class like that? Probably...I am sure she is awesome...She just wasn't being very awesome that day...Kind of an important day to be awesome, the first time having parents in the class room, if you ask me. Just in case she is searching the internet for blogs posted by wary mothers (see I am paranoid), I will not get into the details. I am praying, searching,and trying to be positive again (notice that I didn't say "stay positive"? I am way past that stage already...8 days into school). Say a little prayer for our family, won't you please?

Some of My Favorite People Live in Vermont, Part Two: Grampa Smith

Grampa Smith is definitely one of my favorite people. Most of my "best days ever" as a child (and as a grown up!) have him in it. I feel so blessed that Jake has been able to have Grampa Smith in his life growing up and making memories just like I did. Grampa built Camp 52 (is that right?...) years ago and we are now 3 generations into a beautiful tradition. My mom has memories from her childhood of the magic that is Camp, and so do I. And now Jake does too. I think of the sacrifice and hard work that went into Camp every time I am there...And even when I am not. I will forever be grateful for Grampa having a vision of what Camp could be and creating it for us to enjoy. I wonder if he thought about the generations of our family that his work and efforts would touch? I will have to ask him...

When I think of Grampa Smith, I think of: being pulled behind his snow mobile on a tabogun (how in the world do you spell that? spell check isn't even helping!) sled, him pulling us around the lake behind the boat, pontoon boat rides, driving (and talking) from VT to NC-just him and me, taking him to a Hornets game, the cut on his head from trying to sneak pie after everyone else went to sleep, Camp (of course!!), his joy in family and being a part of his great grandchildren's lives...I could go on and on. When I look around my house I see evidence of him everywhere. He is an amazing craftsmen and wood worker. He made the hope chest in our bedroom. The jewelry box (that is now Jake's treasure box) and awesome White Birch tree candle stick holders in Jake's room. A cocoa table (when Jake was little he asked why it was a coffee table since we don't drink coffee...He renamed it the cocoa table. Love that kiddo!) and end table...Again, I could go on and on, but I beat you can see why I said he is amazing! I will stop bragging that I have the best Grampa in the world now and show you some pictures of the great times we got to spend with Grampa Smith at Camp this summer....

Jake and Grampa working on a bird feeder that Aunt Sheila (another favorite person you will hear about another time...) brought over to Camp.

Our first boat ride of 2010!


Me and Jake riding on a bowl shaped inner tube. Guess who is pulling us? Grampa. :)

A view of Camp...and Jake making our dinner over the fire with Grampa looking on. Grampa spent several nights with us and we were so glad he did!

Another night of roasting marsh mellows. Next year we are only going to pack like 3 outfits (2 grubbies for Camp and 1, a little nicer for leaving Camp) and a bathing suit. As you can see from the pictures we end up wearing the same clothes all week because we spend most of our time in our bathing suits! Jake's tie dyed Glen Marlow Elementary shirt is featured on two different occasions in these pictures...and I think he wore it another day too...
This is the slumber party, fire killer night. Grampa spent the night too but he missed out on the shadow puppets because we were all upstairs and he was sleeping on the screened in porch (which is heaven! I slept out there 2 nights.) on his bed.

I love this picture.

And this one...Jake took it for us.

A photo shot of 3 generations. Mom, next summer when you are back from your mission we will get all 4 generations! (Gotta love the timer on cameras. What a great invention!)

Some of My Favorite People Live in Vermont, Part One: The Graves Family

***This is how I am going to post about our awesome vacation to Vermont. And by the way my maiden name is Graves-this is my dad's brothers family.***

