Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/1147810
6 Hudson Valley Parent n August 2019 A ugust is a long, holiday-free month. The American flag dcor is packed away, there are no days off from work and silver bells are jingling much too far in the distance to even be heard. It may seem like a strange time to celebrate, but it is one of my favorite times of year. Growing up, there was always one week at the end of the summer where my family would take a trip up to the Adirondacks. This time surrounded by the people I love most was as much cause for celebration as Christmas and my birthday combined. I would count down the days until I could leap from the rickety dock into the lake. We would spend our mornings fishing and spend our days kayaking. My mother would pack picnics of ham sandwiches, peaches and white cheddar Cheez Doodles for our adventures on the pontoon boat. Our evenings were spent playing board games around the table. I will never forget the first time I got to drive the boat or the times Grandma would throw her head back laughing during a never- ending game of Uno. As we got older, it got harder to get us all together to make this tradition last. My older brother moved and when my twin and I headed off to college, it became nearly impossible to make it happen. This year, I am celebrating because my family once again made the trek to Saranac Lake. We paddled kayaks, snacked on peaches and played cards while the crickets chirped outside our cabin. This year though, we celebrated my twin's recent engagement and my husband's first time joining the Brighton family vacation. This month, we listed 18 things to do as a family while summers are carefree. It doesn't matter how you spend your time, but it does matter who you spend it with. Make the most of the time before school starts up again and celebrate every day together. Find something to celebrate this August CASSIDY BRIGHTON Editor's Journal Publisher TERRIE GOLDSTEIN tgoldstein@excitingread.com Editor CASSIDY BRIGHTON cbrighton@excitingread.com Dir. of Consumer Development PAMELA PERRY pperry@excitingread.com Dir. of Business Development KATHLEEN MERZ kmerz@excitingread.com Executive Assistant LESLIE CORTES lcortes@excitingread.com Media Advisor MARY ZAK mzak@excitingread.com Cover Photography SAMANTHA ZBIKOWSKI FocusOnUs.net Layout & Design ENGLE PRINTING also publishers of MY TripPlanner.com family MY TripPlanner.com family Hudson Valley Parent is published monthly by: The Professional Image Marketing & Public Relations Inc. 174 South Street • Newburgh, NY 12550 Phone: 845-562-3606 • Fax: 845-562-3681 hvparent.com This publication is copyrighted by the publisher. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Hudson Valley Parent welcomes submissions, although we cannot accept responsibility for work submitted nor guarantee publication. In our July 2019 magazine, there was an error. Here's what 6-year-old Michael's mom Megan really wants you to know about her incredible son: "Michael is smart. He is able. He is willing to learn. He loves to read and enjoys being challenged. He loves with his entire being and his hugs are the warmest. Having him in our lives did not happen by chance and I truly believe that. I am so lucky to have him and he has changed my life indefinitely and has truly made me a better person." Correction!