Family Mellmann

Exciting times here in the Williston area, and in Vermont in general.  Here are some pictures of life in Williston, " post Hurricane Irene ".

I was on my way to bed when I spotted this little guy clinging to the front door. He's about the size of a quarter. I love living in the country.

Summer was just getting started when I made my last website updates.  Fortunately, for me, we also have a blog which can be updated easily from my cell phone.  Otherwise there would be large gaps in the story-telling of the Mellmann Family life. It's been a great summer, but it is already half over.  By half I mean that half of my kids are back in school.  Patrick started on Monday ( see his picture here ) as a fifth grader at Trinity.  For the first time, in nearly five years, he was ready for school to start.  Patrick looked forward to reconnecting with his school friends, and his teacher, whom he really likes a lot.  With the first week almost over, he is still sporting a really good attitude toward school and the work required.  I wish I could say the same about guitar practice and Tae Kwon Do. :) Katherine starts her first grade year next Wednesday.  It will be interesting to see how she handles the new academic requirements (first g...

Patrick has been so busy hanging out with his camp friends, riding his scooter, and catching newts, that he hasn't been to the pool. Today we remedy that, and it's the perfect weather for it.

After two nights and two and a half days of constant rain and cold, today is warm, sunny, and perfect for the pool. Hopefully, Patrick is as much fun at camp as we are.

Our home for the next week. It only took me 2 1/2 hours to set it up, but we're ready for a week of Radical Raptors at VINS and a week of camping.

Fly fishing on the Winooski River. We stopped for a play break, on our canoe ride down the river, so that Patrick could fish and Katherine could play in the water. We've seen King Fishers and an osprey already, and given the canoe some new hull scrapes. The kids got a little freaky, but we haven't tipped over...yet. sent from my Project 365 app http://bit.ly/5G0JwQ

Unless the weather is truly gross, I try to keep all technology (computers, TVs, video games, etc.) off and have the kids do something creative, outside, or both. I tell them that 'maybe we can watch something this afternoon', by which time we are usually at the pool or doing something else this is fun and outside so that they forget all about the television. The last few days, busy with work, I have been a bit lax with that program and they have been taking advantage of my distractedness and need for office time. Today I returned to the task of limiting television and this is what happened. What a great set up! Elk grazing in the field, moose hiding in the trees, and bison roaming the plains. Earlier, Patrick had shark-infested waters threatening to capsize a little rowboat and the pirate ship run aground in the rocks. Who needs a television? Playmobil is so cool.

Today's harvest from the garden; green beans (dinner tomorrow), radishes, carrots, tons of chive, and two kinds of parsley (flat and curly). I love harvesting from my own garden.

Patrick is enjoying a little alone time with Oma and Opa in Isle LaMotte today (Katherine stayed home with me...she'll get her turn another day). Of course fishing was on the top of his to-do list, especially since he is trying to hone his fly fishing skills now that he has had his fly fishing camp. This is Patrick with his first ever fly casting catch. He was very excited! sent from my Project 365 app http://bit.ly/5G0JwQ