Road Trip

The girls, my sister, and I headed out today to visit my mother on Cranberry Island in Maine. This will be our last road trip of the summer. As shocking as it seems to me after I return home I need to start attending meetings and getting my room ready for the coming school year. Our drive today was long (as usual) and we hit several places of construction and tourism traffic. The last boat onto the Island left Manset as 5:20. We missed it by a couple of minutes. It is rather frustrating to leave your house at 9 AM and drive that long to miss a boat by a couple of minutes.

It became obvious to me as we worked our way through the congested traffic on Mount desert Island that we would not be able to make that boat. I called my mother to see about a later one only to find that there wasn't. Luckily she placed a call to my Uncle Lewis and he readily agreed to give us a lift. It was a really nice thing for him to do as he was about to put steaks on the grill to cook for dinner, but came over to get us instead. Chloe literally cheered when I told them in the car. She loves to ride on that boat. Uncle Louis said he was glad to do it as he had been rather bored and wanting an excuse to get out.

The drive itself was rather peasant and uneventful. I feel like traveling with another adult is an unbelievable luxury. I am so use to driving on long trips with two kids, a dog, and just me that I forgot what it is like to have an extra set of hands. Someone to pass back snacks and change the video, not to mention handing me things to eat. I am usually fishing around in a tote bag on the floor while the other hand it on the steering wheel. It always feels a little wreckless and irresponsible. Although as we were heading in to Bangor on the interstate I mentioned to my sister that the guy head of us on a motorcycle seemed to only be using on hand. He kept moving his other arm and head all around. It seemed odd to me for a biker. They usually seem to use both hands- especially on the interstate. She agreed that he seemed rather haphazard. We passed him a short while later only to see that he was texting. Texting while riding a motorcycle down the interstate. I couldn't believe it! When he finished he settled into the bike and flew by us going about 85- 90. I was glad that we reached our exit before I had to see how that ended. It didn't seem like any of it was a good idea. So maybe fiddling around to hand back Goldfish crackers isn't as bad as I thought.

A Trip to the Dentist

There are occasions in a parent's life where you just do not know how your kids ended up so different. The girls had a dental appointment this morning. Alexa had never been to the dentist before. This was her first trip. Chloe has been about 5 times now (starting when she was three), but this was her first visit to this dentist. Her dad and I decided to try a new dentist, one that specialized in kids.

Both girls were shy at first but cooperative. We all went to the brushing area where the hygienist's gave the girls new brushes and worked with them on how to brush their teeth properly. We then went into the exam room. At first they were not going to have Alexa do a cleaning because she is so young. They really stress an experience that doesn't stress the child out. We then decided to try it, and she and I went into another room. She was very cooperative; doing everything they asked. She got through a full polishing, flossing, had the fluoride brushed on her teeth, and a check by the dentist. She then got to pick out of the prize box. She choose a green ring (just like Dora in her favorite book about Dora visiting the dentist) and a sticker. She literally skipped her way out of the room and down the hall to her sister's room.

I had already heard Chloe complaining and crying from down the hall. I opted to stay with Alexa as I hoped she might do better dealing with just new people without mom intervening. Chloe has never been easy at the dentist. She resists any of the flavors for the polishing as ,"yucky" and often clamps her mouth shut when asked to open. I entered her room to find her turned around in the chair legs and arms crossed refusing to look at anyone. Needless to say the hygienist had long since called it a day. We had discussed Chloe's issues ahead of time and I told her she is often difficult and unreasonable. She assured me that it was not uncommon (I think they just say that to make you feel better) and that they would keep trying every six months. She said some kids are not ready for their first full cleaning until the age of 8. She did cooperate for the dentist (who must qualify for some kind of medal). Although at that point I was sitting next to her and she got a view of her sister's prizes that may have offered proper motivation. He got a look inside and felt like things were progressing OK and there was no evidence of decay. She got to pick from the prize box at the end and choose a sticker and a lizard.

It never ceases to amaze me how different they are. We left with Alexa skipping along saying how fun she thought the dentist was, and me holding Chloe's hand whispering a lecture of proper behavior and being cooperative. All in all it did go a lot better at this dentist's office. Our previous dentist actually yelled at her (she was four at the time). I left that experience with both of us so stressed I wanted to cry too. Hopefully over time she will get use to people working in her mouth and cooperate. She has never been a kid to take the easy road. Everything is a battle and her sister is almost the complete opposite. Thank God because I don't think I could take two the same.

Dragon Boat Festival

We headed down to Waterfront Park to watch the Dragon Boat Races today. It is a fund raiser for breast cancer research. I had some coworkers that were participating in the races. Unfortunately, even though the day began with sunshine the weather quickly turned on us. We huddled under umbrellas during the worst of the downpours and got to see a few heats of the races.

Chloe and Alexa eating lunch in their wagon shelter.

