...to teach my daughter to knit!

...Who knew it would all come back to me so easily?

Isabella did a great job!  She has barely set down the needles long enough to do her homework since I taught her...

Here is the proud little lady showing off her first creation!

As I was teaching her this craft, I was realizing just how therapeutic and calming knitting was.  My grandmother taught me so long ago (I was about Isabella's age) and back then I didn't need an activity that was relaxing.  

There was something about the click on the needles and the pattern of my fingers moving...so relaxing.  I barely wanted to give her the knitting needles back for her turns to work!  It's a good thing for her that her siblings were nearby yelling and screaming/pushing and shoving or else I might have made the little project myself.

I do have a one thing in particular that I would like to make (found on Pinterest):

Doesn't this look cozy for up here in the north country?

I just have to fit this project in between the others I have planned for Mark's absence....

...to enjoy my flowers

...from my sweeties

Audrey picked me these at the mines yesterday....

And Mark sent me these....

Both my favorite color...purple.

Both made my day.

...to find some diamonds!

...at the Herkimer Diamond Mine

Amy and I have been planning this trip to the diamond mines all summer.  For various reasons we had to keep postponing our trip; and for good reason....today proved to be the perfect day, weather-wise, to do such an activity.

It is hard work swinging a sledge hammer and there is no shelter in the rock quarry from any of Mother Nature's elements (sun, wind, or rain).  We were quite comfortable in our jeans and sweatshirts... whistling while we worked.

                                     

The rock quarry

Working hard

Or playing

What a great family activity diamond mining turned out to be!  

The scenery was lovely...

And the kids found enough small treasures at often enough intervals their interest was kept.  They wanted to keep digging, pounding, and sifting.

I love this picture of Will and Katie.  It is a perfect example of how serious the kids were in their quest for gems.  

These kids worked hard and were dirty!

Their reviews:

"It was so much fun!" #2
"I just wish it were closer."  #1
"Can we go back again tomorrow?" #3
"Can you buy me a hammer?" #4
"I wish Fort Drum would make a diamond mine."  Adoptee for the day.
"Oh, my gosh it was so great!" LaGrange #1
"Good" LaGrange #3
"It was awesome!" LaGrange #2 

There we have it.  Straight from the mouthes of babes.  The mines were a hit!

...to try out my new

...YMCA membership.

I have been exercising pretty regularly for as long as I can remember.  In my much younger days I did Jazzercise (remember that??), swam, walked, lifted weights, did yoga and of course ran.  Over the years, running has been the quickest, most effective way for me to get in a workout.  And certainly, six just after William was born, my most convenient.

And while I do enjoy running on my treadmill, lately I have been considering joining the YMCA just to change up my routine a bit.

As convenient as having my treadmill has been, I still am always exercising in my closet.  Me, my closet, and Little House on the Prairie (until recently...every now and then I'll read a magazine or book on my iPad).

Mark actually was the one who suggested we should go take a look at the YMCA facilities just last week to see what they have to offer.

We found, there are three local YMCA gyms.   They all have (with variable hours) free, child-watch programs.  And although the child watch programs are limited they are sufficient AND all of my children are eligible to attend.  This is a huge benefit!

In order for me to work out on post, I have two options:

Go to one of the neighborhood community centers and have my children play on the play structure while I use the exercise equipment (there is a large picture window to supervise the little ones through).  This worked well approximately one time.  Inevitably one of my children would have to go potty, two would start arguing, one would get hurt, the treadmill was broken, the weight set was out-of-order....you get the picture.

The other option is for me to drop the little girls off at daycare (where I may or may NOT be able to get them a reservation) and pay four dollars per hour per child.  Not to mention the inconvenient distance the two buildings are from one another.  Then I have to pawn my big kids off on a few playmates in order to go to the gym in peace for a short while.  I have never used this option.  It is simply too complicated.

This inconvenience is why I resort to running in my closet.

But lately I have been ready for a little bit more.  I have been thinking about beginning to lift weights again, maybe jumping in the pool for some laps, and possibly taking a class or two.  I have been ready to commit a little bit more to my own health and sanity.

Then, ironically my treadmill broke on the very same day I had planned to join the YMCA.

I'll take that as a sign it was most definitely time.

So today was the first day of a new routine...

Take kids to school then go to the gym.

Audrey was a little less sure of this new plan of mine.  I am not gonna lie, there were lots of tears at drop-off.  But when I came back to get her she was all smiles!

