A 1st for KACK land...

On a February day, in the midst of a relaxing winter break, the children all wanted to play in the snow.... but each of the darling children wanted to do something different. One wanted to sled, another wanted to snowshoe and the last wanted to skate. Oh, where to go, for the mommy to take them to find all three of these things in one place? why, of course, KACK land.

This past Thursday the kids were wanted to get out in the balmy winter weather (it was probably between 30-34 degrees... almost spring weather up here) and do different fun winter activities. Colin had been given a pair of hockey skates that he was anxious to try out, and Sadie had just learned that she fit into Natalie's old ice skate and was very much wanting to use them. All of the kids had been loving using their snowshoes as of late - but Natalie really just wanted to sled. I wanted to make the outing something of an adventure, but understood my limitations and realized that I couldn't help and monitor all 3 of these kids doing different things. Knowing that my parents house (KACK Land - short for Kevin, Ann, Chris and Kerry) provides an oasis of winter fun, I thought we would try skating out on their lake. Although we have been vacationing at this lake for over 20 years and my parents have had the house for at least 10 years, we have never ventured out on the ice for skating. All the grown ups were a little unsure about how skating, both Colin and Sadie were overly optimistic and persistent about the idea. It was a huge success.... we had to snowshoe down to the lake since the snow was so deep and Natalie managed to sled down to the lake (getting in the fun she wanted) and then we got out the big broom to clear off a section of the lake and the skating began. All that was missing was a nice wooden bench to get your skates on (don't worry, I already have an idea of where I might be able to get one of those made...)

Sadie loved skating. She had taken lessons last year and did great out there!
What awesomeness!

Colin seemed like a natural in the skates. This was the first time he had skated and did great! He definitely "marched" more than glided on the skates, but he held his own staying up on them. I think the natural bumpiness that comes with a lake helped provide him some extra traction. He was so proud of himself - telling us over and over again about how he was "playing hockey." We had told him about how my cousin was a hockey player and then he said over and over again, "You have to tell JC that I play hockey!"

This experience was great in so many ways. I love being up at my parents house. It provides a sanctuary that I don't feel at my house. I feel excited when we take advantage of the natural surroundings that it has to offer. I love getting the kids out and doing things with them. I love seeing them try new things and then be proud of the work that they did... and on top of that - this activity was very focused on Colin and Sadie and I think with all the ski talk lately, that Natalie has been gotten a lot of the limelight. It was nice to do an activity where that light was shared...

Who knew that we could be loving and enjoying Winter!

I've got the bug....

The Skiing Bug!

Views from Whiteface. The picture really doesn't do it justice.

skiing a big mountain!

Natalie and Benjamin before we headed out.

I have been loving getting out and skiing this winter. It has been so great to do an outdoor activity in the winter - rather than spending the ultra long months of winter indoors. It has become a reason to be excited about snow and cold weather. I have discovered a blessing in the mountains that we live in and for the first time in a long time, I have felt like the Adirondack North Country is the best place ever to live. Not only do we have great summers, but the winter wonderland holds a new beauty when I know that I can get out and enjoy it. All the mountains and snowtop peaks are sooooo coool. It's been so fun to see Natalie's confidence level increase while learning and practicing this sport. I have really enjoyed doing an activity with her that we both like (can't say that we both enjoy playing Candyland - if you know what I mean!)

Yesterday, we got to ski at a BIG moutain and joined friends at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid. This mountain is HUGE in comparison to skiing at West and Natalie handled it like a natural. She was awesome and had the perfect balance between wanting to explore new things, yet cautious and safe in her skiing. The views were amazing and we were so lucky to ski in bright sunshine and relative warmth! Thanks to the Kniskerns for opening thier ski home to us for the day!

I may have to seek help for this "bug" that I have caught as I have been dreaming and planning many more ski adventures for this winter (and it is already almost March!). Sadly, this sport isn't cheap and I may be planning beyond not only my fiancial means, but also might be forgetting that I work full time, have 3 kids and a family on top of it. So, I may have to start self-talking to myself to remind me that I don't have to do it all this winter. Hopefully, there will be many winters in the years to come that we can get out and ski. Even bigger hopes - are that in the future, I will be doing it with not only Natalie, but with my entire family!

