Our Family New Hampshire Adventure 2015: Stopping by Portsmouth

Dear Em,
On our last day spent in New Hampshire, Daddy & I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary. It was the day we would be traveling back home, but I wanted to do something fun. We had used the whole weekend adventure to celebrate our anniversary & our little family, but I wanted to do something on the official day.

I had heard great things about Portsmouth & asked Daddy if he wanted to take a detour on the way home to check it out. Seeing that it is home to many breweries & fun restaurants, Daddy was excited to check it out. However, after loading up into the car, I realized neither of us had actually planned out anything to see or do while we were there.

Daddy went online & looked up some restaurants & attractions during our drive out there. We made some tentative plans & decided we would play our Portsmouth adventure by ear. We parked our car, ready to walk around & explore. Unfortunately, with only a few hours to spend in Portsmouth & extremely loose plans, we didn't really see the best of Portsmouth. Mostly we just checked out the shops & ate a lot. It probably wasn't the best Portsmouth trip, but we still had fun.

We checked out a bookstore cafe. On the bar was an old typewriter. You were so excited to type out your very first sentence: I love you mom and dad. "Mom, I'm typing just like Kit Kittredge!"

We ended our day in a toy store. There was a man creating silhouettes. Using nothing but the black paper & scissors, I can't believe how quickly & expertly he created your silhouette. He stuck one of them inside of a book he had authored & signed it for you. 

Mama, Let's Make A Moon is such a sweet little story. We've read it multiple times since we returned home. Sometimes Daddy & I read it to you, & sometimes you read it to us. Always, it reminds me of our precious trip to New Hampshire & the amazing adventures I got to share with my little family.

I love you so,

Mommy

Our Family New Hampshire Adventure 2015: My Favorite Hot Tub

Dear Em,
You LOVE hot tubs. You seem to rate how much you like a home by whether or not a hot tub is included. Nonnie & Papi have one at their house, & they've talked about how we should get one too. I like hot tubs, but I really don't want to own one. All I can think of is cost & maintenance & how we would have to hire someone to fix it if ever it was broken. I don't think we'll ever be hot tub owners.

However, it is a nice bonus when we're vacationing.

I think my very favorite hot tub to visit is the one in the condo complex where we vacation in New Hampshire. It's at the base of Loon Mountain. When you combine the brisk fall air & gorgeous, foliage filled mountain views with the heat & relaxation of the hot tub. It's pretty close to a perfect vacation moment. During our most recent visit, we got to experience all of that in the midst of the most brilliant sunset. My heart was at peace.

Although, I wouldn't necessarily consider it relaxing. I was in the hot tub with you, after all. Hot tubbing with you is always an adventure...& very splashy. I don't know if most people do cannon balls into hot tubs, but you do. Ha!

I love you so,

Mommy

Our Family New Hampshire Adventure 2015: Santa's Village

Dear Em,
I would have been happy to spend all of our New Hampshire get-away hiking & taking in the gorgeous foliage, but you & Daddy are thrill seekers. If the two of you were going to New Hampshire, you wanted to include an amusement park in the itinerary. The two of you planned to spend a big chunk of the day riding on roller coasters, & I planned to happily stand on the ground & take pictures.

We let you choose between Story Land or Santa's Village. We had been to both. I think you would take any chance to see Santa that you can get. Ha! Santa's Village it was!

Santa's Village was the perfect amusement park for you this year. It was just the right size. We didn't make it on everything, but we went on everything that we wanted to get to. You were tall enough for all the rides, & went on your favorites multiple times. You & Daddy rocked all the roller coaster type rides with huge smiles across your face. The girl in pink with her hands up? Yup, that's my daughter.

Luckily there were also rides that were more my pace. My favorites were the ferris wheel (at the top, there is an incredible view of foliage filled mountains) & a new ride that was a mix of the giant slide & snow tubing.

In between, there are a ton of cute activities & adorable photo opportunities. You had a blast using clues to find elves throughout the park. At each elf, you punched a hole into a card. When you had found them all, you returned to Elf University for a diploma & a pencil. 

It was an excellent day. There were no tears or meltdowns. There was just laughter & smiles & great family time. We didn't even seethe big man in red, but I think our day spent at Santa's Village was still absolutely perfect.

I love you so,

Mommy

love letters

Dear Em,

"Let her sleep

For when she wakes,

She will move mountains."

- Napoleon

On the way to New Hampshire, we had told you that we would climb to the top of a mountain. You looked at us, unsure and nervous, questioning your abilities. "Are you sure about this?"

Of course we didn't actually climb all of Cannon Mountain. We took a tram ride up 99.5% of it. "Mommy, I'm so glad we're not climbing this." You sighed with relief as we traveled through the air. We looked at all the other beautiful mountain tops in awe.

Once we got off the tram, we ate a quick lunch. We sat outside, just the three of us in the chilly mountain air. The views around us were incredible, & we had hot cocoa to warm our hands.

Then we made the 15 minute hike up an additional twenty feet to the very top of the mountain. Even though we were most of the way up, you were still unsure of yourself. You were also cold (I keep forgetting how much cooler it can be at the top of a mountain & to plan accordingly with winter clothes). I held your hands to keep them warm.

When we got to the first look-out spot, you squealed in delight. You became our photographer. Suddenly, the cold didn't have as much bite. How could it when we were standing in the midst of these mountain views?

We continued to hold hands until we got to the top of the observation tower. That way we made it to our destination at the exact same time. "We both won, Mom!" You only danced around for a only few moments, & we only took a few pictures. The wind was even stronger at the very top. 

We hurried back down to the warmth of the lodge & the ease of the tram ride down. 

I watched you as you watched the trees & the mountains. I smiled at my incredible & strong, little but fierce daughter. Sure, we had taken the tram almost the entire way up, but my little girl had just climbed a mountain...& I'm sure this was just one of many.

I love you so,

Mommy