Ahoy matey!

Roughneck Roscoe & Muscles Merritt

Nightmare Noah & Mighty Mack

We took the kids on a pirate adventure yesterday.  Donning tattoos and swords they boarded a pirate ship, took down enemy pirates, and found the treasure chest at the bottom of the sea.

Outer Banks 2012

We were so excited about our trip to the beach that we decided to leave a day early.

We managed a relatively stress-free packing and loading of the car, which is out of the ordinary for us--we usually procrastinate or travel on a workday evening, which leaves us hurried and in a last minute frenzy. We had all of Saturday to prep, and left just after dinner. 

The short story is that we failed in our intention to have the kids fall asleep on the way and for us to have a quiet, uneventful ride to our midway destination. Instead, the boys were awake and fussy, we had to make several stops for screaming, and when we eventually made it to our home away from home the kids were so in awe of the hotel (not because it was special but because it was new to them) that they stayed wide awake until they crashed at 10:30pm. It must have been a good night for a party, too, because several rooms near ours were hopping, and the four of us were able to sleep only intermittently as a result of the noise.

But today was a new day and we woke up early, looking forward to getting back on the road. We stopped for a quick breakfast and had our toes in the sand by 9:00am.  

Check-in wasn't until 4:00pm and so we found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands. We took a long drive for nap and then enjoyed a much anticipated lunch at Pigman's barbecue. We decided to try a nature walk in Nags Head Woods, which turned out to be really cool. We found toads, turtles, butterflies, ornate spiders and other insects, deer, and even a snake. It was exciting for the kids and we enjoyed the shaded trails around the marshy swamps as reprieve from the heat. 

Afterward we stopped for custard and then met up with our family and cousins at the house.

Merritt (1 yr.), Roscoe (3 yr.), Noah (2 yr.), Mack (5 yr.)

It was a long but good day--a nice start to a full week ahead--and we're happy to be near the ocean and in good company.

It's Friday already

We've been in the Outer Banks all week.

Roscoe's been holding tight to his position that "Roscoe doesn't like the beach."

The wind today was intense!

While Merritt's been doing a lot of snoozing in the sling (nothing new here!):

The cousins continue to grow on each other, and the adults have survived 4 kiddos under 4 for the past five days. I completed my first ever legitimate sewing project (more to come on this!), and caught up on a few inspiring reads that I've been hoarding for this very trip. Andy took Roscoe to the theater for his first movie, and the pool has been their home away from home all week.

Hopefully, I can share some pictures and stories soon.

Down by the River

After Friday's marathon biopsy visit, I was feeling what was surely a state of stress induced exhaustion. I wanted to eat a pint of ice cream and then melt into my bed but we had been looking forward to a weekend getaway at my in-law's river house a couple of hours away, so the kids and I went home to nap, and then pack, while Andy headed into the office for a super-abbreviated work day.

With all of our stuff, including the dog, crowded snugly into the car (we teeter on the brink of needing a minivan) we left around Roscoe's bedtime and stopped at Starbucks on the way to the interstate in order to commence 48 hours of do-nothingness.

The river house was built from scratch by Andy's parents, and is situated right on the bank of Lodge Creek off of the Yeocomico river with a dock that leads straight off the back yard and down into the water. While it sees some use throughout the year, it is left largely uninhabited. We were more than happy to take the opportunity to fill its rustic walls with thunderous toddler footsteps, and the sweet smells of home cooking.

We didn't leave the property all weekend. In fact, I never left my pajamas. Roscoe followed Andy like his shadow and by the end of each day both were covered in nature's dirt from head to toe. They spent most of their time on projects in and around the yard. Roscoe even had his first tick, which was a little alarming at first realization, but it turned out to be fine. Merritt and I caught up on our sleep, nursed, cooked three squares a day but, mostly, he and I just sat around like toads on lily pads reading magazines or watching big brother and poppa in their element. I felt a little unproductive for the duration, but when I climbed into my bed Sunday night and found that my usually racing mind was oddly quiet, I knew the weekend away had been just what I needed.

Of course I can't write a post without mentioning what we ate! It was a welcomed challenge to use up all of the food that we brought, no less, no more. We indulged a little (okay, a lot) in roasted beets, pancakes with maple syrup and farmer's market sausage, strawberry and peach shortcake, chili and cornbread, banana milkshakes, and ice cream cones with sprinkles, among other things. It seemed like a good time to give in to our cravings and to eat what we were hungry for. Comfort food and quality togetherness.

Roscoe picking stems off the tomatoes before dinner

We did manage one leisurely walk after dinner and before we headed home, so maybe that helped to balance out all the meals we enjoyed. I will say that it's a little humbling to be out in the world, basked in the air from the dusky heat of sunset, with the most important people in your life.

Do you have a go to spot when you need a little r&r?