Good Marriages come from Good Friends.

Beware... before you read further, you must understand that I can be a bit of an emotional sap. I tend to be a little cheesy and every now and again, have the need to be a little touchy/ feely or owey/ gooey in sharing my feelings... so hear goes.

This past weekend, I was squeezing in a short run on the treadmill at the Y. To pass the time, I was watching the weekend version of the Today show. As valentines day was approaching, they were doing a segment on "What makes a marriage strong." They interviewed a group of 6 women, who between them had over 235 years of marriage experience to share and give the advice of what has made their own marriages last and be so strong.

They began to share their story.... they had all become friends when they were all newly married over 30 years prior and started a book club together. They agreed to meet 2x/ month to discuss their books, but soon realized that while out at "Book Club," they were not really talking about their books, but rather were talking about their husbands, their children, their stresses, their worries. Each one of them came to value this time as their sanctuary and realized that it gave them the support and emotional escape that they all needed in their lives. Women are naturally social people and tend to need to talk and vent about their feelings. Men, on the other hand, don't need this to the same extend of their spouses. So, rather than feeling un-heard or not listened to at home, these women turned to one another for that and in turn felt stronger and more powerful in their relationships at home.

The Today show then talked to the husbands... almost all of them talked about how this group had become like a family to one another. All of their children had grown up together - not necessarily as best friends, but as a special support to one another and they all knew they could lean on each other. The husband's believed that the relationship their wives had with one another allowed them to be a more passionate and caring spouse. As the group became older and faced disease and illness, there was a peace among them that showed them; should something terrible happen to one of us, our immediate family would be ok, because they had this group of friends.

(Warning... her is the sappy part) With goose bumps up my arms and tears in my eyes, I realized how truly lucky I am. I have this group (and it even began as a book club), my husband has this group and so do my children. I need these relationships with these women - to vent to, to listen to, to give advice about parenting, to talk through struggles with their spouses and to just be a friend to. I know that I learn from them regularly and hope that they feel a similar support to me.

Plus - it's nice to have the "research" from the Today show to help prove to our husbands that we need this time out together and that "Book Club" is so that we can have a healthier marriage at home!

Members of the Book Club and husbands

the children of the book club on our Annual Camping Trip.

OH Lordy, Nick is 40!

On valentine's day, my dear love turned forty. Holy smokes... that is old!! How in the world did that happen? Time is flying by before our eyes and I can't believe that here we are in 2011 and we have 3 kids, a mortgage, a 10 year old marriage and that my husband is 40! I can still remember that the year I met Nick, he was 25... I thought that seemed SO OLD. I actually remember telling my roommate at camp that year, "I'd marry him, except he is too old!" Well, age must be relative, because here we are - Nick is 40 and at this point, 25 seems soooo young!

I am someone who thinks that ALL birthdays are a big deal, so the idea of a 40th birthday is a really big deal! Nick has never thought that birthdays are any big deal and enjoys having fun (notice I didn't say "making fun") of how much I like to celebrate birthdays! This year, I knew that I would never be able to convince him to have a party, but I thought that with turning 40 - he deserved one! Nick is an awesome husband, father and friend that I thought there would be lots of people that would enjoy celebrating with him and wishing him well on a good forty years. So... the planning of the surprise party began months ago. I knew that I would have to be top-notch in my surprise skills or he would tell me to cancel or abandon the idea if he caught onto anything.... Shortly after Christmas, I created the "secret" email address that all the planning would come from. nick40th@gmail.com became my party planner tool. With help from friends and family, I was able to pull off this event and truly surprise Nick.

The kids didn't know about the party until literally hours before the event (part of keeping it a surprise meant there was no way I could let them in on it!). They were at the party for the set-up, the big "surprise" and cake... but then were whisked off by Nannie and Poppy for a cozy sleepover. Below is a picture of Colin loving the cake!

The whole party had a beer theme. Nick, not only doesn't like making a big deal out of birthdays, but he wants little. Gift giving or receiving isn't something that has ever been something that has been important to him. He hates the idea of meaningless spending and would rather have consumable goods. So, as part of the party - I restricted gifts and told everyone to bring their favorite 6 pack of beer. Beer is something that I know he likes, he can drink and consume, it won't go to waste and may even help him in the woes of being 40!

