Travel Study: Brazil

Our first package finally arrived from Little Passports, a subscription to a "global adventure" that we signed up for last month. Ava had no idea why the box had her name on it, and had no idea that the suitcase would hold a world map with a passport and photo of 2 travelers that want to share parts of the world with her. The suitcase caught Ava's fancy immediately - and she registered her boarding pass online and played her first game.



Before I could tell you that this package arrived, she has already received her second - from the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil! And the souvenirs were a hit! An amethyst stone from a "mine in Maraba," a photo of a red uakari monkey, and a wooden toucan puzzle. She also received a letter and stickers to post on her luggage, passport and map - Ava and I examined the globe to find exactly where the souvenirs were from.







This is such a great idea - I kick myself for not coming up with the idea first. It's so easy to replicate and make one at home. You can find these suitcases (set of 3 for $20) online at The Land of Nod, and fill with a penned letter, and souvenirs from a country you'd like to study as a family. Souvenirs can be picked up on Amazon or your local dollar store - whether its rocks, a musical instrument, or a doll wearing national clothing - the opportunities are endless!

So this month, we'll be exploring Brazil... and sharing with you more very soon!

fall foliage in new york and vermont!

Seven years ago, Aaron and I packed up and drove straight to Canada and the eastern states - a 7,000 mile pilgrimage just to catch a glimpse of mother nature in her finest hours. It has since then become my favorite time of year. A few weeks ago, we were blessed to have that feeling overcome us again, and pack up and head north to embrace our beloved season of fall.... but this time, we were accompanied by new travelers, and the adventure was even more off the beaten path by traveling with two curious little ones. We spared them the long drive, and flew into Buffalo, NY. After picking up our rental car, we headed straight towards our first destination stop - Niagara Falls...





I remember just spending an hour here last time, too cold to even move and eying the hot cocoa stand for 55 minutes of it. But traveling as parents, we have the privilege to experience life again with our children - and that alone is reason enough to slow down and take in the experience collectively. It's also an opportunity for us to show our kids the world as it is. It's one thing to talk about it, but its another to see it too. How could I ever explain what 3,160 tons of water falling every second looks like? Sounds like? and feels like?...

And for that very reason, signing up for a packaged tour turned out to be a great idea - On the Maid of the Mist boat tour, Noah was the only one without a poncho (by choice) - and huddled in the front row of the top deck, we crooned as the warm mist swallowed us... and seconds later, let us breathe again so that we could look back at the roaring falls.







Rainy, cold, and soaking wet, pneumonia did cross my mind. But the kids forged on - wanting to see and experience more... and so the ultimate spell (and request for a warm bath after wards) came when we walked right under the falls... less than 20 ft away from us. Waddling back to our hotel, the kids thought we were going back home that night... and that our trip was over. Little did they know that a road trip in the car for 7 hours followed the next day...



Along with the view and jamming to the radio, their backpacks were their portal to entertaining themselves. Each contained their field journal, pencil case, a sheet of stickers, flash light, and new I Can Read story books about travel... and thanks to Grandma, a special "I love you" bag filled with chocolates and candy made the car ride even more sweeter.

One of the things Aaron and I wavered on was whether or not we should pack our portable DVD players for these long stretches. But after pulling in more than 2,000 miles in the car together, I am so glad we left them at home. It was a tough (but good) change for the kids to feel still and completely reliant on themselves and each other to make, well... the best of it. And when Noah expended all his energy (books and candy wrappers on the floor), he would ask me to wake him up when we arrived at our next hotel... {smile}.

Our second night brought us to Lake Placid, NY - in the heart of the Adirondacks. I have always been curious about these wooded lands, and can clearly see how different the pace of life is here... nestled between the proud mountains and European-esqe villages, the laid back atmosphere is throttled by those who come here to train for the Olympics. Our hotel sat above the main village, and was a refreshing start to our official fall foliage leaf peeping adventure...





After mis-reading the Adirondack Scenic Railroad train schedule, we realized our plans slated for day 2 were wiped clean. But that's the beauty of vacationing isn't it? And my goodness... just look at where we are... the decision was too easy... so we went apple picking! The kids really enjoyed themselves here at Applejack's Orchard in Peru, NY, where the slow pace is appreciated, and Ava and Noah operated on their own internal clocks. They bobbed in and out of rows of various apple trees, picking and "mmm-mmming" the whole way...













The hours spent here were unbelievably relaxed and enjoyable - for the simple fact of being on a farm... a vast land that is quiet, spacious, and evergreen. To run, throw rocks, or just pick wild flowers for Mama...



Each night, we'd pull out the children's field journals and pen their thoughts and then let them draw their own interpretation below. The leaves we collected from the day were pressed into the pages {although Noah somehow got a hold of these one night and enjoyed crumbling them up}.



The next day, as we headed towards VT, we stopped for a quick hike at High Falls Gorge to see how the kids would do on their very first hike (also unplanned). Sure, perhaps Niagara spoiled it a bit for us, but even still, the triumph here was that they hiked the entire path (1 mile round trip) all by themselves...





