Boston

Kathy & Leon recently came to New England for a visit, and it was so fun to see family!  As much fun as it is here in Maine, sometimes it really hits us how far away we are from everyone.  We tried to  give them a real taste of the area, and hit up all of our favorite sights.

We met them in Boston, and walked the Freedom trail.  It was our first time in the city too, and it was a day I will never forget. 

We started at the Boston Common, which is basically a big park.

We visited a lot of cemeteries and were able to see several graves of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  Here we are in front of Paul Revere's grave.

Benjamin Franklin Monument.  There were lots of tourists from Asia that stopped to take pictures of our cute kids here.  :)

Kathy & Mia on the Democratic Donkey.  There are footsteps in the pavement in front of the donkey so you can "stand in opposition."

Paul Revere's monument

Kathy, Ry & the kids on the bridge

The USS Constitution.  It took quite a bit of trouble to get onto this boat.  Apparently stun guns are illegal in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and pepper spray is not allowed on naval bases.  :)  One warning from the US Department of the Interior later, and I was finally allowed on the boat.  At least I had a chance to meet all the head honchos.  By myself.  In a small room while they ran my id.  Ha!  I will be leaving my purse in the car next time.  

This guy was in awe of this ship.  It was commissioned in 1790?  I think.... and has cannons and everything.

On Bunker Hill

In front of Mike's Pastry shop with huge chocolate mousse cannolis and gelato.  It was a good way to recover from the USS Constitution fiasco.

A street performer that Logan gave a dollar to.  He would chase Logan every time he looked away, and freeze whenever he turned around.  It was pretty entertaining.

Halloween 2014

Halloween this year was a blast!  It is so much fun to have kids old enough to understand what is going on!  Logan and Mia were both so excited, and since I started working on their costumes last month, they had been anticipating this day for quite some time.  Kathy and Leon were able to join us as well, which made it extra fun.  

The How to Train Your Dragon clan.  Ry was Hiccup (I made him grow out his hair... which he hated), I was Astrid, Logan was Toothless, and Mia was "Pink Toothless"  Everything that little girl does has to be just like her brother... but pink. :)

Some of our Residency buddies stopped by to trick or treat in our neighborhood. So fun!

Logan being eaten alive by the giant spider he helped me create.

And yes, Mia carried her baby around the whole night.

Grandma and Grandpa joined in on the fun by getting "Dragon Hats"

Little Cuties

At the Residency Halloween party

Their loot!  They made out like bandits!

Logan is 5!

This little man is 5!  A whole hand old!  In another hand he will be 10!... and another hand 15!.. and another hand 20!  Deep breaths... deep breaths. :)

Happy Birthday breakfast waffles, with extra whipped cream. 

This lucky kid's best friend had his birthday party on Logan's birthday... so Logie was able to celebrate with his buddy too!

Mia had fun too.  She liked yelling, "Super Mia!"

I think that face means he got the right present....

Now, this cake isn't great... panicked midnight cake frosting session when I realized I hadn't done it yet... but, at least the octonauts were on it.

And then this little cutie wanted to check it out.  When I took the picture she was just pointing to the cake and saying all the names of the creatures.

When I turned back... I saw this.  Naughtiest thing.

He didn't mind, thankfully :)

A couple days later we had a big party with all his friends.  We did a treasure hunt, a shark attack, and  ate lots of good food.  He had a blast, and can't wait until his next birthday. :)

Some Loganisms:

"Mom, I just coughed and sneezed at the same time.  That's called a coughsneeze.  And it tastes really  good."

(During prayer) "Please bless that there will only be tornado warnings if we have a tornado" 

Besides his dad, Logan is the biggest charmer I know.  He is always saying sweet little things, and has quite a few little groupies. :)  The other day his teacher was showing him how to make leaf prints, and when she finished he asked if he could keep her example picture so he, "could remember her forever and keep her in his heart."  He is my best little man, and I can always count on him to take care of me when Ry is at work.  He usually complains about cleaning up/eating his dinner/ saying the family prayer/etc, but when Ry is at work he knows he has to step it up, and is the biggest helper ever by volunteering for all of those things.   He is also a great big brother, and begrudgingly shares his toys with Mia, and includes her in (most of) his games.  When I drop him off at preschool he always gives me a million kisses to take with me, so I don't forget him. :)  His favorite food in the world is Broccoli and Cheese soup and a bowl of plain baby spinach leaves.  He also loves Doritos and popcorn.  Logan has the best memory of anyone I know (it is scary good... we go to the park and he knows the name of every dog, because he has asked the owners and remembers!)  He is always telling me about things we did when he was 2 and knows a million and one facts about animals, thanks to Wild Kratts and Octonauts.  He loves to watch you tube videos on how things are made.  Logan has recently learned how to tie knots, and I now spend my days unwrapping door knobs, jumping over boobie traps made out of string, and cutting knots off of every knob in my house.  He loves adventures and isn't afraid of anything, really.  If he has a question, he will ask it... to anyone.  About anything.  I am always terrified. :)   Logan loves to wrestle with his dad, he loves to read stories with me, and is absolutely my very favorite 5 year old boy. :)

October

A little catch up:

These kiddos are little book worms.  They could sit on my lap all day, snuggled up with some good books.  I gladly accommodate them. :)  Logan is really into the Magic Tree House series... and Mia loves everything... especially reading spanish books to her "beautiful pet dolphin"

We experienced our first "Nor' Easter" a couple weeks back.  It was super windy and rained and rained.  Ry really wanted to see the huge waves the storm caused, but didn't get home until after it was dark..... here is a picture of the kids in the middle of a Nor' Easter, in the dark at the beach. :)

We had all the Young Men and Young Women in our church over for a pumpkin carving/apple pie making activity.  It was lots of fun!

Mia was super into carving her pumpkin, and stayed and helped until it was completely finished.

She loved the ooey gooneys

She really loved stabbing it...

And thought it smelled good. 

Logan scooped up one hand of pumpkin goop, declared it disgusting, and spent the rest of the evening charming the young women.  I expected nothing less.  

Olaf and Captain Barnacles.  Mia loved her pumpkin so much, she wanted to sleep with it.  And eat with it.  She called it, "My Olaf."