dad's day

We were lucky to land in Utah the day before Father's Day, allowing us to celebrate with a few of the dads in our lives. 

We had a great dinner at Ryan's parent's house, prepared by his mom. 

Kate was caught blue-handed with the gifts before the dads had a chance to open them. 

Leah was VERY pleased with her gift to Ryan (a rock, er, paperweight, that says "dad, you rock"). 

I was pleased with my gift to Ryan (a Boston Bruin's shirt), as was he, but the wrapping paper didn't survive our flight very well. A for effort. 

Happy dad's day to one of the very best. Those are two lucky girls you are holding. 

flying

Flying across the country is made easier when you follow four simple rules:

1. Fly with a spare adult. Four hands handle two children much better than two hands. 

2. Have a fellow passenger fly with drums that he will let your children play with while they wait. Have people smile kindly at the squeals she emits from her mouth. 

3. Both children should fall asleep for at least one leg. And the spare adult should catch a few zzzzs as well. 

4. Your destination should be the land of grandmas and grandpas where your children will be spoiled rotten with non-stop attention for five weeks. 

Check, check, check and...check. 

rhode island

A few of the items on my Tucket list were going to each of the states in the general area surrounding New Hampshire. Vermont was easy - we went there almost daily. We made it to Maine twice (wish we had gone more!). Massachusetts was a regular destination for us for lots of different occasions and we took a few opportunities to go to both Connecticut and New York. That leaves only...

...Rhode Island. 

Though RI doesn't actually border New Hampshire, it was just a few hours away. We came close so many times but just never made it! So, when we were booking our flight from New Hampshire to Salt Lake City, we decided to spend a night in Rhode Island and fly out of Providence instead of Manchester or Boston. Why not, right?

It was a quick trip. We drove down, arriving in Providence relatively late Friday night. Our flight wasn't until the afternoon on Saturday, so we did a little bit of exploring Providence Saturday morning with about an hour detour to see the streets - and one mansion - in Newport. 

We loved it! I would absolutely go back to spend more time in Rhode Island. Plus, it was a perfect distraction for our family and the somber day we had just had. 

We made it! 

 Kate just learned to fold her arms - 

apparently she felt the need to be reverent in the tub. 

 Leah loved the soft furniture.

 The first Baptist church in America. Opened in 1775.

 Our peaceful traveling companions. 

They had had multiple late nights in a row. 

 More beautiful not from a car window, I'm sure. 

But beautiful nonetheless. 

 Ryan and Leah enjoying the lawn of the Breakers Mansion in Newport. 

 Kate not enjoying the lawn. 

 Day one of a five week homeless stint. 

Front view of the Breakers Mansion. Seriously Gatsby-esque.

Now on to Utah!...

Tucket List

When we moved to New Hampshire, knowing it was only going to be for two years, I had a list of things I wanted to experience while we were there. Normally something like this is called a Bucket List, but because we were at Tuck, I obviously had to call it the Tucket List. And yes, I'm proud of creating this term. Lots of people use it now. 

Below is my original list, of which I accomplished all but five. That's what reunions are for, right?

1. Visit the Simon Pearce factory store and see the glass blowers work - check.

Ate there in May.

Ate and saw the glass blowers in June. 

2. Go to Nathan’s Garden in Hanover. 

This is the one thing that would have been so easy to do and I never did it. It's a fabulous garden tucked away in the streets of Hanover. I kept trying to go there with people and it never worked out. I should have just gone myself!

3. Visit the Dartmouth Skiway - check. 

No pic, but one of our first Tuck activities. 

4. Watch hot air balloons fly at the Quechee (VT) Balloon Festival in June.

I didn't dare attend last summer trying to handle a newborn and Leah all by myself. And this year we moved ONE DAY too early. Really. The festival was Saturday night!

5. Visit the Quechee Gorge and walk down it - check.

 Did this a few times, but my favorite was with my  mom.

6. Hike Mount Gile (Norwich, VT) and climb the fire tower 

 

I heard this was a great view and I missed it during both autumns.

7. Run the Covered Bridges Half Marathon - check.

So, so hot.

8. Learn to play hockey - check.

 

Best idea ever.

9. Climb Baker Tower and look out over the Dartmouth Green - check.

 Just in time! 

