Campfires.

Family.

(a few more people in this category would have made the night complete!)

S’mores.

Scrabble.

Glow sticks.

Country living.

The circus is in town! Well, Circus Smirkus was in a nearby town anyway and we decided to go! Like our last trip to the circus, five years ago, we spent another rainy day under the big top today.

The trip began with my friend and I working our magic (equal parts muscle, finesse, and just plain luck) to squeeze three carseats into the back seat of her car.

Packed in like sardines. They all promised they would be ok with the close proximity.

Forty minutes in the car and only one of them was still growing strong. I was actually a bit worried about Eve falling sleep at 11:30am.

We had a picnic lunch in the ski lodge and watched the rainy goings-on through the window.

Picnic lunch. Eve complained of a stomachache for awhile when we got there, but a little lunch helped and she survived the day.

Inside the big top. There were clear signs saying no photography during the show, but I snapped a few quick pics before the show! Obviously I need to work on my “dark” photography settings.

A one ring show.

Ghostly kids

The big top. A blurry, but pretty picture :)

We had a great time. There was lots of gymnastics, dance, juggling, tight rope walking, and clowning around. The kids ate popcorn and cotton candy and laughed heartily at the clowns. We left just before the grand finale because the kids were getting bouncy and Lex had to use the bathroom. He didn’t like the opening because it was too loud, but otherwise they loved it!

All in all, despite the rain, we had a great day and I’m pleased (or maybe embarrassed) to say that the only one who got grumpy at all was me! Briefly. Trying to organize and coordinate a crowd in cold driving rain just wears on me. I really need to get us some decent rain gear!

With family in town we decided to take a hike down Quechee Gorge. It was a beautiful day, not too hot, not too cold. We started with a quick trip to King Arthur Flour so I could shop and the kids could watch the construction. They have some pretty awesome construction going on there.

Watching the construction at KAF

He was a happy boy :)

Then we went to Quechee. Down, up, good times. Then lunch at a sweet little diner and home for a much needed quiet time.

Another pose request.

Eve brought Pink Baby along for the hike.

Grandpa Tom and Lex.

The gorge is so beautiful.

Grandpa Tom and Eve

Lex's pose request turned into a group shot :)

The beautiful bridge

I love the ocean. Have I mentioned that? The waves, the salt water, the excitement and calmness all rolled up together. We went to York Beach again this week with our neighbors. Despite the traffic and construction that delayed our arrival, we persisted and claimed our square on the beach. The three kids were awesome and played so well together. Parrish rocked his boogey board, while Lex practiced body surfing and wild cavorting in the waves. Eve gave it her best then decided she preferred the beach to the water. The air was chilly (low 70’s and cloudy, though much warmer than the first time we went to York Beach), the waves were high, and she was tired. She had the most fun when I put her on my back and brought her out so she could feel the waves crash against her feet but not worry about getting knocked over.

It was tough to find parking, so we found our spot and then stood in an empty spot (avoiding eye contact with cars passing by) while Robina brough her car over. It was lunch time so I doled out sandwiches to the kids while we waited.

Here is one patient little boy.

We spent a lot of time with this spread. Eve on the shore, Lex in the middle, and Parrish hitting the big waves!

Boogey boy!

This guy was pretty ambitious with his beach creation. The kid gave me the evil eye as we approached.

Some beach time for the beach babes.

She's so zen.

Funny thing, they look the same as they did last year.

When we were all tired and cold (well, all except Parrish, I think he would have boogeyed (that can’t be a word!?) all night if we’d let him!) we walked in to the little touristy town of York and went to an awesome candy store. We dragged those poor patient kids through the candy store over and over (bathrooms, buy taffy, restaurant, etc) and they were troopers. We watched the taffy making process from the street. That was cool. Then we went in an bought some saltwater taffy. The kids loved it, of course! :) Then we decided to stick around and have dinner at the little restaurant there. Grilled cheese, mac and cheese, hot tea… yum! Comfort foods all around.

Watching the taffy pulling machine.

Watching the cutter/wrapper machine pop out wrapped taffies by the second.

Then back in the car for the long drive home. The return trip had no construction and traffic so it went much smoother (for us, our poor neighbors had car trouble) and we made it home around 9:00pm. Both kids still awake, which was nice because I really wanted to bathe them before bed. Especially blue-face Eve who decided to EAT a colored pencil. I think she’s cutting teeth or something. I fed them a huge container of carrots (to keep the pencils out of her mouth), but eventually the carrots ran out and it got dark and the sneaky (tired, oblivious girl) went back to her pencils. No more unmonitored coloring for that girl!

Look at that mug!

The poor defenseless pencil.

We live in an awesome area!  There is always so much to do.  Outings, events, shows, museums, hikes, etc.  So much to do that it’s impossible to be bored.  It’s also impossible to do it all, especially with kids who need down time (ok, moms too!)  Today was the usual Saturday farmer’s market, touch-a-truck, the Co-op producers fair, plus our town’s 250 celebration, plus all the normal stuff today… and that’s just what I know of.  I made a point NOT to look at the events listings or transaction ads in today’s paper because I didn’t want to find more things to do.

We started the day with a trip to the farmer’s market.  Lex has been talking about farmer’s markets all week and really wanted to go.  This year there is a TON of baked good, in addition to the usual produce.  Last year it was all produce plus one bakery… this year it’s about half and half.  They also have entertainment each week and today was (unbeknownst to us) a singer who we saw perform last year. Eve loved him and he sang a song about her last year (I thought I blogged about that, but I can’t find it now) so she was thrilled that he was back again. The kids got muffins, I got grape tomatoes and we had our morning snack there.  I also got some beautiful multi-color carrots and sweet corn.  I think we’ll have both for dinner tonight. Yum!

After that we went to the annual touch-a-truck event (2010, 2009).  Always a crowd pleaser. When we go we see so many friends from the past. People we’ve lost touch with, grown apart from, went to school with, etc. And neighbors and close friends too. It’s amazing how excited kids get about trucks. They climb on them, get dirty, honk the horns (incessantly!) and have a blast. I think the parents like it because it’s free :)

We were thinking about having lunch out, but it was nearly 12:30 when we left and Eve was a DISASTER! Fighting and fussing and crying. We got home, had some lunch, then I insisted on a nap today. I’ll probably be regretting it at 10pm tonight, but at least our afternoon will be nicer. I’m a little bummed we didn’t make it to the 250 event because I love the idea of support our town’s efforts, but with all the things to do in the area you have to make decisions! And with two young kids you can only do so much. This afternoon I suspect will be spent ton the floor, playing with trains.

I really want to write a long, beautiful blog post about our adventures this week but I’m so darn tired.  It’s 9:40 and I have two load of laundry at my feet waiting to be folded, and a full day tomorrow with no time for anything.  I should turn off this computer and get cracking (or sleeping) but I’m going to take a few more minutes and put up some pictures from the week. It has been a busy, but fun one.