Sugaring, sugaring, and, more sugaring

This weekend was the Vermont Maple open house, so all the sugar houses in Vermont were open to the public. We decided to go to the Shelburne Farms sugar house. It was freezing cold, so they weren't actually able to collect sap, but they were boiling some collected sap and letting us sample. It was really fun they had a historical maple collecting walk through the woods which showed all the different kinds of taps, and how it has evolved. I learned that maple sugaring began by Indians. They used to slice into the trees with tomahawks and collect the sap that dripped out. Then they would boil it on a rock or piece of bark over the fire. Eventually they started to make wooden taps, then taught the colonists in the 1600's.



This is in the steamy sugar house where they were boiling the water out of the sap to make the syrup.



Walking through the woods. Joshua couldn't move but was nice and toasty in his down snowsuit (he has worn it pretty much everyday for the last six months).



So we have a goofy tradition that ever where we go we take a picture of ourselves by holding the camera out, we have tons of pictures of us on different adventures really close up. This one turned out the best of the ones of our mapling adventures.



After the visit to the sugar house we went to see the animals (always my favorite part). I got to bottle feed a baby lamb, and of course had to visit the chickens. Growing up we had a dozen pet chickens. When they were chicks we use to dress them up and put them to sleep in our Barbie beds, and give them buggy rides. When they got older I use to put them on my shoulder and walk around the house. We also use to snuggle with them and watch movies. I had a little egg business in my neighborhood. They make great pets and I have always had a special place in my heart for chickens.



On our way home we drove by beautiful lake Champlain. The seagulls and geese have migrated back and I think are a little confused on where all the water went, the entire lake is still frozen solid.

Pediatrics...

Kathryn has been asking me do a post, so here it goes. I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but it turns out that my first weeks of the clerkship year have been pretty laid back. Most of my pediatric subspecialty days would finish by 1 or 2, and since each one lasted only one day they weren't too demanding. Today was also great. It was supposed to be my first day of outpatient pediatrics, but my preceptor cancelled his clinic to tend to his maple syrup farm. (Is it really called a farm?) Not to deprive me of any opportunity to experience his field (pun intended) he invited me to come along for a day of sugaring. It was very fun, and one of those uniquely "Vermont" experiences that is probably as intrinsic to my complete education here as OB and surgery rotations.

So in case you're not sure how maple syrup is made, here's a rundown on our day today. On spring days with cold nights still (I'm sure it's more complex than that, but suffice it for now) the sap flows well from the maple trees through the taps. It drains into buckets, which we had to collect and empty into the tanks on his horse-drawn wagon. He had around 1000 taps, although apparently some of the bigger operations will have upwards of 75,000. I don't know for sure, but it looked like we gathered eight or nine hundred gallons.

Every time the tanks on the wagon got full we'd dump in to the reservoirs at the sugar shack. Inside is a big evaporator set up over a wood burning furnace. The sap boils its way through the setup until it eventually reaches the right temperature and consistency for syrup. Then it is drawn off and fine filtered before canning. It takes about 30ish gallons of sap to boil down into a gallon of syrup, so you can imagine how much steam had to evaporate off. Anyway, it was a fun day. There's a chance that he'll do it again next Tuesday, so I might get to bring Kathryn along. In the mean time, I'm sure enjoying my peds rotation.

Easter

We had a great Easter this year. I love Easter and always feel like it just comes and goes so fast. I feel that I miss the real importance of the Holiday and what it represents. So this week I decided to start a new tradition for our family I wanted to celebrate the last week of Jesus' life. So every night we read or did something for what Christ did on that day.

Sunday- The Triumphal entry into Jerusalem
Read Matt 21:7-11
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
Read Luke 19:41-44

Monday- Jesus Cleanses the temple
Read- Matt 21:12-16
Cleaned our own temple (our home)

Tuesday- The Barren fig tree and other teachings
Read - Matt 21:18-22
Matt 25
We also read this section in Jesus the Christ.

Wednesday- They plan to crucify Christ, women come to anoint and prepare him for his death, he prophesies of his death
Read- Luke 22:3-6
Matt 26:3-5
Matt 26:3-5, 6-13

Thursday- The last Supper
We made our own passover as close to what we imagined Christ's last supper to be.
we had: Lamb, pita bread, hummus, grape juice and an orange salad (sliced oranges, cucumber, avocado and lime juice)
Read- Luke 22:14-38
Mark 14:22-25
John 13:18-30
John 13:2-17 - Washing the disciples feet

Friday- Gethsemane to Calvary to the Tomb
Read - Luke 22: 40-46 Gethsemane
Matt 27
Mark 15
John 18 - 19
Luke 23
We read this chapter in Jesus the Christ it combined all the scriptures well.

Saturday- Visiting the righteous in the Spirit world
Read- D&C 138:11-24
We decorated our Easter eggs and talked about why we decorate eggs and what they represent.

