The beginning of the month was really busy and the end not so much. It just made the month seem really long. Before Covid-19 changed our lives we planned to spend the week at a beach in New Jersey. As we talked we decided it was probably better to stay a little closer to home, especially since a lot of the entertainment options were still closed in New York and New Jersey. I must say that I wasn't disappointed to cancel our 4 days at the beach. The kids were really disappointed that we had to cancel our vacation so we settled on a safer compromise. We spent 3 days in the Adirondacks. We were able to do a variety of outdoor activities, but maintain our distance. We also brought all of our own food so we didn't have to eat out and risk exposure at restaurants.
Our first outing was a boat tour of Lake Placid. It was really pretty with a great view of Whiteface Mountain. We were the only passengers for the tour so we felt really safe.
Waiting to leave.
Whiteface Mountain
Our tour guide/boat driver was great. He let all of the kids drive the boat. Joseph took pictures of everyone driving except for Kimball. Joseph took a video of Kimball driving. The kids loved having a turn at the wheel!
After our tour we went miniature golfing. It was the first day that golfing was open in our area. Again, we felt really safe doing this activity seeing that all clubs and balls were sanitized after each use. Most of the kids are a little young to really enjoy golfing, but they still have fun.
Kimball and Rebecah also decided to try the Euro-bungee. Rebecah loved it and Kimball didn't. Rebecah is our roller coaster loving child and she loves to do flips and be upside-down. Kimball doesn't like roller coasters, flipping or being upside down. Kimball did a few flips and it was more than enough to last him a lifetime. Rebecah did multiple flips. It wasn't a highlight of the trip for either of them, but a good experience.
Here are a few pictures of our little cottage. It had three small bedrooms so the girls and boys each took a room. The kids all happily said we could buy this house and have plenty of room...I think that line of thinking would only last a week or two before fighting for personal space!
My little ones love flowers!
This was just a fun church in the village of Lake Placid.
Day Two
We went to Mirror Lake for a beach day. I went to the beach prepared with water shoes so I wouldn't feel so sandy and my arm shields to keep the sun off my arms. It was a much better experience for me. I also walked the two mile loop around Mirror Lake when we first got to the beach. The beach employees did a really good job keeping the beach patrons away from each other. It was far safer to be inside the beach barricade than outside of it where people were on top of each other. Joseph and the big kids reported that the water was really clean with good visibility. I dipped my feet in the water a few times to cool off and to be near the kids. I also got my arm sleeves wet, but not dripping, to keep me cool.
It's hard to say what Lincoln loves more...sand or snow! He was the last to leave the beach and would have stayed longer. Everyone else was ready for a new activity.
Each evening Joseph took the kids to Flume Falls. The first night was to check it out and see if it were an activity for the entire family. I believe Eden went that first night. Joseph reported back that he wouldn't feel safe taking all of the little kids to this place. The water moved too quickly and it was fairly deep. The second night Joseph and Kimball went back to do some cliff jumping. They had a fun time. Everyone else was happy to stay at the cabin and watch movies on Disney+.
Kimball jumping!
Day Three
Our last day we hiked Owl's Nest trail. It was only .4 miles one way, but it was steep. We did this same trail 3 years ago when we came to this same area. I'm not sure how we did it when Eden was a baby and Lincoln and Annika were less than 3! It was steep, but everyone did it and lived to tell about it. We did have a little scare. A group of rock climbers had a dog with them that wasn't on a leash. He got a little too close to Lincoln and Annika and Annika started screaming at the top of her lungs. Big dogs can be scary if they are taller than you are! No harm done, it was just a big friendly dog.
Hiking buddies.
The view half way up.
Can you see it? In the second picture of Annika she is posing with her little green inch worm. She carried this worm most of the way to the top and then we had to convince her to let the worm go so she could use two hands to safely navigate her way.
We made it to the top!!!
We had a nice time. Kimball's highlight was Flume Falls, the other kids enjoyed the beach, and I enjoyed seeing all of the scenery and the boat ride.
A few days after our trip we had a pool day with some friends. These friends usually have a big 4th of July party, but with Covid they did things differently. We went over to swim for a few hours. Lincoln and Annika got a lot braver after a few hours in the pool When we left they were walking all around the shallow end and putting their faces in the water.
Rebecah and Melanie have been friends since Kindergarten!
Cooling off with the littles. Lincoln, Annika and Brooke
will all start kindergarten in the Fall.
Eden really liked me giving her rides with the pool noodle. I was ready
to get out long before she was ready!
Look how dry the grass is! It has been such a dry, hot Summer for Central New York. So many lawns were brown at the beginning of July. We have had some rain since then so things aren't quite so brown and crunchy.
Annika lost two teeth this month. She lost her first two teeth last October, and was so excited when she discovered these two teeth were loose. The tooth fairy almost forgot to visit after the second tooth came out. I had to sneak into her bed room at 6:45 the next morning to put a coin in the jar on her dresser. Thankfully her tooth was in this jar and not under her pillow. As it was, Annika woke up, but was sleepy enough to think that it was Kimball who had gone into her room instead of her mom/tooth fairy!
Picture with a friend who also has a top tooth gap, too. This friend is about 18 months older than Annika so Annika is really young to lose her teeth.
My welcoming committee one morning after my walk. I never know who will be up first in the morning or how early the morning starts! Some times these two are up before 6:00 or they might sleep until 7, it really depends on the time of year, if the birds are chirping and if the windows are open.
Up to this point, Rebecah has never really enjoyed reading. I don't know how old I was when I became an avid reader, but it has been hard not having my kids love to read. (Kimball likes to read.) Well, that has now changed...There is nothing like the Harry Potter series to turn a non-reader into a reader! We started reading the series together at the end of May/beginning of June. I wasn't reading fast enough to keep Rebecah satisfied so she started reading ahead on her own. She read the entire series in 2 months. I'm so proud of her. She read the last two books in less than a week. Rebecah was so disappointed to finish the series that she started over again July 30 and is almost finished with the second book.
After our trip to Lake Placid the kids were suffering beach/pool withdrawals so Joseph has taken them 3 times to different beaches in our area. Thankfully, Joseph and the kids have been understanding of my dislike for sand and sitting out in the sun and I have been able to stay home. They have had a great time and I have enjoyed the quiet of home. I really do love being at home.
They visited beaches at Oneida Lake, Lake Ontario and Green Lakes State Park. The pictures below are from Lake Ontario.
While the Covid cases are running rampant through most of the country we have been able to keep our numbers low. Masks are a must in our area and NY has been slower to open than most states. The library opens this week for in-person browsing and the Governor will make a decision this coming week about schools reopening. If our district opens the kids will have in-person learning twice a week and remote learning 3 times a week. Nothing is ideal at this point, but any in-person learning is better than nothing.
