My crown collection

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Back to School... A Confession.



I love this time of year. I always have. The weather, in theory, starts to cool down. The trees are thinking of trading the myriad of greens for reds, golds and oranges. School supplies are on the shelves, sweaters and boots are in the stores and the lazy days of summer are traded for backpacks filled with crayons, pencils and a plethora of other required supplies. There is a feeling of equal parts excitement and dread in the air. Feelings I never really understood until I became a mom.

I LOVE starting school. I always have. I still love the idea of sitting in a classroom, a brand new notebook open, crisp white paper in front of me, a freshly sharpened pencil in hand and poised to begin whatever journey the teacher has planned. I love the smell of scotch tape or opening a brand new box of crayons all their tips perfectly sharpened as they wait for someone to transform their colors into something stunning. It always greets me as a new adventure, one with unlimited possibilities if I'm wiling to put the work in.


Once I had children that excitement changed to include them and the adventures they would have, the journeys they would take and the lessons they would learn. OK so it also includes the fact that they are at school and not at home fighting with each other but that is another blog entirely. Every year I talk up school. I ask them what they are excited about... "nothing... school sucks", is my most common response, although recess is a a close second. I ask them what is something you really hope you'll learn more about this year.... "nothing ... school sucks."

We have had talks about attitude, stretching ourselves, reaching out to others.... "great how about if I do that from my bike as I ride around the neighborhood" Nothing seems to get them excited. They are nervous, anxious and dread-filled.... How did this happen? I managed to pass on my eye color to one, my hair color to another, my sarcasm and wit along with so many other things but not my excitement for learning, at least not in a school environment. I blame it all on their father's genes. He has the same attitude. He goes because he has to. There is no joy in it. I haven't been able to cheer lead him into a different state of mind either. So as the school year kicks off. I will relish the new supplies, the adventures on the horizon and shake my pom-poms until they realize... "Hey school didn't TOTALLY suck today b/c:" I made a new friend, we had pizza for lunch, we are reading Harry Potter again, recess was extra long, I got a A; can we hang it on the fridge? Whatever it is we'll celebrate it and maybe my genes will push their way up to the front. Until then I'll keep relishing it for all of us.

I now return you back to your regularly scheduled programing. I've got pencils to buy :).

\^^^/ Ang

Monday, August 2, 2010

Waterfalls.... A Confession


My hubby , Jared and I, love waterfalls. I mean we REALLY REALLY REALLY love waterfalls. We spent our honeymoon waterfall hopping along he North Shore of Lake Superior.


I can spend hours sitting by them listening...watching... climbing over rocks and trees to get the best view, best picture.
We are now passing the obsession on to our kids. Each year we are aiming to visit at least one waterfall. Last year our trip took us to the North shore of Lake Superior in October where the leaves were showing their falls colors, the waterfalls flow under the highways and where we saw these:

The kids at Caribou Falls

Hidden Falls on the Temperance River

Temperance Falls which flow right under the highway

Cross River Falls which also flows under the highway

Cross River Falls after it goes under the Highway

The Whole Family at High Falls at Tettegouche State Park

Step One of Two step Falls at Tettegouche State Park

Step two in Two Step Falls at Tettegouche State park

Upper Gooseberry Falls

Middle Gooseberry Falls


Lower Gooseberry Falls

This year our summer waterfall trip took us to the MOTHER (at least in North America) of all waterfalls... at Niagara Falls!!!! Where we rode the Maid of the Mist, got SOAKED to the skin and walked the entire park looking at the amazing falls!
Photo credit: Al Melhinch
Many people don't realize that Niagra Fall is actually made up of 3 seperate falls: American Falls, Bridal Veil falls and Horseshoe or Canadian Falls. Collectively they are called Niagra Falls because they are on the Niagra River.

The whole family at Horseshoe falls after riding the Maid of the Mist... thus the wet hair.

Horseshoe falls, these are the ones people refer to as Niagara Falls, they have the most water going over them at 600,000 gallons a second.


The whole family overlooking American (furthest away in the picture) & Bridal Veil (closest to us in the picture) Falls

Anyone got a barrel?

Up close of Horseshoe falls..... that's A LOT of water!

As you can see it was awesome and made us super excited for our fall trip and the falls of Watkins Glen State Park in New York! Where we will get to see 19 falls all on about a mile and half walking loop!!! Hey if your interested in falls.... let me know and I'll help you find some awesome ones near where you live :) I now return you back to your regularly scheduled programing.

\^^^/ Ang