There were interesting details to take in as we walked the trail back. Like this miniature village of mushrooms - so complacently growing atop of a tree stump. The kids soon discovered that it's curvy shapes were just as fun as squishing them with a stick... a lot of mushrooms went down that morning unfortunately...



Heading towards VT, we took the fastest route our map app on our iPhone cited for us. And speaking of slow paced, I didn't bother to look at the complete set of directions, or notice that there is an enormous body of water between NY and VT... so when I read, "drive 3 miles then arrive at Port Kent" I looked up to see Lake Champlain - in all its beauty - defeat us. But as luck would have it for these adventurers, a ferry ride was leaving in 10 minutes! And just like that, we drove onto the ferry - Noah, just then waking up from his nap woke up to a different kind of motion.... water!





The hour ride was beautiful - where we ate lunch while peering out of the port holes, to sun bathing above and watching sail boats roll by...



Closer to Stowe, we stumbled upon an ice cream sign - so immediately that caught the children's attention. So we made a quick detour and visited the Ben & Jerry Factory! The 20 minute tour took the group up and down the halls where we could see workers test flavors, hear tanks churning and filling up pints by the thousands, as well as watch a historical documentary about Ben and Jerry themselves. I absolutely love watching how things are so systematically in play - and an ice cream factory is divine {and cold}. The kids got a first hand look at how their beloved dessert is made - and realize that there is more to it than opening up the freezer door at the grocery store. Many people are involved, many processes take place... and much gratitude is given to the VT cows!



By nightfall, we finally arrived at our next hotel - the most anticipated of all - Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT. And of course, the first thing the kids wanted to do was... sprawl...



Aaron found out about the Green Mountain flyer that still runs for those train aficionados {aka Noah}. So the next morning, we walked to the Trapp Family Lodge bakery, and snapped some photos, before heading back into the car for a 2 hour drive south to Bellow Falls... where one of Noah's dreams came true! He has probably seen the movie Polar Express more than I care to admit, and so it was quite nostalgic when the conductor asked for, "tickets... tickets please!"











The following morning, a second dream came true - Ava's... where for the last 2 years, she has been savoring her favorite songs, and twirling atop imaginary hills like those in Salzburg. I devoted to take her there one day {and I still plan to}, but when I learned that the actual Von Trapp family was actually here in Stowe, VT, I knew that this would be the cupola of the entire trip... and it was!



Our morning tour conducted by Maria and Captain Von Trapp's great granddaughter, Carla, tickled Ava in every way. Among 42 other patrons, she sat quietly and listened patiently to her explain the true story about her great grand mother, Ava's beloved "hero" of a grown up who lived her days always with a child-like spirit.







Carla spent a generous amount of time with Ava, and autographed her book, V is for Von Trapp: A Musical Family Alphabet that we picked up from their gift shop. Ava shared with Carla {and the entire group} how Grandma gave her the movie, and she's been watching it ever since {oh 2 years!}

Another first for Ava was learning about a cemetery. Aaron and I were unprepared for this part of the tour - but everything happened so quickly, and so naturally - like the words coming out of my mouth trying to explain its purpose - as very matter of fact. Talking about death alone makes Ava very sad. "I don't want to die," she said... "I don't want to be buried in the dirt..." and holding her hand, trying to keep up with the rest of the tour, I shared that I don't want that either... but that's how it is, and why we have to be sure every day is so very special.

A teachable moment in every essence - this was truly a blessed way God has given us to help teach the kids about what happens to us after we die. Because right in this very moment, as Ava was absorbing the information I just gave her, golden leaves from the tree behind their tombstone fell above Ava like snow... and Ava said, "Mom, Maria is doing that for me!"



OH! It makes me cry just thinking about it - seeing her arms out to her side, and smiling so wide by her revelation, it just makes total sense doesn't it? How natural the life process is, and how we turn to nature to help us find our lost ones again.



Before we left, we let the kids run... and enjoy themselves on the beautiful hills of Stowe... the Trapp Family Lodge is such a magical place indeed... Maria was so right in believing that the hills come alive with the sound of music - and Ava's love for the Sound of Music, her childhood love for all things wonderful, reminded us of that - and we twirled and embraced that feeling here for as long as we could.



Next stop - maple sugar! We took a quick tour of how maple syrup is made, and appreciate the kindness of the owners to let us taste a fresh batch of some...



We left Vermont after wards, and spotted a Comfort Suites to settle in for the night. We woke up the next morning and discovered that we were in a "beach" town called Lake George - and that here alone, there was so much to do... the day was clear and sunny, so we headed out first to its backyard, where a giant playscape awaited for the kids, then drove up Mount Prospect, {and spotted a baby black bear cross the road!} and took in an amazing aerial view of New York from its summit... that blew us away!







We drove into town to see what this little beach town really was about - and oh my...









It was so hard saying good-bye... to New York, Vermont, the fall foliage, and our family vacation. On our last day, we made it back to Buffalo to catch our early flight back home and decided to return to the place where the adventure started - Niagara. This time, sunshine replaced the rain, and we ate lunch and ice cream in the state park. We walked to Horseshoe Falls, and took this photo - where we said thanks, and enjoyed extra hugs with a backdrop of a rainbow....



View the entire family album on Flickr...