Summer Adventures Part 1: Montreal

One is probably not meant to post a bazillion photos to a blog about everything one has done over the course of a summer, but here I am, doing it. First installment: our weekend trip to Montreal. Here we are on the drive up there by Mount Washington.

 In Montreal, we took it easy on our second visit, mainly exploring our neighborhood on foot instead of trying to take the subway all over the place for tourist attractions. Ben and I went to several playgrounds, a great children's bookstore, and Atwater Market. I'm sorry I didn't get a shot of the pastry shop and bakery in Atwater because it made me so happy I nearly cried. You've certainly never seen anything to compare to it in the States.

We had a lovely picnic just over the border in Vermont, with fresh bread and pesto from Atwater Market and a view of the mountains (best picnic spot ever!). We also stopped for a photo op at Crawford Notch in New Hampshire. Dismal Pool, anyone?

Coming up next: Summer Adventures Part 2: Storyland

Easter Weekend

Dying eggs:
Posing for the camera before the Easter Vigil:
Playing with treats from the Easter Bunny and grandparents on Easter morning:

Mommy deboning and butterflying the leg of lamb (in gory contrast to everyone else's Easter photos of mommies in sundresses in gardens):
Making a smushed pillow sandwich:
Egg hunting with friends:
Happy Easter, everyone!

Let's Think of Something To Do While We're Waiting

First Ride on a Real Bicycle

In Like a Lion

It's been a strange winter in Maine, as we didn't get much snow at all the February. Then on March 1 we had a snow day and received about a foot of snow. The wind was blowing it around pretty hard, so we all stayed in. Here's a record of what we did to entertain ourselves.

First, here's a shot of the whiteness out the window (Ben is watching it come down at his little table):


Ben spent some time doing the colors activity from his busy box (he really likes the colors and numbers pins), while Chris stretched out on the sofa.
The cat made her presence known.
Then Ben and I did some yoga.
Again, the cat made her presence known. (Gosh, yoga is so relaxing for me.)
Ben generally is really excited to join in in the yoga for the first 5 minutes, then gets bored and looks for something else to do.
Then Ben and Chris sat on the sofa and read quietly while I cooked something.

The True Meaning of Presidents' Day

Sometimes I go a little crazy trying to entertain my child without the TV. Like this time:


"Mommy? Why did you put a bag over my head?"

Yeah, that monster shopping bag wasn't a hit with him, judging from his long-suffering expression, which made me all the more prone to collapse on the floor in hysterical laughter. Then I am met with an expression like this:

"Hmmm. Now I'm suspicious of you, Mommy."

Several indoor activities work well. Receiving presents from grandparents:


Eating Valentine candy:


Reading:
"You think I'm going to put down my books just to hug Daddy? You're WRONG."


And putting puffballs in an old milk jar. As soon as I dump these out, Ben has to sit down and put them ALL back in again. It's serious work. (This is one of many items I'm accumulating for Ben's "busy box," inspired by this post.)


"You think my hair looks like what?"