16 Days of Summer Vacation - Day 1

I have been looking forward to our annual summer vacation since February 1 (give or take a few days). Each year, we take about 2 weeks in Newport just to recharge, energize, get to know our kids and ourselves a little better.
I'd love to say that we just wing it and go with the flow. But who are we kidding - I'm a planner and end up putting some good thinking into each day's activities. That's not to say we don't wing it based on weather or temperament. And there are givens that happen each day - reading, napping, running or biking of some sort. We're also looking forward to great family and friend visits throughout the time we're here.

Each year, we've discovered new things on island and near by to do and have incorporated them in to the plan. I also try to do some special things - 1:1 with each of the kids as well as some time for Dave & I and some (a tiny bit!) just for me.

For me, one hope is that I can log each of our days - not so much for everyone else's benefit, but more for our family and family history.

Day 1: 

Saturday June 28 - Beach Babies!

What's a better start to vacation than hitting the beach. We loaded Sophia, our neighbor Danielle (our new 8 year old friend who's up for the month visiting her aunt next door) and I into the car with the beach stuff. Dave & Theo trucked off in the stroller for the beach by way of a run.

We met up with new summer friends Alex and her kids Avery & Crosby. The girls met a few weeks ago and hit it off swimmingly. It actually feels like it gets easier the more kids around!
Danielle is virtually a mother's helper, playing with Sophia and the other girls and engaging Theo too.

Here's a shot of the girls in action doing a sanding of Sophia!

And posing for a little snuggle time:

It was a great day full of building, playing in the water, eel hunting and rock climbing. We had lunch on the big rock (no pictures yet - maybe on another day) and headed home with some tired, sunbaked kiddos and parents.

After some recharge time, we headed out to St. Barnabas for their annual carnival. We've driven past it every year, but this year decided the kids were just the right age for it! They rode all the rides - Danielle & I rode the 2 "adult rides" - one of which brought me back to the Gravitron that I used to love in high school.
We wrapped the night with a little photo booth action!

Theo's Getting Some Words

It's been a long time coming - maybe because he's the second child, maybe because the first child doesn't let anyone get a word in edgewise. Maybe because he's a boy, or maybe because he just hasn't felt the need to. Or maybe we don't give him the same attention that we gave Sophia. Who knows?

Slowly but surely, he's getting some words. Theo has never had problems communicating - he picked up signs easily and uses them often. He also is a determined little cuss, and will do anything he sets his mind to. We've had a speech therapist working with him for the past 6 months and she's been great. If nothing more, the hour we spend together each week is simply time just for him to practice and learn without his "spokesperson" Sophia.

Here's his recent word list:

Hi
Bye
Mama
Dada
Moo
Who
Two
One
Fee-A (Sophia) - this was new this week and so exciting!
Blue
Me
Milk
Ma Bun
Boat
No
Yeah
Big
Small
Block


I'm sure there are a few more, and he learns and practices more each day. We're getting there day by day, sound by sound. And we couldn't be prouder!

Teachable Moments

They say that with children, everything can be a teachable moment - to help mold and shape the people they will become. And some believe everything should be a teachable moment. As a parent, I am coming to realize that I have influence and guidance to offer, a responsibility to keep them safe, the opportunity to teach, but that they need the ability to learn. Their amazing personalities, capacities and free will inevitably shine through and guide them.

What I was a little slower to realize is that the teachable moments are just as much for me as they are my children. As in, they teach me how to be a parent. In every day, every moment at their tender young ages, they embody the best characteristic one could ever ask for: Forgiveness.

You see, I'm just as new at being a parent as they are at being a child. I'm learning just as much every day as they are. They may make a mistakes: not share with each other, tip the cup up too far and dump water everywhere, stay awake later out of sheer excitement of what today held or tomorrow may hold. And often, I make mistakes: force them to share as opposed to letting them work it out, get exasperated about another mess to clean up or frustrated that she won't go to sleep because I know she'll be a zombie the next day and fragile like china.

And those mistakes often make me yell, be crabby or just downright annoyed. And I work, day after day, time after time, to hold it together. But I'm human.  I'm not perfect - no matter how many blog posts, articles or tips I read on how to be a zen like parent - it doesn't always happen. And I feel badly, when I yell, when I'm short, impatient or just frustrated. Because (most of the time) I know nothing is being done intentionally.

