There are always so many fun, exciting things that happen throughout the summer and fall. It's hard to keep it all documented.
In our usual fashion, we made a trip up to the Albany, NY area for July 4th week to spend some time with family. Instead of going up for the whole week however, we visited with some of our family vacationing in Virginia Beach for the weekend, came back home for two days of work/school, and then did the 12 hour drive to upstate NY on the 4th itself. Our trip up was relatively quick and the girls did great in the car. I'm always so grateful that Colin can drive starting at 2am. The past few trips we have made just a quick stop around 8am for bathrooms and to change out of pajamas, and have actually gotten to our destination by 12 or 1pm! The girls usually sleep until 7a, so we have only about 4-5 hours of lively entertainment. Food usually takes up a solid hour. Music, storytelling, and chatting takes up about 2 hours, and we sometimes resort to a downloaded episode or two of a TV show on the iPad for the final hour stretch. During non-TV time, the girls often sing, take care of their babies, or engage in conversation with us. Colin tries to get us all to do some storytelling, and we have had some trips where the girls engage. Zoe is still a little young for it, but Rose is able to keep the story going and add new plots.
Happy Zoe singing in the car
Rose singing with her baby
Because the girls' cousins were in Virginia Beach for the week of the 4th, I stayed in NY with the girls for an extra week, working part of the time and taking a lot of time off. During the first few days without the cousins, the girls enjoyed time with their aunts and grandparents. During the second week, I did quite a few day trips with them. One day, we drove the 2 hours each way to just outside Burlington, VT to visit with a college friend who has kids almost the same ages. We found out Zoe is a great chicken catcher. In addition to loving the chickens, the girls also enjoyed playing in a kiddie pool (it was so hot all week!), listening to music, getting ice cream, and just generally playing with friends. We took the ferry across Lake Champlain, which they loved. But, since I didn't have much service during the drive, we listened to Bohemian Rhapsody on repeat about 10 times. Do you know the full song is about 6 minutes?? Both girls love belting out "Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia Let me Go!." It was the only song that downloaded in an area of service in northern NY. Thankfully, I left Vermont around 9p, so the trip home was very quiet.
Hanging out in Aunt Karen's neighborhood and showing some sisterly love.
I had been trying to coordinate a day/time to meet my brother, and we ended up making last minute plans to meet on the day after we went to Vermont. Thankfully, we meet between Albany and Worcester, Massachusetts, in Springfield (well, Holyoke technically). There is a cute and inexpensive Merry-Go-Round and a Children's Museum within the same park. We hadn't been to the museum before and were skeptical, but it proved to exceed our expectations. It was perfect for my girls and the relief we needed from the heat. Did I mention we happened to be in NY for a heat wave. And, yes, we are southerners and have to deal with 80-90+ degrees regularly, but we also have a neighborhood pool and everything has central air in the south! And, we go to NY to try and escape the heat! Both girls enjoyed the carousel and the museum, and even got their face painted (Rose's was a little over the top). The best part of course, was getting to hang out with Tio Mark!
Zoe the firefighter
Passed out on the ride home from Holyoke
By Wednesday, our cousins were back and settled from their beach vacation, so we all had a fairly relaxing day at home. The girls' six-year-old cousin is great at entertaining, and Rose in particular really looks up to her. They played all day so I could do some work.k
Our day of relaxation was short and sweet, and we had big plans on Thursday. My sister-in-law drove us up to the Granby Zoo outside of Montreal, Canada! The zoo is much bigger and better than I could have imagined. In the eight-passenger Honda Pilot, we packed the three girls across the middle row and brought my 12-year-old nephew and his friend in the third row. We always take our passports when we visit as we have been known to go up to Canada on many of our trips. The drive was about 4 hours and the kids all did great. They started getting a little hangry approaching the zoo, and I was worried how Zoe would do around nap time. Once everyone was out of the car, given some snacks, and in the zoo, we were all smiles again. I was so excited that our Durham Museum membership gave us half off the zoo, and only regretted I hadn't looked into beforehand to get my niece and nephew in at that price too.
