One Weekend in Maine

With Michael traveling for work, we decided to head up to Maine for a long weekend. We got to spend lots of time with Nathan's Uncle Will, Aunt Lynn, Cousin Christopher, Mimi and Papa.

We stopped by Portland to have lunch with the crowd before heading to Brunswick. While there, we decided to check out the Children's Museum. Shockingly, Nathan loved it.

Driving the car with Mimi.

Wouldn't be a museum in Maine without a lighthouse!

Sitting in the reading nook with Mimi.

Back at home we just relaxed and enjoyed time with family!

Doing puzzles with Papa.

"Playing" with Cousin Christopher.

Helping Papa break up the ice.

Wouldn't be a trip to Maine without going to Freeport and LL Bean. Nathan gets a peek at the trout in the hunting & fishing section.

Nathan and Christopher enjoyed an appetizer of lemons at Buck's Naked BBQ (they both liked the lemons, they must be cousins or something).

Playing with the train set at the restaurant, great place for kids!

New Mexico comes to visit Winter in New England

Yes, it has been over 2 months since my last blog entry, and a move across the country... But winter in New England put my photography/blog skills into hibernation. But things are thawing out, and with a visit from the Malenfant grandparents, I had the perfect excuse to get started again!

It was a short visit, but we packed a lot of fun into four days. Nathan was beside himself with joy when he saw Grammie and Papa at our front door last Thursday morning. Daddy and Mommy were ignored for the rest of the weekend.

They spent a LOT of time reading, and Nathan showed off his ability to sit through an entire page and book. Grammie had a special gift she had made, a Nathan alphabet book. It was full of photos of Nathan and his world for each letter of the alphabet. He loves it, and now knows about 10 new letters!

Reading his special alphabet book with Grammie.

Reading Richard Scary with Papa.

That night we decided to try dinner at Gibbets Hill Grill in Groton. It is a wonderful restaurant housed in an old (replica?) barn and they use all local ingredients (and try to raise everything on their farm).

The boys walking up to the restaurant.

Nathan devouring all the cornbread.

The next morning we took Grammie and Papa to Nathan's new favorite place, the Discovery Museum in Acton. It is an old Victorian house that has been transformed into a place for toddlers to explore and learn.

Nathan showing Grammie how colors work.

Nathan on his 29th trip down the slide.

I'm on a boat! (up in the ocean room)

Learning about seashells.

Nathan's "flash" smile for the camera.

Saturday morning we headed out to New Hampshire. Aunt Gingy was visiting as well, and we wanted to get everyone together! So we met aunts, uncle and cousins up at Parker's Maple Barn for a great breakfast and learned how maple syrup is made.

Enjoying our big big breakfast together.

Corbin showing Nathan how the souvenir penny machine works.

Walking over to the sugar house to learn about maple syrup.

Sugar house.

The guide telling us all about hydrometers and sugar content (Corbin and Andrew right up front!).

My artsy maple syrup shot.

Aunt Gingy making Nathan laugh.

Thank you for a wonderful visit! We miss New Mexico all the time, but the biggest part is Grammie and Papa. The next time we see them, there will be six people in that photo!!