As a teacher, I know I take summers for granted. I feel I am entitled to the 8 (or more) weeks off each year to recuperate from the past year and have some time to relax. I have never really thought much of all that time off, other than feeling like it helps justify my low salary. This year, however, because I am changing jobs and districts and calendars, I will have exactly one month off, during which we will have taken an extended camping trip, a 10-day visit to Washington, and a trip to Pagosa Springs, CO, returning the day before my new job begins on July 5. Needless to say, it's one of my fuller, shorter summers.
Having just returned from Washington yesterday and knowing we're leaving Saturday, I'm actually really glad I have these few days home to just be with familiarity. I love travelling and deal just fine with packing and unpacking, but it's nice to not be living out of a suitcase or backpack. Inspired by some recent pictures delivered by Kodak, I've actually pulled out some of my scrapbooking stuff to catch up on the past year. I wouldn't have guessed that I'd want to be doing such a labor-intensive, sedentary activity, but I think I need some time to just reflect and sit. A break from planning and packing and going. I think it is being actively still, as oxymoronic as that sounds.
I can tell Carter was ready for a break from travelling too. He has had to adjust to sleeping in four different locations this past month, not an easy task for a little guy just learning to go to sleep on his own. This morning, he also seemed especially interested in some of his toys, like they were long-time friends he hadn't seen in awhile. Even Mark, who always likes to be on the go, appeared to take a little more pleasure in puttering around than he usually does.
I think I'm going to grab I nice big glass of red wine and see if I can get through a few months worth of pictures. Cheers to appreciating a little time at home.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Washington adventures
Mark and I are now in Washington visiting my parents and having a blast. We started out the trip on the boat for a couple days with Carter. A mobile kid really keeps you on your toes when your in 300 feet of water.
You'll notice Carter has a tether attached to his life jacket so he doesn't fall overboard, and the life jacket's a little snug around his cheeks!
Sometimes he'd tolerate it, and other times, the whole apparatus was just a little too much for him.
Carter still thinks he's pretty cool, though. Especially in sunglasses. He put these on himself.
Carter and "Papa" (Carter's name for grandpa) keep up their oral hygiene, even on the boat. Don't want to have bad kissing breath!
Mark and I got some good snuggle time while "mimi" and "papa" took care of Carter.
After our boating adventure (and Carter going green for a short time during some rough water), Mark and I set out for our own trip. We planned a backpack/climbing/mountaineering expedition in the North Cascades National Park while my parents watched Carter. After we got to the ranger station, however, it turned out the road to our trail had washed out, so with 50lb packs we had to hike an additional 2.5 miles each way. The trail was also quite challenging, often having to climb hand over foot because it was so steep. Here's Mark climbing through a tunnel of trees.
The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, though. We saw a black bear, avalanches, and evidence of why it's called the cascades. There are these beautiful waterfalls everywhere. You can see them here in the background.
We got to Boston Basin, sort of the base of our rock climb, to set up camp. I've never slept in such a beautiful setting. It was so pristine and untouched. I felt as if I had found the top of the world where no one else had ever been.
We camped that night pretty near where I'm standing, and woke up to beautiful blue skies and warm weather. But I just couldn't do it. I was so physically worn out, I knew I'd never make it up a jagged peak and then make it all the way down to the car. I'm definitely not in the great shape I used to be in. So we enjoyed our view and then hiked back down. Two days later, I'm still in pain. Meanwhile, Mark's gearing up to climb Mt. Rainier with a friend tomorrow. I'm still working on climbing the stairs.
Anyway, we're having a great trip so far, and I'm looking forward to some quiet time around town with my parents and Carter while Mark's gone. We've talked about going to a lavender farm and an earth sanctuary (some sort of meditative, relaxing place). I think those plans are more my speed considering my aching quads. Hopefully, I'll be up for the long walk through the airport by the time we leave on Monday!
You'll notice Carter has a tether attached to his life jacket so he doesn't fall overboard, and the life jacket's a little snug around his cheeks!
Sometimes he'd tolerate it, and other times, the whole apparatus was just a little too much for him.
