NH Camping Adventures Day 1- Trains & Storyland

For this year's Glidden family vacation we decided to change it up a bit and make our trip to North Conway a camping one... 2 campers, 1 tent, 5 adults, 6 kids (6yo, 4 yo, 3 yo, 2 yo, 4 months & 2 months... maybe seeing it written out like that would have made us reconsider...;) Things were a bit chaotic as is the norm, but we did celebrate Nannie's birthday the first night with a "special" cake from Walmart which Ben managed to step on in the car (thankfully with the cover still on).... we will call this ominous warning #1 (if the whole set up wasn't enough). The first night the temps dipped into the mid 40s and the daytime temp barely reached mid 60s with gale force winds (Nannie even had to break the bud light sweatshirt in an effort to fulfill the camping persona)... in August... we will call this ominous warning #2.  We had an exciting first morning taking a train ride where Amy started feeling ill (ominous warning #3) and James found his love of photography and took LOTS of pictures both inside and out of the train window.  I will try and add them to the slideshow on the side bar.

After the train ride Gabe and Dad had, what I think will be the highlight of the whole trip, a chance to golf.  As you can see from the above picture the winds died down for perfect conditions..... and maybe more so a great break while all of the kiddos napped. In the afternoon we headed for Storyland to get in the last few hours before our full day visit tomorrow. Storyland was so FUN this year!  Ben is tall enough to ride on all of the rides despite not yet being two.... he was fearless!  Gabe and I were able to take our 3 boys on all of the "big rides" including the roller coaster (which Ben somehow knew how to climb aboard himself and tried to close the safety bar before I had even sat down), the water raft ride and the log flume.  Everyone was pretty tired, but we were able to enjoy a campfire to end the night.

Camping & Audrey's First Swim

Last weekend we took our first camping trip of the year as a dry run for the New Hampshire trip coming up next week.  We met halfway in Skowhegan and we able to play with Nannie, Aunt Amy, Trey and Lily. Noah and James slept in the tent with Gabe, so that the rest of us could fit into the camper.... they were more than happy to spend a few nights tenting with daddy:) We had lots of playtime at the campground and swimming in the pool, but there was a loud overhead speaker system directing events and meal times... it made us feel like we were in the "Hunger Games", so we will probably try someplace else next time;)

After arriving home from camping it was hot enough to give Audrey her first swim... she didn't care for it, but she tolerated the water and her splashing brothers surprisingly well!

So far we have had a just fantastic summer with still a few more things planned.  One of the neatest things has been how much Noah has really grown-up!  About a week before we moved he told me he wanted to stop sucking his thumb because he thought it was making him "sick every June"... it was hard not to tell him that there was no correlation there and that it was ok to suck his thumb, but I instead asked when he wanted to start, to which he replied, "right now".  So he hasn't sucked his thumb since... amazing!  About a month later he decided to get rid of his blankie also... he gave it to Audrey since he thought someone else should use it (and neither of his brothers wanted it or got the significance).... just like that, decided and got rid of it that day. To continue with this theme he has learned to whistle, swim independently, ride a bike without training wheels, and has now lost 5 teeth (since moving into our house)!  Seriously he is like a whole new kid;)

One of his biggest accomplishments was to FINALLY pick a new baseball cap.... he has had the Bulls had since before he turned 2 and each year as it gets more and more ragged we try to convince him that some new one is better, but he has never agreed... until now.  The Bulls hat got a small rip on the top button and that was the end of it.  He settled on an Air Force had my father had given him last summer.  I think he likes the compliments he gets on it and seems pretty proud to tell people that his Grandpa gave him the hat when people ask. Now if we could only get James to choose a new hat... we are only two summers in for him though, so it may be a while... when he lost it at the children's museum I called and described it as a blue Sea Dogs cap to which they replied, "I don't have a blue one, but there is a gray Sea Dogs cap here"... maybe next summer;)

Audrey Turns Four Months!

What can I say about the sweetest four month old around?  She is such a good baby! She has started to roll a bit and has some teeth coming in we think. She is very easy going and laid back.  She loves her big brothers and tolerates all the "love" that they give her;)  The three of them would do anything for her and jump at the chance to care for her.  Noah can dress her and change her diapers (supervised of course) and he can get her to smile and stop crying like nobody else.  James is constantly saying, "look, Audrey is smiling at me!" with a huge smile on his face. Ben continues to be her protector when the other two get what he perceives as too close he is not afraid to push them away.  He has also figured out how to, as gently as is possible for Ben, put the pacifier into her mouth:)

Gabe's First Week at Home & Connecticut Trip!

