New England Trip: Part Two

Sorry for the delay in posting the second part of our New England Trip. We got home last Monday, and it's been a crazy week between unpacking, laundry, getting ready for a craft show yesterday (that got rained out), and just getting back to the routine of everyday life. But I don't want to neglect telling you about the rest of our awesome trip!

Last Saturday morning, Laura, her mom (Sue), Claire, and I all left Laura's house to go to Boston for the day. Laura drove us into the city and parked at her work. From there, we took the T (subway) to the Boston Children's Museum. We had SO MUCH fun!! (And I mean all of us...you don't have to be a "child" to enjoy a children's museum!) Here are some highlights...

Claire and I in front of the Boston Children's Museum...






Laura & Sue



Having fun in the Bubbles room...





Claire in the Boats Afloat room...



The Pico Duarte Market...



Working the cash register...



That's a lot of groceries!!



After the Children's Museum, we headed to Quincy Market at Faneuil Hall Market Place. The food was delicious, and there was a lot to see. Entertainers were scattered around the marketplace - mimes, one man bands, etc. My personal favorite is the man dressed in colonial clothing below (you'll see why). Claire and I packed our lunches so we could splurge on dessert. I had a yummy chocolate chip cannoli and coffee, and Claire picked out a giant M&M cookie.



Claire & her cookie...



The colonial man (drinking a Coke)...



After eating and walking around Faneuil Hall a bit, we made our way to Boston Common, the oldest city park in the U.S. Boston Common is the home of the "Make Way for Duckings" statue, based on the book by Robert McCloskey.

Claire had fun (once we woke her up from her little nap in the stroller on our way to the park) playing on the ducks...



We had such a nice day in Boston. The weather was beautiful, and Laura did such a great job planning our day and navigating us around the city. I also learned that Claire might be more of a city girl than mountain girl. When we asked her what her favorite part of Boston was, she said, "The Train!" I think it's funny that she's afraid of campfires but loves the subway. :)

Sunday, we got up and went to Laura's church. Claire shocked Laura and I when she asked if she could go downstairs to children's church with the rest of the kids. I didn't think she'd stay and let me leave to hear the sermon when she didn't know anybody. However, she made herself at home and forgot all about me. When we came to pick her up after church was over, she cried and wanted to stay! Just when I think she can be so insecure and have separation issues, she shows me just how independent she can be. I was so proud of her!

After church, we got to meet Laura's grandmother and Aunt Sharon at their house, where we had lunch together. After lunch and a little playtime (Laura's grandma had all kinds of toys for Claire to play with), we drove up to New Boston, New Hampshire to a farm stand where Laura's brother and his girlfriend work. Here are a few pictures from the farm stand...







We had a GREAT time during our trip! It was so good to see Laura and visit with her, and we did so many fun and exciting things. Thanks, Laura, for your hospitality and kindness in having us stay with you! Thanks, also, for your great friendship - we both treasure you!!

New England Trip: Part One

Claire and I just returned last night from our trip to New England to visit our friend Laura. Laura lives in Lowell, Massachusetts, but all of her family lives in New Hampshire. We spent a day in the mountains in New Hampshire, some time visiting her family, and a day in Boston, Massachusetts.

We drove up to Laura's house Wednesday, September 17th. It took us all day to get there. Thursday, we got up and got ready to drive up to Warren, New Hampshire, where Laura's aunt and uncle have a cabin on Mount Moosilauke. While we were there, we ate our lunch by Baker River, visited a fish hatchery, hiked up part of Mount Moosilauke, and roasted hot dogs over a campfire for dinner.


Here is a video of Claire and Laura at the Fish Hatchery...

And some other pictures from our trip to the mountains:


Claire and Mommy at the Fish Hatchery...





Crystal clear Baker River...




Laura and Claire sitting on the rocks...




The cabin (Claire standing by the back door)...




"Rock" the Toad (named by Claire)...




Claire hiking down the mountain...




Beautiful Fall Foliage...




