Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time there was a family of four who thought it would be fun to take a relaxing and peaceful vacation up north in the White Mountains of New Hampshire... Ha! What a joke! It wasn't relaxing. We were constantly on the go. It wasn't peaceful! Chelsea made sure of THAT! But we had a great time nonetheless. Here are some hightlights!
Day 1
We head to Story Land in Glen, NH. Chelsea hadn't napped and was in rare form. Travis was fixated on finding the trainride first thing. The weather cooperated, which was a definite plus.
Here is our boy waiting in line for the first ride. He is so excited he can barely contain himself.

Chelsea enjoys the view from the train. It was one of the more tame moments of her day. She had napped for an hour and was a little refreshed.

We went on the Bamboo Chutes. Travis loved it. Chelsea... not so much! She was a little shocked by the sudden drop. The splash at the end left her a little angry, too.

Daddy took the kids on the teacups. Mom sat this one out and took pictures. Spinning is not for me!

Day 2

First we stopped at the Covered Bridge Shoppe, right near our condo. It was an actual bridge with a country store inside. It was so cute. The bridge lost some points with Travis because it was an old car bridge, not a train bridge. But his disappointment didn't last long. Especially once he and Chelsea realized how much fun it is to race in and out of the long entryway.

Then we were heading north to Jefferson, NH to go to Santa's Village. Once again we had decent weather. It was not as crowded and Chelsea managed to sleep most of the way up. We were in much better shape to start our day. Another flume ride. Another train. And all the Christmas Carols I could sing along with! This was my kind of place!

We stopped at the enterance of Santa's Village to snap a picture of the kids in Santa's sleigh.

We took some time to greet our friend the snowman, or as Chelsea called him "Da Man". He looked familiar to me...now I know why... Flash back thirty-three years. A young Amy with her own mom (Mimi) pose with "Da Man".


Day 3

All aboard for Hartmann's Model Railroad Museum. We took a brief stop to check things out. It was cool. Lots of interactive exhibits. And if you bought a shirt you got to ride on the large model train for free. This was our third trip on a train in as many days. Travis claims that this one was his favorite.

Travis poses with the owner of the museum and the engineer of the train.

Travis, Chelsea, and Daddy wave to Mom as they go past.

Then we headed to the Kancamagus Highway and off to Clarke's Trading Post in Lincoln where we promptly forgot the camera in the car. The hightlights for this trip include another train ride (number four on our trip) on the White Mountain Railroad. We headed over the bridge into the territory of the Wolfman. He chased our train until we told him to "Scram, you old goat!" Travis thought this was great! Travis actually got to hop inside this train and take a look at the firebox. His favorite part of the ride was when the train blew steam all over the Wolfman.

He and daddy also rode the bumper boats. They came off that ride drenched. Since it started to rain we headed out. We stopped to look at the bears, but decided against watching the show. It was actually kind of sad to see such beautiful would-be-wild animals cooped up like that. We headed home after that. Chelsea serenaded us by chanting, "I want Mimi! I want Auntie!" for a good half hour. Then mercifully she fell asleep. Travis still loves hotel living and wants to go back next year.

He started IT!

It all started with a Christmas Tree....actually it started under a Christmas Tree. As many of you know when my son was 1 1/2 my husband started a two-year nursing program. This led me to find new and inventive ways to get Travis out of the house so my husband could study. It was time for finals and my mother-in-law called to tell us that they had put up their tree. So I packed up my toddler and headed over. We arrived and the minute my son saw that tree, he was hooked...for underneath the tree was a train circling through a small village. He was enthralled with that train. And my husband's grandfather Ernie, the owner of said train, was happy that this little guy took such an interest. He has always been a train enthusiast. Watching Travis and his Great Grandfather was like watching two little boys...the four generations that separated these two people melted away. My son got down on his belly and watched the wheels roll on the tracks and the pistons pump. He peered into the tunnel as the train went in and ran to the other side to see it come out. And at 1 1/2 he didn't even try to touch it. At that point it was enough to just look.

This experience was the trigger for many train adventures with Travis and Grandpa Ernie. We have been to Essex Steam Train, Edaville Railroad, and Forest Park in Springfield to see the Christmas Trains. Each Christmas has been a new adventure for Travis, as he has been asked to actually help Grandpa Ernie set up the train under the tree. This is an honor that has never been bestowed on a grandchild before! We have bought Grandpa presents to include in his village, including a light up Home Depot, which no village should be without. And Grandpa Ernie has even taken Travis to meet his friend who is the engineer on the commuter train into Boston. My son was three years old and he drove the train while Grandpa Ernie got to ask lots of questions and even blow the horn a few times. And when Grandpa Ernie flies (drives) south for the winter, his daughter, Grandma BJ, has stepped in and taken our boy to the Train Show at the Big E.

So when anyone ask how Travis got started with his obsession with trains, I tell them Grandpa Ernie started it. It is fun to watch two "boys" (separated by 74 years in age) come together. It is also wonderful to know that it is creating special memories that will always be cherished by the participants and the observers.

Christmas is only a little over 4 months away. My son started asking to put up the Christmas Train in February. This year they may have to make room for one more, as our daughter Chelsea loves to play trains with her brother! Move over boys! There is a new Engineer in town.

A young Grandpa Ernie plays with a train in Springfield Massachusetts. The trains have since gotten bigger and more complex, but the love of trains and the enamored look on his face when he sees them today remains the same!