Carter still thinks he's pretty cool, though. Especially in sunglasses. He put these on himself.
Carter and "Papa" (Carter's name for grandpa) keep up their oral hygiene, even on the boat. Don't want to have bad kissing breath!
Mark and I got some good snuggle time while "mimi" and "papa" took care of Carter.
After our boating adventure (and Carter going green for a short time during some rough water), Mark and I set out for our own trip. We planned a backpack/climbing/mountaineering expedition in the North Cascades National Park while my parents watched Carter. After we got to the ranger station, however, it turned out the road to our trail had washed out, so with 50lb packs we had to hike an additional 2.5 miles each way. The trail was also quite challenging, often having to climb hand over foot because it was so steep. Here's Mark climbing through a tunnel of trees.
The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, though. We saw a black bear, avalanches, and evidence of why it's called the cascades. There are these beautiful waterfalls everywhere. You can see them here in the background.
We got to Boston Basin, sort of the base of our rock climb, to set up camp. I've never slept in such a beautiful setting. It was so pristine and untouched. I felt as if I had found the top of the world where no one else had ever been.
We camped that night pretty near where I'm standing, and woke up to beautiful blue skies and warm weather. But I just couldn't do it. I was so physically worn out, I knew I'd never make it up a jagged peak and then make it all the way down to the car. I'm definitely not in the great shape I used to be in. So we enjoyed our view and then hiked back down. Two days later, I'm still in pain. Meanwhile, Mark's gearing up to climb Mt. Rainier with a friend tomorrow. I'm still working on climbing the stairs.
Anyway, we're having a great trip so far, and I'm looking forward to some quiet time around town with my parents and Carter while Mark's gone. We've talked about going to a lavender farm and an earth sanctuary (some sort of meditative, relaxing place). I think those plans are more my speed considering my aching quads. Hopefully, I'll be up for the long walk through the airport by the time we leave on Monday!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Worth all the effort
We just got back from camping at Buffalo Creek this weekend, and all the planning and hemming and hawing was totally worth it. We even ended up staying an extra night because we were having such an awesome time. It still was pretty "stuff intensive" as you can see in the picture. Definitely not the lightweight backpacker mode of years ago.
We broke down and even bought camp chairs. Carter got a little one just his size, and he loved it.
Winston and Carter loved just playing in the grass. Carter loved to climb into the holes that Winston dug.
We also found some great bike trails that we could take the trailer on. Carter loved watching the scenery go by and would inevitably fall asleep.
We did a lot of just hanging out. My favorite part.
He also helped with some bike maintenance.
Overall, it was a great trip with great weather. Carter loved it and so did we.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
How did it get so complicated?
Mark and I have been talking about going camping with some friends of ours this weekend. We've been camping with them many times before and have gotten pretty good at picking a place and being ready to go within a few hours. We've gotten good at being spontaneous. That is, until kids. They have a 6-week-old, and we have Carter and Winston. This weekend's trip planning went something like this:
Tuesday: Propose trip with maps and book descriptions of climbing route for Dave and Mark and kid-friendly campsites for Kelly, Erin, and kids.
Wednesday: Continue discussion of logistics and how former weekend plans can be rescheduled.
Thursday: 15 calls back and forth regarding weather. Failed attempts at reserving a campsite. Decide that destination is too high in altitude anyway. 15 more calls about other possibilities that are low in altitude and warm, near a 14er with a good snow route, not too far a drive, and not too crowded. Decide the trip isn't worth it. Reconsider. Call back. Finally, Mark and Dave pick a mountain to climb Saturday and then will meet Kelly and Erin at new campsite. Assign cars and passengers.
On the schedule for Friday: Grocery shop, laundry, pack, weld picnic table, shop for camp chairs, pick up bike at the shop.
Somehow, we have taken a four hour process from idea to departure and turned it into a grueling marathon of phone calls, scheduling, and weighing options. I think we'll get better at the whole routine, but it definitely takes practice and experience with a little one. I'll let you know how the trip goes and whether it was all worth it.
