Santa!

Catching up

This is from a thanksgiving weekend walk in the woods at White Memorial in Litchfield CT.

Skating lessons

Hack started a 5 week session on Friday.

Disney - Part IV - Hollywood Studios & Home

On our last day, we had a late flight (8pm) so the boys and I had time to go to the final Disney park - Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios). There are not all that many age appropriate rides there, more thrill rides and shows, but I figured the boys would like walking around and going on a specific Buzz Lightyear ride. Sadly, despite getting to the ride at 9:45am the line was an hour long and the "fast pass" was for 5pm! I was beyond shocked and Jack was a bit disappointed, though he did get over it. We played for a long time in the "honey I shrunk the kids" playground which makes you feel like the size of a bug - huge pieces of grass, bugs, hoses etc. They boys, of course, hadn't seen the movie but got a huge kick out of it. We also watched a Star Wars Jedi training show which was pretty cute. They trained kids (ages ~5-8) to be Jedis on a stage and then they got to fight Darth Vader. Pretty sure it was the highlight of some of their lives. We had lunch and watched a parade/show of some sort of tween singers from the Disney Channel shows.

Jack never wanted to "meet" the characters but there was no line for Handy Manny so I pushed them to go. Jack stayed in the stroller, but Nate got a kick out of it.

Our flight home was pretty uneventful (it was all 4 of us) with the boys sleeping at least part of the time.

Quite an outfit Nate picked out today!

Disney Part - Part III - Animal Kingdom / Downtown Disney

On Monday Steve had to go back to work and Jack woke up with a horrible, horrible cough and was feverish. He actually asked to go to the doctors. I was not initially sure we would go anywhere, but after some motrin, being upright for a little while and eating something, he seemed better and said he wanted to go out. Disney's Animal Kingdom is part zoo, part theme park so I figured we could treat it like a zoo and the kids could stay in the stroller keeping him rested and others from getting too many germs. I had never been there before and 2 kids along at a theme park can be a challenge, but off we went.

We actually didn't go on any rides, but walked aorund looking at some of the roller coasters, the animals and played in giant "dinasour dig" (aka a big sandbox).

The "tree of life" - the centerpiece of the park. The entire thing is carved with animals - pretty beautiful up close.





We ate lunch there after a couple of hours and headed back to the hotel for Nate's nap. Jack and I rested as well. Later in the afternoon we played in the kiddie pool and at the hotel's playground.



When Steve got home from work we headed to Downtown Disney for dinner. We ate at Bongos which was OK but both boys were very ill-behaved (probably because one was ill:) I was not particular impressed by downtown disney, but I am glad I saw it I suppose.

Disney World - Part II - Epcot / Magic Kingdom (night)

On Sunday we got up early and went to Epcot. We were there before it opened by about 10 minutes so we waited at the gates in a rather long line. When we got to the front we almost had a scene. Disney now - get this- scans your fingerprint the first time you use your (adult) ticket. Well this was the first time we were re-using our cards and it wouldn't accept my fingerprint! I hadn't signed the back of my card (I hadn't even noticed the line) so the woman started giving me a hard time implying they wouldn't be able to let me. She finally agreed to re-save my fingerprint on the card after I tried one more time. Of course, this last time it worked...

We went on spaceship earth, the finding nemo living seas, turtle talk with crush, journey into imagination (figment!), and the ride at Mexico. By this point Jack seemed to be not feeling so well, but we grabbed a quick bite and headed back for Nate's nap. Jack recovered and went swimming with Steve at the hotel which had a nice pool and even a water slide.

We decided to give a shot at dinner at the Magic Kingdom so the boys could see it lit up. It started raining which turned out great as the park really was clearing out, but it never rained again.

Now before we left I had read up on allergy-safe foods at Disney and that they were a leader. I had been sent by their staff a list of "safe" foods and the ingredients in their "standard" items. It is unbelievable - truly an example of Disney service. If you eat at a table service place (which we never did) the chef will call you before to assure a safe and good menu. At the counter -service restaurant Nate was able to, for the first time ever, order a hamburger with a bun! I can't even get a bun for him at Whole foods! They actually had a dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free bun. Not only that, they showed Steve ALL the ingredients for all items and cooked Nate's fries separately. (Nate's allergies aren't so bad that the latter has been an issue - but for sometime even having something fried in the same oil as an allergic food is problem). They even have soy and rice-milk ice cream at the ice cream parlor and some cookie options at the bakery. Amazing. Of course, did Nate eat more than a bit of the bun? nope! he had a blast cutting it though.


By this time it was dark and we could see the castle was lit all blue..walking towards it we caught the end of a short performance including the fairy-godmother from Cinderella lighting the castle up - it was amazing. The boys were transfixed.

When we got back to the hotel Jack actually gave me a hug and said "thank you for bringing me to Disney world" - so so cute.