10. See the Book of Mormon at the Rauner Library - check. 

Such a unique area to be in for my religious history.

11. See a Dartmouth football game - check.

 Thanks, Catherine. 

 

12. See a Dartmouth hockey game - check.

They're a little bit better than me.

13. See a Dartmouth basketball game - check. 

Against my alma mater no less!

 

14. Go snowshoeing - check.

This wasn't official, but I'm counting it because I ran 10 miles on the rail trail and every other person on the trail was either on snow shoes, a sled (with dogs) or a snowmobile. I earned every bit of it, just had the wrong shoes.

15. Go apple picking - check. 

One of the first things I did! Applesauce for two years.

16. Go berry picking - check.

So many times.

So, so good.

17. Go pumpkin picking - check.

2011

2012

 

18. Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail - check.

Part of the trail goes right through Hanover. I even did it in heels (immediately after this photo was taken at the Hanover Inn)!

19. Recreate on Dartmouth's Occom Pond - check.

Never skated on it or jumped in, but I ran around it on a weekly basis 

and had a party at the dockhouse.

20. Canoe on the Connecticut River- check. 

Thanks, Holbrooks!

21. Eat at the Norwich Inn - check. 

No pic, but I ate a delicious meal there for a fabulous friend's baby shower last fall.

22. Be a part of the Tuck Partner Board - check.

Helping Hands Chairperson 2011-2012.

23. Attend winter carnival events - check.

 

I attended all free events and ended up 

selling my poster winning ticket for cash.

 And since the carnival was mostly drinking and I don't drink, 

I think I made the right choice!

24. Visit Montreal 

If there had been one more week, I think we would have done it. 

That whole having-a-baby-and-Ryan-leaving-for-a-summer 

sure threw a kink in some travel plans.

25. Visit NYC - check.

 Lots of times! My two favs:

Birthday trip 2011

Girls trip 2013

 

26. Visit Boston - check.

So many times! Mostly for medical purposes, so my favs:

Blue Sky Girls 2011, 2012

Girls trip 2013

 

27. Visit Cape Cod - check.

 

Ran the Cape Cod half marathon twice. 

But 2012 was the best one. 

28. Visit Maine - check.

Once briefly in 2011. 

Awesome Tuck trip in 2013. 

 

29. Visit Rhode Island - check.

Checked this one off the day before we left.

30. Visit Connecticut - check. 

Thanks Katz and Turley families!

31. Visit Washington, DC - check.

 

Such a fun trip! 

Can't wait to go back in 2014. 

32. Visit Vermont - check.

Almost daily. And on many of my runs!

 

33. Visit the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial (esp lighting in December) - check.

 With almost every visitor. Learned something new every time. 

But I loved seeing it at Christmastime with the lights.

 

34. Attend the Dartmouth tree lighting - check.

2011

2012

 

35. Run a Reach the Beach relay race - check.

My initiation into relays. I still laugh when I think about Andrea. 

 

36. Take a factory tour of Ben and Jerry's ice cream plant in VT - check.

Happy birthday to Kate!

 

37. Sample the products at Cabot's store in Vermont - check.

Probably did this too much. Yum. 

 And we also did it at Sugarbush. 

 

38. Go sledding/tubing - check.

Love Sachem Village.

39. Learn to ski - check.

Thanks, Michelle!

 

40. See a local production (Northern Stage Theatre, the HOP, etc.) - check.

No pic, but did this in 2011 to see the fabulous Elissa Jones 

and the Dartmouth Handel Society perform Handel's Messiah. 

 

41. Audit at least one class at Tuck/Dartmouth.

Harder than first imagined. Especially with kids. 

42. Visit the local farmers' markets - check.

No pics, but we made it to Hanover and Lebanon a few different times.

They were good, but I still miss Los Altos.

43. Visit Lake Winnipesaukee - check.

 

I'm a sailor, I sail, ahoy! I guess I didn't sail, but I did run a race!

43. Attend at least one Tuck formal - check. 

Fall 2012

Spring 2013

44. Take a class at King Arthur Flour - check. 

 

Count 'em one, two, three, four. Lucky me!

45. Have a baby - check. 

No really, it was on my list. 

So, so happy to check this one off.