Here's a picture of Carter at his first attempt at camping almost a year ago. Hopefully this time will be cleaner, too.
Tuesday: Propose trip with maps and book descriptions of climbing route for Dave and Mark and kid-friendly campsites for Kelly, Erin, and kids.
Wednesday: Continue discussion of logistics and how former weekend plans can be rescheduled.
Thursday: 15 calls back and forth regarding weather. Failed attempts at reserving a campsite. Decide that destination is too high in altitude anyway. 15 more calls about other possibilities that are low in altitude and warm, near a 14er with a good snow route, not too far a drive, and not too crowded. Decide the trip isn't worth it. Reconsider. Call back. Finally, Mark and Dave pick a mountain to climb Saturday and then will meet Kelly and Erin at new campsite. Assign cars and passengers.
On the schedule for Friday: Grocery shop, laundry, pack, weld picnic table, shop for camp chairs, pick up bike at the shop.
Somehow, we have taken a four hour process from idea to departure and turned it into a grueling marathon of phone calls, scheduling, and weighing options. I think we'll get better at the whole routine, but it definitely takes practice and experience with a little one. I'll let you know how the trip goes and whether it was all worth it.
Here's a picture of Carter at his first attempt at camping almost a year ago. Hopefully this time will be cleaner, too.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Saving
Everyone has strange little quirks. Little things that make us unique. For example, my aunt doesn't like lots of water, in the sink, for instance. But as easy as it is to see other people's eccentricities, it is all the more difficult to see our own. And then we begin to wonder if we even have any quirks. Maybe we're one of the few normal people out there. But deep down we know there's something. It's just a matter of finding it.
The form of my quirk is slowly beginning to take shape in my mind. I'm beginning to realize I do have that little something that makes me special. I'm a saver of little random things, usually consumables. Mark calls it hoarding. I had never really thought much about it until recently as I've been trying to slowly clean out our house. For example, I have sample Clinique facewash tubes that I've been saving for that perfect trip where I'll need a tube just that size. But I've had the tubes for at least 10 years now. I know because they have an "E" in permanent marker on them, something Laura and I used to do to keep our stuff straight. That was before I went to college. I'm thinking facewash has a pretty long shelf-life, but not that long.
A few weeks ago I was cleaning out a binder to use for work and came across about 10 sheets of notebook paper. Without thinking, I put the paper in a folder and put it back in my desk. The average person would throw it out. But I think of the unneeded trash that I would be creating. The paper's perfectly good. Not wrinkled. Holes in tact. But it's ten sheets of paper. And it's from high school. I know I'm not going to use it any time soon.
What really drives Mark crazy is my need to save food. I'll save three bites of leftover macaroni for that time when I really need a snack and don't feel like fixing anything. Mark tells me it's 10 cents worth of pasta, but that's not the point. It's the effort that went into it and the waste if I threw it out. It finally really hit me when I had put a sippy cup back in the fridge with less than an ounce of milk in it. It's that little bit that can't even be drunk because of how the cup works. Mark asked me why I didn't just put it in the dishwasher. I had no good reason, but I know that in the back of my mind I was thinking, you could just pour some more milk in there later and then that milk wouldn't be wasted.
I wonder where this strange quirk of mine came from. We weren't poor when I was growing up. We had everything we needed and then some. It's this spartan part of my personality that maybe gives me a sense of control and goodness, maybe like when people fast and feel virtuous. Maybe its roots are in my dad's mom who grew up in the depression and tries to make use of everything, and give away the things she can't. She'll often offer me empty nut containers or canned goods that she couldn't make use of. I think how odd that is, and yet, in my own way, I do the same thing.
So one of my recent goals is to let go of those unused and unneeded things. I recently filled a trashcan with old makeup samples and free cosmetic bags that I've never used. And I get a different sense of virtuosity from it. A sense of freedom and pride that I don't need so many material things. Granted, I'm giving up things that I never used in the first place, but it's the letting go that's important. With my cabinets and closets less cluttered, my life also feels more spacious and open. Funny how such little things can make such a difference. I did end up throwing out those 10 sheets of notebook paper.
