Vermont Trip.... Finally!

It had been 4.5 years since I had been back to Vermont. Since our wedding to be exact. Although we have tried for many years to get a trip together to get back, it wasn't until we wanted to attend my brother's graduation with his Master's in Business Administration that we finally found the incentive to actually get there.

We had a great time with the family, celebrating Matt's achievement and enjoying Vermont.

Please enjoy some photos and stories from the trip (lots of links to click on too(see all the blue text!!!):

On Thursday, Mike and I drove up to Montpelier and went to the Morse Farm which is Vermont's Oldest Maple Sugar Family - they have been sugaring for 7 Generations and we were able to have one of the Top 75 Foods in America according to Food & Wine Magazine - The Morse Farm Maple Creammee =)

From Montpelier we drove back to So. Burlington and hit up the Magic Hat Brewery... it is such a cool urban place -

We were lucky to spend some quality time with Mike's sister Heather and her family Thursday night too. Sadly, Fred had to leave for work, but it was wonderful to see them all - especially seeing as how fast the kids - Keith, Sarah and Logan are growing up!

Friday was Matt's Hooding Ceremony. He was chosen to give the speech representing his classmates and it was well thought out and delivered. We are all so very proud of him!

The "MBA"

While at the podium:

After the Hooding Ceremony -

Matt and Beth:

Matt with Alyssa:

and with Andrew:

Me with Matt and our parents:

Beth and the kids:

and the end of the day, walking towards the lake with his family:

Saturday we all loaded up in our Toyota Sequoia and headed to Quechee VT for a celebratory luncheon - Matt had chosen the Simon Pearce Glass Blowing Studio and Restaurant. If you have ever seen the movie "Sweet Home Alabama", well the glass studio/restaurant was actually made to represent Simon Pearce and all the glassware in the movie was Simon Pearce Glass (see short story).

We were so lucky to have gotten to meet the man himself - Simon Pearce was there and signing glass that was purchased - lucky for us my parents were generous to purchase a piece of glasswork for both Mike & I and Matt & Beth. Simon used a really neat etching tool to "autograph" the glass. What a cool memory and now an heirloom for our family!

Here he is:

One of my favorite pieces that was so beautiful in person and here it is on their website:

We took some photos out by the falls:

Alyssa was so careful not to touch anything!

A cool photo of their sign that faces out into the falls:

We then headed over on to their amazing lawn and snapped a couple more photos of the kids and let Andrew get some running around in before the long drive back to Burlington:

Alyssa with Nahne:

We made a few stops on the way back and one of them was in Bridgewater at this beautiful waterfall - Alyssa & Pappy:

Sunday was Mother's Day and we enjoyed being able to actually see both of our Mom's which is pretty unusual now that we are living in NC.

On Monday Matt and I had a surprise up our sleeves - we had arranged to have a professional photographer come to VT to take our family photos. Matt and I went through a lot of searching and finally made what we think was an awesome decision - Robert Wagner came from NYC and we couldn't be more pleased with the photos - He has family in NC and actually comes here a few times a year so if you are in need, feel free to check out his site - we will be calling on him again for sure!

Here is a sneak peak he sent of Mike and I:

He posted a blog entry on his site with some photos of Matt, Beth and the Kids... the photos just about bring tears to my eyes.... Check it out here!

and here is one final image for now that I grabbed from his gallery:

photo is copywrite to Robert Wagner Photography

Hope you enhoyed seeing the photos of our lovely home state. It is an easy place to miss, but we are all happy to be living near one another and Mike and I really feel like NC is "home" now!