Ok, here are the traditional Adirondack Balloon Festival photos... and one from Maine this summer.
It was a balloon festival to remember. I think Bryan, Colleen and I all have fond memories of getting up in the middle of the night (at least that's what it seemed like), bundling up and driving to the Balloon Festival to watch the balloons and sip hot chocolate. I was hoping to recreate that experience for my own children and for Bryan and Jill who came into town specifically for the Balloon Fest. It was an experience all right! Addison didn't sleep much the night before, so I actually got up at 2:45 instead of 4:30 like we had planned. I finally got her to sleep in our bed a little after 4, then had to wake her up again shortly after that to go to the Balloon Fest. We all piled into the van and stopped at Dunkin Donuts so we would have something to eat if we wound up waiting in traffic for a long time. I had the brilliant idea to drive on Rt. 149 and try to come to the airport from the back to avoid all the traffic from Quaker Road. However, it was dark and foggy and early in the morning (those are my excuses) and I missed a turn and took us all the way to Rt. 4 in Kingsbury. Then turned back and ended up running over a skunk, which made the van smell just lovely. I ended up missing a turn again and found myself on Dix Ave, thus making a big, unnecessary circle AROUND the balloon festival. So we turned right and ended up waiting in the traffic that I was trying so hard to avoid. We made the best of the situation, though, and things weren't that bad. Then as we got close to the parking lot Jill noticed that Lauren was crying in the back seat of the van. All of us sudden she said she was going to throw up and proceeded to do so into her hands. Meanwhile there was no where for me to pull over since there was no shoulder on the road and we were in the middle of traffic. So I turned into the parking lot, paid to park (dumb) and made the bumpy trip into the next parking spot available, making Lauren throw up again in the mean time. Poor thing. I'm sure it was a combination of having two parents who get car sick, the early morning bagel breakfast, longer than necessary car ride and skunk scented car. From that point on things did get much better. I cleaned Lauren up (thank goodness for baby wipes) and bought her a nice, pink balloon festival sweatshirt to wear. We got there just as the first balloons were inflating and the weather was perfect. Jill got some really nice pictures of bright balloons against a beautiful blue sky. We all enjoyed the balloon festival from that point on and the ride back wasn't too bad, just a little traffic and a still stinky car. We came home and napped all afternoon, then walked around Lake George Village that night. We had a great time and I'm glad Bryan and Jill came to visit.
What else has been going on? We had a fun, but less eventful visit from Colleen and her boyfriend Nate the weekend before. We enjoyed Oktoberfest at the Great Escape. Also, Lauren loves Kindergarten and is doing very well. I didn't get the job I interviewed for at Queensbury High School, but I actually now see that as a good thing. There were some staff changes at my current school which resulting in me getting a bigger office, desk and being the most senior person in our three person department! I get along amazingly well with our secretary, she almost reads my mind. I think the new guy we hired for the junior high counselor position is going to work out really well, too. I feel like I've finally hit my stride as a school counselor at Whitehall and I'm really doing a good job. I also feel very appreciated there, by students, staff and parents. It's a nice feeling. This may be me rationalizing, but I think I can make a real difference in the life of Whitehall students, whereas the Queensbury students have so many resources that I don't feel like I would be helping all that much. Who knows what will happen in the future, but I'm doing pretty well for right now.
We had a great trip to Maine this summer, had a nice time with the Marstons at their cottage, with Bryan and Jill, Colleen and Nate and Mom and Dad. Looking forward to many more trips to Maine.
I'm also finally sure that I don't want to have more children. Tyler was always sure he only wanted two children but I wasn't totally convinced because I love babies so much. Now I'm so happy that Addison is getting more independent and I think my brain was a little muddled during all the middle of the night crying, breastfeeding and diapers. I'm enjoying starting to do things for myself again like yoga, manicures, going out for drinks with other moms and reading novels again! I love my children dearly, but pregnancy was really hard me and babies are cute but a lot of work. I also feel fortunate to have two healthy children. I almost feel like having another one would be selfish and greedy, and we might not be so lucky the next time. I look forward to traveling on family vacations and enjoying watching my girls grow up. I love to hear them giggling together...
That's all for now. Still busy planning a high school reunion for October 18th. Hope it's a success..
