Tuesday, September 11, 2012

our mini-trip...

I decided to spare you the look at our first week of homeschool for the year. Wait! Hold your sighs of relief, because...instead I'm going to subject you to photos from our mini-vacation. *shrug* Sorry. :P

We didn't have time to go on a long vacation this year. As he has been for many a year, Rich taught both summer sessions, but even when the second session ended, he still had a week to teach in this seminar program for middle school science teachers. And the week following that, Miss Banana had a GLBT leadership day camp. So we ended up with only four days to goof off. But you know, we all agreed afterward that it was a four days well-spent.

Day 1 (Taughannock Falls State Park and Ithaca, NY):



Chris, can you believe how dry it is compared to last year???

Seems I didn't take any pictures in Ithaca this time around. But I will say it's one of my favorite little cities in the world! (You know, I've visited ever-so-many...HA!)

Day 2 (Storm King Art Center):

Oh my gosh, this place is so awesome! Gray and I had read about it last year. He fell in love with one particular sculpture titled "Mother Peace." And well, we just thought it would be fun to go see it in person. Storm King is located in the Hudson Valley, and it houses over 100 sculptures on its 500 acres. The place is just gorgeous--yes, the sculptures, but also the setting.






Gray standing by the sculpture that brought us here. :)









Night 2 (a couple shots from the hotel):



Always amazes me the positions that kids can sleep in. I'm fairly sure I can't get in that position anymore, let alone sleep that way. :P

Day 3 (Albany, NY):



The event we planned our whole little trip around, the Don't Frack NY rally and march.

Day 4 (Herkimer Diamond Mines...and then home)


Another stop inspired by Gray, with his love of rocks and minerals and gems.


She's just the cutest little miner ever, said her completely unbiased mom. ;)

And then we came home...

11 comments:

Jean said...

Sounds (and looks) as if a good time was had by all. It may only have been four days, but it looks as if some good memories were made. I especially loved the sculpture park shots.

And now I want to hear about your first week of homeschool!

Unknown said...

Looks like a great time was had. Those sculptures look amazing!

Somer said...

Your kids are all adorable! I have a picture of Eli sleeping just like that. Sounds like a great little trip!

Ana S. said...

I may have said this before, but one of my favourite things about these updates is that I get to see Annie's outfits :D She's got such a fabulous sense of style.

Keshalyi said...

I second Ms Ana's comment. The composition on the picture by the peace sign made me giggle. I see an album cover in the boy's future...

Meg @ write meg! said...

How fun! I've never been to Ithaca, but it's definitely on my list -- and I have a feeling my camera will need to be handy.

bermudaonion said...

Sounds like a fun trip! By the way, I love the name Gray!

Debi said...

Jean,
Yeah, I really think we all had a pretty awesome time. But uhhh, Jean...be careful what you ask for! :P

Darren,
Some of the sculptures were just mind-blowing. It really is a fantastic art center!

Somer,
Aww, thanks! Isn't just hilarious how kids can sleep? Me--I have like one position. :P

Ana,
I have to admit that I love seeing her come down the stairs each morning for just the same reason. She is like the most fun person to hit the thrift shops with, I tell you. :D

Jason,
LOL--it will make his night if I tell him what you said, you know? :D

Meg,
Oh my gosh, you must get to Ithaca someday! It is such an awesome place, and they have a fantabulous used book store! :)

Kathy,
Thanks--it was my much-loved Grandma's maiden name. I absolutely love it, obviously, or we wouldn't have chosen it. ;)

chrisa511 said...

Only Annie can make mining look absolutely adorable :p I love love love these photos!!!! I can't believe how dry the waterfall is this year!!! Though I so wish I was with you all again. I totally agree with you that Ithaca is just one of the coolest cities ever and that sculpture garden is just INCREDIBLE!!! OMG I would love to see that one day!! I can see why Gray wanted to go there so bad!

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

LOVE this! And Annie's skull bow/headband. And those sculptures are incredible--I can't believe that first picture is a sculpture--from the picture it looks like a rock formation. Elle sleeps with he little bobo up in the air as well. Everytime I see her like that I think of a little turkey with its legs sticking out from under. Ha!

What a great use of a mini-vacation. So many adventures!

Debi said...

Chris,
I think I already told you this, but I'll just say it anyway in case I didn't. Rich, Annie, and I all said at different times how much we wished you were with us. It felt like a member of the family was missing. And we just all knew you would have loved everywhere we went. Yep, we missed you!!!

Trish,
Isn't it adorable when babes sleep that way?!! I don't think it's as cute when they're bigger, but it somehow looks way more uncomfortable! :P