in Vermong. SO FUN! Austin scared McKenna though, so she asked to be "dropped off" before the tour was over. The younger kids had a blast in their own "arena" on little snowmobiles. Richard and I watched and played in the snow with Ivy.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Ice-Skating in Vermont
I had been trying to find an outside pond on which to skate, but Tessa, Maia, and Cooper absolutely refused to even consider it! I think they've seen too many shows about people falling through the ice! As it turned out, the day was VERY snowy and cold so an inside rink was perfect. Our family had been ice-skating only one time prior to this, so it was a definite learning experience!
Outside the rink, which is in a beautiful park area. Austin's catching snowflakes on his tongue! Cooper didn't want to have his "fat" coat on.
This rink (and maybe others?) has a great idea! They have some milk crates around that can be stacked to different heights and beginners just hold on and go. The crates glide easily, but provide plenty of stability. Coop loved the independence the crates gave him!
Ivy went around the rink once with dad on her skates and then flat-out refused. Sitting on the crates was the only way she'd go after that. Since her mom is a beginner skater, pushing Ivy on the crates was safer and more fun for BOTH of us!
A fuzzy Maia in motion.
Tessa and Cooper making their way around the rink. Thank goodness for the wall to hold on to. They did get to the point where they didn't have to hold on ALL the time. I barely got to that point.
Richard, McKenna, and Ivy going around.
The only way to go!
Maia and McKenna. Richard and Ivy behind. And Austin and Cooper behind them.
The red blur is Richard racing Austin. There's a disagreement about who the winner was.
Maia got tuckered out pretty quickly - and didn't really think it was all that fun. Ivy was having fun, but of course didn't want to look at the camera. Silly girl.
Press the arrow to watch Cooper skate. Watch his little feet fly. He reminded me SO MUCH of my third grade friend Hong - when we went roller skating for my birthday party. Although he had never been on skates (having just immigrated from Vietnam), he tried harder (and fell harder) than anyone else there. Cooper has the very same tenancity. By the time we went home, the seat of his pants were soaked!! He never did take a break though - and each time he fell he got right back up again. No surprise to his mom!
Outside the rink, which is in a beautiful park area. Austin's catching snowflakes on his tongue! Cooper didn't want to have his "fat" coat on.
This rink (and maybe others?) has a great idea! They have some milk crates around that can be stacked to different heights and beginners just hold on and go. The crates glide easily, but provide plenty of stability. Coop loved the independence the crates gave him!
Ivy went around the rink once with dad on her skates and then flat-out refused. Sitting on the crates was the only way she'd go after that. Since her mom is a beginner skater, pushing Ivy on the crates was safer and more fun for BOTH of us!
A fuzzy Maia in motion.
Tessa and Cooper making their way around the rink. Thank goodness for the wall to hold on to. They did get to the point where they didn't have to hold on ALL the time. I barely got to that point.
Richard, McKenna, and Ivy going around.
The only way to go!
Maia and McKenna. Richard and Ivy behind. And Austin and Cooper behind them.
The red blur is Richard racing Austin. There's a disagreement about who the winner was.
Maia got tuckered out pretty quickly - and didn't really think it was all that fun. Ivy was having fun, but of course didn't want to look at the camera. Silly girl.Press the arrow to watch Cooper skate. Watch his little feet fly. He reminded me SO MUCH of my third grade friend Hong - when we went roller skating for my birthday party. Although he had never been on skates (having just immigrated from Vietnam), he tried harder (and fell harder) than anyone else there. Cooper has the very same tenancity. By the time we went home, the seat of his pants were soaked!! He never did take a break though - and each time he fell he got right back up again. No surprise to his mom!
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Birthplace of Joseph Smith
We stopped in Sharon, Vermont for a few hours on our way home. Of course, there's a well-done and beautiful Visitor's Center commemorating the birthplace of Joseph. The missionary couple who greeted and taught us there, has a daughter and son-in-law in Cedar City. What a coincidence. -- This place is beautiful and part of the property is "Camp Joseph," a family campground which we have heard is SO fun. Perhaps if we have time when the weather is good we can make another trip up there. -- Although we weren't there at night, the missionaries told us how it is lighted with more than 100,000 lights and that many, many cars drive up to see even though they don't know what they're driving toward. It must be gorgeous to see the woods lighted up like that.
