Camping in the White Mountains

We recently took a couple of nights to go camping in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  We had a wonderful time relaxing as a family, and enjoyed the amazing weather!  Since we increased our elevation, it was absolutely lovely, and cooler than at our house during that time.

We went on an easy trail hike up to these gorgeous waterfalls.  There were three that ran into each other.  

Daddy and the children resting at the top of the falls.

Another location we went to  that had many, many pools and rapids that you could "ride" down, or slide down the rocks.  It was packed!

Will found a huge rock to climb, as usual.  ;)

Here was our little spot in the "rapids" we found.  It was so lovely!

Daddy and Will went out to ride the easy rapids.  

Reading break in the tent.  Will reading his book to Daddy.

One of our essential pieces of camping equipment...the coffee percolator.  :)  

More favorites...mountain pie makers and melted hershey bar in a warmed banana!  Yum.

Our campground also had this lovely little river spot to play in.

The splash in the water behind Hannah is Will going in the water from the rope swing.  :)

Track and Field

This year the boys took part in track and field with our local parks and recreation.  They loved it!

Long jump

Javelin throw

Hurdles

They also did shot put and a short race.  We'll definitely be participating in track and field in the future, when we find it available!

Oh, and here is much of what Hannah was doing during the track and field time.  :D

Beach Day!

We've been trying to take advantage of our location near the gorgeous Maine beaches during our last summer here.  Here's a few pics from a lovely beach day the other week.

Terrible lighting, but hey, it's a family pic!  :)

Isn't a sandy feet pic obligatory?  ;) 

She's shouting "Cheeeeeeese!". 

The "men" hard at work.

Will loves to climb to the top of any rocks he can find.

Daddy found a dead crab.

Isles of Shoals

We decided to take a family trek out to the Isles of Shoals, which are a group of islands off the coast of New Hampshire.  We were able to take the ferry and get off at Star Island and have a fun visit there.  The islands are breathtaking.   I had no idea before we moved to Maine that there are so many islands off the shores of the New England states!

On the ferry!

Fun to see the "back" of the shipyard where Carl works.  

Old naval prison on the shipyard.

Watching the bridge go up for us to pass under.

Finally on the island!

They use many solar panels there, to help make their own electricity.

I think this park at the resort area was the children's favorite part.  ;)

When the first people settled there they built the church out of a wood from a wrecked ship!

This bird poop covered monument tells of how the islands were initially a gift to John Smith from the king of England.

A Day in Boston

We will soon be leaving the New England states, so we decided to visit Boston one last time.  We had a fun day visiting Daddy's alma mater, MIT, grabbing a yummy lunch at Quincy Market, and getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the USS Constitution while it is in the dry dock.  

Daddy and the children sitting on the steps of his old office building at MIT.

Sculptures on the campus the children had fun climbing.  :)

After lunch, Carl and Will had fun playing a quick game of chess in the park/marketplace area next to Quincy Market.

At the USS Constitution.

Independence Day

This past Independence Day we trekked down to the gorgeous beach overlook down the street from our house.  We went there last year as well, and for a smaller town, they have been some of the best fireworks we have ever seen.  This year the children really enjoyed it.  They always have fun, but this year none were scared at all, just mesmerized.  :)

Waiting for the show!

How fun to be in one of those boats off the shore!

Not great pics necessarily, but I love the looks of awe and wonder on their faces.