Day Three: Child's Play

Yesterday we started our morning playing on the beach again. We left mid-morning to head back towards Boston where we spent the day at the Children’s Museum. It’s one of the best in the nation and the kids definitely agreed. They had recreations of scenes from the Arthur book series, a real Japanese home rebuilt inside the museum, and an international space station replica built with help from NASA. Charlotte loved the “Tools” section where she was able to use a real saw, drill, and screw driver. Lucy loved the toddler area where she spent hours playing with a huge train set and going up and down the slides. Eli loved the “Raceway” where the kids rolled golf balls down intricate metal pathways and through rolling mazes

In the Kid Power exhibit:

Building a giant bubble around themselves:

Afterwards, we headed towards Rhode Island. Did you know that Rhode Island is the smallest state in the nation yet has the highest number of donut shops (342)? We drove right through since we had spent so much time at the museum. We drove to Connecticut and after a stop to eat, we ended up at our campsite where everyone fell fast asleep.

Barbies by camplight.

Day Two: Trapped in a Toilet

We had an odd campsite last night. It was smack in the middle of Wells Beach, ME. It’s weird to camp in an urban area like that! Today we hit Boston. We started out in Boston Common with a walking tour of the Freedom Trail. Our tour guide was dressed in colonial clothing and was totally entertaining. We learned a lot of new things and he challenged a lot of the stories we’ve been taught. Eli was completely caught up in it

After the tour, we took a walk through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. We watched some street performers including a group of break dancers and a mime. Charlotte had a balloon hat made for her by the clown Rami Salami.

We attempted to use a pay toilet but apparently we’re too “backwoods” because Charlotte got locked inside. I meant to follow her in but the door closed too quickly. She was frantic in there and couldn’t find the button to open the door despite us shouting instructions from outside. Picture it: a busy Boston street, a large toilet structure, and us shouting, “PUSH THE BUTTON! It says O - P - E - N!” She ended up calling the “toilet police” using the 911 button. Eventually we got her out without having to wait for the 25 minute allowance to be up. 25 minutes! Keep that in mind, Dad, because pants or not, the door slides open when the time is up. Poor Charlotte. She was scared and furious. She wants me to call the Toilet Owners to have them make more obvious “Open Door” buttons.

We left in mid afternoon and headed towards our campsite at Horseneck Beach, MA. Our tent is set up less than 50 feet from the ocean. The car was barely stopped before we were out of the van and running towards the water. Hurricane Bill has escaped us enough to leave us with beautiful weather but humongous waves. The children and I have never swam in the ocean before and it was unbelievably fun. I have never seen Mike and the kids that happy. Poor Lucy loved the sand and the water until she got some in her face and then she was D.O.N.E. done. I have more photos that include Eli but they're on the water-proof camera and they need to be developed.

Back to Boston tomorrow to visit the Children’s Museum and then we’re on our way to Rhode Island!

Now this? This is pure joy.

Day One

We headed out yesterday morning and drove straight to New Hampshire. It was only about a two hour drive to our first destination: Clark’s Trading Post. This spot was much different than we had all anticipated. Thinking it was a big, touristy souvenir shop, we were surprised to watch a trained bear show, ride on a steam engine train, meet the “Wolf Man,” go inside Merlin’s mansion, ride on segways, and steer bumper boats. The kids had a great time. Charlotte loved Merlin’s optical/physical illusion where it appears that you’re rocking back and forth until you’re hanging upside down when, in reality, you never move! Mike and Eli loved riding on the segways, personal scooters that self-balance. My favorite part of the Post was the rustic cabin, decked out just as it would have been in the 1800’s. Lucy had a blast on the train, yelling out when we went under the covered bridge.

We left mid afternoon to head off on the Kancamagus highway which is considered one of the most scenic drives in the country, with hair pin curves, high elevations and gorgeous views of the White Mountains. A few hours later, we arrived at Fort Williams in Portland, ME. This beach has a lighthouse and beautiful rocky cliffs. We played in the waves until we were soaked then headed back to the car to change clothes. We headed straight to eat and then we set up a tent for some much needed sleep. The kids were full of energy but Mike and I were zapped!

We're off to Boston today!

Hittin' the road

We're leaving on vacation this weekend. We're all very excited. It's the thing we all look forward to the most throughout the year. I'll hopefully update each day seeing as we'll have hours of drive time!

Leaving on vacation is also an outright admittance to myself that we are officially homeschooling this year since school starts just a few days after we leave. While we are open to the idea that this might not be the right move for us, we're also open to the idea that it may be the best thing we've ever done: for the kids, for us, and for our family as a whole.

So stay tuned! There are a lot of exciting adventures on their way.

Beach babies

A few weeks ago, we went to the beach with our friends which included Charlotte's best friend, Karah, and (according to her) her future husband, Nathan.

Today, she asked me why I don't have a husband and a boyfriend. After first thinking, "Hmmm...why *DON'T* I?" (just kidding, just kidding,) I told her it's because I love her daddy so much that I don't have any room for loving another man. She responded, "Well, yeah. Who wouldn't love my daddy?" I think Mike's heart just couldn't contain itself. It might have burst right then and there. That guy is in for a hard crash when she does finally grow up and get married.

Lu is two!

Little Lucy Lu turned two last week. My little, tiny baby is not so little or tiny anymore. Instead, she's a big girl with a silly grin and a trouble streak that runs pretty deep. She's constantly getting into things or climbing something or disappearing somewhere and I can honestly say I enjoy every minute of it. I love how full of spirit she is. I love her strong will and her sense of humor and her love for everyone in our family.

Since Charlotte's birthday last month, she's been insistent that it's her birthday every day so the actual day was a major deal. Her birthday was Dora. Dora cupcakes, Dora balloons and decorations, Dora clothes, Dora toys. Her favorite present was a toy "Backpack" that talks and sings and she stuffs it full of her many Dora figurines. M (my mom) taught her how to blow out her candles ahead of time and Lucy was prepared.

Of the three, she's the one I've allowed myself to enjoy the most. Elijah was born when Mike and I were still so young ourselves. I spent much of the time aware of peoples' perceptions of us as teen parents and I was constantly second guessing my decisions. When we decided to have Charlotte, I was obsessed with the idea of finally parenting as an adult, completely and totally on our own. I found myself so insistent on doing things myself and doing them perfectly that I was often parenting from my head rather than just doing what felt right.

With Lucy, I finally knew who I was and what I wanted for my children. I knew what mattered and what didn't. I had an idea of what I would look back on in 10 years and remember, either fondly or sadly. Whether it's a matter of personality or a more relaxed momma (or most likely a combination of the two), my relationship with her is very easy and comfortable. It's not that my relationships with her siblings aren't special because they truly are. They're just colored by my own mental stumbling blocks. And interestingly enough, even though she's years younger than her siblings, I find myself using my relationship with her as a blueprint for how to improve my relationships with her brother and sister. Yet another reason Lucy has made our family richer and more beautiful.

LongTrail Festival

The big kiddos are at my parents' house this weekend. As much as we miss them, it's nice to have time to just spend with Lucy. We took her to the Long Trail Festival. It's a yearly hiking and music festival. They had a cute kids area with games and crafts. The music was amazing and they had S'mores at sundown. And it was all free. We love how many wonderful things there are to do around here.