By the statue of Joseph. The window behind is actually just the corner of a large bay window that provides a view to the huge, solid piece of granite which is a monument to Joseph Smith. -- Along one wall is a large time-line of Joseph's life with a long case below which holds all many of the books by or about Joseph. (Ivy is asleep here.)
I'm disappointed this is fuzzy - but our camera is tricky if one hasn't used it before. Here we are all kneeling on/near the big hearthstone on which Joseph was placed and dressed when he was born. It's the original stone that was in the home where he lived the first 10 years of his life. Cooper was so excited to touch and examine the very stone that the Prophet Joseph had! (Ivy is not asleep, just hiding from the camera.)
The 42 foot tall monument. The top 38 foot spire is a SOLID piece of granite from a Vermont quarry. Many miracles assured its placement nearly 100 years ago. (Ivy is not asleep - just hiding from the camera)
The bench behind us sits on the snow which covers the dirt which covers the original foundation of Joseph's birthplace (just 22' x 24' - and my children complain about sharing rooms!). It was here that he had his leg operated on. (No, Ivy's not asleep.)
A closeup of the monument. The Spirit is strong here.
By the statue of Joseph. The window behind is actually just the corner of a large bay window that provides a view to the huge, solid piece of granite which is a monument to Joseph Smith. -- Along one wall is a large time-line of Joseph's life with a long case below which holds all many of the books by or about Joseph. (Ivy is asleep here.)
I'm disappointed this is fuzzy - but our camera is tricky if one hasn't used it before. Here we are all kneeling on/near the big hearthstone on which Joseph was placed and dressed when he was born. It's the original stone that was in the home where he lived the first 10 years of his life. Cooper was so excited to touch and examine the very stone that the Prophet Joseph had! (Ivy is not asleep, just hiding from the camera.)
The 42 foot tall monument. The top 38 foot spire is a SOLID piece of granite from a Vermont quarry. Many miracles assured its placement nearly 100 years ago. (Ivy is not asleep - just hiding from the camera)
The bench behind us sits on the snow which covers the dirt which covers the original foundation of Joseph's birthplace (just 22' x 24' - and my children complain about sharing rooms!). It was here that he had his leg operated on. (No, Ivy's not asleep.)
A closeup of the monument. The Spirit is strong here. Christmas Morning
Our hotel wasn't fancy - but we had two rooms! That made it perfect for mom. Every time someone was ornery, I could banish him or her to the other room! -- We didn't get up too early on Christmas morning, so that was wonderful. Here the kids are enjoying their few presents - and not a single one complained about, or even mentioned, the smaller-than-usual pile of gifts!
McKenna is opening a gift from our landlord. She gave something to every single child! Very nice.
Cooper, busy with his new Leapster. It's a hand-held video game system - which games teach math, spelling, logic, etc. The only drawback is that he is constantly asking what certain sums are or the correct spelling of some word. I guess we can't complain about that. -- This is the surprise that Ivy accidently ruined before Christmas. She didn't even know I had gotten him one (she didn't even know what it was!!) but when she saw it on television one day she told Cooper that that is what mom was giving him for Christmas! Little turkey.
Ivy playing with some new groceries for her shopping cart - and wearing her new Dora the Explorer pj's. I finally got that off of her a couple of days ago to wash it.
Maia and Ivy each got a puppy carrier with the puppy and all kinds of accessories inside. Maia keeps good track of hers, but I find little bones and dog-ear bows of Ivy's all over the house.
Coop's gift from our landlord Maria.
Everyone in their Christmas Eve pajamas.
McKenna is opening a gift from our landlord. She gave something to every single child! Very nice.
Cooper, busy with his new Leapster. It's a hand-held video game system - which games teach math, spelling, logic, etc. The only drawback is that he is constantly asking what certain sums are or the correct spelling of some word. I guess we can't complain about that. -- This is the surprise that Ivy accidently ruined before Christmas. She didn't even know I had gotten him one (she didn't even know what it was!!) but when she saw it on television one day she told Cooper that that is what mom was giving him for Christmas! Little turkey.
