Pond Skimming in Vermont

We just returned from a fun week with the Bergstrom side of the family in Burke, VT. The days were very fun, albeit often chaotic, considering that the Bergstrom living room contained at any given time, four to six adults chatting and four kids ages 15 months to 11 running in circles.

Anna’s cousins excited and intrigued her and she was plain pooped at the end of every day from trying to keep up with them. Lars and Ty especially intrigued her with their Nintendo DS games (and I must admit I did play a little Mario…).

Our trip coincided with the mountain’s annual “Pond Skimming” event, which essentially marks the end of the ski season for Burke. Every year 50 or so brave (crazy?!?) souls enter to compete and see who can ski or snowboard down the mountain and across a pond the most times – if you fall in, you’re out. Spectators line up on either side of the pond, enjoying beverages and food, and laughing at the unfortunate contestants who don’t skim their way across. To make it even better, there is a theme to the competition each year and the contestants wear wacky costumes. This year’s theme was cartoon characters and the costumes did not disappoint. We got to see Captain Underpants, Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble and a whole gaggle of Smurfs plunge into the frigid waters.

What makes it even better, though, is that the “King of the Mountain” prize went to a member of the Bergstrom clan. For the third year in a row, Anna’s Uncle David (on the Bergstrom side – sidenote, Anna only has two Uncles and they are both named David…) was the Pond Skimming champ. And on a snowboard nonetheless, which I am told is a miraculous feat. So, there is a record holder in our midst – three years ago he became the first snowboarder to win, two years ago he became the first person to win back-to-back Pond Skimmings, and this year he is the first to win back-to-back-to-back. Let me tell you, his kids were proud! Could there be a 4-peat in 2010???

We had beautiful weather for the time we were there and Anna loved running around in the snow – essentially it was her paradise…a giant bowl of ice. Considering it was the end of the ski season and the snow had who knows what in it, we tried to not let her eat it at first. That lasted for about 10 seconds when we saw it would be a nearly impossible task. So we decided to steer her towards the whiter patches…

Speaking of kids and energy, we got to marvel at the pure endurance an eight year old possesses. In one of his better Uncle moves, Jason told Lars he would give him $5 if he would run from the condo up the mountain to the top of the first ski lift. (Don't worry, the lift is literally outside their door and you can see to the top without leaving the porch. And, the mountain was closed for the day...). It is approximately 2 miles up and back and the little buggar did it in 25 minutes flat. That's uphill, in snow, and he was wearing a t-shirt, track pants and skateboarding sneakers. And he wasn't out of breath when he returned. Made me feel like a total slouch! Jason gave him $20 because he was just plain impressed. To which Lars asked, "If I do it again right now will you give me $30?" I don't doubt he could have...

All in all we had a great time (even though we had to leave at 4:15 a.m. to catch our 7 a.m. flight out of Burlington…). I can’t wait to see all of them again.

Anna & Ty playing in the snow while watching the Pond Skimming

Grammy and Fa Fa at pizza night

Jason, Anna, Lars & Ty at the base of the mountain

"King of the Mountain" David, after his first skim across the pond (no costume for him!)

Anna & Jason enjoying Pond Skimming

Amy & Anna reviewing "Tips to Get Rad" from snowboarding cousin Lars...

Ty, Anna & Olivia enjoying Oreos at Pond Skimming

Anna making a fashion statement (she refused to put on her pants)

Anna eating snow

Doctor, Doctor

From the looks of this picture you would think Anna loved to visit the doctor. My friends, you would be mistaken.

Nothing makes Anna quake and shake and scream more than Nurse Carmen or Dr. Harris entering the exam room and she was in rare form for her 15 month visit. Before they even lay a hand on her she is hanging onto me for dear life and it pretty much takes the jaws of life to pry her free.

Out of respect for Anna I didn't take any pictures of her red, tear-streaked face. Ok, who am I kidding, I didn't take any pictures of her freaking because she was practically choking me and wouldn't let me step even one millimeter away from her side...so you can do the math.

Not that I can blame her, after all, her doctor visits have been filled with pokes, prods, and the always fun shots. She comes by it honestly - my mom loves to tell the story of how I freaked and hit (not maliciously!) a nurse trying to give me a shot, causing the nurse to drop the shot and curse...and oh yeah, I was 12 when that happened. So, I can relate to Anna's wariness of the scrub-wearing crowd.

One day I know she'll like going to the doctor because the trip will end with a lollipop...maybe we'll also insititute the "ice cream after every shot" rule I have heard friends talk about. Everything is better with ice cream, right?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Anna wishes everyone a happy St. Patrick's Day!

