Dalyn and Devon Visit: Week 2

 I introduced the girls to the joy that is Smitty's Cinema, where you can sit back and be pampered by waiters while porking out on cheeseburgers, all in a movie theater. We watched the new Cinderella movie and I loved it. I think I smiled through the entire thing.

The next night we got a sitter and did restaurant hop through a few rad downtown Portland restaurants. Devon was at home with a migraine, we missed her! Our first stop was appetizers at Hot Suppa', a Cajun joint. We got poutine and these amazing bacon and sriracha deviled eggs. Then soups at Kamasouptra. I love going here just for the ambiance. It's in the old Public Market building overlooking memorial square. The soup's good too.

 Next, Otto's Pizza. A Portland staple. By this time we were getting pretty stuffed!

 But we had to finish it off with desserts at A Bar of Chocolate, a cute French dessert/cocktail bar. We skipped the alcohol and went for the cakes and creme brulee.

 They had to roll us out of there! Monopoly that night to burn calories. (ha!)

The next day Dalyn, Devon and I headed to Boston early in the morning to go to the Boston Temple. It was beautiful! It was so cool to do temple work with my little sisters! That was a first.

 Then we took the T downtown and walked the Freedom Trail. It was so interesting to go into a few of the museums I've passed over in the past (not kid friendly) and see a few more revolutionary artifacts. I love our beautiful country and it's history!

 

 We had to stop in little Italy for cannolli's, Napoleons and other pastries.

 Maine Maple Sunday was the next day, but it was so freezing. Even though the temperature was in the twenties the wind chill made it so unbearable. We didn't end up staying very long at Hilltop Boilers because of it, but we tried our token maple syrup samples and took the annual tractor picture.

 After school the following day we explored Kettle Cove tide pools. I will miss having the beaches so close! They provide entertainment for the kids and stress relief for me.

 Our last day together we took a ferry ride to Peaks Island. The funny part is I didn't plan it very well and we didn't have time to even get off the boat and explore the island, so we just took a roundtrip ride. Of course, the weather was not ideal so we weren't too broken up about it.

 I love that they came and I'm sad they are gone. It's so fun to share Maine with the ones I love.

Saying goodbye to Dalyn was extra hard, because she's leaving for Mexico in a few short weeks. But she'll be so awesome as a missionary and someday will show me around the place she loves. :) 

Houston next, Devon?

Dalyn and Devon Come to Visit: Week 1

 Yay! Visitors! Our favorite!

My sisters Dalyn and Devon came for two weeks, and we had a blast. I hadn't seen Devon since we left for Maine in August 2012. And it was awesome to see Dalyn before she leaves for her mission in Mexico. Love having sisters! 

We had so much fun! I love doing historic and girly sight seeing with people who love it too! (Riley's not so keen on old cemeteries or churches) 

The first thing we did the day they arrived was have a big, British style feast and watch a marathon of Downton Abbey. I hadn't seen any of the recent season's and Dalyn and Dev are fans. That Mary!? She's. the.worst. We ventured into the British cuisine unknown, trying out Stilton pear tarts, Yorkshire and Christmas puddings, and beef wellington for the first time. It was mainly to get us in the mood for our big day trip to Newport, Rhode Island to tour the Newport Mansions. I died, it was so beautiful. 

We toured the Breakers and Marble House and floated on Cloud 9 all the way to Salem, Mass. Itw as pouring rain, but we still got out of my van and trudged around the streets looking at The House of the Seven Gables, 

The Salem Witch Museum and witch trials burying ground. 

The gloomy weather sort of added to the spooky atmosphere of the place. 

It was fun to see filming location for "Hocus Pocus". Recognize this Town Hall building? 

This was Devon's first time to Maine, or New England for that matter, so we did the usual Portland, Maine things. Even though we have done them a dozen times, it's still so fun to me to show off this beautiful place where we live. The Headlight...

Frigid walks to neighboring beaches...

L.L. Bean and the aquarium bubble

 The Prouts Neck Cliff walk...

Scratch Bakery and Willard Beach...

(p.s. this mini carrot cake was, like, the best mini carrot cake I've ever eaten. Also, Hinder pulls off the "disgusted with me" look so well) 

More frigid times at Two Lights State Park

Fun fact about this photo- After this was taken, about 15 seconds later the tide came in and this rock was entirely covered. Barely made the cut! 

No visit with family would be complete without late night games, and silliness, and sister selfies. 

 Since it wasn't beautiful spring weather, and our outdoor activities were limited, we decided to spice it up one night and pull out the oil paint and canvases. Bob Ross led us in a mountain lake painting...at 10 p.m. If you ever want a case of the giggles, watch Mr. Ross at night.

 "Happy trees" 

"Happy Little Cabin" 

 They are such good aunties to my kids! Dalyn surprised Hinder with a travel checkerboard, and that came in handy big time at Stake Conference, and on our day trip car rides. 

 And Devon gave in and rode the carousel with them when I refused. What a good sport!  

 Another big highlight of this week was going to the Moscow City Ballet. They came to Portland to perform Swan Lake and it was perfect! It was such a blast, I'm so glad we went! I was in awe the entire time. It was only the 2nd professional ballet I've seen! 

 And I have to include this last picture of Ledger, waiting in the lobby while I had the oil changed in my van. That's some serious reading. 

