Vermont

We went to Vermont a few weeks ago for the annual trip with a bunch of my mom's side of the family.  This has become quite possibly my favorite weekend of the year and an important tradition.  My grandpa grew up in Vermont and my mom and her siblings grew up going in the summer.  We have made some new traditions in the last 5 years with these extended family trips but it also a chance for them to revisit sites and activities that speak to their older family traditions.  And the locations, apple picking, hikes, chicken pie suppers and gorgeous views have become important to me and Nicholas and increasingly to Joe and Lizzie.

My favorite pictures from the trip actually for once don't even have the kids in them.  My favorites are actually ones of my mom.

Those picture just make me so happy.  And this one of my mom with her dad and three of her siblings makes me smile as well:

We picked apples at the orchard my grandparents always picked apples at each fall (that Grandma then turned into the applesauce that was our super-special treat when we visited, applesauce the kids and Joe and I now try to recreate after each trip) and my kids got to climb on their grandparents' shoulders (and occasionally heads) to do it.

Vermont Macs!  Yum!

We played cornhole in the backyard of "the Vermont house," the house we have rented for this trip for 4 of the last 5 years.

And, in case you are wondering, the last of those is Lizzie literally doing a victory dance after getting one in.

We had to scrap our planned hike on Mt. Mansfield (the traditional spot for the family) because of a windchill in the teens, but went on other hikes and saw a waterfall.

And, most importantly, we got time with family who lives far and wide.  It was great to see my aunts and uncles and I love that because of these trips my kids know them.  And bonus time with my parents and grandpa makes every member of our family happy.  And boy does Lizzie adore her (great) Aunt Mary!