And she wishes we would stop trying to get her to wear bows!

1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish...

One of my favorite places in Atlanta is the Georgia Aquarium. I have been several times since it opened and there is something so peaceful to me about watching fish swim. This year we purchased passes and have definitely gotten our money's worth, having gone five times since December.

I love having a pass because you can stay for one hour or only go to two exhibits and not feel guilty about wasting your admission ticket.

There are downsides to the Aquarium, namely crowds...which is why my mom eyed me a little warily when I suggested we go while she and my sister were here last week. I attribute this to the first time she had gone, which was during Christmas break the year it opened. Needless to say, the crowds were insane.

I felt I needed to redeem the Aquarium experience for my mom and sister and assured them that we would have plenty of elbow room this time. I have found that if you visit when kids are in school, you pretty much have the place (relatively) to yourself. You may have to contend with a field trip or two, but if you arrive around 11:45 a.m., they tend to be eating lunch. And, they always stick together so you can easily avoid the exhibit they are in at any given time.

This time we were able to take our time exploring the exhibits, we touched many a slimy aquatic creature, and saw Deepo (whom Anna was very interested in this time - it's hit or miss with each visit). Gramma and Maddie also saw the 4D movie while Anna scarfed down some lunch.

I look forward to many more visits and am eager for the penguins to make thier return. Also, I'm looking forward to the addition of dolphins next year. Go Flipper!

Of course, no visit to the Aquarium is complete without a stop in the gift shop (only browsing for us). Maybe it was being on our feet for too long or maybe there is something in the Aquarium air, but Maddie and I found ourselves quite entertained by a display of wind-up toys. Enjoy the dancing people below...

What a Circus!

The Circus was in town last night – not Ringling Bros, but Britney!!

I was the lucky recipient of a ticket from a friend and found myself smack in the middle of a crowd of screaming teenagers, loving every minute of it.

Now, for all you Brit Brit haters, you have to admit she puts on an awesome show. Last night was part Cirque du Soleil, part freak show, slightly burlesque, and 100% entertaining. I’m not sure I would let my pre-teen daughter attend, but I had a fantastic time.

Britney is definitely back in shape, looking great and dancing up a storm. The whole production was impressive with gorgeous costumes and props, lots of suspension and flying, and amazing dancers. She was on stage running and dancing nonstop for almost two hours. It makes you realize how good a workout you get being a pop star...

Here are some pictures and videos from the night – I took them on my phone so the quality is not so good, but you’ll get the general vibe.

The center ring pre-show

One of the many suspended acts of the night

The closing fireworks

An oldie but a goodie - Hit Me Baby...One More Time

The opening sequence - you can't see her in the video because of the lights but Britney is being lowered from the ceiling to start the show

We Moved Here for the Weather

One day after eight years in Boston and yet another seemingly interminable winter, I looked at Jason and practically begged to move somewhere warm.

I like snow and cold as much as the next person, but living under a gloomy gray sky with practically no sun for five months each year was beginning to wear on me. Plus I'd landed on my backside one too many times on our ice skating rink of a driveway...So, we packed up Tope and headed to the ATL aka Hot-Lanta.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered it snows in Hot-lanta pretty much every year. But now I enjoy it! Each winter we get to experience snow's beautiful visual effect for a day or so. Not 150 days. And it melts here before it has a chance to turn yellow, brown, black and gross from cars, salt, and dogs.

Yesterday we got our annual snow and it was a doozy - almost three inches! To make it extra special, my mom and sister were visiting from South Florida so we frolicked and built a (somewhat sad) little snowman. Yes, that is a celery nose (we were out of carrots).

Anna didn't quite know what to make of the snow. She's had a somewhat tenuous relationship with snow in the past...

(Anna not loving snow in Vermont last year)
This time she liked watching the snow from the window and door (as did Tope).


Once outside in the cold stuff, though, she didn't really know how to respond. So, she did nothing.

When inside, she would stand at the door and request snow - she probably ate about 10 snowballs yesterday. Hey, I figured it kept her hydrated...

All in all we had a fun day and the snow is still on the ground this morning. The sun is out so I don't expect it to last long, but it was a nice way to wrap up winter before we head into the Hot-Lanta summer. Come mid-July we'll be wishing for another snowday!










Here are a few more shots from the day…
Mom & Anna

This stuff is cold!
Gramma & Anna
Maddie, the Snow Angel, and a mouthful of snow

A 2008-2009 Comparison
Anna & Dad, January 2008
Anna & Dad, March 2009