In the zoo, we saw the personalities and ages of the kids shine. The boys went off to do their own thing and the girls packed in the double-seater stroller. Zoe loved the animals in the zoo, and was in element when she got to pet goats, sheep, and pigs. Rose put on her brave face and attitude while hanging out with her older cousin and actually went on the ferris wheel with her cousin by themselves. Zoe went with me and we all really enjoyed getting to see the park from up high. The zoo is actually a zoo, small amusement park, and a water park in one. We didn't spend that much time in the amusement park and I think in another two years the girls would be able to do more things they couldn't yet do (like bumper cars). We ended our day at the waterpark, first in the lazy river and later in some of the pools. Zoe was struggling because she had skipped her nap, and the water was a little too cool/cold for me. The temps weren't quite as high that day, we were farther north, and we got to the water park late in the day. We also watched the "show" they do with the wave pool, which had this skeleton statue chant, eyes light up red, and the chanting builds up to the start of the waves and very forceful fans blowing air straight ahead. The girls were petrified and didn't want to go near it. Zoe was pretty much done with the waterpark after that, and Rose managed to stay with her cousin for another hour while I took Zoe back to ride a couple rides and see a few more animals. After she had another snack, she got a second wind and managed to finish out the day.
Renting a double stroller, which fit all three girls at the Granby Zoo near Montreal
Loving the piggy at the Granby Zoo
Zoe is in her element with the animals
Rose loved how soft the animals were
Riding the carousel in the amusement park
Zoe emerging from a dinosaur egg
The only bummer from the whole day was our adventure trying to get dinner in downtown Granby. They spoke mostly French and told us it might be a bit of a wait, but we decided to stick around anyway. We didn't realize that a bit of a wait would mean a 3-hour dinner process. It didn't take that long to sit down, but it did take a long time to order and even longer to get the food. I must have made about 5 trips to the bathrooms with the girls. Thankfully, they did well considering how long it took. They didn't each that much dinner, and unfortunately, we didn't leave Granby for our 4 hour drive home till well after 9pm!
By Friday, Colin was back from his 4-day work week and the family decided to take a day trip up to Lake George to go out on the boat. We had taken a boat ride on Lake George the first week we were there too, and we joke that Zoe is like her father, who always fell asleep on boat rides! Rose got to try (slow) tubing, and we were able to be on a boat ride while trying to bump our nephew off the tube. Our nephew and my brother-in-law also tried their hand at water skiing. Colin and I opted out, mainly because we both have had on-and-off back issues for a few years now and didn't want to mess anything up before driving back home. The one and only time I tried water skiing I did get up and got to do it a little bit, but waters in upstate NY are a bit cold for my liking. I like the NC beaches in August and September!
Zoe sleeping on the boat ride
On our last day of the trip, we did a small birthday celebration for Colin, whose birthday is July 24. Colin doesn't love celebrating his birthday, but indulges his daughters. And, with our toddlers, every birthday requires cake and balloons.
Happy Birthday to Colin!
Our trip back to North Carolina was uneventful and the girls did more sleeping because of how tired they were from the trip. We made it back in 10-11 hours and managed to get to the pool to cool off and stretch our bodies the afternoon of our arrival.
Once back, the highlight of the week was finishing out the swim team with final practices, a meet that got rained out, and the swim team banquet. I missed the meet because of work travel, but made it back in time for the awards banquet, and to see Rose get her medal that she'll keep throughout her time on the team. In addition to her 2018 pin, she also received the most improved award. While the coach said she could do freestyle in the beginning and all three strokes by the end, she actually couldn't swim without floaties before she started practicing. She was also the only true four-year-old (2014 birthday) to make the team (notice how much smaller she is than the other kids in her age group). We have been so proud of how far she has come, how much she enjoyed being on the team this year, and her constant work to improve week to week. She halved her time from time trials (50 sec freestyle down to 25sec), and demonstrated her ability to perform all three strokes as they were taught in a matter of eight weeks!
To engage Zoe, we decided to hire one of the coaches to do 30 minute lessons for the girls in August. Rose continued to practice her strokes and Zoe received a little instruction on how to swim, but with only 5-6 lessons, didn't get to swim on her own by the end of the summer. I really think the daily practice, and doing the same thing with other kids (watching others and practicing) was so helpful in getting Rose to swim on her own. Since Zoe has a September birthday, she actually has to wait two more years and will be an older four-year-old when she starts.
