TBT - Touch a Truck 2012

And now for a TBT of a different kind. I came across this draft of a blog post from fall of 2012. Well, not much of a draft, just pictures waiting for words. I apparently never got around to doing that. But looking back at the pictures, I couldn't help but smile at the cuteness and marvel at how different all these kids (and even me!) have changed in that time period. So, I decided to post today, 2 years after the event.

And the event was "Touch a Truck" in our little town of Wayland. An annual event we haven't made since (probably because of our frequent weekend trips to NH). They bring out trucks of all kinds that the kids get to explore freely - everything from landscapers trucks to emergency vehicles, construction vehicles and garbage trucks. Pretty cool.

Me and Dylan - Firetruck

Neighbor Dan taking pic of his daughter, Chloe, with Dylan

Back of an Ambulance (I think my tummy has shrunk a bit since then. Yay!)

Chloe and Dylan - Buds!

Look How Stinkin' Cute Those Wee Kiddos Were

Chloe and Baby Cade

Dylan with (Still a Pal) Libby

My Babies!
I just want to pinch those faces they're so darned cute!

In addition to the trucks, there was more entertainment of course. Booths set up with local companies, face painting, a little motorized train ride, and an inflatable obstacle course.

On the "Train"

This was Dylan's first solo trip on something like this. I remember being very nervous about it. But he  did a great job solo and loved it. A bit tentative on his first run, but then wanted to go again and again.

Climbing out of the Tube

Sliding Down

Wanted to Hang with the Big Kids

Pretty sure this was Dylan's first (and maybe only) face painting.
And this is how I carried Cade around for most of his first year plus.
By the way my hand is around him, I would guess he's snoozing at this point.

A Star on my Baby's Cute Cheek!

I love that our town (and several surrounding ones) has frequent events for the kids like this. Such a great way to build and foster our community. And man do I love looking back on these cute baby faces. It's truly amazing to see their growth. Yes it was a long 2 years ago but in so many ways it seems like a blip in time. But an extreme amount of independence and time has occurred in those quick years that it also seems like SOOO far in the past! Life is a lot easier for the parents of a 5.5 and almost 3 year old than it was for a 3 year old and 9 month old, that's for sure!

Goodrich Rock

Are you sick of hearing about hiking trips yet? Well, guess what, I'm not and I get to write this here blog. So there. You get to read about another one. Lucky for you, it's likely the last one for a while....at least without snowshoes on our feet.

A couple of weeks ago, we did our last "fall" hike with the first bit of snow on the ground. We tried to do the Goodrich Rock trail when my parents were here over the summer but they were doing some maintenance in the area . The trail had a big ditch across it that we weren't allowed to cross so we did this hike instead. We needed a leisurely, flatish hike for Mike (because his ankle had been bothering him) and shortish well, because kids. So we tried this one again. 

It was chilly so we bundled up. The boys had fun poking at the ice with hiking poles. The first mile of the hike was flat. Good going so far. Then we were to split off the main trail to go to Goodrich Rock, one of the largest glacial erratics (fancy term for boulder) in NH.

Bad news was that the last .75 miles of the trail were up. More up than I had realized it would be. It was hard for Mike's ankle. That day, Cade also decided early on that he didn't want to walk anymore so I carried him. No big whoop but the good start to the trip seemed to be deteriorating. So the whole group made it a half mile up off the main trail to the boulder caves. 

There, the boys stopped to have a snack. I just couldn't stand a 2nd attempt failing to get to the end so I left the Mike and the kids to try and run to the rock and get back to them quickly. I almost turned back as the trail wasn't marked well in places and I was worried about getting lost. Luckily, there was one other person that had blazed a trail in the light snow covering earlier so I followed the footsteps to the end. It was more than well worth it.

I passed lots of enormous rocks and each time thought, this must be it! But the trail kept going past several of them. The guidebook told me that the trail would circle around the boulder to a ladder at the back where you could climb to the top. So I didn't realize I was passing the "biggest" rock until I was around back at this cool ladder:

I climbed up to the top and was rewarded with this lovely view:

See - I'm there!

I could also see some snowmaking at the Waterville Valley ski trails.

I tried to get a picture of the rock but it was too darned big. I couldn't get back far enough from it to capture the whole rock in it's entirety. But just to give you an idea of scale, the ladder pictured above was 20 feet (so says the guidebook) and the full face of the rock on the front side was at least double that. Plus, once on top, I was above the tree tops to see the view. Pretty incredible!

Part of Goodrich Rock

Different Big Rock I Could Actually Get a Pic Of

When I got back, I found this really cute, but super sad face. Apparently, he had been crying for me the entire time I was gone.  :(

The boys were ready to head back. I loaded sad Cade up on my back (still doing those big, choppy inhales you get in a big cry) and headed back.

Mike and Dylan by a much smaller big rock.

Ice on the Rock

Cade fell asleep very quickly. The rock behind us is the same one
 that I took a picture of Mike and Dylan in front of above.

Mike went on ahead since he needed to focus on getting himself and his sore ankle back. I managed sleeping Cade on my back and helped Dylan out getting down the trail as needed. He was a trooper. Just when I thought he was done and going to be hard to manage, we would find another fun game and he would be interested in the hike all over again. Knocking snow off tree branches, jumping off rocks and poking at ice are all good entertainment.