February Photo Dump

We've survived another New England winter (dare I say...it's only March 11th). Looking back through my phone pictures, it's evident how noneventful the past few months have been. Week after week we were pounded with snow storms and blizzard which equals days on end stuck inside. We each find our ways to keep busy. 

Ledger's days pretty much look like this...

He's growing and talking more and more. He loves to say "no" to anything I ask, even if he agrees. He loves his ba-ba and is such a good sleeper. 

He's a tough little bruiser, will push and pull and scream to be heard, but loves to cuddle mama and gets fiercely jealous is anyone else (read:Vyla) tries to get a cuddle too. He adores Hinder and will follow him around doing anything he suggests; laughing at anything he does. 

Ledgie carries around a 'ga-ga', any stuffed animal, all day. He wakes up with "mom! mom! mom! mom!" and immediately wants a peck of a kiss and "up!up!up!" (which actually means down) He's always on a mission, loves to two footed jump down the hall or down the stairs or off any ledge he encounters. He dances like a champ, but is shy in front of the camera. 

Miss Vyla is my best buddie around the house all day. She's so easy going and I appreciate it. She loves to color, draw, and pretend. She's got a wicked good imagination and can entertain herself easily for hours. She loves having her preschool friends over once a week to play and learn. The gym childcare playplace is her other favorite, and she asks every day if we're going there. 

 She tells me she loves me 62 times per day, and it's usually right before she wants to either a.) apologize for a mess she made that she wasn't supposed to b.) wants to ask for something she isn't supposed to. She's just the right amount of sassy and sweet, but when she does make a mistake I've never known a child to be more genuinely sorry. 

 She loves to do or build things and have me take pictures of her. Vyla says the funniest things right now. She's always encouraging everyone and telling us all how "awesome" our ideas are. She loves "piggy bank rides" (piggy back rides) and watching Wild Kratts and pretending to be "Kwis" (I always have to be Martin) and can spot "Happy Meals" (McDonalds) from a mile away.

 She's incredibly patient with her older brother, and lives to please him. Helping in the kitchen is her favorite. She falls and bonks into things ALL day everyday; she's SO extremely clumsy right now! But she's tough as nails and rarely cries about a bonk. I can't wait to be able to enroll her in gymnastics or dance to help her a little with coordination.  

 She's refused regular naps since she was about 18 months, but falls asleep nearly everyday right before it's time to pick Hinder up from school. This girl inherited her father's genes when it comes to waking up....one word, BEAST. If she falls asleep in the car, you better believe there is much moaning, groaning coming out of her when I have to wake her up. That's our Vyla! 

 Hinder is a busy guy with kindergarten all day everyday. We miss him, but it's for the best. He stays so busy and socializes every day. He loves library, and was ecstatic to have found Harry Potter 2 at the library a few weeks ago. He checked it out and I've been reading to him at nights. His imagination is insatiable. He remembers everything about animals and dinosaurs, and never, ever tires of talking about them. He loves to play any game on his dad's phone, especially one called Dino Hunt. During his February break, I bribed him with a trip to the Delorme Globe if he would memorize and recognize the 7 continents. He succeeded, but not without giving me plenty of grief. The other day he drew a picture of the experience in his school journal and drew accurate shapes (at a kindergarten level) for each continent. That made me feel better about the whole experience. 

 He's a terrific leader, and loves to take charge with his siblings and friends. The snow has been awesome for him this year, with several 10 foot high piles in our yard. They've had so much fun out there. I can watch them out of the big front window...on my couch...by my heater. 

He's doing karate once a week right now, and loves his new teacher. I love him too because he runs the boys the whole time. Hinder thinks he's a ninja. :) 

H has been working with us to memorize the Articles of Faith and help our family meet our goals of reading the Book of Mormon together. I'm always amazed at Hinder's memory. I can mention something one time, and he'll always remember and keep me accountable (as long as he's interested). As an incentive to reading, we have little celebrations each time we finish a book of the Book of Mormon. Hinder especially liked our 2 Nephi celebration of an indoor campout, complete with over-the-burner smores. 

 Riley's so busy, it's unreal. He's finishing his LAST (dare I say it?!?!) didactic semester at UNE and it's showing. Honestly...no one but himself, his study partners, myself, and God will ever know just how much time this man spends studying and truly sacrifices for his family. And he's not really the type to talk about it or seek the attention, but for the record, I APPRECIATE IT! :) He works hard. He plays hard too. All this snow hasn't been lost on him. You can bet his skis have seen powder this year, even if it's mostly been off our balcony onto homemade kickers. 

Ri always sets aside a night a week for the fam, and I think that's pretty outstanding. Last weekend, he met us at the local children's museum and helped me chase the kids around the place. Time with dad is their absolute favorite. 

He took me out for Valentine's Day to Sebago Brewing Co. and got me tickets to the Russian ballet coming to Portland next week. Swan Lake! What a babe! Love him forever! 

 As for me, a quick scan of my phone photos sums up what I've been doing for the last few weeks. 

 I guess when there are blizzards every other day and snow up to my waist, the only thing to do is cook, right? Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year were ample excuses to have some fun in the kitchen this past month. 

The rest of the time, I'm shuttling these cuties around...

 and trying to keep the few brain cells I have left operating with a little literature, black and white movies late at night, Trivia Crack competitions with my honey, and an online writing class I'm taking for recertification credits. It's not glamorous, but it's a good life and I love it.