Rose and Coach Mary
Rose and Coach Liz
In typical Miller fashion, we celebrated Colin's birthday two more times, once with my mom (whose birthday is July 14) and again at the pool on his actual birthday. In our household, most people get 2-4 birthday celebrations!!
Happy Birthday to Colin #2!
During the rest of July and into August, we spent our weekends at the pool and occasionally trying something new. We went up to the Duke Gardens in Durham one day and I brought my nice camera to take some photos. Rose was in prime form, posing for the camera all afternoon.
Girls posing at Duke Gardens
Rose the photographer
One of Rose's many poses of the day
Zoe smelling some flowers
This year we made a second trip north in late August for a wedding. My parents flew up to join us and we rented a house near Narragansett. Unlike our trip to NY in July, the weather was not hot. We had the week between the two heat waves, which was probably a good thing since we stayed in a house that didn't have the best air conditioners. Unfortunately, it meant we didn't have idea beach days. Half the week was rainy/foggy/misty, and we did manage to have a couple sunny nice days towards the end of the week. Since we had to check out by 10a Saturday morning, we decided to drive to Albany Friday evening so there would be less for my parents to do Saturday. Of course, Saturday was a great beach day.
The wedding was the first the girls had been to, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. The did fairly well during the church service (Zoe slept through half of it), and did a lot of dancing early in the evening at the reception. The food was served fairly late and when they finally dimmed the lights and put on the dance music, the girls were pretty ready for bed.
We enjoyed spending the week with family and celebrated Zoe's birthday early with Tio Mark's birthday at the beach. Zoe had her second birthday with the Millers in Albany when we went there Saturday before driving back home. Driving to RI is so much more difficult than Albany, so it was worth it for us to make that extra stop. On the way up to RI, we decided to drive during the day so the girls would be able to play in their first soccer game of the season. Why they start the leagues in mid-late August in NC, I have no idea. It's always so hot! I wish they would start after Labor Day and go through the nice fall weekends in November. Anyhoo...the drive during the day was awful. We caught traffic in DC, which made for a long day. Leaving at noon meant we got to the beach house around 2am. It was good that the first few days were rainy so we could catch up on some sleep, but I would not have minded resting under the umbrella at the beach with warmer temperatures. I shouldn't make it sound so awful. We did get to the beach and enjoy it for 4 of the 5 weekdays. Everyone else went in the water, I'm just the one who is particular. :)
Girls in their wedding attire, ready to go to the reception
All smiles after loading up on appetizers. It was a chilly August day!
Girls Dancing and Running at Beach in RI
Our final day at the beach, and it's sunny and warm!
Birthday cupcakes at the beach, and shutting it down at 5pm!
Driving back from NY was once again uneventful, and our 2am departure made the trip home quick. Our final week in August was a big one for Colin as it was the end of a chapter for him. After 6 years at the State, he started a new job in September. Colin 2.0 has arrived and I'm glad to see the excitement and determination he's brought!
Colin 2.0 poses on his last day working for the State of NC
May and June brought warmer (but not too warm) days and the excitement of beach trips and the start to pool season. We have certainly received a huge return on investment related to our Homeowner's Association (HOA) dues. Our dues are among the lowest in the area, and while we don't have a fancy pool with a splash pad, slide, or kiddie pool, we do have a swim team, long pool season, snack bar, wifi, pavilion, ping pong table, and super nice lifeguards. We've been regulars at the pool since moving in June 2011, and this summer was no exception. If I had to guess at the frequency of our pool days, we've probably averaged 3-4 times per week for the entire May-September pool season per year.
This year we were super excited that Rose would have a chance to join the swim team - the Swampfoxxes! Swimmers have to be 4 years old by the start of summer to join. They had three weeks of daily (M-F) practice starting May 14 until an event called time trials. For the 6 and under age group, swimmers had to be able to swim 15 yards on their own at time trials to join the swim team. If they couldn't, they'd go on the practice squad, the Swamp Pups.