Ivy playing with some new groceries for her shopping cart - and wearing her new Dora the Explorer pj's. I finally got that off of her a couple of days ago to wash it.
Maia and Ivy each got a puppy carrier with the puppy and all kinds of accessories inside. Maia keeps good track of hers, but I find little bones and dog-ear bows of Ivy's all over the house.
Coop's gift from our landlord Maria.
Everyone in their Christmas Eve pajamas.Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride
We spent our Christmas in Vermont and really did have a nice time going on a trip instead of opening a bunch of "stuff" for Christmas. Not only do we not have room for much"stuff," but I couldn't see buying more when we have so much in storage at home. Of course the kids still got to open presents, but just a few. Mostly, we spent our money having fun. -- I'm going to post just one or two events at a time - so keep checking back.
This sleigh ride was at the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT. Someday we're going to stay there! It's 2400 acres and is run by the actual Trapp family of "Sound of Music" fame. They settled in Vermont in the '40's and the youngest son of the Captain and Maria still runs it with his family. It's a beautiful place with first rate amenities - and LOTS of activities for families.
Waiting for the sleigh ride. It was a gorgeous day!
Tired of waiting - so gearing up for a snowball fight! 
All loaded. They offer rides on the smaller, traditional sleigh only in the evenings - and it wouldn't fit our whole family!
Birthday girl! We did the sleigh ride the day after Christmas to help celebrate our animal-lover's birthday! She loved the horses and sat in the very front!
A view during the ride. This particular part of Vermont had a LOT of snow on the ground, but evidently not a recent snowfall, as the trees are aren't covered. In other parts of Vermont the trees were absolutely laden with snow. Beautiful!
Another view. That's the top of the main Austrian-style Family Lodge. There are also smaller lodges, time-share villas, restaurants, work-out facilities and more on the property.
The ride was courtesy of Burt and . . . now I've forgotten. I'll have to ask McKenna the other horse's name.
Happy girls because horses are involved.
After the ride. You could see the steam rising from the horses' backs. 
This might be Burt or ?
This might be Burt or ?A Cute Package
Richard and I had been out Christmas shopping, and when we came home found this gift under our tree. Her sisters and brother had fun "wrapping" her. Of course Ivy was all giggly and happy until I pulled out the camera. I can't figure her out - she either LOVES to have her picture taken or refuses. --- Yesterday was her very first day of Sunbeams! She looked so cute (and had asked me if she could wear her "sum bean costume," whatever that is). Anyway, I wanted to take her picture, but she wouldn't let me. When I went to get my camera, she said that only McKenna could take her picture with her camera. Whatever! My memory stick was mysteriously missing from my camera so I didn't get a picture after all.
If you didn't know better you'd think by the look on her face that she had been an unwilling participant in this bit of wrapping fun!
This is also the face she makes when she gets told "no" about something. Her dad is powerless against it.The Von Millers
Both McKenna and Tessa had school "Winter Concerts." We were disappointed that there was not a SINGLE Christmas song - and just one or two mildly "holiday" songs that were sung. But the girls did well anyway.
McKenna's chorus performing at the high school. She's in the very back row, to the left of the slit in the backdrop. Of course we ran to the store at the last minute to buy the black pants she had to have.
Tessa after her school performance. The two girls with her are her two best school friends - and they didn't even plan on coordinating! Emma is on the left and Madison on the right. Emma's Christmas gift was tickets to the Hannah Montana concert and she took Tessa and Madison with her. They had so much fun! Of course Ivy had to get in on the action.
McKenna's chorus performing at the high school. She's in the very back row, to the left of the slit in the backdrop. Of course we ran to the store at the last minute to buy the black pants she had to have. 
Tessa after her school performance. The two girls with her are her two best school friends - and they didn't even plan on coordinating! Emma is on the left and Madison on the right. Emma's Christmas gift was tickets to the Hannah Montana concert and she took Tessa and Madison with her. They had so much fun! Of course Ivy had to get in on the action.
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