The form of my quirk is slowly beginning to take shape in my mind. I'm beginning to realize I do have that little something that makes me special. I'm a saver of little random things, usually consumables. Mark calls it hoarding. I had never really thought much about it until recently as I've been trying to slowly clean out our house. For example, I have sample Clinique facewash tubes that I've been saving for that perfect trip where I'll need a tube just that size. But I've had the tubes for at least 10 years now. I know because they have an "E" in permanent marker on them, something Laura and I used to do to keep our stuff straight. That was before I went to college. I'm thinking facewash has a pretty long shelf-life, but not that long.
A few weeks ago I was cleaning out a binder to use for work and came across about 10 sheets of notebook paper. Without thinking, I put the paper in a folder and put it back in my desk. The average person would throw it out. But I think of the unneeded trash that I would be creating. The paper's perfectly good. Not wrinkled. Holes in tact. But it's ten sheets of paper. And it's from high school. I know I'm not going to use it any time soon.
What really drives Mark crazy is my need to save food. I'll save three bites of leftover macaroni for that time when I really need a snack and don't feel like fixing anything. Mark tells me it's 10 cents worth of pasta, but that's not the point. It's the effort that went into it and the waste if I threw it out. It finally really hit me when I had put a sippy cup back in the fridge with less than an ounce of milk in it. It's that little bit that can't even be drunk because of how the cup works. Mark asked me why I didn't just put it in the dishwasher. I had no good reason, but I know that in the back of my mind I was thinking, you could just pour some more milk in there later and then that milk wouldn't be wasted.
I wonder where this strange quirk of mine came from. We weren't poor when I was growing up. We had everything we needed and then some. It's this spartan part of my personality that maybe gives me a sense of control and goodness, maybe like when people fast and feel virtuous. Maybe its roots are in my dad's mom who grew up in the depression and tries to make use of everything, and give away the things she can't. She'll often offer me empty nut containers or canned goods that she couldn't make use of. I think how odd that is, and yet, in my own way, I do the same thing.
So one of my recent goals is to let go of those unused and unneeded things. I recently filled a trashcan with old makeup samples and free cosmetic bags that I've never used. And I get a different sense of virtuosity from it. A sense of freedom and pride that I don't need so many material things. Granted, I'm giving up things that I never used in the first place, but it's the letting go that's important. With my cabinets and closets less cluttered, my life also feels more spacious and open. Funny how such little things can make such a difference. I did end up throwing out those 10 sheets of notebook paper.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Natalie's Wedding, NC
This past weekend I went to my first wedding of a friend. I had only really known what the process was like from the inside, hosting my own wedding, so it was fun to be a guest and bridesmaid and see what the process is like. From just this wedding I already have things I wish I would have done differently at my own. Too bad I'll only get married once. Anyway, I got to spend some awesome time with another friend from college, Noelani. We had such a great time reconnecting, and it reminded me that weddings are as much about the people attending the wedding as they are about the people getting married. Below are some pictures from the weekend.
Here we are checking into the hotel. Noelani thought it was the perfect photo op:
The rehearsal dinner. I don't think we look too bad considering we had about 20 minutes from the time we checked in to the hotel to the time we were getting picked up!
In our fairy princess dresses at the end of the night.
I left my camera in NC, so these are all pictures Noelani sent me. Hopefully I'll have some more in a few days when my camera is returned. Stay posted!
P.S. For those of you complaining that you couldn't leave comments without signing in, I've fixed that so anyone can leave a message. Just keep 'em clean!
Here we are checking into the hotel. Noelani thought it was the perfect photo op:
The rehearsal dinner. I don't think we look too bad considering we had about 20 minutes from the time we checked in to the hotel to the time we were getting picked up!
In our fairy princess dresses at the end of the night.
I left my camera in NC, so these are all pictures Noelani sent me. Hopefully I'll have some more in a few days when my camera is returned. Stay posted!
P.S. For those of you complaining that you couldn't leave comments without signing in, I've fixed that so anyone can leave a message. Just keep 'em clean!
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