Houghton 2020

August 29, 2020 | Stacy

College drop off day. He’s a SENIOR already. Unlike last year’s celebratory feel, this time it was somber. No mascot or musicians when you pulled onto campus. No teams to help unload and carry bags and boxes. No last lunch in the dining hall. No chapel service, nor President’s address. Today we were met at the car with a thermometer and on our way. I’m so grateful for God making Houghton a possibility. I’m proud of Stewart for juggling multiple jobs. I’m trusting God will open the next set of doors in life. And I’m praying that Houghton won’t send him home before thanksgiving break.

Look at the smile on his face. He is so happy to be back with his friends.
We are going to miss him like crazy.

I feel very strongly this coronavirus is being overstated in an effort to promote mail-in ballots for the election. I am so grateful that Houghton has been following the CDC guidelines, without being over-the-top reactionary. The plan is the students from NY have to stick to their rooms for one week (students from out of NY have already been there in “quarantine” for one week). And if all goes well they can hang out together come 9/7.

Camping 2020! 8/25

August 25, 2020 | Stacy

Another early morning, but this time I had everyone up by 8AM.

Breakfast was amazing.

We drove an hour north to Fort Ticonderoga. This was a dream come true for me.

We left for lunch and grabbed some pizza. The pizza was amazing; the service and cost was repulsive.

John dropped me and five of the kids off back at the fort, while he and Stewart went to the Star Trek museum.

We checked out a few more things (canon firing) and then looked around the gardens.

We tried to do the corn maze, but it seemed to be closed.

We went back and joined a tour until John and Stewart met up with us again.

Our admission to the Fort also allowed us access to Mt. Defiance.

We went up the mountain as far as we could drive then hiked up the last little bit. It was paved. We then were able to look back down upon the Fort and see Lake Champlain for a good distance.

We saw an extremely large cricket by the bathroom. I’m glad it wasn’t in the middle of the night.

Dinner and another nice campfire.

Camping! 2020 8/23 & 8/24

August 24, 2020 | Stacy

As soon as Stewart got home from work this morning, we headed out for camping near Lake George, NY.

We set up camp in the rain… and, as always, we realize that all campgrounds are not created equal. But we figured it out and got on to eating.
I do love cooking over a campfire, and tonight’s dinner of hot roast beef sandwiches did not disappoint. We made sugar cone “smores” and enjoyed the campfire.

Morning comes early for us.

After a chill breakfast of pancakes, etc., we headed to Lake George to peek around. It was fun surprising the kids with a game of mini-golf. What is normal to a lot of families is not normal to our “big” family. I actually heard one of the older kids telling one of the younger kids they shouldn’t ask to play mini-golf, because it is so expensive. It was with a tremendous amount of joy that we blew their minds pulling into the parking lot.

Here is a photo of Johanna and Katriel with the winner of the mini-golf.

(Yes; that’s me.)

After golf, we parked the van and wandered around by the fort and the beach. We tried to get ice cream there, but they were not interested in working with us to insure a peanut-free experience.

We headed back towards camp and stopped at the Stewart’s Shoppe, which provided us with amazing flavors and GREAT experience.

Back at camp we had taco’s in a bag for lunch.

And daddy found a way to set up a hammock. I took a book to the pool so the girls could swim.

We made friends with the ducks!

And we had some sort of hot dog/croissant meal for dinner.

Working hard? Hardly working?

August 22, 2020 | Stacy

Stewart was able to work at Mendon Ponds Park again this summer. He did an assortment of jobs. Filled water bags to water trees, put down mulch, paint, clean, chop.

I wish I had a photo of Nigel from his job. He worked at Penfield Country Club doing groundskeeping. Each worked 40+ hours per week and I am so proud of their work ethics.

This weekend marks the last days for them for the year.

Stewart is 20! ??? !!!

August 20, 2020 | Stacy

Somehow, Stewart turned 20.

Noelle came up around the time he finished work and joined us for dinner. There were games and gifts and lemon squares.

And this is a photo of him from work. I am very proud of how hard both boys worked this summer. Stewart worked daily 7AM – 3:30PM at Mendon Ponds Park, and then would come home for a while Take a nap. Eat. And head to FedEx for 10PM – 1AM. Home. Sleep a little more… and repeat.

Nigel graduated.

August 8, 2020 | Stacy

Sort of.

His last day of classes at FLCC were in May.
His graduation date of June 6 was changed to August 8.
I sent his last quarterly report to Victor in June.
He got his letter of completion in June.
We had a small gathering in July around the same time we got the letter that said his August 8 graduation was canceled.
He was so over it all.

So – he agreed to don his cap and gown and go for some photos in the church garden.