First Little Harvest

Ok, so I know this may not be a big deal to everyone, but for me its BIG. I have invested several hours of my life into babying my little organic veggies. Keeping them protected from the elements when its to cold and trying to shower them with sunshine when it comes out. This spring weather hasn't actually cooperated with me to much in regards to good hot days. My mom can even attest to my 2am wake up calls to go outside and check on my veggies because I have heard the wind and rain howling down on my garden. Gardening is a bit more challenging in the Northeast then I expected but it finally paid off.

Today I clipped my first lettuce leaves and tonight we will be feasting on a wonderful salad courtesy of my garden. I am really happy and look forward to a summer of goodies. Now I just hope the rest of the veggies follow in suit and produce.

Flume Gorge/Franconia State Park

While we were up in New Hampshire for the weekend we drove up to Franconia State Park. The state park is in the White Mountains National Forest. Within the state park itself are such attractions as the Flume Gorge, Old Man in the Mountain (which is no longer there), Cannon Mtn Tramway and many more. We decided to hike up the Flume Gorge and through the valley for the day. We were not disappointed. It was an absolutely stunning day and the scenery was beyond words. The hike was about 1 1/2 hours, the kids did great and we walked out feeling very lucky that once again nature had left us speechless. I really enjoyed taking these photos but I know they do not do this area any justice. Enjoy!!


These first pictures were taken as we were hiking toward the Flume Gorge.

Trav and the kids on the path up to the Gorge

View heading into the Gorge

Covered bridge over the Pemigawasset River

Travi and I on the Granite Rock Table


These photos were taken in the actual Gorge and in the Valley around it. The Flume Gorge was formed by glacial movement during the last ice age. It was so awesome!

Memorial Weekend Camping

So this past weekend being Memorial Weekend was a great chance to go camping. It was our first trip with the trailer we bought last fall and a great way to celebrate Travis' 7th Birthday. We left Saturday morning and headed to Lake Winniapasaki in New Hampshire. It turned out to be an awesome weekend with many, many memories made. New Hampshire itself is a stunning state. We drove 3/4 of the way through the state, which isn't say much as it is a little state in regards to square mileage, but none the less it was gorgeous. The White Mountains are beautiful and the lush green forests and rivers exceeded our expectations. We arrived at the Twin Tamarack Campground, set up the trailer and spent the rest of Saturday enjoying just the fact that we were no longer in Massachusettes and that we were in fact in the woods.

Sunday we woke up to a great breakfast and then headed into Meredith, NH to do some fishing on the lake. We of course were completely unprepared for lake fishing. We opened our tackle box to find only lures that would catch a 20lb Silver Salmon or a Halibut but nothing for Bass or Trout. The only lure that we even remotely had a chance with was one my Papa gave Trav about 7 years ago on a trip we took out to Texas when they went fishing. So, not letting on to the kids that they didn't have a shot in the dark at catching anything, Travi used Papa's lure and Taylor picked out a pink Salmon lure. They had a blast and Taylor was happy she pulled in the only catch of the day which was lake weeds.





Here are a few more photos taken over the weekend. We had such a blast!

Taylor taking her turn at the Slingshot!

Travi's first successful fire that he started by himself. He used a flint stick, laundry lint and a log. He was extremely excited about this and worked at it for at least an hour.

Trav using the potty facilities provided by nature.

The kids jumping on a huge granite boulder that was in our campsite.

Lets Go Fly a Kite!

Since this was the first time in 12 days that we saw the sun we decided to take a drive and stop at the beach. We hit up a local store for two kites, one for each kid. We made our way out to Sandy Neck Beach and realized it was actually a great kite flying day because it was extremely windy on the Bay. All of us including Mom headed out of the car, over the dune and were ready for some kite flying. Sissy made it about 5 steps out onto the sand and turned to me and said, "Ummm, mom its way to windy and my hair is getting messy". I tried to convice her to come out on the beach but instead she convinced her Gammie to take her to the car.

Of course, my boys hit the beach running and had their kite up in no time. Travi flew his kite very well while still managing to get completely sandy and gross. He also somehow came back to the car with his kite string looking like some kind of birds nest.

We will have to try Taylors kite when the elements are a little more to her liking. She didn't last outside long enough for me to get a picture of her out of the car. I guess a true Diva really know her limits!!

1st Game of the Season

Saturday was Travi's first T-Ball game of the season. He was very excited and the weather was relatively good. He did great! We of course were those almost embarrassing parents who cheered for everything he did. What can I say, Trav was completely giddy seeing his son on a ball field learning the game and I am just one of those moms who thinks her kids are the best at everything. There is just something to be said for seeing your kids try something new and enjoy it.

Tree Swing...

You know there are just some things in a little girls life that they could do every day all day long. For Taylor, one of those things is swing. Since she was very little she has loved to swing and usually cries when we leave a park because I almost always have to pry her unwilling body out of the swing. Well her daddy has fixed her up with her very own Tree Swing.

Need I say more...




I can't say that there is anything more beautiful then seeing my little girl completely content in the sunshine! Yeah, I do love her.

Opening Day!!

Well Sunday was Opening Day here in Sandwich for the TBall/Little League Season. Travi is starting his first year of TBall and I actually think his dad is more excited then he is. TBall was not available at all in Kodiak so Travi has almost no idea what he is in for. We have bought him a T to practice on but I think this is the first time he actually has ever stepped foot on a ball field. As usual we did not know what to expect heading out there, but got the impression this was a pretty big deal here on the Cape. The teams participated in a parade and then went out onto the field for the presenting of the colors by the local VFW and then enjoyed hotdogs and chips.

He is on the A's this year and we have been anxious for an outdoor Spring activity. Today is his first game, but I am not sure if he will actually play as Mother Nature has decided to unleash day after day after day of rainfall. Today is looking like 100% rainfall so I am waiting for the coach to call and tell us the game has been cancelled. We are keeping our fingers crossed though. As most of you know, Travi prefers to be outside in the rain and is truly confused when I try to explain that not everyone enjoys being outside getting soaking wet.





Take note in this photo of the fact that he has lost his other front tooth. He no longer looks like Sloth from the Goonies, but enjoys finding things that fit into the hole in his mouth. It grosses me out, but I try to remind myself that he is a boy and that they are rather disgusting at this age.


Otherwise, Spring is in full swing out here on the Cape. The trees are finally getting their leaves and the flowers are blooming. The temps are in the 50's and 60's which has been wonderful. The days have been pretty gray and gloomy but after 5 years in coastal Oregon and 3 years in Kodiak we really actually prefer this weather. We are gearing up for our first camping trip of the year. We are heading up to New Hampshire's Lake Winniepasaki for Memorial Weekend which just happens to be Travi's 7th birthday. One good thing about having a son who loves camping is that I was able to convince him it would be more fun to go camping where we could fish and go canoeing then have an actual party. His only stipulation with not having a party was that while we were camping he got to throw stuff onto the camp fire. Once again, its the small things in life that make that kid happy. So I am sure we will have a campfire that could be mistaken for a signal fire but my son will be happy and I didn't have to have 20 screaming first graders running in and out of my house for 3 hours.