Sunday- The Resurrection
Read- John 20
Luke 24
We read this chapter from Jesus the Christ.
Had a big Easter breakfast and baskets and a dinner.

It turned out to be a really spiritual Easter that lasted all week. When Easter Sunday came I really felt I was prepared. I wanted to start this tradition up so by the time Joshua gets old enough to participate I will have all the glitches out of it. Also I will add in using GAK pictures instead of reading so many verses, and add in some more activities every night, but it is a start. If you want to make up your own Easter traditions I got all my ideas off this page http://www.sugardoodle.net/Easter%20Ideas/index.shtml it was a great source and has a ton of stuff.

We did the traditional Easter baskets on Sunday morning Joshua really liked his...



then he wanted to see mine...soon got bored and moved to Caleb's. Then he found Caleb's jelly beans and got really excited, we had to hurry and hide them.



Yes Joshua is wearing tights, Caleb was distraught. Actually he has worn tights all winter to keep warm, they are great long johns, but he usually wears them under long pants. My mom found this really cute Easter outfit for him, and thinking Easter = Spring shorts would be fine. She didn't account for Vermont's pleasant 35 degree spring weather. Anyway, I didn't want him to freeze but really wanted him to wear his outfit... it was a compromise. He looked really adorable though, they look like long socks.



What has happened to the photo shoots... they are getting harder and harder.

I had to add this picture. Joshua has been getting into all sorts of mischief lately. He loves paper, especially toilet paper. We store ours really high in a cupboard so I need to climb up and throw a couple rolls at a time down. I did this and walked away to make the bed quick. Joshua was really excited around the corner. I could hear him squealing and going babababa. So I find him like this with all the rolls unwrapped, and doused in drool and covered in bite marks. He was very proud of himself and began to clap.

First Day of Spring?

Vermont has four seasons, but they are not what most people think as the four seasons. We have Summer, Fall, Winter and Mud Season, yes mud, Spring does not visit this neck of the country. We have a supper long winter that lasts through about the end of April then the rain starts the piles of snow melt and the mud starts to flow. There is no beautiful burst of spring colors, just gray and mud and then overnight summer.
I really am getting sick of cold weather. The first snow was sometime in November, and we haven't had a real thaw since. I am getting ready to see some grass.

As a result I have decided I will never live in a cold place again. Everything I enjoy to do requires being outside. Life is to short to spend 4-5 months of the year indoors, or to be ruled by the weather. True I could bundle up and go out, which I do. With a baby it is such a pain, and he can't take it like I can, and even all bundled the freezing air is not that fun for very long. You lungs can only take so much, so running is not that exciting.

I decided visiting the snow for a week is good enough for me. The only snow sports I kind of enjoy are skiing, or snow shoeing, which is hard to enjoy with a little baby. Besides I would much rather go for a run along the beach, plant a garden or take a hike in the woods than go skiing. So a visit to the snow gives me my fill.

The other thing I dislike about living with a cold winter is the sedentary life it promotes for kids. I never really played video games or watched TV when I was a kid, I was outside all the time. I never felt couped up, and it kills me to think of raising kids inside. I hate the TV, computers, or video games, but in a small house in the cold kids get bored. Yes people do love the winters, and the snow, I've tried but it is just not working.
I can't wait for summer to come. I already have my sprouting pots for my flowers and vegetables going and have drawn out a plan for my vegetable garden.

Nine Months Old

Joshua is nine months old! I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He had is check up and he weighed 18.7 lbs, and is 28 3/4 inches long. He has six teeth now and likes to use them often, he leaves bite marks in everything, including our arms and fingers (yes, we're working on that). The doctor says he is doing great, although, a few days after his visit he came down with his first major sickness (he had a high fever, rash and diarrhea). He has had little colds and stuff, but he has never been this sick and miserable. It has been a tough week for us both. Luckily he seems like he is on the mend, and just in time for daddy's hernia surgery :). Between Joshua and Caleb I have been playing major nurse maid for the last week and a half. We have all been doing great, and just laying low for a while.

Back to Joshua being nine months old... he is learning to stand without holding onto anything, and actually getting really good at it. He is also starting to cruise along the furniture. I think it will still be a little bit before he starts to walk, but he might make it before his first birthday. He really loves his bath, and crawls into the bathroom whenever the water is running. He loves balls, and will almost always be crawling around with one in his hand. He loves the clicking noise it makes as he crawls, or he loves to find something really hard and loud that he can bang it against. His favorite is the toilet lid, which we have to keep closed to avoid his explorations. It is funny to see his personality starting to come out. He is very curious, smiley, and so far stubborn, (taking after his parents) but with his stubbornness comes perserverence and diligence, which makes telling him not to do something a bit of a challenge. His other new favorite things are the steps. He loves to climb up them and turn back and see what he has conquered. We have really scary steep wooden steps, so we got a gate for the top. He likes trying to climb down head first, so we are working on the whole turning around thing. He has all his toys figured out, he knows what buttons to push to make them run and where to put the balls in to make them go. It is amazing to watch him sit and do it all. His newest trick is clapping, and he does it anytime he is happy. He will be playing with a toy he likes and will stop and clap about it. It is hilarious.