I learned that Claire is afraid of campfires as she screamed and held onto me with a death grip anytime we approached the campfire. This made roasting hot dogs interesting. :) We originally planned to stay overnight Thursday at the cabin, but as the day went on, the temperature kept dropping. Claire had a slight cold as it was, and Laura didn't feel comfortable lighting her aunt and uncle's wood stove (I didn't blame her), so we decided to drive back to Laura's to spend the night in a warm house instead of freezing. The temperature probably dropped to the low 30s that night! On our way home, we got out of the car to look up at the night sky. If you've ever been far enough away from civilization to see such a beautiful night sky, you know what I'm talking about. It is absolutely breathtaking!

Friday we got up feeling well rested and warm and very glad we didn't spend the night in the mountains! We took our time getting ready, and eventually headed to some stores...Christmas Tree Shops, L.L. Bean Outlet, CVS for some Benedryl for poor Claire (whose nose needed wiped pretty often by this point). After shopping we drove to Laura's mom's house in Auburn, New Hampshire, and had a delicious and extremely filling dinner! Before dinner, we snacked on some yummy veggies, cheese, and crackers. Laura's mom has an AMAZING veggie dip recipe:

Vegetable Dip

3/4 c. mayonnaise (real, preferably not low-fat)
3/4 c. sour cream
1 tsp. dried dill weed
less than 1 tsp. garlic salt
less than 1 tsp. onion salt
1 Tbsp. dried chives


After driving back to Laura's Friday night, we headed right to bed so we'd be ready to wake up and go do Boston Saturday morning!! More about Boston in Part Two of our New England Trip...

Doctor Visit

Today Claire was scheduled to visit the doctor for her 3 year checkup. It was timely, because this morning she woke up before dawn with diarrhea and a little vomiting. :( Claire has never enjoyed a doctor visit, and today proved to be more of the same. Very reluctant to even get in the car and go, I assured her that the doctor was very nice, and she could bring Pickles (her new baby doll) along to get checked, too. She only wanted Pickles to get checked. Other than a stomach virus, Claire and Pickles are in tip top shape. Claire measured just shy of 40'' tall at 39 3/4'', and weighs 33 lbs. In case you're wondering, her height puts her in the 97th percentile and weight in the 74th. She is now resting comfortably in her bed (thankfully) and I think I will do the same after a much too early and eventful morning. Goodnight. :)

Dancing Queen

To follow up the wedding post, here is a video showing you what Claire did from the time we arrived at the wedding reception until the time we left (except when I had to keep her off the dance floor for the special dances and for a bite of her dinner here and there).

Melissa & Brian's Wedding

My cousin, Melissa, was married yesterday. Claire had the honor of being their flower girl. Here are a few pics of my beautiful girl and the wedding day. I cried a few times thinking about how soon my little girl may have her own wedding day. I try not to think about it too much, but I'm sure the years will fly by.


Getting Dressed and Twirling Around...








Bubbles!...




My Sisters and I...




Sunflower for the Flower Girl...




Claire's Pomander...




Father-Daughter Dance...




Mother-Son Dance...




Cutting the Cake...




My Aunt Cathy (Mother of the Bride) Dancing with Claire...




Everything was all so beautiful yesterday. Claire and I were honored to be a part of such a beautiful and special day of Melissa and Brian's life. We pray God's blessings upon your marriage and new lives together!

Claire's Story Time

The other day, I was busy doing something, and I walked into the living room to find Claire sitting in her rocking chair, and "Wasabi" (the green frog you see in the video) listening to a story. Claire set it all up herself. She is reading The Barnyard Dance, one of her favorites!

Three Blessed Years

My beautiful little Claire Bear is three years old tomorrow. It's so hard to believe! The past three years have been filled with joyful as well as sorrowful times, but through it all, God has never ceased to be faithful to Claire and I. I thank him everyday for this wonderful gift he has given me - a beautiful daughter. But as I thank him for this gift, it reminds me of the greatest gift he has given me. His only son. When I think about how much I treasure Claire, it's so difficult to understand how God would give up his only son to die for a sinner like me, so he could rescue me from my sin and call me his daughter. This is the most precious gift - his son. And to top it all off, he has also blessed me with my Claire Bear!


Here are just a few pictures of the past three years...

The first few hours...



The first few weeks...





One year old (yes, she's playing inside the toybox)...



Two years old...



Three years old!!...




Happy Birthday, Claire!