When we travel to Vermont we have some traditions and one of them is going to my Uncle Gary and Aunt Julie's house for dinner. Jake is the one who reminded us that this had to happen, and it did (our last night in Vermont), along with a lot of other fun and moving memories that will last a life time! We got to Camp on Saturday August 7th and as we have come to expect, some of our first guests are always the Graves, and the didn't disappoint us! They were there Sunday afternoon to greet us and we were so happy to see them. They came over several times to hang out at Camp and we even had a slumber party with Mallory (my cousin) and Aunt Julie. We got to go out to lunch and have Maple Creamies (that is soft serve ice cream for any Southerners that have never heard of it by that name. But it is way better than the soft serve down here!).
Uncle Gary is my dad's younger brother. Aaron loves to hear his Dodo Bison (yep Dodo. Dodo is a crazy guy that Dad and Uncle Gary grew up with. Seriously crazy.), because Uncle Gary is a story teller. I don't mean the kind of story teller that makes stuff up. He is the story teller that remembers just what happened and does the faces and voices perfectly. He cracks me up! He also makes me really proud to be a Graves. My Nana (Dad and Uncle Gary's mother) died about 3 1/2 years ago and I think of him as the glue in the family during the whole ordeal. He took care of all the things my Dad wished he could have been there to help with, but couldn't because he was an 18 hour drive away. He put up with being the middle man between family members not always seeing eye to eye. Another words he is an awesome person who I am glad to call my uncle. He has put up with stress that I know I couldn't have endured. Thanks Uncle Gary for always being there to try to keep the family on the same page. Thanks for taking me to see Nana's grave site. Thanks for always having a story that will make us laugh. And thanks for being there for all the big stuff in my life: our wedding, seeing our first house, visiting us in the mountains...I could go on and on. :)
Aunt Julie is a lady. I always thought of her that way when I was little and I still do. She is a lady that knows how to have a good time! We had a blast spending so much time with her this trip! Aunt Julie is the shadow puppet guru. We stayed up laughing our heads off trying to do shadow puppets on the ceiling and Aunt Julie was the hands down best! She took it very seriously and that was the best part! She also was given her Indian name: "Fire Killer", when we were roasting marsh mellows. Lets just say dropping a log directly on the fire from 3 feet up isn't always the best way to do it. :) She actually make fires all the time, but everything that night was hysterical for some reason! I will always remember the memories we made this summer. Next summer we are expecting another slumber party at Camp, shadow puppets, and next time you are even going to get in the lake (and I don't just mean your feet!) I am so glad to have you as an Aunt, a new texting buddy, and also a friend.
My cousin, Mallory, what more do I have to say? Jake loves Mallory and so do I! We were so lucky to be able to spend some time with her a couple of years ago when she was doing an internship in Tennessee and she has been forever added to Jake's list of favorite people. She is in her mid-twenties (and single if anyone has a cute guy we could hook her up with! Just kidding...kind of), but will always be destined for the kids table if Jake has anything to do with it! She is a kid at heart, but also a really mature person who knows what she wants from life. Another words some one I am happy Jake has to look up to. It was awesome to see you Mallory and I WILL be more tan than you next summer and I promise that you will look back and be glad you parents loved you enough to be strict when you were younger. :) I know I was. Just remember what I tell Jake-those other kids parents must not love them as much as we love you guys!
Drew is a soft spoken, talented guy and another one of my awesome cousins. I got to meet his sweet girlfriend Margo (spelling?) and I am happy to say they are so good for each other. He is one of those guys that really knows how treat women with respect. And she is one of those kind of ladies that appreciates it and doesn't take advantage of him. Why didn't I take my camera out of my purse to actually take pictures at the traditional Graves family summer dinner? You guys are so cute together! Wow, I am feeling pretty old. One my "little cousins" is growing up...
I didn't get to see my other Graves cousin, Nicole (She lives in NYC) but she will always be one of my favorite people. She gets me and I get her. Always have, always will. We are both slackers at keeping in touch and don't hold it against each other. I can call her even if I haven't talked to her in 2 years and she will still be there to listen. My Camp memories with Nicole are as teenagers having a flour fight, trying to follow the moon beams into the lake, and rowing the boat all the way to the beach...What were we thinking? You will always be one of my free spirit sisters....
See why going to Vermont is something we look forward to doing every summer? We get to spend time making memories with some of our favorite people. We love and miss you already Uncle Gary, Aunt Julie, Mallory, Drew, Margo, and Nicole! And of course Dakota (Mallory's yellow lab...so sweet...I wish I took pictures...)! Here are just a few (I could have posted a million more...and they aren't in order) of the pictures of some of the fun stuff we did together.
Jake and Aunt Julie on our hike up Owl's Head.

At the top of the horribly long (just kidding it is only .2 of a mile) hike! Gorgeous views for such a short hike. Me and Aunt Julie.

Mallory, Jake, and Aunt Julie in the little stone building at the top of Owl's head.
Mallory brought these to camp for our slumber party. Does anyone remember these things? I haven't seen them since I was a kid!
Working together to try to get it to work...
And this is what it looks like. Do you remember these anyone raised in the 80's? Aunt Julie said it looked like a turd-which we all were thinking but not saying! Another thing we all laughed at.

The grandfather I never got to meet, but will some day. (Jake picked the flowers and put them on both my grandparents grave stones.)

My Nana's grave site. Some of my best childhood memories were in her backyard pool. She would stand there for hours with her feet in the water and let us swim as long as we wanted. She was so sweet and patient. I can't wait to see her again.

The house my great grandparents (maybe great, great...I can't remember...) lived in.