Disney World - Part 1- Magic Kingdom

Wow, what a whirlwind amazing trip that we finished this week -- Steve and I are both surprised, relieved and happy to have survived and actually enjoyed our time at Disney..despite an "interesting" solo flight for me with the boys (this involved a no-napping Nate and multiple air sick bags for Jack) to Orlando and multiple bad colds while there..

On Saturday we went to the Magic Kingdom at opening- the day did not start out great. Waiting for the monorail took about 20 minutes as one was broken - then after lines for bag check and to enter - we went to Fantasy Land. Both boys were VERY squirmy in our first line for dumbo - it seemed like this was going to be a LONG day. However, the boys liked the ride (we could see a HUGE construction site for the new fantasy land) and from then on we had minimal lines thanks to strategic use of fast pass (timed tickets to enter popular attractions). We went on the carousel, Mickey's Philharmagic, It's a Small World (they were not so impressed as my generation was as kids), Peter Pan, Buzz Light year (Jack loved this), the people mover, the Railroad, Country Bear Jamboree, Jungle Cruise (Nate was napping in the stroller outside with Steve for the Jamboree and Cruise), the River Boat. Finally Jack/Steve went on Thunder Mountain - Jack's favorite.

We ate dinner at a restaurant near our hotel and went to bed.

Halloween

It is a cold and snowy Halloween here, but at least we have power unlike many surrounding towns and all of CT:)

After much "discussion" Nate ended up being a pumpkin, which some may recall as Jack's first costume. Jack is a fire fighter (same costume as last year - his request!)

More cake

Digging..

Open house at the fire house

For great aunt Debbie!

This was on jacks school Bookshelf this morning. I thought you would approve.

Fall Activities

This fall the boys are both in school, Jack 5 days from 8:30ish-1 and Nate 3 days from 8:30-12:30. Beyond that they are both enjoying swimming at Saturday mornings at one of our local Ys. Jack recently moved up a level which is exciting. He still uses a "bubble" (a small - about 11 by 14 - foam device on his back) but he gets all around the pool, can jump in and submerge from the starting blocks (the things "real" swim teams jump off). This class seems to be focusing on actual crawl/freestyle strokes, diving face first from a kneeling position on the side and swimming on their backs with the aid of a kickboard on their chest.

Nate is in his first class in the "baby" pool with Steve also in the water. He also uses a bubble (with 4-5 pieces of foam instead of Jack's 2) and he can actually doggy paddle his way around a bit. As usual, he is pretty fearless, and LOVES the class so far.

They are also both in gymnastics at a local gym. Jack is in the same class as last year for 3-5 year olds - mixed age/gender. It is obstacle-course type rotations on real kid-size equipment. Not much in terms of real gymnastics -no back-handspsrings or anything - but seems great for balance and coordination. I participate with Nate and his class is more of a challenge. One might perceive his lack of following direction as intelligence: he refuses to do the obstacle course with the other kids, and instead does them all on his own. As such, he never has to wait! I have decided forcing him is futile. I signed him up for exercise and fun which he is getting.

Neither gymnastics nor swimming allow pictures except "viewing" week, hopefully I will remember to do so!

Columbus Day Weekend - Eastham (Cape Cod)

We ended up "winning" a long weekend at a house in Eastham at an auction at Jack's new school. It is owned by another family and was in an amazing location right on a small pond and about 1 mile from first encounter beach (bay) and about 4 miles from the CC National Seashore/Coast Guard beach. We had amazing weather - in the mid-upper 70s on Saturday and Sunday!

Jack got his first (2) trips on a sailboat (sunfish) in the pond. He very much enjoyed it, as did Steve. We splashed in the small beach at the pond, swung on swings hanging from trees and enjoyed the view. We also visited First Encounter beach for sunset and coast guard beach for sand-playing. We stopped by a couple of playgrounds and a real caboose outside a small railroad museum in Chatham.

As in Nova Scotia, Jack ordered fish and chips everywhere! It is his favorite at the moment.


Coast Guard Beach

Coast Guard Beach

Coast Guard Beach

Coast Guard Beach
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Fort Hill - small hiking area. Steve and I were last there on our "minimoon" right after our wedding 7 years ago!
2011

2004

At the Caboose in Chatham

Playground in Eastham with an amazing "zipline" - both boys loved it

On the swing at the house..

First Encounter Beach

First Encounter Beach

First Encounter Beach

First Encounter Beach

Jack out for his first sail

Nova Scotia - Pictou Edition

After our time in Halifax, we moved north to Pictou for the wedding. What a fun hotel and gorgeous location. We stayed in a real log-cabin (updated with modern amenities)! There were various buildings on the property, a pool (boys loved) a life-size checker board, as well as canoes and paddle boats to use! Jack loved the latter.

Pictou is where a famous boat called the "Hector" landed packed with Scottish immigrants in 1773. They have a replica that Jack enjoyed viewing with Grandpa Pete.



"downtown" Pictou




On the Hector



At the lodge...







At the church


At the reception