Grammie and Papa Malenfant Visit 2013

Over Memorial Day Weekend, Grammie and Papa Malenfant come to visit us every year, and the boys get so excited!  Nathan started to full-on countdown a few weeks ago.  They arrived late Wednesday night, and two very excited boys woke up Thursday morning to Grammie and Papa.  They came bearing some special gifts...

Grammie made Alex his very own alphabet scrapbook.

Alex and Grammie reading,

Nathan reading "Cat in the Hat" with his new Cat in the Hat doll.

Alex reading all about Balloon Fiesta with Papa.

 It rained the first few days of the visit, so we took advantage to do some special sight seeing.

Grammie and Papa rented a minivan so that we could all travel in style together!

Alex loved the "white car".

Our first road trip was to Portsmouth to visit the USS Albacore, the "submarine in a ditch."  Then we had a very tasty lunch at the Friendly Toast, drove the kids around to nap for a little while and then to the Children's Museum of New Hampshire in Dover.

The USS Albacore

The boys checking out the sleeping quarters.

Alex was not a fan when we first got on the sub.

But once he saw the bathroom, he was fascinated.

Nathan never warmed up to the sub, and was wisked through.

Driving the sub!

Buttons!

Alex reluctantly leaving the sub (he went through it two more times!), Nathan breathing a sigh of relief.

Alex taking advantage to climb, anything.

Lunch at the Friendly Toast.

Enjoying lunch.

Handsome husband enjoying his mac n cheese.

Nathan in his "jumping" phase through the streets of Portmouth :)

Getting Daddy to jump too.

The musical wall at the Children's Museum of New Hampshire.

Alex laughing at the roller coaster.

Cool fish-eye mirror.

Walking up and down the ramp.

Alex checking out the archeology area.

Alex driving the sub.

 After a big day in Portsmouth, the next day was a little quieter at home.

We read lots of books.

More books!

And jumped around!

Ate some good food.

And laughed.

Showed Grammie and Papa how the boys ride their bikes in sunshine and rain.

 The next day we were up for some travels again, so we headed towards Boston to the Waterworks Museum (shocking that it was my first trip there!), with a stop in Harvard Square at the Curious George Store.

Walking through Harvard Square.

Curious George!

Grammie reading to the boys in the reading nook.

At the Waterworks Museum.

Checking out the old steam pumps.

Learning all about bringing drinking water to Boston!

Alex, climbing, again.

Nathan looking at everything from above.

Visited our old haunt the Publick House for some tasty food and to watch the C line ride by.

Alex enjoying the ketchup, er, hot dog.

Some tired boys.

 The rain finally broke Sunday afternoon, and we spent as much time outside as possible.  Papa had bought a balloon rocket, and Nathan couldn't get enough.

Figuring out how the pump works.

Helping Papa.

Watching it take off!

Alex wasn't a fan of the rocket, so he spent his time on the slide.

Grammie bought the boys cake pops at the our local bakery, Nathan trying it out.

Mmmm, cake pops!

Nathan sharing with Grammie.

Papa and Alex playing with the gear toy.

 Nathan and Alex were happy to show Grammie and Papa their favorite playground in the sunny weather on Monday.  And finally eat outside!

Red swing!

Alex jumping off the tunnel slide.

Running across the shaking balance beam.

Grammie watching the boys on the spiral slide.

More jumping!

Alex wanting to do whatever Nathan does...

Enjoying corn on the cob!

Ahh, finally like summer.

Saying good bye to Grammie and Papa.

Nathan being the perfect gentleman and helping with the bags.

One final kiss goodbye.  Until the Balloon Fiesta in October!!