Nap time: my definition: a child resting for a period of time during the mid-day hours, giving he/she (of course, only he’s at our home) some time to “recharge” the battery, if you will. While Mother’s simply watch soap operas, have a bubble bath, needlepoint or read magazine articles on “How to manage children and schedules of this generation” to recharge our batteries. I don’t remember doing this?!? Where did the time go? There is very little “naptime” going on at our home these days, Jake is 13, Jon is 9, Jack is 7, and Jens will be 4 this December. They are great boys and I truly delight in being their mother and a wife to Jay. Life could not be better.

Maplelag has been a busy place and we are wrapped up in the midst of it all. The boys have their areas in which they like to help and their talents are able to shine. The store is an outlet for me to design and display, I enjoy this very much. Each year, I do new things which keeps our guests as well as our family outfitted in new attire. I am currently working on the 2007 mug, I wait until I am hit with a lighting idea and run to the company with it to see if my thoughts are do-able. Sometimes they tell me, “can’t do that” but do their best to get me what I envisioned. The mug is different each year therefore proving that Maplelag is not “cookie cutter”. The Maplelag store carries, chapstick-on-a-rope for the skier, thermal mugs, and bumper stickers. We also have local harvested honey, maple syrup and coffee by Muskrat Coffee. I also have some jewelry made by local artists, guests of Maplelag, and even a kitchen staff gal, each piece is a one-of-a-kind. And now, for the drum roll……………………Yes, it is true, this holiday season we will have our first Maplelag cookbook for all to enjoy!! It has been a long time in the making but we hope you think it was well worth the wait and find it unique! Another area of Maplelag which consumes much of my time is wedding planning! I never would have guessed I would get to plan so many weddings! Maplelag truly receives the “cream of the crop” as far as guests and this goes for our wedding guests, as well. We have had great brides and grooms to work with and their families become a part of ours, after spending such a special weekend with us. We choose to offer a “wedding weekend” which provides the bride and groom, along with many of their family and friends an unforgettable reunion with a wedding bonus. We have had some long time, faithful, Maplelag guests as well as brand new guests choose Maplelag. So, if you are thinking of ‘tying the knot’ and looking for somewhere unique and out of the ordinary, consider Maplelag as your stress-free destination wedding.

As we continue with the finishing touches of the new lodge, we are very pleased with the function of the building. As Jim adds a new lunchbox to the collection and an antique sign goes up on the wall, memories of the old lodge return. Many repeat guests have commented on how the new lodge has the feel of the old lodge. (The location of the cookie jars the most important of course). We always strive to make everyone feel at home at Maplelag and will do everything we can to make the visit to Maplelag as memorable as possible. Probably the most surprising business avenue we have taken is the weddings that have occurred at Maplelag. The lodge has enough space to accommodate all the activities associated with a wedding. It is particularly fun when the majority of the guest stay at Maplelag. Everyone has a chance to relax and have more opportunity to visit with the bride and groom.

If you missed a visit to Maplelag this past year but kept up to speed with the newsletter, you read that Jonell and I were getting ready to add another person to the Maplelag family. Jens Niklas came right before the first winter storm of the year and he is truly a blessing. His older brothers love having him around (although I am not sure Jens feels the same all the time). I look forward to the day when they all grow up and we will have the trails groomed and the lawns mowed in record time!

The past summer has been the usual busy with the language camps and planning for the fall activities. We did quite a bit of work on the course for the Laddies Loppet weekend and feel the bike course is getting better every year. I still continue to race mountain bikes myself and had the opportunity to go to a National race in Idaho. Jake and Jon went along and enjoyed seeing the different types of mountain bikers.

With the leaves already showing hints of color, it won’t be long until fall is here and the snow will be falling.

Have a crisp fall and think snow.