Heather |

Indian Lake Adventure

Andy and I made our annual trip to Indian Lake Islands in the Adirondacks. My parents watched the kids for two days and his parents had them for two days, so it was just us for the adventure.

We stopped at a cute cafe in town before heading to our campsite.

There are 51 campsites (only accessible by boat) on Indian Lake. They’re run and maintained by the DEC.

We piled all our equipment in the canoe and headed out. Andy got a small outboard motor for it a few years ago so we didn’t have to paddle as much on long trips. Except…this year…The water level of the lake was pretty low and we were trying to stay out of the middle of the lake (avoiding the larger boats) and the motor hit a rock. It made the worst “Cuh-chink” sound, I turned around and saw Andy grabbing the motor as it broke off its mount and started to fall into the lake. Ahhhhhhh! Luckily he saved it from falling in but as much as he tried he couldn’t get it to work again while we were in the water. So we paddled, the 2+ hours down the lake to our campsite. Call it a bonding experience…

At least it was pretty and a seriously beautiful day!

We finally arrived at our site and started unloading the canoe.

We set up the tent, our equipment, got a fire going for dinner and explored a little.

It was too late and we were too tired to do anything about the motor that night, so inspection waited until the following day. After taking the entire thing apart on the picnic table Andy realized that when it hit the rock it sucked in water which created a ton of pressure, blowing the head gasket. He was thankful it wasn’t something else and that it wasn’t permanently damaged. Anyone who knows Andy, pretty much knows he’s MacGyver…so after a few trial and errors he fixed the broken motor with electrical tape and tinfoil. Seriously. We apprehensively took it out on the water and were completely amazed that after a few stuttering pulls it actually started and worked!

The rest of the day Saturday we just lounged around at our site. Andy fished and I read some books. We sat on the beach and went swimming. We watched a variety of wildlife (toads, frogs, snakes, newts, a cute baby mouse, ducks and lots of deer tracks). No bears :) Ben was concerned that there might be bears and said we’d better take daddy’s hunting gun with us.

We made my favorite camping dinner (chopped veggies with sausage), had smores and enjoyed the campfire. The toads were SO loud down on the beach at night (Andy got a few go pro videos I’ll have to share later). He had to put earplugs in to sleep but I was fine.

Sunday morning we made breakfast (campfire bacon and eggs are awesome) and got things together for a day hike.

Since we didn’t quite trust the motor (and wanted to save all that it would give us for the trip home) we paddled a mile further down the lake to a picnic area and trail. Water levels were really low so we could walk along the stream bed and actually over a few waterfalls, they were so pretty.

(Don’t worry mom, there was a ton of support behind me, I’m not going to fall to my doom)

We had lunch on the trail, the only time I eat ramen noodles is while camping. Andy was even kind enough to pack some extra veggies to make it somewhat resemble a bowl of soup ;-)

So thankful we could head back to the DEC headquarters, with a working motor!

Overall we had a fantastic weekend! The weather was perfect, other than a surprise passing shower the first night (nothing like an “oh crap, quick find the rain cover for the tent”), it was beautiful. A fun, relaxing adventure with my best friend! Until next year :)

Check out our first year camping with friends and second year island camping. It’s neat how every year has been a little different and there’s still so much more to explore.

Randoms

by Heather | 0 comments

It’s been a while since I’ve done a “life update” post, but I just wanted to share some of the things that have been going on around here.

I signed Ben up for Kindergarten! He had his screening last week and I had the parent info night tonight. I’m SO glad we waited, he seems perfectly ready this year. It’s been neat to watch him turn into a little leader and build his confidence over the last few months. I even had another mom come up to me at the playground and tell me since Ben had befriended her son in class this year, her little guy has really come out of his shell.

Cassidy has entered the “terrible three’s” a few months early :) She’s not really that bad, just moody and screamy sometimes. Poor Ben never knows what mood his sister is in these days, I feel for him. She still loves counting things any chance she can get, her princesses, dinosaurs and all the books.

I’ve started working at an organic farm! Just Wednesday afternoons and then when the season picks up, early Friday mornings before Andy leaves for work. I love it! It’s something I’ve always been interested in and sometime down the road would like to pair with graphic design. Agritourism, agricultural education, farm marketing…there’s something in there for me. These are just some first steps :) Right now I’m working in the greenhouse planting seeds, lots and lots of seeds!