We are so glad to have Joshua. I really can't imagine my life without him. We love him so much.

2 Tags

My Husband
What is his full name? Caleb Joseph Bailey
How long have you been married? Three years ago on March 18th
How long did you date? Before we were engaged 2 months, 4 months engaged
Who eats more sweets? He does
Who said I love you first? He did
How old is he? 26 will be 27 on May 18th and then I am only a year older than him again :)
Who is taller? He is- 6' 3"
Who is smarter? It totally depends on the subject
Who can sing better? Him, he has a great voice and I am really bad.
Who pays the bills? He does, I did for a while but he is very methodical about how our finances are recorded so I gave up. We go over them together every week and he records it all.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Caleb does, and he can't sleep if we switch.
Who mows the lawn? We don't have a lawn to mow.
Who cooks dinner? I do most nights, but he always cooks Sunday dinner. He is an amazing cook, way better than me.
Who does the laundry? I do, he helps fold and put away.
Who drives? He does most of the time.
Who is more stubborn? We are both pretty stubborn, but I am way more than he is, he reminds me regularly.
Who kissed whom first? He kissed me first- it was in the entry of my BYU apartment after lunch and doing Russian homework together.
Who asked whom out? He asked me out. He took me on a hike and picnic up at Sundance, and then we went to my place and watched Shrek.
Who proposed? He did. We went on lots of walks at night (we both had lots of roommates) on one of these walks we went to rock canyon park. He was really quiet the whole way and fiddling with something in his pocket. We got there and he dropped on his knee and slipped the ring on my finger and asked me to marry him. He was so nervous that he started putting it on my right hand first.
Who has more siblings? Caleb does- by one.
Who wears the pants? I don't know, we both kind of do. Literally Caleb does, I could never get him to wear a skirt even as a joke.

Blast From The Past

What television show or movie did you want to be in when you were little? Far and Away

Which character or star? Nicole Kidman

Most embarrassing moment your friends will never let die? On my mission I was teaching a discussion to this really cute old lady. She was pretty poor and had really old furniture. In the middle of teaching the chair I was sitting in suddenly broke to pieces. The old lady laughed and laughed, and called me and elephant. I had to carry the chair around town until we could get home, so everyone was asking what happened. I luckily was able to fix the chair, but felt a little tubby for a while.

Your proudest moment or accomplishment? Graduating from college, finding Caleb, and surviving labor.

What adult did you have a crush on when you were little? I loved Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt

What habit or personality trait do you have of your mother or father that you swore you would never do? My Dad is extremely stubborn and a work-a-holic, I got both of them.

What did you want to change your name to when you were little? I actually never wanted to change it, I had lots of nick names so I was always called those by my family.

Who was your first kiss? Chris

What are 3 adjectives that someone from high school or middle school would use to describe you? That is hard, maybe... nice, silly, and smiley

What hairstyle, clothes, or other accessories did you rock back in the day when it was cool? Elementary school was all about leggings and gigantic shirts, I was always a bit of a quirky dresser, nothing ever matched and I was always sporting my own odd creations. I was the youngest so I always dressed myself, even in kindergarten. Besides I was so stubborn that I would never wear anything I was told to.

What job did those long and annoying surveys in school say you would be good at? A physical therapist

And what did you try and make the test result outcome be? marine biologist, or a zoologist.

What made you laugh harder than you have ever laughed before? There are so many things! I am really easy to make laugh. I laugh when I am nervous, when someone falls, it is actually something I am constantly trying to control. Actually in the MTC my companion and I would get laughing so hard during our last class that we would have to be sent into the hall to compose ourselves.

Favorite memories of hanging out with your best friends? Sleeping in a tent in my backyard and being woke up by the sprinklers, riding bikes, doing lemonade stands, swimming the whole day in our pool, catching turtles in the pond, going Tee peeing, skipping school to go out to an extra long lunch... there are lots of good ones.

What's the most trouble you have ever got in with your parents? I flooded my parents kitchen with scolding hot water from the sink, it warped the floor. My dad was pretty mad.

What was your 5 year plan when you had to write it out in high school? Graduate College, Back pack through Europe, Learn another language, Go on a mission, get married.

And last but not least...What is your 5 year plan now? Get a house, support Caleb in med school and in getting a great residency, have 2 more kids ( I want a 2 1/2 - 3 year spread), go to Kauai when Caleb graduates (to celebrate)...