Summer Vacation 2012 - NH, Part V

Sunday
As I mentioned, Doug and I did have plans to celebrate our anniversary (11 years).  The plan was to leave in the early afternoon and head down to the seacoast to enjoy a quick stay at Wentworth by the Sea (thank you Marriott Rewards points).  And, of course, we were taking sweet Penn with us (too soon to leave the little guy).  First though, we had a lovely morning at my parent's church.  At their church the children stay up for the first service (I actually really like this as then the kids learn how to sit there respectfully as well as the fact they are hearing Scripture and the hymns and being exposed to adult forms of worship).  Koen and Tavin did an amazing job sitting quietly.  They colored and had a snack, but they just were unbelievably good.  It was such a blessing to Doug and I that we could enjoy the service and not worry about them being a disruption.  Penn also did very well and barely made a squeak.  We aren't counting on this happening again, but we enjoyed it for the moment!  Gramma and Grampa were beaming of course with their 3 grandsons sitting in their pew.  Very special to share my boys with the caring community at their church.  Douglas actually brought the sermon in the second service which was so neat to see him preaching to this congregation that I grew up in.  It's amazing how life turns out.  I would've never guessed that scenario as a young adult, but it was so special to see how the Lord has shaped our lives.  After church we headed home for lunch, do Penn's feeding and then Doug was rushing me out the door.  Douglas is quite the romantic and he does not like to give up any date time with his wife even though I was dragging my feet trying to think of every last thing to tell mom, making sure Penn had burped enough before getting in his car seat, etc.  We were on the road around 2pm and arrived at Wentworth by the Sea about an hour later.  It's very special that we are staying here as this used to be an amazing inn back in its prime a hundred years ago, but when I was a little girl visiting the park next door to it, it was in shambles.  There was a time when they thought of knocking it down and selling the land.  It was one of those places (as a little girl), that you could daydream about the women in the long, stately dresses, the parties, the decadence.  It seemed a shame that it could be bulldozed.  Thankfully, Marriott came to its rescue and restored it beautifully and it is now, once again, a bustling resort.  And thankfully too there was a discount for this very weekend for Marriott Rewards members using their points and we were able to get a ridiculously amazing villa!  Check out a few pictures...

Not too shabby!  What a fun place.  We totally feel like imposters, surrounded by the ritzy vacationers from NYC and Boston!  Penn fits in great though and is definitely turning heads.  He seemed happy to be away with just Mommy and Daddy.  Here are way too many pictures I snapped of him soon after our arrival.

After some time at the pool and another feeding for Penn, we headed out to Portsmouth for dinner.  It was a gamble trying to eat dinner during fussy time, but we had decided to give this a shot over dealing with fussy time back at the hotel.  Turns out that Penn just loves late dates with Mommy and Daddy.  He was amazing!  He sat very alert in our arms while we ordered, waited and then ate.  It was so pleasant (and adorable).  Good job, Penn!  Thanks for letting us enjoy a dinner outside overlooking the harbor.  Here are a few pictures...

Well, that was Sunday.  Today Doug and I are looking forward to more time in Portsmouth after a relaxing morning here at the hotel and then we hope to take a walk on the beach in Rye (Penn Rye's namesake) and catch an early dinner before heading back to my parents' house in time to lay the big boys' down for bedtime.