I even ordered a cake to go along with the theme.

Nick and the kids shortly after the big "SURPRISE!"

Nick is my best friend and I look forward to spend another forty with him... just hope that he isn't in diapers for his surprise 80th.

It's broken... life according to Colin.

The following story may not be appropriate for readers of all ages, but it is the kind of story that I will want to remember forever and probably tell to Colin's girlfriend right before prom or something as equally as embarrassing.

The other night right before Colin was off to bed, he was sitting on the toilet going the bathroom. After he finished peeing, he was closely examining the hole that his urine came out of. It was almost as if he had just discovered it was there.

As he got off the potty, he "grabbed" his stuff - in a very man kind of way and said as he headed off to his room, "I gotta get a new one of these.... it's broken!!"

I guess since it had a hole in it.... must be broken. So funny!

Sadie learns to ski?

Ever since Natalie has started skiing, Sadie has been anxious to give it a whirl. For her birthday, she received a gift certificate to West Mountain to get a lesson and have some time on the mountain. The Sunday after her birthday, we headed down to West and lucked out by getting a private lesson!

Sadie had a great time... she was outgoing, excited and nothing seem to bother her. She gave great energy and enthusiasm for the sport, but I can't say that she really put her all into her. Sadie's attention span kept her focus in soooo many places, that I don't think that she really had the time to concentrate on actually learning how to ski. Regardless, she had tons of fun (as you can see from the below picture that I took just after her lesson) and was very excited about doing it again.

The very next day, while Natalie was in her lesson, I brought Sadie back to the bunny hill to see if I could help re-enforce what little she did get out of the lesson and hopefully get her up to par to ski with Natalie and me... well, we spend the next hour watching Sadie fall down the mountain. Literally, the only way she got down the bunny hill was by standing up, going about 2 ft, falling... getting up, going about 2 ft, falling... and doing that over and over again, until the last 5 ft of the bunny hill when she would glide down in almost perfect form. It was an exhausting hour for me and was sure that I had totally turned her off from the sport.... but as we were packing up, she says to me... "Mom, I think I am good at that!"

We'll be back... just VERY sure that she needs a few more lesson NOT taught by me!

Sadie, our little lady, turns 6!

6 years ago, our lives got forever better when Sadie joined our family... Just tonight at dinner, we went through the events of the wee hours of February 4th, 2005 and what an awesome day.

I was scheduled for a c-section for 8am on Feb. 4th - 10 days before my actual due date of Valentines day (Nick's birthday). Although I am one of the few that was saddened that I had c-sections for my children, I was looking forward to having an "appointment" to have a baby and was thinking how great it would be to be refreshed and prepared for the moment - none of the which I felt when Natalie was born! So, I worked up until Feb. 2nd and then spend the day before Sadie arrived at home moving our bedroom stuff into our new bedroom that Nick had just finished. (At the time we were living in our Malta house and Nick had put on an enormous addition that included a new master bedroom that he had promised to have done before the baby... and he sure did... it was done on the 2nd!) and I had a delightful lunch out with my friend, Rachael.

That night we tucked Natalie in bed and were in awe of how our lives would be different come morning. My brother was coming up to watch Natalie while we were going to be in the hospital and he had called to tell me that he was just going to come up in the morning before we had to leave for the hospital, but in our discussion he realized that he would have to be to my house by 6am... which is leaving NJ at 3:30 or so... so he decided to finish up what he was doing and would arrive at my house LATE that night instead of the morning.

So, alarm was set for 5:30 or so - I wanted to be sure I got a nice shower in before I headed to the hospital. Nick and I went off to sleep knowing that we needed to be ready to be at the hospital around 6:15am for our "appointment."

Around 2am that night, I got up to go the bathroom and while I walked back to bed my water broke!! Needless to say, at that moment, I realized that my plan for the "baby appointment" had just drastically changed! Unlike when my water broke for Natalie, things moved VERY quickly with Sadie. I did take my shower, but was in pretty intense pain. We rushed through the house - did double check to make sure my brother had arrived at some point in the night and left him a note that we were gone and off we went... (Thinking back - what would we have done if my brother had decided to go with plan A and not come up till the morning?? I am sure that things happen for a reason!)