Gabe is finally done and we are more than thrilled to have him under the same roof as us!  We took full advantage showing him around the new "neighborhood", the area and our property.  It has been quite warm so the pool has gotten great use. More than anything I am probably enjoying being able to relax in the mornings having another set of hands around. We discovered the fantastic and cheap movie theater in town, which we were bold enough to take the entire family to... everyone did so well, it was the first enjoyable movie going experience we have had:) It helped that there were only a few other people in the theater on a beautiful and HOT Monday afternoon. Monsters University was a great movie for both kids and adults, we would highly recommend it.  After the movie we fed the kids supper and took them out for ice cream.

Gabe had another episode of atrial fibrilation last Wednesday and had to be cardioverted again... he is totally fine and we are very greatful he suffers no ill effects from this, but it is getting a bit old.  This time around we were in Wilton so Gabe was able meet his future co workers at the Franklin Memorial Hospital ED.  They all kept asking him if it was a test;)

Last weekend Grampy and Grammy Civiello came to visit and play.  We showed them around downtown, got some ice cream, hit up Reny's and our great local book store.  On Sunday we took a trip to visit friends in Connecticut.  Staying two nights we were able to spend some time visiting, playing and shopping at IKEA.  Thanks Melman family!

Other than that we have just been picking away at projects outside, getting things set up inside... and most importantly enjoying the beautiful summer weather!   

Summerfest 2013

The kids and I usually travel to East Millinocket each year for the "Summerfest", Gabe seems to be working or off at the family golf tournament.  The kids and I traveled up Wednesday night and stayed until lunch on Friday... we had all had enough by then and were REALLY REALLY looking forward to celebrating Gabe's last day at work... he didn't get home until after I went to bed... oh well, at least he is done and here today for a long summer vacation!

Until Friday mid-morning, when the breakdowns began, the kids were having a really great time;) We got to visit Uncle Jon and family at the barn where Noah decided to get rid of his training wheels. We also got to spend some great time hanging out with Grammy and Grampy Civiello as well as Nannie and Grandpa.  The highlight on Friday morning was the soap spray down by the fire department... Ben wanted nothing to do with it, but did have fun playing around the bubbles.

First Few Weeks, Fourth of July & Vermont Trip

Well, we have almost made it to the three week mark, just a few more days until Gabe is done work and actually lives in the house with us.  It has been a whirlwind mess of chaos, but we have made the best of it and will be glad when he is here!  The kids and I continue to pick away at getting rooms set up.  The next up was Benjamin's big boy bed.... the movers lost the pieces to put the bed back together, so for now it is just a mattress on the floor, but he is in love with his new dinosaur sheets:)  He is doing so well in his own room and bed, lets hope this continues.  

The kids and I have been taking several day trips to Bangor to visit my dad who was hospitalized with some cardiac issues and was there for the 4th of July.  The kids had a great time at the parade and visiting with the Witham & Pelkey clans as well as Uncle J-me and Uncle Jon! Audrey had a great time entertaining all at the hospital including my dad as she just loved his bright red socks and couldn't stop grabbing for them and smiling. Dad is doing much better now recovering from a stent placement, but still a long week + for all involved.... I hope this hospital thing is not a trend for the summer!  

Last weekend Gabe had 2 days off, so (instead of staying home like normal people) we traveled to Vermont for a get together with my former work family as well as a send of for our good friends moving to Washington state for a few years. Ben found his future vehicle and wouldn't get out of the driver's seat.  It was super quick, but a great visit... we will miss you Yukica family!!!!  I am sure our kids will be ready for a cross country adventure in the next year;)  

Amidst all of the traveling Noah lost another tooth (2 down and 3 more loose to go), we took an over night trip to Portland to visit Gabe, a day trip to Portland for dentist visits for N & J and well child checks for J & A, N & J are taking swimming lessons at the lake 4 days a week, and we are really just trying to get settled into the community here and loving every minute of it:)