First ever swim practice
I worried about the daily practices that were required to be on the swim team and thought we might want Rose to be on the Pups. But, sure enough, Rose was the standout 4-year-old who made it the 15 yards on her own on June 5! Watching was among the most stressful 51 seconds of my parenting life. Within a week, she had shaved 10 seconds off her time, and she reached a personal best of 24 seconds at the end of the season.
First Swim Meet - a 41 second finish
Our small, but mighty swimmer
I was so glad she made the team. The daily practice really did drastically improve her abilities. In addition to becoming a faster freestyle swimmer, she also managed to compete in the backstroke and breaststroke by the final meet in mid July. Her accolades will be saved for the next post!
First backstroke event
Unfortunately, Zoe couldn't be on the team, but she enjoyed doing the warmups before practices and meets. We are disappointed she has a September birthday. It means she won't get to swim next year yet either. This year she was still okay hanging out in the shallow end with her floaties (or eating) while her sister practiced. But, meets were a little more challenging for her.
Rose and Zoe doing swim team warm-ups
The only other downside to so much pool time was that it seemed to wreck havoc on Rose's skin. We went through a rough patch for about a month where she seemed to get prickly heat rashes and bug bites all over her back, legs, and even her head. We made several visits to the doctor, which ruled out the more serious possibilities like shingles. Some visits the new rashes or bites looked like poison ivy and other times we thought they might be spider or other insect bites. Rose's scratching was so bad, it became infected and we had to give her the first course of antibiotics this year. The medicine helped clear up the rashes and bites, and we managed to prevent a relapse with a trip to New York (and no pool time for two weeks). I was so worried about the bites and rash I brought in a bed bug exterminator to be sure we didn't have bed bugs. Thankfully, we didn't. But, we never figured out the source of the problem. Poor Rose has been left with some scars this summer, but I'm glad the symptoms resolved.
Finishing a great soccer season
We had a nice transition to swim team from soccer this spring. Rose had her last soccer game on May 12 and started swim team on May 14. It really was good timing. We want to be very careful not to over-schedule the girls. They already go to school full time and have pretty exhausting days of playing and learning. Soccer was on Saturday mornings and the nice thing about swim team was that all the meets and practices were weekdays. It was somewhat stressful to get them to practice every day, but we had the option of a 4:45 or a 5:45p practice, so that was more manageable. It was nice having completely free weekends to do whatever we wanted.
This year was also the World Cup. While we didn't get the result we wanted for any of our teams, we had fun cheering on our favorites - Portugal and Brazil. The girls loved getting to wear their Portugal gear to school when the team was playing. Their teachers, all Latinas and mostly from South or Central America, also were in the spirit wearing their team colors.
Go Portugal!!
One of the events I look forward to in the spring is going on the annual Piedmont Farm Tour. Carolina Farm Stewardship Association puts together the event in partnership with many farmers in the region. There is a minimal cost to visit the farms, and many offer self-guided or guided tours. At one of the farms, we were able to pet baby goats and baby chicks. At another farm, we harvested our own eggs from the mobiles. I want the girls to know where their food comes from. While they don't quite fully understand it yet, each of these visits provides us with some teachable moments.
Playing on the tractor at the farm
What girls doesn't wear a princess dress to a farm
Collecting eggs on the farm
Rose is much less into her princess and fairy dresses these days, but sometimes she wants to do what Zoe does, and Zoe is in the prime of her princess dress days!
Our princess at the playground
The girls have been really into doing puzzles since late spring. Rose, in her typical smarty-pants fashion mastered puzzles I bought her within a day or two and moved on to more complex puzzles quickly. Zoe, at only 2 and half, has done really well putting them together. She usually gets the puzzle 50-70% finished and then Rose likes to jump in and help complete them. We've noticed them working together as a team much more lately. I hope that pattern continues.
Showing off our "ram sam sam" skills at the beach house Memorial Day weekend
A non-princess dress day still requires a dress.
Surprisingly she also managed to let someone put her hair up!
One of the many trips to the pool for swim practice.