By the time we reached Glens Falls, I had Nick driving through red lights and going as fast as he could. My pain level was beyond anything I wanted to deal with! At the hospital, they took some time to make sure that I was "really" in labor and that I truly had broke my water. After they realized all those things were actually true, I think they tried to figure out how they could hold off this birth till my doctor was coming in later that morning... but Miss Sadie would hear nothing of it! As labor progress quickly and my pain skyrocketed, they called in the on-call Dr and tried to get things moving. Problem was, they could find the "on call" nurses (or something - can't remember who). It ended up being someone that they needed for the surgery, but this person had been sleeping in a different call room, so the nurses station had the wrong extension for this person! It felt like FOREVER waiting until we were set to go.

So, at some point around 5am... the c-section began. Outside of a little confrontation with the anaselogist (who as a man, apparently had no idea what this pain was like), things went rather smoothly and Sadie joined our world.

She was just perfect. Cried perfect, looked perfect, and was simple sweet. We had been trying to pick between the names Megan and Sadie and as soon as Nick and I both saw her.. at the same time, we said, Sadie!

My mom, who was suppose to arrive at the hospital around 6:15 to be present for the birth - came just on time and ended up meeting Nick in the elevator with 2 coffee's in his hands. She asked what he could be doing in the elevator, thinking that he would be with me prepping for the upcoming c-section. He told her, "It's all over... she's here!"

Our Sadie is just the sweetest girl around. She reminds me a lot of what kind of kid that I must have been. She is totally silly, is a real slob (in everything from eating to keeping her room clean), never seems to sit still, sweet and endearing, shy in new situations, forever changing her mind and constantly surprising us. She still seeks out cuddles on a regular basis and is my little LOVE.

I think that Sadie's birth story matches who she is now... she will determine how and when she will be ready for different situations, she will keep us guessing and will always make her own entrance in all that she does!

Happy Birthday Sadie!

Ski progress...

Happy to report that Natalie has become quite a little skier! Only 2 lessons in, on top of 3 evenings of skiing - she is doing so great. Just last night, she was beating me to the bottom of the mountain run after run! I think that not only is she learning some skills, but also has increased confidence, and along with some healthy peer competition it has really helped her out. She is so proud of herself... as she should be! I love that she is having fun with it and that we are getting out and doing something fun in the midst of the "winter that never ends" that we live here in the Northeast!

A so fun, but not so fun, story to share about a trip to West Mountain...

A couple weeks ago - I think at our 2nd trip to West, Natalie wanted to take the bigger chairlift to the summit. I had been on that lift and trail before and I knew that she could do it. It was still a green circle, just a longer run. I was a little nervous as we were heading up - although I was willing myself not to show it... I was thinking to myself, "This is her 2nd time skiing, should I really be taking her to the summit?? I hope it isn't too hard and I ruin her skiing experience forever!!" But I just go with it acting all confident and sure.

Well, we get to the summit and I hop off the lift at the "unloading point," but Natalie doesn't get off the lift!!! Crazy! She panics, I panic, she hits the bar that sends an alarm and stops the entire lift! In the midst of her panic, she jumps off the lift.... she is about to burst into tears, but holds it together as the man comes out from the little shack to help her get her skis back on and going. Once we are alone (well as alone as you can be on top of a ski mountain) she breaks down into tears and is so nervous and upset about what happens. At this point, I am backpedaling my panic, trying to act like it is no big deal and that it happens all the time. Not sure how well I am doing, but at that moment, my cell phone rings (yes, on top of the mountain and my cell phone rings.... the glories of modern technology!) and it was my mom telling me that she and my Dad had come to the mountain to see Natalie ski. Hearing that, Natalie totally shifts gears and is excited to get going to show off for Nannie and Poppy!

As we ski down the mountain, I am having an entire conversation in my head. I am talking to myself about how the counselor in me, knows that I must get her back up that lift tonight! The mom in me is nervous about not wanting her to "fail" again in getting off the lift and worried that I may be ruining her for life! Not knowing what the right answer is, I say to her at the end of the run (and after a short visit with my parents)..."Natalie, where to next?" and she says "To the top again!!" PHEW!!!

Happy to report that she has successfully done the summit lift many times now and has even taken to the top with just one of her friends.... I wonder how many moments like this I have ahead of me?