Family Weekend

This past weekend we took a little getaway with the kids for some highly anticipated family time. It was just what the children needed.

We spent some time just outside of Hartford at the Lutz Children's Museum. Maddie the gymnast enjoyed swinging at the playground outside the museum. 

So did Ryan and Isaac.

Davis rang the annoying train bell over and over and OVER.

After staying the night in Hartford, we headed north to a natural history museum and ecotarium in Massachusetts. Right after taking this picture on the train, Davis barked at Maddie, "Stop bothering me, please!" He didn't appreciate the hug she gave him during the Kodak moment. 

Checking out what different types of sand look like under the microscope and getting inside a giant bubble. 

Like most vacations with children, we came back more exhausted than when we left but it was worth it because the kids got to spend time with their dad. Some of my favorite lines from the trip were:

• Isaac, after getting bored of being at the children's museum and anxious to get to the hotel to swim, declared, "How can this be a vacation if all we do is look at animals all day?"
• We took the kids to the movie theater and while we were watching the previews and waiting for Brave to begin, Maddie announced, "This is so ANNOYING!" "What's annoying, Maddie?" "I just want Brave to start!"
• Davis took to saying "or somefing" after just about every statement he made over the weekend..."I want a dwink...or somefing" "Can we go to da park...or somefing?" "My name is Davy...or somefing."

M&D Take Boston and New York

 My parents are in town and we are living it up. The kids are in heaven with unlimited bubble gum and attention and frankly, so am I. Ryan has even been able to take a few days off work so we took a few quick trips this weekend.

 Boston

Maddie and Gram Maddie at the Boston Common. 

Sword fighting brothers. 

D is picking up on every little thing Grandpa says. Words like "freakin'" and "shiz" will have to be detoxed from his vocabulary after our guests head back west. It's a small price to pay to have Grandpa around for a little while.

The Lobster Tail pastries and Berry Tarts were every bit as good as I remember them tasting last fall. 

Thanks to Grandpa and priceline we stayed in a posh 4 star hotel in Beacon Hill for a screaming deal. Maddie is donning the leopard printed bath robe here. 

After exploring some of the Freedom Trail and Little Italy on Thursday, my mom and I took the kids to the Children's Museum on Friday morning while Ryan and my dad headed to Fenway Park. Hands down the best children's museum I have ever been to. Ike practiced his basketball skills while we were there. 

Old Ironsides.

M at Boston Common. I love this picture of her.

Maddie succeeding in outrunning the swimming sea otter outside the aquarium. 

M and D below the largest American flag I have ever seen. 

 The more I see of Boston, the more I love it. We just invested in a membership that is reciprocal at their Children's Museum and I look forward to having many reasons to go back their over the next couple of years. Some of the highlights included the massive amounts of seafood consumed by our party, watching the street performers, and the fantastic weather the whole time we were there. I could really get used to vacationing with the folks.

New York

After carting the kids all over Bean Town we decided to give both them and us a break and left them with a trusted babysitter while we headed to New York.

In front of the NY stock exchange.

M&M on Wall Steet.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge was one of the highlights of my day yesterday. 

A view of Manhattan from the bridge.

Look really close and you can see Lady Liberty in between my parents. 

After we walked across the BB, we took the East River ferry back up to Midtown as not to wear my mom out with a lot of walking. Unfortunately we were too late. 

D really wanted to see Times Square, so on the way we stopped for lunch at Bryant Park. I am still raving about the sandwiches we ate there. Who knew a ham and cheese on cinnamon bread would be so delicious? Seriously. Aren't my parents adorable together?

After a short stint in Times Square we booked it down to Canal Street to watch my dad haggle with the locals for a good deal on a knock-off watch. I came home with a new pair of sunglasses. We both loved it. Ryan and Mom hated every minute of Chinatown. This was my attempt to get a photo of D wheeling and dealing, but the watch seller jumped out of the photo as soon as he saw I was trying to get a picture. Too risky, I suppose. D came home with a new fake Tag Heuer. The verdict is still out on who haggled whom in that deal. 

It was great to have a day away with just Ryan and my parents. We have never been able to do that before sans kids and it is something I will always remember. Spending Father's Day weekend with my dad is something that doesn't happen very often and I think we made the most of it. Thanks M&D!

Working on Our Summer Bucket List

Preschool Field Trip to the Local Fire Station

I was a little jealous that I didn't get a chance at the fire hose like the kids did.

Knocking down a cone with a giant hose proved to be a lot of fun.

The preschool crew.

 The Farm

Maddie and her buddy checking out the farm's pig.

Giddy up!

No you can't have a goat for your birthday.

Milk that cow!

Isaac gave the hayride a thumbs up.

 The Bronx Zoo

Checking out the sea lions at the world's largest urban zoo. We can check another NYC borough off our list of places to visit. 

Getting geared up to see the animals. 

In front of the lion's lair.

Careful there, don't get too close...

After walking our keesters off all morning we took an afternoon monorail ride and saw many more animals from the comfort of our train car. 

The Beach

At our favorite local beach a few days ago. It's my goal to make it to the beach at least once a week. The kids were swimming like crazy in what had to be 40 degree water. Brrrrrr!

Orchard and Fruit Farm

CT is full of fruit farms and strawberry picking season began a couple of days ago. Getting Davis to refrain from eating the berries until after we paid was fruitless (pun intended!!! bahahahah!)

Maddie, on the other hand, was much more cautious and deliberate. She loved picking berries with her buddy, Emmy. Fresh-picked strawberries are heavenly.

An exhausting and adventurous couple of weeks. I think we better slow down or I might burn out by the end of the month...

Spring day in NYC

When Isaac and I were invited to spend today in Manhattan with our friends Mark and Deborah, we jumped at the chance. 

If you look really close, you can spot Angel Moroni in the skyline above the Manhattan Temple.

From Columbus Circle we took the subway to Times Square and let the boys enjoy themselves at Toys R Us and The Disney Store. 

Isaac's "hurry-up-and-take-the-picture-while-I'm-fake-smiling" face.  He thought it was pretty sweet when he got to pick out a Finn McMissile toy with the birthday money his grandparents sent him. 

After playing with toys we headed to Central Park to play and eat lunch. I don't think we've ever been to the same playground twice in Central Park. This one had a particularly awesome slide. Ike said it was his favorite part of our day. 

Superhero moves in front of a beautiful blooming (Magnolia?) bush in the park. 

Since we ate a simple lunch of hot dogs and granola bars, we thought we deserved to splurge on dessert. 

And splurge we did...on a chocolate fudge ice cream cake sundae...

and of course on a famous frozen hot chocolate. 

On our way back to the parking garage we made a quick stop at Dylan's Candy Bar. A very Wonka-like experience. Mark found a huge Darth Vader lollipop and Ike chose an overpriced Superman PEZ dispenser for himself and one for his brother and sister.. It was totally worth it.

Nothing like a little pole dancing on the subway train.

What a great day with friends and my Isaac! My favorite line of the day was when Isaac reminded me not to touch anything in what was quite possibly the dirtiest subway restroom in NYC.

I think Maddie deserves a day in The City with her dad sometime soon.