Visiting Vermont

Every kid dreams of getting a "Vermonster" from the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory in Waterbury, Vermont. This was the day Kjersti's dream came true. What is a "Vermonster" you might ask? It is a bucket-o-goodness that includes 20 of your favorite scoops of Ben & Jerry's ice cream along with a broad assortment of other delightful toppings. Soooooooooooo tasty. This was one of the highlights of our recent trip to Smugglers Notch, VT.

With a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye, Kjersti milked Eli for all he was worth at the Cabot Cheese Annex. I don't think Eli ever did figure out what was going on under that stool.

After pushing the stroller mile after mile along the Stowe, VT bike path, Cody figured he would let gravity take a turn. As it turns out the kids preferred gravity. Check out the video!

Here we are ascending Mount Mansfield. At 4,393 ft, it is Vermont's highest peak. Thanks in large part to a road that goes nearly to the top, the summit is accessable even to a group of "extreme" hikers like us. One extreme hiker attempted hiking with his eyes closed. That hiker can be seen here in Cody's arms moments before attempting his wild stunt.

We all got to enjoy our trip, especially Kjersti, with Elaine, Heidi's mother. In Sharon, VT, we visited the site of the Prophet Joseph Smith's birthplace. It was a wonderful tribute to the first Prophet of our dispensation!

We really enjoyed the week we spent in Vermont. It was a great experience!

A Night at the Drive Inn

The Black Water Drive Inn is about a three minute drive away from our home. Last night, they were showing Kung Fu Panda and Indiana Jones so we decided to go. We figured there would be a lot of interest in this double feature so we decided to go early. We got a great spot, but had to spend the better part of two and a half hours keeping the kids entertained.


7:18 pm: Shortly after arriving and getting our stuff set up, we enjoyed a nice picnic.

7:36 pm: Bordem sets in and Chubs attempts to climb to the top of Kjersti. Despite several attempts, he never manged to get above her armpits.

7:51 pm: Kjersti tries the sleeper hold on Chubs.

8:03 pm: Chubs is notified that in appx. 90 minutes, Kung Fu Panda will begin.

8:18 pm: Kjersti and Chubs return triumphantly after having clogged the toilet in the Men's bathroom (Ok, not really, but what else could cause two kids to have such beaming smiles on their faces?).

8:36 pm: Dad decides to play Drill Instructor and makes each child do 30 push-ups. After two or three, both ask to be released from Drive Inn Boot Camp.

8:45 pm: Chubs puts the sleeper hold on Kjersti.

9:12 pm: We break out the popcorn and assume our movie time positions. Finally, 23 minutes later, the show begins. Cody couldn't stay awake through Kung Fu Panda, so we left right after it ended. We'll try Indiana Jones another day.