Day 20-23 (Lyndon and Laura)!

Ok, I am a bit behind but for good reason.  Lyndon and I left on day 20 for a quick get-away and left the boys with Nana and Papa!  We returned to Kennebunkport, Maine where we spent our honeymoon!  I know.  This seems like a strange place to spend a honeymoon, but we really wanted a quiet, romantic spot that was really dressed up for Christmas.  Plus, we were hoping for snow.  We got a ton while there for our actual honeymoon 7 years ago, but we missed out on it this year.  Anyway, we were excited to spend some time away together and celebrate the last 7 years which have been full of surprises and excitement including three moves and two kids!  This time around, we did a bit more sight-seeing.  We drove into Freeport, Portland, Salem and Boston! 

Downtown Kennebunkport! For those of you who know Lyndon, just think The Village, and you will understand why this place is so appealing!

Love this!  This is what I need for directions instead of GPS!

One of the great Bed & Breakfasts in Kennebunkport!

I want this car!

It may be difficult to see the dates on the houses above and below, but they were built in the late 1700's!  Not only are they still standing, but they are still occupied!  

  We were lucky enough to book the same room in the same bed and breakfast that we stayed at 7 years ago!  The place is the Captain Lord Mansion, and it is truly one of the most beautiful places I have had the privilege of staying! 

The above pic is from a post card featuring the mansion.  I have some pics I took, but they just don't do it justice!  I also added some pics of us from our actual honeymoon below...

December 2004

I was a blond then and had horrible bangs.  Lyndon actually had hair!  One thing that has not changed is that coat.  That is the same black coat I had on this year's trip.  I will say that it was fitting a little more snug this time around!

On our honeymoon, we drove up the coast and looked at some incredible light houses.  It was COLD!  Lyndon had to beg me to stand outside the car for this pic!

This time was not nearly as cold, so we walked around outside more.  We visited the DeLorme outside Portland which houses this gigantic glob that actually keeps the same rotation as the earth! 

We also took some suggestions from friends and stopped at a couple of Irish pubs and wine bars in downtown Portland! It was pouring rain, so we did not get to see as much of the actual city this time around.

This is The Wine Bar on Wharf Street (just so you know, Wharf Street is not on the wharf).  We had some yummy wine and talked to the owner for a bit about her resident ghost! 

We also looked for witches in Salem!

The first church in Salem!

This is a great museum that tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials very well.  We should have known that not much was going to be open regarding witch tours and such because it is considered off season, but we did manage to find a few places to visit.  We even walked into one store and overheard the clerk giving someone very clear instructions on how to cast a spell...Salem did not disappoint!

After some time in Salem, we took off for Boston.  This is a great city that has a ton of history, just not a lot of parking!  We finally gave in and paid a ridiculous amount to park for a few hours while we got in the last bit of day light.

 We walked all over downtown and found our way to Faneuil Park where we took up the Freedom Trail.

Inside the Old North Church!

We managed to see three of the historic sights on the trail before it got so dark we could not see anything anymore.  Next time, we will have to start at the beginning!

Paul Revere's house!

Boston skyline!

Day 19

Today was all about a special arrival!!

Welcome to Nana Lacy!  We are excited you are here! The boys have been impatiently waiting!

And...

that tooth finally gave up the fight tonight!  That other one is loose too.  We are hoping it goes in the next few days just so we can sing that awesome song for Christmas!!

Day 18

Day 18 was the story of Hanukkah! 

I like to read this to the boys especially this year because Logan has learned about Hanukkah at school.  They can't really talk about the religious aspect of Hanukkah, so they miss the point kind of like when they talk about Christmas with the kids. So, I can at least explain what Hanukkah means in the Jewish faith just like I can make sure that the boys understand that Christmas is not about Santa and lights!

We also use this opportunity to make goodies for our neighbors who celebrate Hanukkah!  This year, we make some yummy pumpkin bread!!

Day 17

Today we did a fun Christmas craft!! Luke has been wanting to do a Gingerbread man for the last few days.  I was actually going to make some gingerbread cookies, but while we were out shopping today, we came across these...

giant cookies!!

Ok, so I may have helped a little with the frosting, but they did the rest.

Happy Gingerbread Man making!!

Day 16

Day 16 was another service day!  We shopped for special gifts to give to children in need.  Our church hosts an Angel Tree every year, so the boys each chose someone to give a gift to for Christmas. 

I was proud of the boys.  We explained that we were shopping for kids who may not otherwise get gifts for Christmas.  They went right to the toy section and found some great options.  Not once did they cry or whine for something they wanted. My hope is that one day they will understand that it is not all about them! 

Day 15

Day 15 was watching one of the boys' favorite Christmas movies, Home Alone!  They get the giggles when the guy gets his hair burnt off and when the other bad guy steps on all of the broken ornaments!  I worry that they are getting too many ideas from this movie!  But, it is one of the few that they will actually sit down and watch, well at least stay in the room for! 

Ok, and in case you are wondering, yes, this is a VHS.  I am pretty sure we are about the only people left in the world that still has VHS.  I had to rewind it when we put it in, and Logan became very impatient.  Kids these days.  If they only knew how easy they have it! 

Day 14

And, once again, I spent the day 14 trying to make the sick feel better!  Logan was sent home Tuesday from school with Pink Eye.  So, that meant another trip to the doctor and more meds.  We have gone almost the entire fall without colds or any of the nasty stuff I expected with the boys being in school.  But, the joke is on me because it was just waiting to hit us all at one time...a week before Christmas!  At least we will get it all out of the way so we can enjoy next week!  I have now bleached everything in my house and washed everything the boys have slept on, worn or basically touched.  Luke did not have school on Wednesday, and Logan was home, so we took advantage of the time together. 

We played a little Monopoly.

Luke tore it up!

This is his winning dance!

We worked on our spelling. 

And, we made some cards for Luke's teachers who both have birthdays over the Christmas break...this was the table afterwards.  Luke and I were both wearing the rest of the glitter.

Our Christmas activity was to read The Christmas Story! 

This is a sweet book with beautiful illustrations and goes a bit beyond the birth. 

 

And, our silly elf has gotten himself in some crazy positions!

Happy Elf Hunting!!