Andy officially registered a DBA and has been doing a lot of side engineering projects. He’s also been working really hard on a set of gorgeous oak stairs we’re putting in our front entryway. Seriously who replaces the whole stairs in their house? Ours are just 60s style boards with no backs though, they’re falling apart and not supported well at all. Andy’s been staining, polyurethaning and sanding like a madman in preparation for his parents coming this weekend to help us tear out the old ones and put the new set in.

Our church has a new home! We’re renting out the Victor Sports Academy and it’s been working great for the past month. Sure church is held on astroturf, but considering how much it’s taken to get us here, we’re thrilled! The kids get to have children’s church on tumble mats in the gym, which they love. Andy helped set up all the tech equipment and screens too.

We are thiiiiiiis close to paying off my student loans. I didn’t think it could happen this year but it’s looking like it might! Stay tuned for updates! Afterwards, money will be allocated to pay off Andy’s truck and then we can start saving for land/a cabin/acres in the woods. Or, something like that. We’d be open to staying here if we had a cabin in the woods to escape to. Or if we could find a house with 5-10+ acres around here, that could work too. We love Victor (especially since Ben will be in school here) but would consider Macedon, Bloomfield or Farmington too. The Bristol and Naples areas are beautiful, but with Andy working in Greece it’s a bit unrealistic for us to live there. Maybe a cabin there though? Who knows, we’ll see what happens in the next few years :)

I turn 30 next month! And we’ll have our 10th wedding anniversary the month after that. Whaaaaat? 20s have been great, it’s been awesome to have started life with my best friend by my side. Add a house, a couple of kids, real jobs and two cats and you could almost call me an adult :)

Day in the life

by Heather | 0 comments

I’ve always wanted to do one of these, in fact I wish I had done one a few years ago when the kids were babies to compare. I took all the pics with my cell phone, but it gives you a glimpse of what goes on. Post is kind of long, so stick with me!

7:30am
I try to wake up before the kids to give me a few minutes to pee and brush my teeth before somebody needs me. Some days this doesn’t work because the kids wake up at 7, but most days I’m able to get a little time first. My new garmin has a vibrate alarm that I love waking up to, nice and gentle (before the chaos).

8:00-8:30
Head upstairs to make the kids breakfast and get everything ready for the day.

8:30-9:00
Drop Ben off at school, it’s held at a church about 15 minutes from the house.

9:15-11:15
Head back across town to the Y. Cassidy hangs out in childwatch while I do a CX Worx (core) and Body Combat class and then shower. I look thrilled.

11:30
Wait in line to pick Ben up from school.

11:45-12:15
We get home and play outside for a little bit until Cassidy starts complaining that her hands are cold. She’s taken off her gloves and refuses to put them back on.

12:15-12:45
Kids watch the Lego movie while I get some chores done.

I grab some more firewood from the back and add it to the fireplace downstairs. We heat with wood in the winter so you have to keep things going all day or else it dies out and is a pain to restart.

I also make myself some lunch and try to eat a little bit before I have a visitor asking for some.

12:45-1:15
Make the kids lunch and do some dishes while they eat.

1:15-1:30
We read a few books before nap time.

1:30-3:30
Ben has quiet time and Cassidy naps while I head downstairs to get some work done.

My two favorite office mates are always on the job.

3:30-5:00
Kids are up, we have snack and Cassidy colors while Ben works on his Valentine’s for class.

The kids finish their projects and actually start to play nicely with Legos. I take the chance to vacuum upstairs (we hosted the youth group Superbowl party the night before and there are crumbs everywhere). Not that there normally aren’t crumbs everywhere, there just happens to be a lot more of them today.

I bring the vacuum downstairs with every intent of cleaning the bottom floor later (it never happens, I usually get to it the following week). While I’m downstairs I notice the litter box needs to be scooped (no picture, lol). In the middle of scooping cat poop I hear Ben freaking out upstairs because Cassidy had an accident. I leave the half scooped poop and go upstairs to find Cassidy actually tried to climb up on the potty and go herself and ended up getting pee all over the seat and floor. Clean up that mess and then head back downstairs to finish cat poop.

5:00-6:00
I make dinner (sorry no pics) and the kids and I eat. I clean the kitchen up and make a plate for Andy when he gets home. Sometimes he makes it home in time to eat with us, other times he’s pretty late. Today he gets home at 6:30.

