I dub thee, Brasperries

Since Big Bro was a toddler we have loved picking wild black raspberries every summer from bushes found in our yard. Typically we didn't find that many berries so we would just eat them as we found them. 

Lil Sis also loves the taste of wild black raspberries so the tradition has continued. This year, we discovered two large black raspberry bushes that had gone unnoticed. Or maybe they just were never there before this year.

We went out one cool and rainy July night and started picking berries and putting them into our jar. The kids likened the sound of dropping their berries into the empty jar to Little Sal in Blueberries for Sal "kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk."

We picked and picked to get 4 cups worth thinking that would be enough for jam.

After looking at the actual recipe turns out 10 cups were required. We picked another 3 cups a couple days later. My good friend contributed a few more cups gathered from her own yard and we were able to make a delicious batch of blackberry, I mean black raspberry jam. After all of us making that linguistic mistake countless times I dubbed them officially "Brasperries."

The jam was amazing. A welcomed change from our usual strawberry jam.

2 new ways to vacation

If you asked me what the most memorable thing about this summer was I would have to say all the trips that we went on. Not only did we travel to new places, but we also traveled in new ways.

The first trip was our seventh wedding anniversary trip to Ottawa, Ontario. I suppose the way we traveled wasn't really new. It was just my husband and I for three days and two nights of kid-less time. It was the first time that my husband and I have taken a night away from the kids together. Big Bro is 4 1/2 years old now so it was kind of a big deal!

We stayed at an independently run hotel near the Byward District. We walked all over the city without pushing the stroller, we ate at fancy restaurants and didn't have to ask for an order of buttered noodles, we took a tour of Parliament without whines about "I'm not having fun," we went on a sunset boat cruise without worrying about bedtimes and tired, cranky kids, we went to see a movie without a second thought about babysitters or G ratings.

We didn't get to sleep in like we hoped we would. It seems like we have forgotten how to do that! We did Skype home every day to check in with the kids and grandma and grandpa. We did shop for cute souvenirs to bring home to the kids. We did remember what it was like to be a couple and not just mommy and daddy. We did pledge that we should do this every year somehow.

And away we go!

The second was a trip to Story Land in New Hampshire. We went with two other families. Between us there were six adults and five children. Big Bro had another four-year-old boy to play and go on rides with, which he loved. We also had two 2-year-olds and a seven-year-old. Three members of another family rode in our van to New Hampshire. The kids entertained each other which made the three hour ride easier.

When we were at Story Land we had plenty of adults to help cover the rides and the kids. When I felt like going on another spinning ride with Big Bro would make me throw up, one of the other dads took both 4 year old boys on it for the second time. Meanwhile my husband was able to bring two-year-old Lil Sis to something that she wanted to see. Later that afternoon when Lil Sis fell asleep in the Ergo carrier, the other mom with a 2 year old chatted with me while the others went on another ride (it was not a ride for 2yos). How nice not to be alone with a sleeping baby strapped to my aching back while everyone else was off having fun.

I took the seven-year-old on a water ride that her parents had no interest in going on. Two other parents joined me with their son and mine so we were able to have a 1:1 adult:child ratio. The three remaining adults and two children could do whatever they wanted. Just think of all the disappointment-induced crankiness we were able to avoid! Plus there was always someone available to take family pictures for the others...even on rides. 

When we went out to eat at restaurants the kids once again helped entertain each other. We got to speak with other adults which was great. The shared experience made it feel more like vacation instead of work. We got to choose when to be together as three families and went to be alone as a nuclear family. It was a good balance.

We have done some great single family vacations with the kids, but this group family vacation was a nice change of pace. We will definitely have to do it again.

Summer Camp Excitement

Now that Big Bro is 4 it opens up a world of possibilities for summer camps. I mentioned the idea to him and he seemed excited, partially because he loves the Berenstain Bears Go to Camp book. The latest issue of KidsVT has a camp guide for 2014. I've been looking through it and getting excited about the possibilities. There are so many fun to try for big and little kids. I don't even know if half these camps were around when I was growing up, but I wish they were.

The selection of camps for four-year-olds is more limited than the big kids. There are some cool options though. There are adventure camps at Sugarbush, creative camps at Flynn Arts, gymnastic camps, Science camps, music camps, film making camps, and aviation camp for teens, a camp at the Humane Society to learn about animals, wilderness adventure camps, farming camps, Irish dance school, sculling camp, sleep-away camps and more! The options are endless! 

I really loved the camp I went to when I was 13 and 14 years old. I went on to be a camp counselor when I was 18 and 19 at a Girl Scout camp. I hope my kids will enjoy camp as much as I did. For now, it is exciting to enroll Big Bro in a half day, week long camp. Hopefully his cousin will be in it with him and it will be the start of a wonderful childhood of summer camp.

Check out the guide for yourself!