Towards the end of our trip, the sun was already behind the mountain from our valley perspective and the temperature was dropping. I encouraged Dylan back towards the beginning of the trail so we could get to the car, warm up and go home.

This should be an interesting winter to try and do some snowshoeing. I have no doubt that Dylan will do great. Cade will want to do great but may not quite have the agility\height to manage snowshoes nor the disposition to want to be carried. Whatever happens on our first snowshoe trip, I'm sure it will be an adventure!

How We Did Thanksgiving

Since we moved into this house right about 3 years ago, my mother in law happily passed the torch on Thanksgiving hosting duties to us. One of the reasons this house was right for our family is that it's set up for great entertaining. And I love entertaining. But the one thing I've realized about entertaining is that it's a lot about child birth. You promptly forget about all the hard labor and pain that goes into it and only remember the happy result. 

I entered into the this holiday thinking we had it easy. Our regular scheduled housecleaning was happening the day before. Score! No cleaning to be done. However, I didn't realize how much work was still to be done with set up and food prep. We had 20 people rsvp'd for the holiday and had to have places for all to eat. That involved getting leaves out for the dining room table, then the padded protectors over that then, of course, linens and place settings. But that only sat 12. So we also had to get a table and chairs up from the basement for the kids table. And that was just the basics. Oh and of course shopping for food, cooking and all those other minor little details.

Last week was a crazy and exhausting week, as I knew it would be, but with a few extra wrenches thrown in, we were running completely crazy and wore ourselves completely out each and every day. With closing from afar on our old condo in NH (yay, finally), a winter storm, my busy week at work (already compacted by the holiday) and down a resource as my coworker's mother unexpectedly passed away (and the wake to attend), let's just say the holiday plate was full in many ways.

But, as always happens, the holiday somehow came together perfectly. Food was a plenty, we had a great time with the family and it was a lovely day. Only downside being our friends were ill and unable to make it. We missed them, of course.

  

Turkey Cheese Platter

Teepee and Fire Cupcakes
(Have you seen those hilarious pinterest "nailed it" photos? This came mighty close to becoming one of those.) 

I'm loving being able to decorate my new mantel.

The boys and their cousins had an amazing time playing together. Cousin Derek had traveled all the way from Vermont that morning and got settled in to play before the rest of the cousins showed up. He evaded my camera most of the day. It became a game between us for me to try and catch him. Below you see him making a quick exit to the left.

How Stinkin' Handsome is My Baby Boy?!?

Maureen and Patrick - Photo Bomb 1 With Joe

And Photo Bomb 2 With Jim

Then Just the Two of Their Pretty Faces

There was some sort of major battle going on with the cousins. There was lots of running, screaming and craziness...it was great!

Dylan, Cade and Jacob

Corwin (at back), Emily, Cade and Dylan

Emily Got Cade
And I got a photo of Derek's Arm

Mid Battle

While the Cousins had their kind of fun, the adults had ours. We hung out in the kitchen, prepped food, had drinks and caught up.

Lovely Ladies - Kristina, Gretchen, and Maureen

Selfie
(With Monster Size Camera No Less - Go ME!)

Cousin Gretchen and Her Lovely Mom Auntie Kathy

Kristina and Jim Goofing Off

The Kids Table
Of course it was my kid not cooperating.

Had to include this pic too. I noticed that Cade was following
cousin Jacob's lead with the tongue out. Too funny.

And the Adults
(Like my lovely new chandelier?)

I was there too!

After lunch was devoured and cleaned up, we had a traveling snowball fight down the aqueduct to the pond for the kids to burn off some energy and the adults to make room in full bellies for dessert. It was a fun\crazy trip.

Cousins!
Corwin, Emily, Cade, Derek, Dylan and Corwin

Back at the house, dessert was had, games were played in the basement and the family merriment continued.

Cade and Dylan had fun attacking auntie Maureen.

Cutie Cade

Dylan and Cousin Patrick

It was a really, really great day! Great way to start the holiday season! And since it was a full turkey day, there wasn't a lot of time for outside play. So the next day, we took it easy, did some cleaning and some playing.

Not easy to make a snowman with day old, icey top layer snow, but we kind of managed a little one.

Holiding Hands

After nap time, we packed up the leftovers (which were plentiful), and continued the holiday with Friendsgiving! Our friends, the Meyer's invited us over. The kids had fun playing and the adults actually got to spend some time chatting with each other. This new phase of playdates where the kids self entertain is pretty freakin' amazing to me. The kids' favorite game of the night was sliding down the stairs.

After play, it was dinner and a movie. It was a fantastic night with friends. We promised to try and do this type of family gathering on a regular basis.

Dinnertime
Cade, Libby, Caroline and Dylan

Of course, we are now full swing into Christmas season. Our Elf on the Shelf made his first appearance the night before last and the advent calendar started last night (yeah, we're a little behind but the kids haven't noticed). The decorations are slowly going up and we will be getting our tree this weekend. Let the crazy\busy\stressful\fun Christmas season begin!