HUGE Snowman

Look at this HUGE snowman I found in Newport today!

Soon to be One (by Kevin)

We are in the final days until Sapphire Elizabeth Kouri's first birthday, the Big One Year. It was at 10:10 am on December 26th 2008 that she graced us with her presences at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington, VT. Emma labored over Christmas dinner and into the night before she told me it was go time to get her to the hospital at 6 am in the morning. I remember the drive down South Prospect like it was yesterday. It was so calm and peaceful in the city, the day after Christmas, as we drove to the hospital. Emma had been meditating and relaxing in the spirit of hypnobirthing. We were confident that the birth was going to be pain free and without troubles for the mother and child. Sapphire was a day late for Santa Claus but this was the best gift we could have asked for in 2008. Less then 1 month old

WOW a year has gone by so fast. It is truly amazing. I find myself reminiscing more then I usually do this time of year because of the events of the last year. Emma and I find ourselves saying to one another the last month or so "remember this time last year......" We are truly blessed with a roof over our heads, we both have jobs and even though it seems like there is never enough loot in the bank account we manage to do what we need to do. We have become more conscious then ever before about the mighty dollar now that we are parents but this is a good thing. Being fiscally responsible when corporate America and the US government was not in 2008-2009 is now the cool hip thing to do in 2009-2010.

There is one thing money can not buy as we search for what Sapphire will need to grow up to be a well rounded member of society and that one thing is love. Emma and I are blessed to both have loving parents that are actively involved in what we are doing. We also have siblings that are excited about Sapphire and want to share the love as well. There are soon to be two uncle's on both sides of the family. As the family grows with marriages and little feet running about this love will sustain families through all the hard times whatever they are. So Emma and I can not go out and buy love, but we can make sure that she is surrounded with the people and things that we believe will give her the tools to grow and prosper.

I think about her three aunt's: Kristen, Hannah and Penelope. Great woman in each of their own way and Sapphire is going to learn so much from each of them. Hannah will contribute the artistic/musical side, Penelope her huge heart and smarts and Kristen her NYC chic and sophistication. Sapphire will not be lacking the things that make a woman smart, sophisticated, beautiful and elegant. Just look at her mother she embodies it all. She carried Sapphire during the final months of her PhD right into the defense a month before giving birth, she's months away from rejoining the cabaret group again and she has to put up with my BS. That is one strong woman.

The other day I received a text message from Hannah. The message was entitled "Future's so bright she's gotta wear shades". As a parent you hope the way you raise your child that you are leading them down the right path so that their future is bright and filled with many opportunities. We think that everyone in this family has something to share and offer us and Sapphire. It is these things that we look for, bits of wisdom to take and pass on. Will her future be bright, without a doubt it will be. Family and friends will help along the way but Emma and I ultimately need to find it for ourselves and our family.

I hope Sapphire realizes that one day wearing sunglasses during the glooming days, night time and anytime is a sign of being upbeat, optimistic and lets not forget cool.

So the first year/chapter in her life book is coming to a close and it has been a BLAST. If you are having a bad day remember there is always tomorrow and put a pair of shade's on because like Sapphire's future yours can be bright too.

"Man it is bright out today" Almost One Year Old (taken 12/21/09)

Has Winter Arrived??? (by Kevin)

I think Old Man Winter has come roaring back into Vermont this week. We finally got some winter weather a week before Christmas. It has not felt like winter in these parts at all. A general lack of snow and temps that rarely broke the 32 degree mark. I think everyone was wondering when Old Man Winter was going to show up. Well a week before Sapphire Elizabeth's Birthday he did.

Temperatures the last couple of days have fallen below the 0 degree mark without the windchill factor. The windchill put us well below -10 degree's the last couple of days. Work has been unbearable with these temps. Barns are frozen, people are in a general bad mood because equipment will not start and I had to pull out my fleece lined work pants on Thursday morning. When the truck gauge reads -2 degrees when parked in the hills of Enosburg Falls, VT you might as well leave the rig on and throw the concept of global warming out the f....ing window.

Wednesday I decided to take the day off and spend it with Emma and Sapphire. I have not taken a day off since December 26th 2008 starting at 10:10 am, nor has Emma. I had 120 hours of vacation time to take and I had not taken one single day. So I have decided to take some time off before and after Christmas. We went for a walk in the morning, before Sapphire's nap, at the Burlington Country Club. We did our loop which is the loop we used to do when Emma had a watermelon inside of her. It was great to get out on a Wednesday morning with the dogs and the family and not be rushed. It was all about slowing down. Sapphire did not make the whole loop, she passed out near the end but that was our intentions. The walk was followed by Christmas shopping and lunch downtown. It went by very fast but we had a great day spending that day together.

The reason why we live in Vermont other then jobs and family is the natural beauty it can show any time of year. Sap flowing pre Springtime, cows on pasture in the Summer, the Autumn colors painted across the hillside to the blanket of white across fields, frozen rivers and mountains. Every season brings it own special beauty you just have to look for it.


The Frozen Missisqoui along RT 105, facing East towards Jay Peak, in Enosburg Falls, VT. The far snow covered peak under the clouds is Jay.

The final countdown is on. Can you believe it Sapphire is almost 1 years old. She has 8 days until her First Birthday. Emma and I have had a blast this first year. It has been tough and we are sleep deprived but we love her so much and she is a great child. She has a smile that lights up the world and we always get comments from complete strangers how great her smile is. She is very special and we are blessed.

"What you looking at? Can't you see I am busy reading, so buzz off."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Moo Devil or Merry Christmas (by Kevin)

My lack of posts are very inexcusable and I have to make a better effort to get my thoughts on the blog. I have a lot of ideas that go through my head during the course of the day that would be good for the blog but I can not find the time to sit down and write about my day. I have the dogs to deal with, Sapphire to play with and put to bed, then dinner and work after that. I am not on Facebook, I am not going to Tweet and I do not have Myspace so this is the only place I can express myself.

I am going to make a goal to blog about some things I deal with day in day out once or twice a week. So you might be reading a lot about cows, farms and idiot drivers on the interstate.

Last week I came across a cow at Conant's Riverside Farm in Richmond, VT. Conant's is home to 370 mature Holstein's and approximately 300 or so head of young stock run by the father and son team David and Ransom Conant. Of course I must mention that Conant's is the home to the best sweet corn in the state.

I stumbled upon Cow # 4, who resides in Group 3, and was taken by surprise to find that she had decorated herself for the Holiday's. Or, she might be a cousin of "Loco Vaca" and was making sure everyone knew to keep their distance from her. I opted not to rustle her from her roost to find out if she was the cousin to "Loco Vaca", or was just in the Holiday spirit and decorated her horns to make the other girls jealous. She quitely posed for me so I could take her picture, but she kept a watchful eye on my actions. I realized if she was not in the Holiday spirit then maybe she is "Moo Devil": a defender of all cows against humans. Humans that touch and pull on their teats to harvest the bountiful white stuff we call milk. Her mission is to rid the practice of touching teat ends with cold rough hands early in wee hours of the morning. When you are not looking "Moo Devil" swoops in and horns the offender in the ass.So watch out if you are not gentle in mammary gland teat stimulation "Moo Devil" has something to say about that.