We're Ba-ack!

Song: Up up and Away by 5th demention (again)

We arrived home yesterday lunch time from our vacation to New England. It was fabulous! Just what I needed. To recap... Russell went up to Peabody, Mass last Sunday for work, and I flew up Wed night to join him. Thanks to the gabillion business trips he takes a year we had enough miles to get my ticket for free, woohoo! And thanks to Russell's work for paying for Wednesday night's hotel stay, phew.

We met up with Russell's BU college friend Gideon in Boston late Wednesday, straight from the airport. I am crossing my fingers for this guy... he is looking for a gorgeous, Jewish, highly intelligent, red head to call his own, so if you know anybody, let me know! ;)

Thurs we headed up to Vermont. We stopped by the little picturesque town of Quechee, where we had lunch at Simon Pearce. Simon Pearce is a glassblower who moved to VT from Ireland in the 70's, and opened a studio at this gorgeous mill. It is his original location, but now has like 12 across the US. His restaurant uses all his hand blown glasses and pottery, very cool. Good creme brulee too!! You'll see the pics below.

We came back to Quechee for our balloon ride before sunset. Russ promised me a hot air balloon ride as a wedding gift, but we never had a chance to do it. When I saw that they did balloon rides near where we were staying I jumped all over it! I love the fall, it is my FAVORITE season. So seeing the changing leaves from above sounded like a dream to me. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and more. The people from Balloons Over New England were wonderful. Russ and I shared the balloon with two lovely ladies from Bellingham, WA and the pilot. We flew over the hills and dense forests for a bit over an hour. The landing was adventurous and bumpy, but made for an exciting end. We landed in a privately owned pasture which was at about a 30% or more angle. The balloon basket hopped and tipped over about 5 times before coming to a stop. I loved seeing the changing trees from this perspective, they looked like coral. As we pulled away from the landing spot in the truck, the pilot got out and gave the land owners a bottle of champagne as a thank you. I guess its a 200 year tradition to do that. How sweet is that?

Anyway.. the rest of the weekend was fab as well, we went to a working farm where they make their own cheese and maple syrup. I have a new respect for those who still produce this sweet sticky yumminess the old fashioned way. In the snow with buckets collecting sap and boiling it down on a wood fired evaporator. 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup, pretty cool.

We also went to a fine woodcarving festival in nearby Woodstock, VT. Our Bed and Breakfast owner did the PR for this event, so she encouraged us to go. I am glad we did, really cool stuff! Someday I will own furniture that my kids will not destroy. For now... Goodwill is good for us! :)

Glad to be back, the kids look different, but had a smashingly good time with Grandma! Enjoy the pics!

Gulp, swallowing my pride

Sometimes events happen that force you to swallow your pride and admit you were at least a little wrong. Life's hardest lesson is to see the bright side when something feels like it happens to you. I admit, I did not match someones expectations of me. I understand as well that I did not have the same expectations for myself, which is ok. I am glad in many ways for the decision that was made. It relieves me a bit of responsibility and allows me to focus on school and Orion's birthday. Every challenge presents a learning opportunity, I have learned and am moving forward. I will not make the same mistakes again. Sigh. Inhale. Exhale..... moving on. :)

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!

So its not quite our anniversary, but I will be packing and flying before the actual day. Sept 25th four years ago I promised these things...

To put our marriage first, always

To be faithful to you

To be truthful and honest to you

To listen with and open heart and mind

To make our home one of love and understanding

To show you my love for you through my words, touch and actions

To bring joy and happiness into our lives everyday

To encourage you to achieve your full potential

To honor the divine in you for you are God's love and creation

I can only hope I have kept up my end of the promise as much as you have. You inspire me every day! I am the luckiest woman in the world! I am honored to call you my husband. I love you always and forever!! Thank you for being my best friend, my partner, my cheerleader, my confidant, the best Daddy in the world, the family bread winner, and all around great guy!!

I can't wait to spend the weekend with you in Vermont! (and thanks in advance for the balloon ride... I am SOOOOO excited) Happy Anniversary! Love you!!!

Love, Your Honey Bunches of Oh's!

School's out... till November

Whew! I am done with this module! That was 5 intense days, and I can't stuff another piece of information into my head at all! Thank goodness I have 10 weeks to digest everything and to practice it all!
I always feel like I fall way out of the loop with all of my friends when I go to school. Its nice to merge and become one with the work and the material, but I find it so hard to start reconnecting once its over. I guess I change a bit every time I go. I have a drive to be better, nicer, kinder, more patient, better to myself, but somewhere I like my old comfortable self. I am familiar with my old self and patterns. Its easier. I would however like to move forward in life and bring my friends along with me. I want to stop gossiping so much, and offer my hand to help instead. I want to keep the same kind of space I provide in a Craniosacral session for everyone I come in contact with. I suppose some of these will be on my vision board. That's way to start.
Time to pack! I am heading off to VT on Wednesday to spend some much needed R&R time with Russell over our 4 year anniversary. First time away from either child since well before Leilani was born. Russ is already up there. Miss him already.