Here, with a tiara made at school
With our event-free weekends, we alternated between trips to the pool and trips to the beach. We started the month with a trip to the beach in Wilmington. It was May 4th and the girls had no problem playing in the shallow pools of water. It was still too cold for me!
Fort Fisher, NC May 4, 2018
Our Memorial Day weekend trip to Myrtle Beach was a little more my style. Nice, beachfront hotel with pools, and ocean temperatures that were quite nice. We had a beautiful weekend with warm days and comfortable nights. It was nice spending time with the Clemente family.
Nice beachfront hotel Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach
Zoe is a good beach napper (and eater!)
Colin's newest toy - the mighty max can carry up to 450 lbs
Guess how many times I've heard that?!!
This year, spring was very welcome, except for a few hiccups we had along the way. We started off the month checking out the kite festival in the park by our house. I rode both kids down to the park in the bike trailer, still feeling pretty good after a winter of consistent running. I had also been going to physical therapy regularly for about a month at that point, working on some core strength that was still weak thanks to the diastasis recti I had throughout two pregnancies and post partum. I was getting stronger, but still feeling lower back pain (more about that later). My family visited in March to celebrate my birthday, and we got to see some North Carolina Courage (professional) women's soccer in a few exhibition games against division 1 college squads. Since Rose has pretty much stopped napping, I took her to an afternoon game again Tennessee (go Vols!). Most of March was spent grant writing for me, and with an injury (more below), Colin stepped up to take the girls to things I didn't need to attend (like school friend's birthday parties). Easter was April 1st this year, so we obviously had some Easter Egg hunts in these two months, and a trip to South Carolina for Easter this year. Other exciting events included first haircuts for the girls, Rose getting really good at the Strider/balance bike, the spring projects display at the girls school, and trips to our favorite museum and parks.
Rose trying to fly a kite at the Bond Park Kite Festival March 3
I had decided not to play outdoor soccer this spring, wanting to keep my weekends free to hang out with the family. But, after going to some of the college/professional games, I was itching to get on the field. I felt stronger (except for that nagging back), and decided to join a few weeks into the season. Of course, all it took was the first game to put me back out of commission. It certainly didn't help that my first game back was after a week of travel to/from Asheville, later in the day after carrying Rose about half a mile on the walk (with a back that was already feeling pretty stiff), and playing a full 90 minute game down a player (10v11) in 40 degree rainy conditions. I played on a Sunday, sat at a computer working on a grant all day Monday (our March snow day), and woke up unable to move on Tuesday. I tried to do physical therapy for the rest of March and April, but finally decided to get a MRI. The results ... three bulging discs. I remained optimistic. Bulging discs are better than herniated discs and I left my "pelvic" physical therapy practice for a "spinal" physical therapist and that has made a huge difference. Did you know you can do exercises to "push" the bulge back in? I've been working with my new physical therapist to figure out the right angle for the exercises since May. It's the end of June now, and I am much better, but not healed. It's a long road to recovery and I'm not sure my back will ever be 100%.
Spring brought on Rose's soccer league. Her first game was mid-March and she had a wonderful season which wrapped up on May 12. It was noticeable that she was one of the more experienced kids on the field, and she was now 4 whereas some others were only 3. Zoe's been ready to play. We hope to sign her up in the fall even though she doesn't turn 3 until a few weeks into the season. The season was so fun because Rose had two of her classmates on her team - Lucas and Nathan. The two girls and their two friends would often sit together after the games enjoying their post-game snacks.
Rose and Zoe ready for Rose's first Spring 2019 game on March 17
Zoe with her gear on at Rose's soccer game
Our first Easter Egg Hunt of the year was at Bond Park. Even though the park is basically in our back yard, this is the first year we actually went. Rose had a soccer game in the morning and we managed to squeeze it in before Zoe's nap and before the rain started. It was a last-minute decision, so we weren't completely prepared for it. We had walked to the park and had to move quickly to get back home as it started sprinkling when we finished collecting the eggs.
