Fireman Michael at the Fire Station

Fireman Michael at the Fire Station




Michael and I went to the Williston Fire Department's open house this past weekend.  Michael has been so excited to learn about fire safety at home and he has been dressing up as a fireman so it was only natural that he should go dressed up as a fireman to see the trucks.

The firemen at the station spent a lot of time with Michael.  They showed him so many of their tools they use to help get people out of homes and cars and to keep them all safe.  He also held the water hose.

The Fireman here gave Michael a badge to wear and made him a volunteer fireman at the station.  Michael really liked that.

                                  The firemen really liked listening to Michael ask questions
                                   and liked his excitement at being there.

                                   The firemen took Michael to the trucks and let him put on the lights.

                                          Michael went out to see the lights that he turned on.
                                         He squeezed his hands into fists and giggled while he
                                          jumped in place.  True joy!  It was so sweet!



                                           Here he is following one of the fireman to the tower truck.

                                             
                                          And he found another fireman that was just his size!

                                           
                                         Michael is learning about the jaws of life.

                                             
 
 Here he is listening about how they open the big doors to let the fire trucks out when there is a fire.

Michael listened to the fireman as he told him about how they also

can help people who are hurt.  He showed

him the ambulance and they both got inside.

They pulled out teddy bears that they

give to kids who are scared

when they come to help.

                                        Michael asked what each button and lever here did!

 

                                        He rang the bell they use at the parades.

The Wiliston Firemen were so kind to Michael.  It was such a treat for him to visit and be able to ask all his questions and to sit in all the trucks.  I think the firemen had almost as much fun as Michael did!  Thank you Firemen!

                         

Sharing Autumn with Michael

The beginning of Autumn has been filled with hikes, school, and field trips. Michael has enjoyed watching summer change to fall. A branch by his bedroom window slowly been turning it's leaves more and more red. "Fall is coming!" He would shout every morning as the leaves kept turning.

Michael thought the trees were so beautiful that he decided to draw them.  On the back of the 

picture he wrote this (above):   "In Fall leaves change.  In Fall I am going to jump in leaves."

His formation of letters is getting so much better.

School days find us reading, counting, and learning about the world.  He has been interested in learning about 

the body so we made a skeleton out of spaghetti and macaroni and labelled the bones.

He has been learning to count and just beginning to understand adding.  We also have been working on 

differences of size and his counting bears have been fun for him.

Michael was given a magnet set for his birthday and he has been testing objects

all over the house to see if they are magnetic or not.  

His curiosity is so refreshing and his thirst to know and understand things is so beautiful to witness.

Soon enough it will be time to go and jump in some leaves!

A Walk in the Woods

After a few weeks of not hiking Jim and Michael wanted to get out into the woods. It had rained for several days but Tuesday was supposed to be nice so they were going to try. They were going to hike to the Duck Brook Cascade, a series of small waterfalls near one of the shelters on the Long Trail in Bolton.
They set off down the trail. It was very muddy and very slippery. Both of the hikers fell a few times.
	After a couple of hours they made it to the shelter.
The way down from the shelter was steep and slick so Jim didn't think Michael could make it to the bottom and they turned back. It was a big disappointment but Michael was happy to be headed back. He was pretty tired.
	On the way back the sun came out a bit and there were great views of the foliage. Next week the leaves should be even better.
Michael was glad to see the end of the trail. He was very wet, very muddy and very tired.

Waterfalls of Wonder

Waterfalls of Wonder

We took Michael for a ride through our Green Mountains to Stowe.  We observed some of the changing leaves up there and found lots of sideways windows!  First on our day trip was a stop at Cold Hollow Cider Mill where we watched Apples being pressed for cider and  bought the delicious apple cider donuts.
Then it was off to the falls.

If you weren't careful you would drive right past the small gravel turn off and never find the overgrown entrance to the path.  A few feet in was the sign.  It was delightfully cool on the path in and we would
stop and identify sights, sounds, and smells.

Michael is learning about his senses so we really try to have him use each one separately so he can really
practice using each sense.  You could hear the falls and Michael said the sound was cars going by.  It did sound like that!  We kept on as he struggled to figure out the roaring sound.


As we walked on he kept licking his fingers.  I thought at first the sound was making him nervous but he had just eaten an apple and a cider donut and I think he was using his sense of taste and licking the stickiness
off his fingers!

The path was brilliantly lit with slivers of light between the leaves.  It was such a beautiful walk
with my two boys.  I wished all my boys were with me there.  Very peaceful journey.

The gorge comes up quick with steep sides and rocks with holes cut out of them from rushing waters.
It sneaks up on you and you can look way down and see quiet pools between the falls and racing
water.  Wanted to go take a swim in that clear water...maybe kiss my husband down there...looked so
romantic.

Then we followed the path downward to the bigger falls.  So many stones to step over.
There were even built steps of huge rocks to help us down the steep sides.

 
Michael carefully stepped between exposed roots as he made his way down.

The boys peered down at the water.  They had to lean way over for it was so far down.
Michael felt safe in his Daddy's arms.

The rushing noise came to Michael and he said, "The waterfalls!"  He figured out the sound.

Almost down he held onto Daddy's hand and walked through the big river stones.

                                                        This fall was so beautiful.

                                        We sat for a long while, listening and looking, and
                                         just being out there, living in the moment of our day.
                                         Nature seemed so alive, so bright and clear.

                                     
                                         Michael noted the cracks in the stones from winter's ice
                                          expanding against them.  He really remembers so much
                                           of what we talk about!

                                          Look at this pool that the falls rush into.  So beautiful.

                                       
                                         Then it was time to head back and we crept back up
                                           the path, over rocks, roots, and leaves.  It was hard
                                          work for Michael and myself but Jim was patient
                                         and encouraged us to keep on.

                                         We got back to the car and drove through the Notch,
                                          observing nature, tourists, and old farmsteads.
                                           On the other side was another sideways window,
                                             I didn't find it...Jim has a good eye for that.

                                           So if you ever are in the mood for a drive up to Stowe
                                            do check these falls out, not too far in the woods
                                            and they make a real lasting memory.