Day One- LA to NH via Newark/Boston

Love this pic so much I am posting it twice! O. shared his window seat w/Laney before takeoff on the second leg of the trip (Newark-Boston). We literally ran off one plane and onto the next when a weight imbalance delayed first flight 1 1/2 hours on the tarmac. (!) Without sleeping more than 40 minutes combined (O min. for O I think) and subsisting on goldfish crackers, snack bars, and a couple of apples I think the kids did pretty amazing on the trip. O. was sad we didn't have a window seat on the first flight (the guy in it chose to stay put next to two toddlers instead of trade Derek for a middle seat, but luckily the guy in aisle across traded him so he was in aisle seat across from us!:) Car rental took nearly two hours; finally getting installed in matching plaid (forward-facing) carseats. L. is still in rear-facing at home (well, actually installed her new forward facing last night (7/17). We stopped at Friendly's for takeout on the way, and had a welcoming committee at the hotel when we arrived around 10:30 P.M. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends were there to greet us!

Everybody wanted to play in the hotel pack and play; nobody wanted to sleep in it!

Bedtime reading

Our Summer Vacation, Teaser pics and overview

For our big summer vacation this year, the four of us flew from LAX to Boston via Newark in order to spend 12 days around New England. Here is the full itinerary of the trip: Friday, June 29, 2012 7 AM flight

arrive Boston around 5:30 P.M. leave rental car office with Lincoln Town Car and matching plaid forward facing carseats (think Burberry) around 8:30 P.M.* *All four members of our party have subsisted on catnaps (less than 45 minutes) and bars, pretzels, goldfish, and other sundry snacks all day long. stop at Friendly's and order takeout 9:00 P.M. (both kids are asleep in the backseat) arrive at Hampton Inn in Nashua, NH around 10:00 P.M. Saturday, June 30, 2012

Wedding celebration for Nancie and Dave Dugal: The couple got married on 11-11-11 at 11:11 P.M. in Las Vegas and have had a reception planned for over a year. Today family and friends gather to celebrate with them and wish them well. It was so fun! Luncheon 11-3 naps at hotel 3-5 informal celebration with pizza, fireworks, balloon animals, and sidewalk chalk 6-10 pm Sunday, July 1, 2012

Family breakfast at Joey's Diner 10 A.M. drive to Rockport, MA...arrive around 2 P.M.

daddy visits grocery for milk, yogurt and fruit to keep in the room afternoon in cottage style room at Eagle House Motel and late afternoon visit to town beach. picnic style dinner at town park/early to bed Monday, July 2, 2012

morning visit to Wingaersheek Beach, where daddy used to go during camping trips as a child; kids enjoyed the rocks and tide pools. We hadn't brought or bought sand toys but it turned out to be a non-issue because we went early enough to find some that had washed up on shore.So great. midday showers and meet Kim Bamberry-Blaze (Peggy's college buddy) and her two boys, Ryan (turned 5 July 13) and Sean. Lunch with Blaze family and walking around Rockport evening visit to Rockport Library to play with toys and puzzles around 6:30 P.M. followed by informal dinner (hamburger and subs) at a local eatery. Tuesday, July 3, 2012 AM- last minute souvenir shopping and iced coffee for the road check out and head south to Rhode Island early afternoon: drive around Riverside where daddy was a child. See his homes, schools and a stop for ice cream cones-Laney's first! in a shady grassy spot by the bike trail. Then a stop to visit Nana Robyn and Nana Rose at the cemetery before heading over to Aunt Terri and Uncle Hop's house warm welcome, sandbox, swingset play, and a delicious outdoor supper of pasta and meatballs, garlic bread, and salad! yum! The kids loved discovering toys around the basement where we were set to bunk for the week. Wednesday, July 4, 2012 We opted to skip the Bristol parade due to traffic and road closures and the kids slept till after 8 (as they did nearly every day of the RI stay due to the darkness and peace and quiet of the basement.) Instead we headed to South County museum for the Rhode Island Red chick hatch. The kids got to hold newborn chicks and see eggs in incubation. Another highlight for them was sitting on an old tractor. So fun! Aunt Beth and Nicky came over to share our delicious holiday lunch around 2 and we all headed to Old Mountain Field for the town fireworks around 6. It was a great show and the kids enjoyed it. Their first big nighttime fireworks show! Thursday, July 5, 2012 We headed to Jamestown to visit a big playground and the Beavertail lighthouse. After that we headed to Peacedale for a picnic under a big shady tree. Then we went to Tuckertown Fire Dept. where Victoria's boyfriend Will let us all explore the big ladder truck! What an adventure! But the day wasn't done yet. After resting we went to Galilee to eat a seafood feast at Champlain's right on the water. The kids loved watching the ferries go in and out of the channel.

Friday, July 6, 2012 The four of us headed to Greenwich, CT to visit Aunt Jean and Uncle Jerry Jordan. We arrived around 2 and headed to Greenwich Country Club for a late lunch. Then Delaney napped for three hours while we visited and around 6:30 we headed back to the club to meet the Kniestes (Chris, Linda, Maria and Christopher) for dinner. We had a great visit (except when Laney got sick right between dinner and dessert at the club) and drove back to RI late arriving around 1 AM. Saturday, July 7, 2012 We spent the morning swimming, playing and hanging out and headed to Capron Park and Zoo around 12:30 to meet my UM girls and their families. The kids had fun feeding llamas and goats at the zoo and play on the Splashpad too! On the way home the kids slept and we drove through Federal Hill in Providence (smelled so good), saw a street D. lived on as a child, and stopped for "4 all the way" hot wieners at Olneyville N.Y. System for D. When we got home there were yummy nachos and a home fireworks display in the backyard. Sunday, July 8, 2012 resting and having fun at home day! Uncle Hop brought a sunshine Allie's doughnut and we swam and hung out all morning. Everyone came for delicious homemade pizzas of every variety in the afternoon and then we went for ice cream to Brickley's and went to the town beach to hang out and play in the sand until sunset. Monday, July 9, 2012 Our last day. We got up to say goodbye to Terri and Victoria as they left for work. Uncle Hop was on vacation so we spent the morning playing and packing up and headed out around 11 for our drive back to Boston and our day of travel- car, shuttle bus, airplane, flyaway bus, our car, and finally our beds around midnight. A great vacation! My intention is to break the trip apart day by day and post more pix, then go back and try to fill in the thirty something posts I am behind on between Jan-June! ha! maybe before I turn 40 in 3 months! aaaaaah!