6:30-7:00
After Andy eats he somehow gets into a little wrestling match with the kids :)

7:00-7:30
Bathtime, teeth, jammies and story time for Cassidy.

7:30-8:00
Ben and Andy play video games for a little bit until it’s Ben’s turn for a bath and bed.

8:00-8:30
Laundry! There are 5 lovely loads of it waiting downstairs in the laundry room. I separate the kids into their baskets to be put away tomorrow (again if we’re being honest, they’re still sitting upstairs 3 days later waiting to be put away). I do put Andy’s and my clothes away though.

8:30-9:00
One of my least favorite chores, meal planning and figuring out the shopping list for the week. Normally I go grocery shopping on Thursdays (so I plan Wednesday nights) but this week my car is going to be at the dealer’s on Thursday because we found out about a gas tank recall (fun wow!). So I need to meal plan and get things together Monday night to shop on Tuesday.

9:00-9:30
I return some emails and texts that I never got to earlier in the day. I also try to deal with some of the papers that have accumulated on the kitchen counters, but only halfheartedly and most of them remain there for me to deal with another day. I separate out Ben’s school papers, look at what he worked on that day and recycle what I don’t save. I also gather up all the library books strewn about the livingroom and put them in the library bag for the morning.

9:30-11:00
Andy and I sit on the couch, he’s doing something on his laptop and watching TV. I’m working on a logo design for a friend who is starting her own business. I finish up the Illustrator file and email her a pdf to review.

11:00-11:30
I get my pjs on, wash my face and brush teeth (aren’t our family of tooth brushes cute!) I also pack my gym bag for tomorrow.

11:30-11:45
Doesn’t always happen, but I do try to take a little time to unwind before bed (even if it’s just a few minutes). Sometimes it’s reading (until I fall asleep a few minutes later) and other times I journal or do devotions.

Goodnight!
And that’s it! Rinse, lather, repeat the next day. Actually every day of the week is a little different…Tuesday is Ben’s library class day and Wednesday afternoon the kids spend with my pastor’s wife so I can get some design work done. All of them are crazy, exhausting, wonderful, hard, fun, full days!

Life list

by Heather | 1 Comment

Do you have a bucket list? I have a bunch of things I’d like to experience at least once. I think some of these will naturally evolve as life does and some of these won’t ever happen, but some will. What’s on your list?

– Finish a quilt

– Can meat (pressure canner scares me)

– Get my pilot’s license

– Get my hunting license

– Visit Alaska

– Dog sled while in Alaska

– Work on a farm

– Become a falconer

– Live modestly, purge what we don’t use

– Visit Scotland

– Own a dog that Andy does hate, ha!

– Make cheese (bonus if I milked the cow or goat too)

– Visit the Smithsonian

– Celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary (I’d be 70!)

– Be debt free (including mortgage)

– Keep a sketch book, sketch

– Build a dream house on 10+ acres with woods and a creek

– Do an internship at someplace like Genesee Country Village

– See in 3D, do a magic eye

– Learn to play the violin or piano

– Get a stormtrooper costume and walk around town in it

– Be someone who gets monthly massages

– Teach my kids to read

– Scuba dive

– Work on a vintage letter press with metal type

– Learn more about coffee from growing, to roasting to making the perfect cup

Pittsburgh #3: The Race

by Heather | 0 comments

We got new team shirts for the race this year.

We didn’t plan on it being in the 80s on race day though, all of our training had been over the winter and in freezing temps. We ended up wearing our tank tops.

We totally lucked out, the windows on our hotel room floor had an awesome view of the start line. While the half marathon ladies headed out early, because I was the last leg of the relay I got to sit and watch the elite runners, bikers, half and full marathons start.

I didn’t get any pictures of us during the race, but this is our team afterwards! Jill, Jacquie, Rachel, Heidi and I were on the relay team. We split the full marathon into 5 legs. Cheryl, Jodi, Beth, Patty, Sue and Lexi all ran a half marathon.

We each wore a “Runner girl” jamberry for our races too.

You ladies are awesome and I’m so honored to run with you. I’ve learned so much about myself as we’ve tackled hills, blizzards, blisters, injuries, heat and miles in between together. Laughing and solving the world’s problems with you is just awesome, it makes the running part worth it ;-)