Travis's sees the Christmas Tree Train for the first time... It was love at first sight.

Travis poses in front of the T right before he hops on and drives. It was a dream come true! Whenever we see the commuter train he says "There is the train I drove!"

Grandpa Ernie and Chelsea last Christmas. Something tells me he won't mind welcoming her aboard his engineering team! Travis, on the other hand, is a different story!

Travis in a recent pose with trains. He has taken it to a new level and occasionally will dress the part as well. It is very common to hear "choo choo!" during a visit to our house. And for this we say a big thanks to Grandpa Ernie, whose love of trains has been passed down to his little great-grandson and provided him with hours upon hours of entertainment and fascination. We love Grandpa Ernie!

Beach Bums

Well the family was off and running once more. We were having some R&R at Hampton Beach. The main reason why we chose this beach is that it gave us a chance to spend time with old friends. My husband has known his best friend since third grade. He was our best man at our wedding (looking pretty smashing in his kilt). He and his wife have 4 children. They debated whether or not to have that third one only to discover they were having identical twins. We got a room at a hotel that I wouldn't really recommend and hung out with his extended family and other close friends. One particular family lives 5 minutes away, but because we all have families and they keep us running, we rarely have seen them. This was a great opportunity for some face time...the margueritas were flowing (as was the wine) and the lobsters were steaming. Here were a few highlights from our kids:
Our son tried boogie boarding. We were shocked that he loved it. Absolutely shocked! He hates splashing and playing rough with water. He throws a fit if he gets water in his eyes. But here he is riding the perfect wave. He stayed in the water for hours at a time... and the waves were pretty big. And to think I almost didn't buy the boogie board!

Our daughter took great pleasure in helping her buddy find beach treasures. Our friend's daughter is almost 4 and was so patient with her. Then our daughter threw a handful of sand on top of the other girl's shells and stones..."I think I have had enough help now!" I think this was a very diplomatic way for a three and a half year old to tell our girl to cut it out!

The "T" kids... all four of them. It was such a pleasure to get to know them. And the parents make raising them look like a breeze. It made me want another for .002 of a second.

My husband with his best friend. Each one transporting a sleeping daughter off to bed. It is a very different picture from some of their Hampton Beach trips in the 80s and 90s.

Our son had a blast playing with our friend's son. The start of a second generation of buddies!

We had a surprise visit from our neighbors! They were so excited. Unfortunatly it had to be cut short because their little boy got sick. But in the meantime my daughter was thrilled to see her best bud. She dotes on our girl and loves to be her mini-mom. She also got some boogie boarding in with our son.

Part of this vacation was spent celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary. Here we are on the BIG (and HOT) day. We were a lot thinner, more well rested, and just thrilled to be with all of the people we love most in the world! Seems like yesterday.
I spent our anniversary watching my husband hang out with a younger girl jumping in the waves and playing in the surf. Good thing it was our daughter or there would have been trouble. She is having the time of her life and so was he! Truth be told... I couldn't have been happier watching them play. Happy Anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Moose!!!!

My High Spirited Daughter

My daughter never ceases to amaze me. She is not quite two years old and the stuff she comes up with! Just watching her walk across the room is entertaining! She shakes her little bum as she saunters across the room. It looks exagerated, as if she is doing it on purpose. But she has no idea. She just finds it more fun to walk this way. She is moody and impatient (like her mother), yet kind of laid back and fearless, too (like her dad). While my son was cautious and studied everything first, she flings herself into everything head first. While he is rather naive about people, she has figured out how to push buttons and get the maximum reaction out of all of us. She keeps us guessing and is always ready to entertain... unless that is what is expected of her. Then forget about it! She performs only for herself. I often compare her to a cat... everything is on her time-table.
We woke up this morning and our girl was in rare form! We told her to sit on the couch and she stood. We told her to stay downstairs and she ran up. We told her to be quiet and she screamed. Finally my husband came upstairs and told me that she had decorated herself with "Dora" stickers and pink marker. And all before 10 a.m.











Here are some other shots of her mugging for the camera. She loves to try hats on and play dress up (and eat chapstick, but that is another story). I will tell you this... I am half dreading and half looking forward to her teen years. I wait with anticipation to see what she makes of herself at each stage of her life. She seems to grasp that the world is HER stage. It should be a wild ride. Hang on to your hats... As my son would say..."She is on the loose!" My parents and all who knew me in those awful adolescent years think I am getting what I deserve. Bring it on! I wouldn't have it any other way!

Happy Camper

My son just finished up at the camp at Davis Farmland this week. He had a blast. He went last year also. It is such a huge difference seeing how much more he understood this year. He loved it. I was nervous because he didn't know anyone else who was going, but he made a friend right off the bat. We went to see his "Junior Farmer Graduation" today. They sang songs and had refreshments. He was very proud to show us all he learned. It was so much fun to watch.

OUr son gets his certificate and his cowboy hat from Moo Moo the Cow. He made his own farmer t-shirt at camp.

Our daughter was so happy to see her big brother that she ran up to hug him during the ceremony. Normal parents would stop her... I snapped a picture!






The campers sing a rousing redition of "Take Me Out to the Barnyard" complete with puppets. Most of you know this song as "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".

Our son and friends enjoyed ice cream when the ceremony was over.

We headed over to the splash park to cool down before heading home. I guess the day was a success because three-fifths of the kids fell asleep on the ride home! It was a fun way to finish up camp at Davis Farmland and Camp Godma, as well.