The Great Escape: Opening Weekend

Hard to believe that we were at a beach on Thursday since it barely hit 50 yesterday.

We were in need of something exciting to do yesterday and crazily, even with the forecast of not so warm temps and high winds, we decided to drive up to the Great Escape for their opening weekend since we have season passes this year.  We figured it would be a great first trip since there were bound to be fewer people because of the weather.  And other than being a bit chilly, it was a blast- no lines and lots of fun! And so nice that we could just go for a couple hours!

Both girls loved driving the cars.  We actually had to wait for this ride due to the slow loading nature, and even with the 15 minute wait as soon as we were off we had to drag the girls away because they both wanted to wait again!

The next favorite for both the girls was the tandem swing. MiniM.E. almost didn't ride because kids 36" and over had to ride alone, but she was so glad that she put on her brave face because it was a ton of fun - we rode it at least six times.  A couple times we got to stay on for a second ride and being a grown up two times in a row is just about all I could handle.

MiniM.E. enjoyed a few other rides in the kiddie area- the train, the planes and the kiddie cars.  We almost had LittleL.G. go up in a plane too, but the rules announcement took too long and she chickened out.

We all rode the carousel and took a trip on the swan boats.

And by the time we drove the cars and hit up the kiddie area one more time the park was closing. The girls can't wait to go again.  Hopefully it is still fun when there are more people because the weather is nice...

A Slice of Life

Since I am trying to use my DSLR camera more often to take better photos of the girls, I've started taking some online photo classes and participating in weekly photo challenges.  This week's challenge was a slice of life photo: any photo where the subject isn't looking.

This was the photo I chose.

These were the contenders.

A Lazy Outside Saturday

Yesterday we ventured out to a kite festival in the morning.  MiniM.E. is really into kite flying, so she was eagerly anticipating making and flying her own kite.  However, to our disappointment, there were no kites to be made, only purchased.  Our frugal decision to buy a cheap kite (as we left ours at home because we thought we would be making one) left us disappointed.  In what little wind there was the kite broke twice before we really got it flying and we gave up in favor of playing on some wooden structures that I believe were supposed to be some sort of "low ropes course".

It was fun for a bit but after a disappointing kite flying, a $5 ice cream that no one liked and a lack of grilled cheese, which LittleL.G. demanded after the inedible ice cream, we headed home for an afternoon of water play and a BBQ with friends.

Just A Rainy Morning

LittleL.G. and I had big plans for the time we were going to spend together while MiniM.E. was at school today.  We were going to take a long walk downtown, see the ducks, throw rocks in the stream and enjoy the nice weather.  But as we pulled out of the parking lot at school, it started drizzling.  And by the time we drove downtown it was pouring.  Oh well.  LittleL.G. makes a great Starbucks date.  She adorably orders her snack, "CAAAY- POHH" (cake pop) and drink, "FO-MEE" (foamy milk) and then alerts everyone in the coffee shop whenever a "BIH-TRUH!!" (big truck) drives by.

First Beach Trip of the Year

Yesterday was over 80 degrees! What a taste of summer. MiniM.E. has been begging to go to the lake since the snow melted, and it was the perfect day.  

The beach Moreau Lake isn't open for wading or swimming until Memorial Day, but we figured we could dip our toes in without getting in too much trouble!

The girls had a blast digging holes, catching salamanders and making a salamander castle.  MiniM.E. even went for a quick dip and got all the way wet!

It really was a perfect beach day.  Not too hot that we couldn't sit out in the sun all day, warm enough to get our legs wet, and we were practically the only ones there, so there was plenty of room for running and digging and yelling without bothering anyone.

Looking forward to many more summer days at the beach!

Loving "Almost" Summer

I think if we could just spend all day, everyday, outside, we would be much happier.  The girls love to be out and about or even just out in the yard.  With the exception of the occasional squabble about "front yard or back yard" or where to go next when we are downtown, they are generally really pleasant, especially with each other, when we are out.  And I think I am probably more pleasant too!  

So being able to be outside most of the day has been great for all our moods. 

Now I think we are all looking forward to school and activities being done so we can enjoy our outside time without being stressed about rushing off to somewhere or feeling worn out by a busy morning.  Summer is right around the corner!

LittleL.G. on the horse statue downtown

MiniM.E. with our new outdoor chalkboards

swinging together at the new playground

attempting a photo with both girls smiling

blowing dandilions

and who could resist a princess dress picture?

Happy Mother's Day!

A Lot Of Rain and Llamas

There were many cool and rainy days this week.  We spent a lot of time inside or running back and forth to school and activities under an umbrella.

We visited a friend's Granny's house and played with her moms toys from when she was a kid and LittleL.G. played in the tub.

The girls and I went out on the rainiest afternoon to run some errands and stopped in at Starbucks for a rainy afternoon coffee and cake break.

And we played a lot inside.  The girls spend the majority of our inside time playing "baby" with our multitude of identical Target dolls.  Adorably they both really like to wear their babies.

The excitement of our week was yesterday's school field trip to Dakota Ridge Llama Farm.  We have seen llamas before, but never this many and never this up close and personal.  Each student brushed, fed and walked a llama.  Even LittleL.G. got to feed a llama!

We had a great time- definitely a fun place to visit.

Finally Seeing Our NH Friends Again

It has been ages! We missed seeing our friends C & H at Christmastime because everyone was so busy with family and holiday activities.

So we finally got together today and played at Gram & Grumpy's house while LittleL.G. finished up a nap, and then headed over to the playground at the school H will go to for kindergarten next year.

The kids are so cute together and it makes the moms so happy that even after six months of not seeing each other they can just jump back into the friendship.

(LittleL.G. was there too but was wary of the big kids and preferred to drive the plane)

The Boston Children's Museum

Since today was a rainy day, we decided to take a trip down to Boston to visit the Children's Museum. I am not one for crowds and was a bit worried since it was spring break week, but though there were definitely hundreds of people there, the museum is big enough not to feel overwhelmingly crowded.

I remember MiniM.E. having a great time there when she was about LittleL.G.'s age and I know she still loves it now, so I was fairly convinced it was going to be a fun-filled day for everyone.

The museum has so much to offer that it is almost impossible for a 1.5-6 year old to NOT have fun exploring and playing.  MiniM.E. probably would have stayed all day.  LittleL.G. was not quite as excitable as I expected, but even though she wasn't running around and giggling, she found a few things she really loved and she enjoyed watching when it was too overwhelming to get in on the action.

MiniM.E.'s favorite room has always been the bubble room:

LittleL.G. wasn't as impressed:

The ball rolling room and the water room were hits for both girls:

There was so much to do and so much activity that in many of the exhibits taking a successful photo was nearly impossible.  But here are a few of the rest of our day:

pedaling to propel a fan

pushing a bus

an attempted photo of both girls in a firetruck

 It was a successful trip on a rainy day.  And we even made it back in time to eat out at MiniM.E.'s favorite restaurant, Ruby Tuesday!