Memorial Day - Crawford Notch

Ryan had Monday off for the holiday and then his floating weekly day off landed on Tuesday so we decided to go on a little camp out over Memorial Day weekend. We left on Sunday afternoon after church and headed up to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to Crawford Notch Campground. We got there just in time to set up camp and then cook hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire. The kids had been anticipating this trip for a while and Sawyer kept asking when Sunday was going to come.

Being 4 months pregnant I insisted that we bring a big air mattress for Ryan and I to sleep on which meant that we took up our entire big tent and we brought our little backpacking tent for the kids to sleep in. They were so excited to be on their own and, despite my joy in being comfortable, it made me a little nervous. In the middle of the night a big storm rolled in, complete with lots of thunder and lightening. I was wide awake just waiting for my kids to be scared and call for us...but they didn't. Kate did wake up once because she had come out of her sleeping bag and was confused on how to get back in. I think she is a rollie pollie sleeper like me! When she first got in that night she rolled around to get comfortable and said, "Mom, I am all tied up!" I feel the same way in sleeping bags! Even though the kids did great and slept well and I was comfortable in my nice bed it still made for a restless night. But the day dawned sunny and warm and we were ready to find some adventures.

Kate outside her tent

Sawyer making funny faces while Daddy cooks breakfast

After breakfast we headed off for a hike up to Ripley Falls. The kids got out of the car and hit the ground running, scrambling up the big rocky hills.


Eventually the trail evened out and we continued our hike. The kids were glad they were wearing their new water shoes because the trail was muddy. (Although they did shed a tear or two after squishing in the mud a little too far and having it seep inside their shoes!)

We finally made it the the falls!

Daddy decided it would be way more fun on the other side of the river so he carried the kids over. First was Sawyer

Once they made it over Ryan left Sawyer a safe distance from the water with strict instructions not to move a muscle. So he didn't.

Then it was Kate's turn

They all made it over, with only Daddy a little wet! Now time to splash in the cold water!

Sawyer stood on a rock and immediate fell in. This is Daddy picking him up.

He only got a little wet on his shorts. He tried again and fell all the way in to his waist! He was not happy. Kate gave it a try...and slipped and fell and got wet up to her bum. It was pretty funny to watch from my dry vantage point but now both kids weren't happy. Daddy shuttled them back to the other side and we tried drying out a little but it didn't work

We headed back down the trail pretty wet. It slowed Sawyer down quite a bit but Kate was a happy girl. Ryan had Sawyer up ahead and was carrying him over the rough parts of the trail. Since it was just me and Kate behind I was trying to teach her to decide which part of the trail was the best to step on (the least rocky or the least muddy) and she loved it. One particularly rough spot Ryan came over to help her and she told him she didn't need help, she was going to do it on her own! And she did. She is such a big independent girl and we were both proud of what a good, happy hiker she was!
After the hike we went on a family bike ride over to a swimming hole near out campsite. The water was rather cold so it was more of a wading hole, or in Sawyer's case, a throwing rocks into it hole. Kate did get a little brave and sit in it once, but it didn't last long.

The boys did have fun trying out a little fishing

After swimming we headed back to camp for dinner and, of course, more s'mores! Sawyer has decided he doesn't like chocolate so he is more of just a marshmallow eater, and we found that he doesn't like his marshmallows brown at all. So he'll put one on his stick, stick it in the fire for a second, then declare it done and pull it out and eat it.

Straight off the stick.

Kate, on the other hand, loved roasting the "perfect marshmallow" and making a gooey s'more out of it

That night, as we were sitting around the fire, Ryan introduced the game "I am thinking of an animal" to the kids. They thought it was hilarious and we spent the rest of the night playing. Sawyer's favorite questions to ask were "is it a whale?" and "is it nice and green?" When it was his turn to think of an animal he would always say, "ummm.....okay....a monkey" or whatever animal he was choosing at the time. Eventually Ryan had to help him when it was his turn! But he guessed the animal several times when it was other people's turns and his face would just light up with excitement. The game was such a hit that we played it in the tent with jammies on before bed and again the next morning around the fire when we were eating after-breakfast s'mores. (Doesn't everyone eat after-breakfast s'mores?)

We packed up and drove home, dirty and exhausted. But the kids were begging for their next camping trip and I'm sure we'll plan one soon! And I'm saying that despite how tired I am from all the after-camping cleaning we did once we got home! PHEW.

And now its June and tomorrow is our ultrasound to see this little baby #3 and perhaps find out if it is a he or she. The kids are way more excited than even I am and its going to be a fun day. So stay tuned!

Boston Temple

Yesterday we over to Boston to go to the temple. The youth in the ward were providing babysitting at the church adjacent to the temple so we were able to go together! Each youth was assigned one or two kids to be their "buddy" and they played games in the gym and ate lunches we packed for them. When we left the kids they were standing in the middle of the chaotic gym, holding hands and looking a little lost, but by the time we came back for them they were having tons of fun! It was a great day and the kids loved seeing the temple!
On the way home Ryan decided last minute to take a detour to REI...which turned into 4 hours! The kids were good sports, although they had their moments. I have to admit I had my moments too! But we were looking at bikes for me so we can go on family bike rides again so it was all worth it!

Lake Pinneo

The weather has been in the 80's here and feeling really warm! I think this is unusual but I haven't heard anybody say it is so I'm just assuming. At any rate, I am enjoying it! We headed over to Lake Pinneo here by our house in Quechee. It is a resident/member only beach and lake and (which we are now thinking we are going to become because we loved it!) but it doesn't officially open until after Memorial day so we met a ton of friends there for one last free day! It was so nice to be out in the sun and the kids loved playing in the sand and swimming in the water with Daddy!

Sabbaday Falls

On Saturday, after we had finished our yard work, we decided to drive up to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and go on a little hike to Sabbaday Falls. The kids were so excited to use their Camelbacks, especially because this was his first time using it on a real hike after getting it for his birthday. It was a short hike but it was perfect for the kids and they had fun the whole time. The falls was fun, although Sawyer was scared of it at first!
After the hike we drove down to a pond Ryan had seen from the road on the drive up and hiked around it a little bit. It was called Beaver Pond and we could see why! We saw evidence of beavers on one of the trees we walked past and then when we were sitting on the rock overlooking the water we saw a Beaver swimming around. Ryan was disappointed he didn't see a moose, but we were excited to see a little bit of wildlife!
On the drive home, around sunset, Ryan commented on what a pretty place we have chosen to live and it is absolutely true. Spring has brought so much green and just plain gorgeousness everywhere around us. Even though Vermont sometimes feels like living on the moon because we are so far from family, there is so much to explore here and we can't wait to go on our next adventure!