Adventure Chronicles: Expanding our Horizons Close to Home

With Hurricane Sandy threatening to cancel Halloween again this year, we had a lot outside work to do to get prepared.  By we, I really mean Matt, and I did my best to keep the kids out of the way for a couple of hours.  The kids and I often head to Grassy Pond, a nearby conservation area, but we're starting to outgrow the half mile trail.  A half mile or so further down the road is a much larger area, known as East Boston Camps that includes 3 or 4 miles of trails, and a beautiful pond.  You've seen pictures before, as I spent a lot of time here walking during both of my maternity leaves.

I had planned to push us for a bit longer walk, but Rod has a diaper rash and wasn't much in the mood for walking, so I adjusted my plan and we ended up spending some time at the side of the pond.  We very literally did not see another soul during the hour or more we spent there.  I think the pictures speak for themselves!

Adventure Chronicles: Pack Monadnock

The first weekend of fall 2012 was shaping up to be warm (for September) and sunny, so Matt and I starting talking about an adventure... ideas ranged from camping in Maine (too rainy, as it turned out) to apple picking (too boring) and in the end, we settled on a hike.  Hike plans also were all over the map, from a 1 mile flat sauter in the woods to a 4.5 mile trek up a "real" mountain... in the end we settled on a 3 mile hike up a decent sized mountain - Pack Monadnock.  In fact, this was the first mountain I hiked in New England back in 1999 or so, that began many years of hiking many more mountains.  The only down side of Pack Monadnock is that there is also an auto road up to the top, so it loses a little something when you don't get to reach an isolated summit. 

In any case, the day started out rainy, but we put our faith in the meteorologists and headed out around 8 am.  After beginning our adventure with a diner breakfast along the way, we were ready to hit the trail around 10:30, shortly after the sun came out.

Before: my mini Hikers ready to hit the trail... see below for the after shot

 Roddie hit the trail running.  He literally attacked the steep rocky trail, chattering things like "Big Climber" and "Up There" all the while.  We were passed by many hikers, most who were amazed to see Norah, then blown away to see Rod moving under his own steam (and neither Matt nor I with a backpack for him).  He did really great, and managed to do most of the ascent on his own - with some help over big rocks (we'd help him "fly") and as we got closer to the summit, with staying focused.  The time honored tradition of bribing children with M&M's helped a lot here. 

The shiney rock Norah wanted to carry the whole way!

Norah did great on the way up also, but the return trip was where she really blew my socks off.  The last time we did a long hike, Norah was getting a little cranky on the descent and I really had to use my imagination to keep her mind off of complaining (even the M&M's had failed me that time!)  We ended up making up a story, where she would make up a bit, then I would, and so on.  This trip, I kicked off a new story as we began the trip down.  Norah very literally talked the ENTIRE 1.4 miles down the mountain, only occasionally getting me to take a short turn.  She bopped from rock to rock like a pro, and we were down in just over an hour.  The one stop she did request was for a snack - about 100 yards from the parking lot!

Break time!

Kids Break Time

Yeah, that's Boston, about 60 miles away she's looking at!

Mom and Rod nearing the summit!  yay Roddie!

Rod's trip down was a little less eventful, meaning he pretty much missed it all.  It was 2:00 when we left the summit, so well past nap time, and his legs were looking a little spongey, to say the least.  Matt picked him up to carry him down a steep section, and wouldn't you know it, he fell asleep.  He didn't wake up until we stopped for gas on the way home!  Poor Matt had to carry 30 lbs of dead weight while I was busy chatting with Norah.  I'd say I got the better end of that deal!

Roddie posing with the funny face on the way down

Quiet time, Mom and Norah on the summit

Second chance to find the funny face... can you see it?

aannnnddd here's the after!  Roddie slept on Matt's shoulder much of the descent

Norah, finally starting to look a little tired, but she kept on talking....

All in all, we had a great day!  I am so happy that the kids love being outside so much!  They are already talking about their next hike - Norah said she didn't want to go again the next day, but maybe the day after! 

Adventure Chronicles: Local Hike

Things have been extra busy around our house again this June - the short version is I started another new job that involves some travel this month and Matt is working towards another deadline.  I can't speak for Matt, but what's keeping me going is some really great weekends.  This past Sunday Matt had to go into the office in anticipation of my travel and both sets of grandparents visiting, so it was just me and the kids for most of the day.  We were up early and headed off to 7:30 am mass.  On the way, Norah requested that we visit a local conservation area, called Grassy Pond.  I thought it was a great idea, and the kids and I ended up spending nearly 2 hours there, playing in the woods.

I saved my favorite picture from the day for Foto Friday, but here are a few others.

Adventure Chronicles: Mothers Day!

I had a really great Mother's Day this year!  We got away for a much needed family weekend, but more on that later.  First, a look at the awesome projects the kids did for me at school. 

Norah did a book, that included hand print artwork, coupons for various things, and - the highlight - the following list and picture.

My Mother
My Mother's name is... Shauna
My Mother's favorite color is... pink and purple
My Mother's favorite sport is ... tennis (!)
My Mother likes to ... paint with me :)
My Mother's favorite desert is... a chocolate/vanilla cookie
My Mother likes it when... I clean up my toys
I love it when my Mother... makes guacamole and I help her :)

The list was accompanied by this picture, of her and I painting at the table, including the 4 chairs!

Roddie also put together a book... it was a "Day in the Life" kind of thing, with various pictures of him throughout the day at school, with his own artwork in the background on each page.  All of the pictures are adorable, but the piece de resistance was the last page..

I love you too Buddy!

We went to our favorite weekend getaway location, New Hampshire, for the weekend.  We were able to leave around mid-day on Friday which extended the weekend a little.  We stayed at Eagle Mountain House, an old school New Hampshire Inn... featuring a dining room, beautiful front porch, 'bird cage' style elevator, and a suite for us on the 3rd floor!  Roddie loved walking up the three flights of stairs, and was immensely proud of himself each and every time we ascended!

Saturday was a beautiful day, and we decided to take the kids on a hike - the longest one they'd ever been on, at least under their own power, but one with a payoff at the end - a 200 foot waterfall!  Arethusa Falls are about 1.5 miles through the woods, and up about 800 feet from the trail head.  We started out with Roddie in the kid-backpack, but he soon decided he'd rather walk... and walk he did, for about 80% of the hike!  We nearly turned back after about 2 hours, but then a passer-by (in that they passed us both coming and going) told us we were nearly there... we persevered and were rewarded with the awesome view of the falls on a beautiful day... as we like to say to the kids "This is Livin!"  We were worried about the walk out, but some talk of waterfall princesses and their costumes kept Norah occupied, while Roddie kept insisting on "Own!" (ie on his own)  I was extremely proud of both kids, who seemed to enjoy themselves, and we're already thinking about what hike to tackle next!

Enjoying the view after the long hike up!

Pre Hike Photo... note, this was the only time Rod spent in the carrier!

Another View of the falls and the happy campers!

We rounded out Saturday with mass at Our Lady of the Mountains and dinner at an old favorite, Horsefeathers.  This left us free for Mother's Day brunch at the Red Fox and a lazy meander home, including a few stops to enjoy the scenery.

Mother's Day Happiness at the Red Fox

Cupcakes!

Stretching our Legs at Lincoln Woods