We have already been in Vermont for two and a half months! Wow. For the entire first month, we were in a hotel, and it took about a month to get unpacked and settled in our new place. It feels good to have a home again.
In spite of our move, we've been able to do so many fun things this summer. There is so much to explore in Vermont and dozens of places within a day's drive, too.
We were still in the hotel for Eden's birthday, but we drove up to Lake Bomoseen for her birthday party. She loves the sunshine and the beach.
I can't believe this baby is one year old already!
All these baby ducks and their mama really liked Bennett. :)
Before Ryan left for work on Eden's birthday, we had cake in the hotel lobby.
"Yummy! I don't know what this is, but I like it!"
We took a quick weekend trip to Washington, D.C. to see Ryan's Grandma Chalk. I'd never met her, and she hasn't met most of the grandkids on Ryan's side, either. I'm glad we finally got acquainted!
We went to see the DC temple before church on Sunday. We had the whole place to ourselves.
In the afternoon, Ryan's grandma came to see a few sites with us. Here's Ryan and Grandma Chalk in front of the White House.
We never thought we'd stoop to this, but we've become those parents who keep their children on a leash. Those who know Bennett will understand why. :)
Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
Grandma started getting tired, so we ended up taking a car tour of the sites in DC.
Arlington National Cemetery
Eden opening a late birthday present in the hotel.
Now that Ryan isn't in school and only one of us is working, we have weekends again! We have taken lots of day trips, including one to Saratoga Springs in June.
My friend Sarah grew up near Toga, so she told us where to go. Here's Bennett on the carousel in downtown. He looks happy here, but once it started, he was terrified.
Eden loved it. She's a little more adventurous than Bennett.
We drove around Saratoga Spa State Park, which was beautiful!
Instead of paying for the overpriced and overcrowded swimming pool, we took a dip in the river.
Before heading home, I convinced Ryan to drive through the Saratoga battlefield. I love how much history there is in the Northeast.
In July, we finally got to move into our place! We basically unloaded all our stuff and then took off for the 4th of July weekend. Ryan's schedule was kinda weird, and he was "stuck" in New Hampshire for the holiday, so the kids and I went down to hang out with him.
We met up with one of Ryan's friends from his mission in the Philippines in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She cooked us some Filipino food, and we went to the beach.
The weather was decent in the morning, but Hurricane Arthur hit later that day. The hurricane brought LOTS of rain, which cancelled all the fireworks in the area. It was an interesting 4th of July because we ended up getting pizza and driving around Manchester in the rain. :)
Fun on the beach!
Eden deep in thought.
When we got back from the 4th of July hurricane, we had to address this problem:
We took a break from unpacking to go see fireworks on the 5th in Brandon, just 30 minutes north of us. The weather was great, and we were glad we got a second chance for fireworks since the hurricane dampened them on the 4th.
Eden is 13 months old in this picture, but she still fits in her blessing dress. I'm so glad that Grandma Achatz made it a little big!
Exploring Vermont. This is in Proctor, just outside of our town.
Wilson Castle in Proctor
Sunday pictures!
Once Eden was reunited with her high chair and we could more easily feed her real food again, she was unstoppable. She LOVES to eat and is like a vacuum, inhaling everything we put in front of her.
Bennett gets really excited about Ryan's job and loves to go watch him take off in the evening or land in the morning.
One morning after picking up Dad from the airport, we went to Dunkin Donuts. Eden's hair hadn't been fixed yet for the day. Hahaha.
On a Sunday afternoon, we drove to Emerald Lake State Park and walked around.
Bennett would throw rocks all. day. long. if he could.
We liked Emerald Lake so much that we went back the next weekend for a camping trip.
This is the path from the campground down to the lake.
Bennett LOVES camping. We roasted hot dogs for dinner.
Bennett ran off while I was changing him, and it looks like he's doing a tribal fire dance or something. ;-]
We drove by Hildene, the Lincoln family summer home in Manchester, VT after camping.
The kids had fun in the inflatable pool on a hot day!
For Bennett's birthday, we went to Lake Dunmore for a BBQ and to play on the beach.
Eden learned to stand up on her own. She hasn't taken her first steps yet, but that's OK. :)
Daddy grilling some cheese hamburgers (that's what Bennett calls them)
There's the birthday boy!
We forgot the marshmellows (duh!) on our camping trip to Emerald Lake, so we redeemed ourselves and made some at Lake Dunmore.
Yum! Bennett's 1st s'more.
After the BBQ, we played on the beach. It will be a long time before we run out of lakes to explore. . .
Paddling around
Bennett's birthday was the next day. He opened presents before church.
Later, we had birthday cake. :) He wanted a blue fish.
Bennett got a fishing pole for his birthday, so we went fishing the next day.
Ryan had to help him cast it, but Bennett did a great job reeling the line in.
Singing "Happy Birthday" to Eden
The little vacuum shoving food into her mouth