Her teacher said, "Well, it took her a few minutes to settle down and warm up to us.  But when she finally started talking that child never did stop till you just got here."

I think this lady's ears were ready for a break when I finally arrived.  I can sympathize.

To reward Audrey for going all by herself and being so well-bahaved I treated her to one of her favorite  treat spots!

She wanted to be sure to share some of her donut with me...

Wasn't that sweet of her?

At least I didn't negate the calories I burned on my first day back at the gym with empty calories.

I like to think that is what Audrey was thinking too.

Day one of the new routine down for both Audrey and I.....just how many times does it take to make a new habit?

...to say a tearful goodbye

...to my 'ole trusty treadmill.

I had a love/hate relationship with that thing.

I hated that I had to get on it each time.

I loved that I could burn a whole bunch of calories, shower and dress before I had to get ready for work.

I hated that it would taunt me remind me by its mere presence if I left it unused for several days at a time.

I loved that it offered me the flexibility to work out when the girls were napping or before the children were awake in the mornings.

I bought my treadmill right after Will was born and have since walked many hours with him and the girls in my slings or in the Baby Bjorns to put them to sleep.

This treadmill offered me many minutes of sanity on the coldest of days during Mark's last deployment (although not always uninterrupted).

And now...the day before Mark leaves again, it tries to catch fire on me....mid-run.

Yes...Picture me:  Blazing Running Plodding along and then umph BAM I practically went over the handles when the belt halted mid-stride.

Not to be dissauded too easily, I checked the power cord, realized the the circuit had popped, reset it and then began to run again.  Snap.  umph BAM.  Power out again.

For me...three times are a charm.  Three times before I learn my lesson.

Then, I started to smell something burning.

And I knew that moment, the news was bad.

Terrible.

My treadmill is dead.

I am sad.

Very sad.

And now tomorrow, because it is dead,

...tomorrow I get to sleep in!

Maybe I am not so sad any longer?

...to look forward to tomorrow

...when I can put our house second floor back in order.

I wish I could say that we had a water main leak or that the ceiling fell in or....well any number of excuses other than the days have gotten away from me and so has the children's floor.

The upstairs of our home looks as if choas struck.

It probably did.

That is if: IT = #3 + #4

The upstairs is referred to as the children's floor because our master bedroom is downstairs far away from said chaos.  Really this is a blessing.  For all of us.

Mark and I can tolerate the disaster zone for several days since we don't live in it.

This allows our family to live in peace and muster through my work days; the days we are merely in survival mode.

Tomorrow I plan on giving myself thirty uninterrupted minutes up; I will be able to have it cleaned it up.

I'll put the six loads of laundry in their drawers.

Put the tops back on all of the markers.

Take the stickers off of the doors.

Dress all of the poor naked baby dolls.

And oh yes...

Wipe the spit toothpaste out of the sink, off of the mirror, off of the floor and off of the toilet seat.

(Yup.  I could write a whole essay on toothpaste vs. my children.  Unsightly.  Gross.  Disgusting.).

------------------------------

I solemnly promise to any future guests staying with us at our home:

I will not make you share a tube of toothpaste with my children.

...to go to the park

...and enjoy a full day of family time!

Mark's unit was lucky enough to be granted a DONSA.  For those unfamiliar with the term, it means Day Of No Scheduled Activities.  For us family members it means a free day of time with Daddy.

Mark and I decided to keep the children home from school for this one given that he is getting ready to leave again in the next few days.

Needless to say our kiddos were delighted!

We went to our favorite, Panera, for breakfast and soon after we got home Mark and I decided to head to the park with our offspring.

You would not be able to imagine the moans and groans from the peanut gallery!

• It's too cold!
• I don't want to!
• I'm not going!

Huh?

I didn't say we were headed home to wash windows or clean out the toy room!

I said....we were going to the park.  A new park.  One they hadn't been to before.  One with a skate ramp and a dirt bike path!

I actually had to threaten our firstborn that she was going to be taken to school unless she changed her tune!

We wanted a joyful attitude!

No pouting on this outing!
I think this is going to be my new mantra when we are out-and-about.

I am quite certain I can't figure out where that child learned how to pout!

I think she got over it....

Abbey had no fear!

Audrey was even on wheels for a while!

Races

Scooters...bikes...ramps!

And dirt biking!

Audrey preferred running on the 'mountains'.

And climbing on the playground

What a fun day of family time we had on what turned out to be a lovely, albeit brisk, fall day.

Even Isabella admits it was perfectly full of fun.