After some tears, some cooling off walks, or some deep breaths, I learn my lesson. The best lesson of all: Forgiveness. It comes in different forms: Snuggles. Kisses. Or an offer of a bunny snack. What ever it is, I'll take it, appreciate it and learn from it.

Storyland: The Experience

I got it my head during late winter that this was to be the year we did Storyland. For those unfamiliar with Storyland (i.e. living outside the Northeast/New England) it's a fantastic amusement park of the old-fashioned variety - and perfect for the 2-10 age group. You can read more about the history here.

Located in Glen, New Hampshire, it's just about a 3 hour drive from Boston. We chose to make it a full weekend family trip. We are lucky enough to have friends with a home in close by, but there are a ton of hotels, motels and B&Bs in the area.

First stop was to pre-puchase our tickets online.  Benefits:
1) You're not buying them for a particular day, so if plans/weather changes, you're not locked in.
2) While there isn't a discount for doing so (they rarely run discounts - there was one around black Friday for a limited amount of tickets) you save a ton of time in the lines.
(Note - we went opening weekend, so they were just getting the online scanner for non-printed tickets figured out, but it was still quicker than the lines!)
3) Their policies (in general) are super family/real-life friendly, including their "Final Three, Next Day Free" where you come in the final three hours of one day and get to come back the whole next day on the same ticket.  Truly a godsend with small children who still nap and can't power through 8 hours (or for parents who don't want to.)

We came up on a Friday and made our way up through North Conway outlets, stopping at the Orvis, LL Bean and EMS Outlet stores. For dinner, we hit Flatbread Pizza which is just like the one we go to at home (minus the bowling.) But being kid friendly place with great pizza and excellent local brews made it a huge win.  They often have a sizeable wait, but if you call ahead as you're leaving (or even a bit before) they'll put you on the list and it cuts down dramatically on the standing around time.

On Saturday, the weather was hit or miss. Initially, we were going to hit the Indoor Water Park at the Red Jacket Inn. Upon further review, we found it opened at noon and was $40pp over the age of 3. Not quite what we were looking for.

The weather ended up working out in our favor for what we ended up calling the "Outdoor Water Park" - a.k.a Diana's Bath and Waterfall in North Conway. It was a great 1/2 mile hike up gentle terrain that all kiddos (age 2+) can do. At the first break, there was a little sandy spot to throw rocks and watch the water come down. A bit higher up in the falls, you could walk onto a big rock and have the water go around the rock. There were kids swimming (brrr..!!) and families just lazing around. The price was right ($3 for parking in the national park) and great scenery.  Just make sure to bring your bug spray - it had just rained and the mozzies were out in force!

After our hike, we headed down into town for one of my favorite sandwiches of all time from Chef's Market in North Conway.  Yummy adult-friendly sandwiches and great kids sandwich menu too.
We meandered through town - so many different options - from the  North Conway House of Jerky (and yes, they even have a vegan option!) to the Cupcakery to the tons of outdoor sports stores with great summer and winter deals.

After a quick nap for the kiddos (and time off for us parents) we took advantage of the "Last 3 Free" at Storyland and toured the park for an hour. Because it had been raining off and on all day, the park wasn't crowded at all and we got on 3 or 4 rides and got a great lay of the land for the next day! We also cashed in our tickets and got our "return" tickets for the next day. There would still be a line, but far shorter than the one to purchase. We also got our map to game plan.

Dinner took us to the best burgers and beers in town at Moat Mountain. Again, kid friendly, but definitely the right adult atmosphere. We lucked out and got a table straight away, but there was a serious line as we were leaving at 6:30. They brew their own beers (the Stout and Pilsner were our beers of choice!) and the burgers were good, beefy and homemade. (Not a pattie in sight).
You can even get a growler or 4-pack as part of your take away.

Sunday led us to Storyalnd - we pulled into the lot by 9:05am (park opens at 9:30) and it was half full already. The line for re-enters was about 30 people deep, but it moved quickly and we were in the park in less than 10 minutes. The need-ticket line was double the length. We headed right to the antique cars, which we had been advised filled up quickest in the morning. There was already a line but it was fair better than navigating it with young children anywhere near lunch time!

