We always wrap up our summer with a trip home to Upstate New York. It also conveniently coincides with Aidan’s birthday and Vic’s annual Can-Am Rugby tournament (where my water broke a 2 a.m. at the ‘99 Can-Am whilst staying in a condo full of rugby players - good times, good times!).
Vic’s only injury this year (after something like 7 games??) is a separated upper rib, which is still causing him pain when he sneezes. So we’re trying not to sprinkle pollen on him these days. 
On our first day, after being re-acquainted with the horses (she loves them now, all fears are gone), Nana presented Ava with a little two-wheeler:
Even with lots of help from Daddy, she never quite mastered it. I think all the green grass, dogs, and horses were just too much of a distraction. Next summer!
She spent some time perfecting her “Minnie Mouse” Pose, naturally.
And playing in the grass with the Polly Pocket princesses that Nana bought her:
And may I just mention: Polly Pockets are POSITIVELY EVIL if your child isn’t old enough to stretch the rubber clothing over the tiny hard plastic doll. And don’t even get me started on the teeny tiny little shoes that don’t stay on the feet. Seriously.
Needless to say, and as any mother of a 6 year old will understand, *I* am now an expert on stretching the rubber clothing over the tiny hard plastic doll. And at disposing of the teeny tiny little shoes without my almost-3 year old catching me.
Going to visit the horses is much safer when you hold Nana’s hand…
We walked up the neighbor’s house to pick some vegetables from their garden. Living in Georgia, one thing I miss terribly is New York produce. There’s nothing like it.
We picked fresh onions for dinner. I sauteed them up with some mushrooms in olive oil and red wine and served them over grilled chicken. Yuuuummmmmm……
Naturally, I couldn’t resist some artistic shots in the garden…
I want to put this one in my kitchen somewhere…but I’m pretty much out of wall space. Oops.
They even have pretty WEEDS in New York. It may be a grey, cold, damp, miserable place from November to May, but the summer is absolutely GLORIOUS. Queen Anne’s lace grows everywhere, and I didn’t notice how pretty it was until I’d lived without it for 9 years…
Naturally, we went up to Sacandaga Lake. My grandparents recently gave their camp to my mom and her sister. I know a lot of people love the ocean, but having grown up at Sacandaga, I am firmly a lake girl.
I would love, love, love a camp on a lake someday. To me, Heaven is a tube tied to the end of a dock, with a glass of wine, a good book, and the lapping waves. Sigh…
That’s Aidan out on the dock. My cousin Bobby and I used to swim under that all the time when we were kids…the water looked like Mountain Dew underneath. I believe Aunt Marilyn says that dock is where Bobby came from. Hmmm……..
Sigh…Heaven.
And looked who stopped for a visit: A mama duck and 6 little ducklings:
They were so tame, we all fed them right out of our hands. They were fond of Teddy Grahams, in case you ever need to answer questions about duck cuisine.
After Vic got back from Lake Placid, we ran out the door like the people in the “Please don’t leave the babies!!!” commercials. First up was a visit to the Spa buildings at Saratoga State Park. I just love all the old brick and stone walkways and arches…
Then we went to dinner at The Grey Gelding in Saratoga. Since we grew up there, we love to eat in Saratoga and try places we haven’t been. The Snapper DuMonde at The Grey Gelding was hands-down the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. And I love food, trust me. If you live anywhere near Saratoga, go. Get the snapper. Now.
On our 2nd to last day, we all went back to the lake, this time with Vic and Poppy. And guess who came back? That’s when we realized that mama and babies had a little summer racket going on.
Vic and I practiced for The Amazing Race in Poppy’s canoe (heh, yeah, we’re dreaming), then Poppy and Aidan took a spin…
And that’s all she wrote! We came home the next day with another wonderful summer vacation behind us. Even eating bad food, I managed to lose 1.6 pounds. Woo!