Zoe collecting Easter Eggs
Zoe had also been dying to get her haircut for weeks. There is a kid's haircutting place next door to the wine shop where we pick up our weekly Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share. She saw kids come of the salon with balloons one time and every week would ask to get her haircut. Since Rose has never gotten her hair cut, and Zoe's hair has gotten long fast, we scheduled it for one weekend in late March. Both girls got to watch Paw Patrol while they got their cuts. I wasn't overly impressed with the cuts, but we were in and out quickly since both girls were sufficiently distracted. And, they were both so excited to get their balloons!
Rose made sure we scheduled the haircut the night before
Zoe ready for her hair cut, Rose will be next
Two happy girls with new hair do's and balloons
Easter weekend we made the trip out to the Greenville, South Carolina area where my parents live. My back was still feeling bad (before I had the MRI, while I was still doing the pelvic PT which made symptoms worse, and while I was still pretty stressed with grant writing). I made the 4-hour trip laying on my bac, across the second row each way. We loaded up a few things in the passenger seat and on the floor of the second row, and put the girl's car seats in the third row. Darwin stayed home (which he prefers to the car rides), so that made it easier. With a back that wasn't hurting too bad (thanks to laying down), I was able to mostly enjoy the weekend with the family. We explored Greenville on a beautiful spring day, came upon an Easter Egg Hunt when we were going to a park between Greenville and my parent's house, and had a very nice Easter morning/day with my parents at their house. The weather was amazing all weekend.
Rose and Zoe enjoying the Greenville, SC downtown park
Picture with the Easter Bunny at the Egg Hunt we stumbled upon in Greer, SC
Rose and Zoe in their matching Easter dresses, ready to hunt for eggs at their Avos house
Sipping hot chocolate in the nice warm South Carolin sunshine
Cheers to a wonderful Easter weekend!
In April, Bond Park started their "First Friday Bands, Bites, and Boats" event, which includes a performance on a small stage by a musician, a food truck, and boat rentals. We decided to check the first one out. Both girls wanted to dress as princesses. We brought our own dinner to the park, went out on a boat ride, and the girls practiced riding their balance bikes before going home.
Heading out on our boat ride
Rose zooms too fast for the camera
Zoe's still not sure about the balance bike
I know I've posted about it before, but we love where our girls go to school. The Reggio Emilia inspired Spanish languge immersion school really excels as the projects they do with the kids. They have tons of outdoor time, get fed good meals and snacks, work on themed projects every month (or a little longer), offer semi-annual parent-teacher conferences, and have semi-annual festivals to display the class projects. Rose was excited to show off her "transportation" projects and Zoe loved showing us her music displays.
As the weather warmed up in April, Rose really excelled in soccer. While she wasn't always scoring in the correct goal, she was working hard on the field, getting involved in the play, not getting frustrated when others pushed/knocked her down, and just really wanting to be on the field. She's a very good listener, paying attention and implementing what she learns. We are so proud of her.
Rose lined up for soccer drills at practice before the game
And, I have a feeling Zoe won't be left behind. I don't know if I've posted before that Zoe has always been a little pigeon-toed. We brought it up with the pediatrician a few times when she was young. He told us most of the best athletes are a little pigeon-toed. Not sure if there's any evidence of that, but I will say Zoe does act really athletic. She's got great ball control already and can move pretty quick. I hope we'll find out how she does with team sports in the fall. This video doesn't do her skills justice, but it is the best at capturing the games this spring.
School friends enjoying the post-game snack
A family selfie in April 2018
Rose enjoying the carousel at Pullen Park
Some museums and things we do are regular events in our household so I don't share details about them every time. As I often post, we are huge fans of both the Durham Museum of Life and Sciences (and their train, bears, wolves, lemurs, farm animals, butterfly house, music and treehouse exhibits) and Pullen Park (and their train, carousel, and paddle boats). In the spring, summer, and fall there are often events going on in Bond Park as well, like the Bonds, Bites, and Boats First Friday evenings. The park also hosts concerts at the amphitheatre, Arts festivals, kits festivals, dog festivals, etc.
Stay tuned for more posts on our May and June adventures, which include lots of pool time. If you've followed me for awhile, you know we spend a lot of time at our neighborhood pool. This year we've already gone to the pool a whole summer's worth of times thanks to a certain 4 year old now being old enough for the swim team. You'll have to wait to hear more about that!