We rode the train to the backside of the park (a great way to get around and assess the situation) and worked our way forward. I'd definitely recommend packing lunches if that's an option for your crew - (the park allows coolers/bags to be brought in). The lines, as expected, were long and the food was, well, amusement park food. 'nough said.

We rode almost all the rides for our age range (10-15?) saw animals, and had an all in all fantastic time experiencing Storyland in about 5-6 hours.  We hung out back at our place for naps and clean up and ended up hitting (oops!) Storyland traffic on the way home at 5:30. If you're trying to hit dinner on the way back, I highly suggest doing it in North Conway or Conway, because there isn't much till you get to Rochester/Portsmouth, about 1.5+ hours away.

I would definitely head back, probably in 2-3 years, so there is a bigger jump in the rides the kids are interested in/willing to ride.

Sophia's First Haircut

After 4 years, we (and Sophia) finally made the call to get her hair cut. It was time - the snarls were a little much and the end clearly needed sprucing. Somehow, it had grown like a weed in the past few months.

Sophia had been a number of times with Theo, so she was excited and ready. It took us till December of 2013 to get it done but I have the tinfoil pouch of hair as a keep sake.
Thanks to Lulu's in North Cambridge for the handiwork.

The Chair

There is a glider chair in Sophia's room that has been there since the day she came home from the hospital. I love that chair for so many reasons: it's soothing the way it rocks, it's comfortable to fall asleep in and it holds so many memories.

The chair was a hand me down from a wonderful family that I babysat for when I was pregnant with Sophia. I swapped a day of sitting their amazing, energetic two boys for the chair. It seemed only fair. It had been with them for both of their boys younger times and now they were making space. (Side note: they also gave Sophia her Giraffe lovey, which, 4+ years later is still her favorite friend.)

I have some of the best pictures of Sophia, and now her and Theo in that chair. Sophia loves to lock it tightly and sit on it to read to herself or make a little bed for her animals. Theo gets the biggest kick out of rocking it as hard and fast as he can (which often sends it barreling back at him!)

Some of my favorite memories involve the hours I spent rocking, nursing and snuggling Sophia in that chair. The hours that she wouldn't go to sleep or that I just wasn't ready to put her down. The hours I fell asleep from rocking her and felt her warm body snuggled against me. First in my arm, then slowly extending across my lap as she grew, then from arm rest to arm rest, and then spilling over, as she does now, legs longer than the night.

Every night, we sit in that chair and read books and sing. And she still snuggles into me as we read and to talk about whatever is on her mind - her "animals," the new tower or rocketship she built, or what her stuffed animals are up to.  And for a moment every night, after the lights are out and we've sung our songs, I remember what a tiny little baby she started off as, in that very same spot. And I hug her a little tighter and carry her off to bed.

 

This parenting thing is hard....Part 1

I've had a dearth in posts lately, mostly because life has been insane. As many know, we've been gut renovating a house since August. after 5+ months, we are finally in, but boy has it been a crazy ride.

Since my last post (November!! Sophia's birthday) lots has happened. I'll take it month by month, post by post.

December = Work insanity, holiday madness, 2 weeks straight home with the kids and the new year.
We survived all of it, but I definitely learned some valuable lessons:

1. I'm not, and doubt ever will be, cut out to be a stay at home mom. I'm in awe of those who are. I think this recent "Letter from a working mom" really captures it on both sides. 
2. I love what I do. I love the interaction with my colleagues and the brain stimulation I get. I know it makes me a better parent when I get home. January 6 didn't come quick enough. 
3. I love my children. They are amazing, verve-filled, life embracing little humans. I learn something every day being with them. I cherish the time I get with them and need to do a better job of making the most of it. It took me a few days to figure that out. 
4. They eat and sleep better for the nanny then they ever will for me. And that's ok. Hanging with me and having fun is way better than doing boring things like eating and sleeping. So be it. (I type while taking deep breaths, 2 months in retrospect)
5. Sometimes, letting them do what they want to do is a win for everyone.