Summer Vacation 2012 - NH, Part III

Thursday
I'm going to just use pictures to sum up our fun day on Thursday.  Well, the day started off rainy again, but thankfully we had done our homework this time and knew it was going to clear and be a lovely day, so we had decided in advance to make it a beach day.  Here are the boys right after wake-ups ready and raring to go.

We waited until after the 10am feeding for Penn to head out and then we had a nice picnic on the beach upon arrival and the boys set immediately to work in the sand.

Doug and Grampa kept Koen and Tavin occupied with digging in the sand, playing in the waves (lots of spinning in the water) and then Koen got Grampa to pull him on the boogie board.  Koen's become a lot better at it since our Florida trip in March (meaning poor Grampa has to pull him farther and faster!).

This was Penn's first visit to a beach and he did very well.  We took a few walks in the BabyBjorn, we had another weird nursing session (beach chair in a public restroom handicap stall - nice) and he loved some time lying on his back in the stroller under the beach umbrella.  He was quiet and sweet just staring at things above him for about 30 minutes.  

Turns out he was doing a big job in his pants, but hey, at least he was happy!  Someone else was also busy doing a job while digging in the sand amidst the rocks at the edge of the beach.  Look at my cute beach bum!

Around 3pm we packed up and headed home.  It was a great day at the beach.  Penn did amazingly well.  We all enjoyed the warmth, water and sunshine, but also the breaks of clouds and even two brief showers that cooled everything off.  Tavin and Koen both missed naptime, so they were exhausted that evening.  Tavin went to bed at 6:30pm and never made a peep.  Good thing too because he needed to refuel for the next day of family vacation...

Friday
We figured that after our big outing to the beach yesterday and the plan to go sailing on Saturday, it would be best to stay closer to home today.  Good plan.  The boys slept great and woke up in good spirits.  After breakfast they worked on puzzles with Gramma (definitely a new favorite pastime for both of them ever since Gramma's stay with us earlier this summer).  

Then Douglas took Koen and Tavin out for some Daddy Time and they went on a lovely bike ride along the Merrimack River in Manchester.  From the pictures Doug sent via phone, it looked like they had a lovely time on a beautiful morning to be out.

They got home around lunchtime and while they were gone we had set up the pool in the backyard (it was in the high 80's today) and I made them a snacky lunch to enjoy poolside.  They had a blast getting cooled off, eating lunch outside and doing an obstacle course game I made up (which involved the wagons that you see below).  Later Grampa came out to keep an eye on them and he also developed a fun goalie type game that Koen enjoyed.  

Koen was standing like a pine tree in front of me, so I snapped a photo.

This is Tavin's impersonation.  Hilarious!

After all the fun and games we got the boys cleaned up and ready for naptime.  While I laid Tav and Penn down, Koen got to work on puzzles some more with Grampa.  Grampa was very impressed with Koen's sharp eye!

Right before I headed upstairs with Koen for naptime, Gramma came home with fresh lobster for our dinner this evening.  Koen was very  brave and was interested in seeing the critters.  When Grampa took the snapping lobster out of the cooler though, Koen needed a little support as he checked it out.  He said, "Hold it farther away, Grampa!"  Then of course, right after Grampa put it back he asked to see it again.  

Speaking of being brave, Koen was also very brave at dinner and wanted to try the lobster (despite the eyes staring right at him off of Grampa's plate!).  He not only tried it, he loved it.  We tried to teach him how to suck the juices and tender meat out of the legs and he got the hang of it a little bit, well, enough so that he wanted everyone's lobster legs so he could suck on them all.  I think next year we might have to get an extra lobster.  When we were all done he was still asking for "more meat."  He's a fan!  That's my little New Englander!  Here are two shots of the great lobster meal mom prepared.  Thanks for the treat!!

Well, Penn is settled for the moment (we are at prime fussy/sleepy time) and I still have a faint of lobster on my tongue which means it's time to break into the Breyer's chocolate ice cream my Daddy loves to keep on hand for his daughter whenever I'm here.  =)  Tomorrow is sailing day...Koen's first excursion on a sailboat!  Stay tuned!