In a brief moment of no rain we got out to cheer.

The atmosphere was really jovial and upbeat despite the crummy weather. It brought out one of the things I like best about Burlington- people here are always willing to cheer for a cause. Some of the costumes were amazing and a great sense of humor was evident even on the way down to the park.

The sign post was doubling as a traffic director.





Loved all the costumes- where do you even buy this hat?

Chloe took some wonderful pictures of what she called Dragon Boat City.

Boating to Burlington

The big excitement today was the arrival of Aunt Andrea! She flew into New York City a few days ago from Phoenix, took the train up to Port Kent, and the ferry across to Burlington. Yes, she could have flown directly, but decided to go the more scenic route and catch up on some work contacts in the city for a few days. Here she is... (photo by Chloe-note the happy Alexa)

The girls are always excited to see their aunt. After dinner on the deck they decided to show off their "Swing Show". Chloe does this almost every time we have company. The routine changes each time. Tonight she was shouting out various titles and posing them. Things such as "Smashing through the screen door," (where her feet would fly out to the sides), "Breaking Fence Post" (arms wrapped around), "Blooming Flowers," "Flying Birds", "Swiming Fish" I seriously have never heard her say or do these things before. It was a riot what she will pull out to try to entertain people. I tried to capture them on film, but seemed to be just missing the action (I blame the digital delay).

Alexa tries to keep up, but who can really?

Rainy Day Art

Another rainy day in Vermont. We had a few sunny ones in the middle. It is always interesting what the girls will do to entertain themselves inside on a rainy day. Alexa was building a path for her stuffed animals to walk on. The path is made up of books and the dog was the evil dragon in the middle. Poor Cabbie becomes an evil dragon in a lot of the games around here.

The biggest entertainer around here in the rain is art projects. We usually pick up a couple of craft books for kids in the library each week. Today we decided to make cats. It kept them busy for a good chunk of time.

Chloe then went on to spend about and hour and a half coloring a washable fabric horse. It amazes me how long she will sit and work on things like this.

My biggest problem with their love of art projects is what to do with them. I can not tell you how many projects are around my house. I have an entire tote in the basement filled. There is a wall in my kitchen that I divided in half (one side for each kid) to hang art work on- it is full. In fact it is more of a collage because everything over laps everything else. There is a pile in my office on top of their easel. Plus there is no telling how much stuff I secretly slide into the recycle bin on Monday nights for the Tuesday morning pick up. It is crazy. I harbor a secret guilt that one day they will discover how many of the, "I made this just for you mommy" pictures that I have parted with. If I didn't I think I would have been buried in them.

Inventions I Don't Understand

I went for a six mile run this afternoon while the girls were having dinner with dad. I actually was hoping for more like 9 or 10, but it like 85 degrees out there. I know that for those of you in the West that is your low temperature, but for here that is hot and I am sooo not cut out for running in it. I cut it down to 6 and totally consumed the water I left for myself along the way in a matter of minutes. While I was running I was noticing a few things. Some things that just made me wonder who comes up with this stuff?

I know it is probably just me (usually is) but I really don't get these. One, I don't get who thought it up and thought it was a good idea. Two, they pitched the idea to other people and they thought it was a good idea too. And three, people bought it and paid money for it. Seriously I think I am missing something. So here it is the three things that I came across on my run today and I can not figure out why they were ever created.


First off capris for men. I know I brought this one up in an earlier blog the first time I saw it. I am on sighting like five now and I really, really, really, do not get this fashion choice. I must just put it out there for all the guys I know and say, "This is not a good look for you." Because frankly people it isn't a good look for anyone. It looks like you are wearing your wife/girlfriend/ sister's clothes. I mean I am OK with that if that is what you are into and all, but as a fashion choice it really does NOT work.

Secondly bike trailers for dogs. Is it just me? I passed two of them on the bike path today. One contained two dogs and they were barking the whole time. How can this be pleasant? These are not kid trailers that people stuck the dog in either. These are bike trailers for the dog. So picture the board meeting when that one got pitched. How is it possible that the majority of people in that room thought it was a good idea. I am not saying as a business idea it was bad. I mean lets look at it I saw two of them in under and hour so somebody is buying them. I just can't quite picture how you take yourself seriously talking about it.

The third thing is very similar to number two- dog strollers. Saw it- kid you not. People walking along happy as you please pushing the dog in the stroller. I was wondering doesn't it work better when you take the dog for a walk to... um.. I don't know.. actually walk the dog? Does the dog need a walk after the walk to do all the things dogs do on a walk? Just wondering.

Caution

Caution should always be exerted when a small child is armed with a hose.

One can also never be careful enough when swimming. Even if the pool is only about a foot and a half deep. Note the protective eye wear in the event that anyone should get splashed.

Summer is finally here and it is getting a little crazy here people.