A Florida Christmas Eve

Disney

The Magic Kingdom was a madhouse Monday afternoon. The four of us, with two little ones in tow made it through the front gates around 2:00, when morning naps and full bellies gave everyone the best chance for a happy experience.

I've never been to Disney at Christmas time and Main Street was decked out for the Season. We weren't the only ones who thought a Disney trip in December was a great idea; the streets were so packed we could barely navigate. The MVP of the day (and possibly the trip so far) was my new Sakura Bloom sling. I can't believe we survived the infant stage without it, but I'm so happy that we finally have one because Roscoe camped out in it all day. He was snug and content, enjoying the view and the people from the safety of my arms. Besides the minor balancing act that I had to perform to manage my belly and Roscoe without toppling over, I was so grateful we threw the sling into our pack at the last minute, "just in case".

Pirates of the Caribbean was a surprising hit--we kept things cheery by keeping the focus on the animals--and Roscoe just could not contain his excitement during the Jungle Cruise, and The Tiki Room. We stayed until the sun set, then made one last stop at the Main Street Confectionery for pumpkin fudge, caramel apples, and Mickey shaped rice crispy treats. We made it home just in time to usher Roscoe into the tub and then tuck him in for the night.

The temperatures have been in the 70's, and besides the bird of paradise in our villa that we decorated with white lights, and the stockings we hung in the living room, it's too easy to forget that Christmas is just 3 days away.

2 1/2 stars out of 5

To sum it up, last week's adventure was exhausting and stressful, but professionally rewarding, and sprinkled with some memorable family fun.

We flew to Cleveland on Monday for a conference that I've been working on for the better part of the last year. Twelve and thirteen hour days + the pregnancy + mothering Roscoe in my "off" time to include nursing him at nap each day, made it particularly tiring for me. There was very little downtime while the conference was in session, sleep at night was impossible, and morning sickness persisted in the form of food aversions galore. Of course, over-sized half-baked cookies and other sugar laden junk were the exception to the rule, which was ironic and by the end of the week I was feeling gross and frustrated. Little Sears will probably be born with cavities.

Roscoe and Andy entertained each other at the pool, and in the city. They found a few fun spots within walking distance to include a police museum, and some parks. Once my professional duties were fulfilled Thursday afternoon we set out as a threesome to sample the local cuisine, introduce Roscoe to bowling (Roscoe beat me, if that's even believable--he did have the advantage of bumpers, and I really am that bad.), and ride the bus to the children's museum.

Unlucky for us, the week we were in town the Great Lakes Science Center was CLOSED, and our hotel was located directly in the middle of the city which meant that we didn't have easy access to a lot of the activities that are traditionally "Cleveland". I really wanted to visit Ralphie's house from A Christmas Story, but we never made it.

The most disappointing part of the trip was that I forgot my camera's SD card, so the only documentation we have are the following five pictures. Sad. Sad. Sad.

Police Museum

On the Lake

Finger painting

Airport

Water Table

Roscoe was delighted by his first visits to the airport (planes make him crazy with excitement), and we were again impressed with his flexibility when it comes to new faces and places. He slept through both flights, and had no issues with keeping to his bedtime routine. We brought along our travel cot, as well as a few surprises (stickers, crayons, a new truck, a new animal book, and a stack and sort board) and all was well in the world of Roscoe. The biggest challenges we faced were to find appropriate whole foods for all of Roscoe's meals and snacks (we weren't entirely successful on this front), and to navigate his and my first extended separation.

Perhaps Cleveland deserves a second chance? If you know the area, what did we miss?!

Hey Ya'll!

We're back from our beach vacation--not so well-rested thanks to a child who reverted to infant sleeping habits while we were away! Our return trip on Friday was even better than the drive down because we drove through the night and were asleep in our own beds by 4:00 am. When we woke on Saturday morning, we still had a full weekend ahead of us.

The isle of palms was as perfect a summer travel destination as I can imagine. The ocean was so warm, and the beach uncrowded with compact sand (not the kind you sink into that causes sore calves!). Our proximity to Charleston was a big highlight and we alternated early mornings spent in the water and late afternoons exploring either the city or other nearby islands.

The heat was welcomed, and the humidity was tremendous. While the forecast called for thunderstorms every day, they usually didn't roll in until the evening, which was just fine with us. We arrived home just as white as we were when we left, in part due to religious application of high spf, but probably also to intermittent cloud cover. The palm trees in Charleston reminded me of California and elicited on more than one occasion lively discussion about "palm manicure" preferences.

While we assumed that vacationing with a 13 month old would be fun on many levels I don't think we expected Roscoe to be fully engaged in our vacation itinerary. So we were pleasantly surprised by Roscoe's determination to keep up with his older cousin Mack, his fearlessness in the ocean waves, and how he was drawn to the sand like a sea turtle to the moon. He was mesmerized by everything he encountered at the aquarium, and eagerly explored all the trucks at the fire museum.

