Quassy

With school out, we headed with a group of friends to Quassy. A small new England amusement park. We had a great time. It was small enough and not very crowded that the kids were able to go with their friends and ride all the rides and I could see them all. The weather was super. The waterpark section was nice. Here is Adam basking in the sun.


Unfortunately, Owen started to run a fever while we were there. Here is Owen feeling a little less than stellar.

The Cleanup

We all worked very hard outside both Monday and today picking up downed branches and limbs from the hurricane. Once we were done it looked so good I had to take these panaramic photos of the front and back yard.

Lousy photo, great news

The tree and the road out is clear. That means we can get out and get propane deliveries. It doesn't mean power is set to be restored, but I'll take it.

A nice video with the damage from our town

My good friend Ember put together this video as she drove around town to show some of the damage from the hurricane

You can watch it below or click on this link
http://youtu.be/5ph-Nijo9NE

Hurricane Irene!

Really??? Here in New England??? 

Yes.  Really. 

But we are ready.  It seems like Houston living was nothing but a drill to get ready for this one.  Here are my facebook updates for the day. 

‎2:00 pm update -- it is raining. Nana and Grandpa are still here. We'll be leaving to take them to the White Plains airport in about an hour. Their flight (originally is scheduled for 5:25 now has an official dept time of 5:47. Hopefully they will just squeak by before the airport closure at 6:00. Wish them luck!

‎3:00 update (and these updates are specifically for you Aunt Tami Bingham Cooley) -- it is still raining, we have not yet left to take Trent's parents to the airport but almost have finished installing flat screen tV to basement bunker -- if we're going to be watching hurricane news we want it on a nice TV

‎4:00 update -- Trent Handy en route to HPN to drop off his parents, the rain has stopped, been chatting with the neighbors, Trent also stopped at walmart to get 12 ft co-ax cable, new electric drill, and augur bit (TV in basement bunker is taking unusually high priority) -- also forgot to mention took Adam, Owen, and Me to dr this morning -- Adam has pneumonia -- Owen and me have colds. at least we got Rx.

‎5:00 update -- quiet and not raining- grandparents delivered to airport, trent not back home yet, but should be soon, then more work on the tv, been busy updating my blog with pictures from the last week!

‎6:00 update -- cooking dinner (sloppy joes), Nana and Granpa's plane took off!!!!!, rain just starting again, TV not yet operational
‎7:00 update -- done with dinner, kids in pj's, trying to finish ALL laundry, searching for a power strip, vacuuming wood shavings (from drilling holes for cords), rain stopped-- Yes, we are BORING!

‎8:30 update -- TV hooked up, kids setting up beds in basement, Owen asleep, last laundry load in, parents -- worried -- check out the current map that eye is a little too close for comfort

‎10:30. All kids still awake. Watching the new tv set up in the basement. Raining lots

‎11:15 update -- probably last update for a while. I am going to bed. All the kids are asleep in the basement. Here's hoping for a quiet, electricity filled night. Here's hoping none of the kajillion trees surrounding us uproot or lose limbs. Here's hoping that we all sleep in (since we don't have church in the morning). Here's hoping we awake to find out everyone's power is still on and their houses still intact! Goodnight Irene! Don't come callling!

Road Trip - Day 4 -- The race home!

We had big plans for today.  We were going to leave Maine and drive to Mystic, CT and go to the Mystic Seaport.  But Hurricane Irene altered our plans.  Instead we got up, packed up, and headed to the grocery store in Maine.  We have been through enough hurricanes to know how quickly the grocery stores clear out.  So we bought everything but the milk, packed it into the already crowded car and headed home. 




Good bye Maine!


Good Bye New Hampshire!




Good-bye Massachusetts!


Owen was really sad to be leaving!!!




Hello Connecticut!!!  Almost home!



Naturally right before getting home, Owen falls asleep. 




And so does Adam!!!!



We spent the rest of the day in a bit of a frenzy.  Nana and I headed back to the store for milk and a few other things.  Trent washed and cleaned out the cars and got them all gassed up.  We all worked on laundry.  We all helped take down the trampoline and move all the patio furniture inside.  It was busy around here to say the least!

Road Trip - Day 3 - New Hampshire to Maine

Before we knew it, it was time to say good-bye to our little lake hotel




And head back out on the road!!!!



We arrived right on the waterfront in downtown Portland, Maine.



And this is where we had a yummy, yummy lunch!!!





It was so fun to meet Matt, Lillian, Jackson, and Elise there for lunch. 



Then we hopped on a Harbor Crusie.  Jackson and Adam were so excited to be buddies!




Here we all are before the cruise started -- and before the rain started.




It wasn't too long before we were moved to the center, wrapped up in blankets and then a little later, we all went downstairs as it was POURING!



We got to see the Portland Head Light -- but the seas were too high 5-7 feet to make it all the way out to it.


This was a photo of a smaller boat navigating through the rain and seas.  It is hard to really get a feeling for how choppy and rainy it was from these photos!



But maybe this doppler of the area will convince you.  We are the boat located right in the center crosshairs and the read is heavy rain and the green is regular rain!


But that didn't stop the kids from having the chance to drive the boat!








We did see a baby seal!


By the evening the weather cleared and we drove to the Portland head light.  It was so beautiful there.

Road Trip - Day 2 - Vermont to New Hampshire

Today, we woke up in Vermont and got packed up.  We took a few photos at the little lake at the hotel as it was so pretty and we headed to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. 

Then it was time to get back in the car.  The kids were super excited.



Owen loves to stand in his car seat, unfortunately he does not love to sit and be buckled in his carseat!



While driving in Vermont, I couldn't help noticing the signs of fall -- I was not ready to see leaves already changing color.  Hopefully that stays up north for a while longer!!!!



Then we arrived in Cabot, VT to tour the Cabot Cheese Factory. 

I think factories are so cool.  I could tour them everyday.  I loved watching how they made cheese.

And they had every kind of cheese, yogurt, dip, butter, etc. . . out for you to sample. Yummy!! I even bought some super sharp cheddar that was so delicious!!!



We all enjoyed a yummy yogurt before getting back in the car to drive.


And we arrived fairly quickly in NEW HAMPSHIRE



We stayed in this cute little motel that was right on the shores of squam lake. They had their own private shore front and paddle boats and canoes (although we never tried out the canoes!)



Nana and Trent out in the paddle boat.



Me and the kids swimming and jumping off this floating dock.  It was a lot of fun and the lake was gorgeous and crystal clear, but for me -- the texan -- it was a little chilly!









Owen entertained himself on the shore searching for rocks to put in his mouth!







Nana was cold.  Surprise, surprise!



Owen has his eye on a rock!



He has the cutest little pincers trying to find his rocks!



Adam is always looking out for Owen.  Notice Owen's butt tracks behind him.  He slid and scooted down a big hill trying to get to the water!



Adam just loved playing in the sand!  He was coated in it!




The 2 boys were so coated in sand that I didn't want them to even come into the hotel room so we improvised and made a quick outdoor bath for them!!!