Vacationing with our extended family was a nice change of pace and every night a different family was responsible for preparing dinner, so as the days' adventures were winding down, we gathered around the dinner table for some well earned sustenance. What a great way to end the day!

Then it was tucking in the babies, hopping online, night walks on the beach, and games!! We played a new one called Mad Gab that I would give two thumbs up. Ever played it? Give these a try (read the words out loud and try to figure out the phrases.*):

We thought it was hilariously fun!

We also managed to leave the kids one morning to sneak away to a little beach house restaurant for breakfast where I discovered the deliciousness that is cheese grits. And speaking of southern food, I had my first sweet tea, and a perfect plate of fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and chow chow.

Long walks and runs on the beach were our only form of exercise and proved to be quite romantic. Andy and I don't often find ourselves with uninterrupted time for discussion not centered around our parental responsibilities, and it certainly was a luxury to share the surf while indulging in bigger picture conversation. Ocean walks at dusk were just what we needed.

We left Charleston wanting more, which is how it goes with vacation I suppose. But there was something special that we found down there. Beyond the culture, and history, location, and lordy, THE FOOD! We reconnected as a family, and in our own company we grew more confident (we are afraid to travel no more!!) and more appreciative of each other.

As we left the low-country behind we decided that any vacation in which you part wishing for even just a few more days to further soak it all in, but also fulfilled and gratified with just the contents crammed into your four door sedan, is a wild success.

* amazon.com, for he's a jolly good fellow, do a google search

Greetings!

Today was our last full day in South Carolina. We are sad. But we had so much fun!!

We perused boutiques on King street, trolled for cupcakes, ate lunch at S.N.O.B, enjoyed a family dinner on the waterfront, and tasted vanilla, walnut, and other yummy infused olive oils. I bought a bottle of blood orange olive oil and a fig balsamic vinegar (mmm... good for so many things!). I was in the mood for southern eats and found a tall glass of sweet tea, some peach sangria, and fried green tomatoes!

It looks like our day was completely centered around our food--and, well, it kind of was!

A few of today's favorite things

Destination: Isle of Palms

Our travel proved not to be quite the adventure I was anticipating, thankfully. While we did encounter a few bumps in the road, the drive took just around 9 hours, as projected.

We left at 7:00 pm after Roscoe was fed, bathed, pj'd, nursed, and snugly situated in his car seat--blankie, books, and all. We stopped at Starbucks for drinks and treats, and then jumped on I-95 where we averaged a speed of 17 miles per hour for about an hour. After that, we hightailed it to SC, arrived to a batch of hotels around 12:30 am and quickly realized why not booking ahead is a bad idea. Three hotels in a row, all full to their brim. We got lucky (if you can call it that) and squeezed a fifty dollar space out of a fourth motel located just before the on ramp.

It was raining, and while Roscoe had slept soundly for the entire 6 hours he woke with a fury when the car stopped, clawed at the blanket we had draped over him to repel the water, and then remained disoriented. He wanted nothing to do with sleeping separately from us, and we alternated for at least an hour between the swing and our bed with no luck. Even nursing was unsatisfactory.

By the time 3:30 am arrived, both Andy and I had submitted to the fact that perhaps we would not be going back to sleep, after all. In fact, at only a fifty dollar loss, we discussed getting back in the car and resuming the drive.

Then, without rhyme or reason (besides exhaustion), Roscoe fell asleep--I'm not sure of the time. By 6:30 am he was awake again, and so were we!

The last leg of the trip was just under 3 hours and Roscoe (and I) slept the entire way.

We drove straight into downtown Charleston, dipped into a fantastic fountain, ate lunch at a local bakery and eventually found our way to our home away from home located just a few steps from the sand. The rest of our family arrived throughout the afternoon, and the boys got reacquainted making the beach their private playground.

Friday travel

Tomorrow night we head to Charleston, South Carolina. Ten days of ocean views, southern hospitality, cousins, regional exploring, family dinners, and who knows what else. It's going to be marvelous.

But before our beach vacation can truly begin, we must first brave the 8.5 hour drive. We have very little experience traveling with Roscoe. Our one and only road trip was a 3.5 hour drive to Fort Lewis Lodge and, if you remember, it actually took 7 hours. This does not bode well for us.

An unhappy Roscoe is a most unpleasant thing, particularly when he's confined by a car seat. Our first line of defense will be to break up the drive into two 4.25 hour stretches, and we're planning to spend the night somewhere along the way. Our second line of defense will be to leave in the evening after Roscoe's bedtime routine which should guarantee that he sleeps most, if not all, of the way. Our third line of defense will be to stock the car with his favorite toys, books, snacks, and good tunes (our current favorites are Caspar Babypants and Picnic Playground).

If all else fails, we are not opposed to pit stops--don't be surprised if 8.5 hours turns into 24.

Do you have any tips for keeping little ones entertained on the road?