kids – Page 21 – monadnock mama

admin / November 5, 2013

halloween 2013

I know I’m a little bit slow getting these pictures posted. I’ve been really sick. And, I share my computer with a tween (who just turned 10 and her mother still hasn’t posted photos from her birthday…).

This year we had a little black kitty (his request):

And, a Creeper. Some of us are a bit obsessed with Minecraft right now. She and her friend Enrique made plans to go trick-or-treating together. It is so interesting to watch her growing up, and to remember how I felt and behaved at her age. Friends are becoming a lot more important to her.

If you look really closely, you can see Lillia’s face behind that Creeper mouth.

And, here’s a little interview with Zane.

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admin / August 25, 2013

zane is two!

Here are some highlights from the big day:

A new sandbox! My parents (especially my dad) put a lot of work into this, and Zane loves it. In fact he lives in it. They also gave him a little balance bike which he is sure to grow into very soon. Lillia gives him “rides” (pushes) on it for the time being.

A new “computer” from Aunt Rachel. He was pretty darn pleased with himself when he discovered that he had his own laptop.

Some new trains from Mama & Dada.

And, of course, the birthday ring — one of our favorite family traditions. This year he chose his own peg people.

I should also add that my husband’s parents gave Zane lots of excellent gifts, as well, including a great DVD/CD set called “Twenty Trucks” that he loves. We discovered it on Youtube when we were looking for videos of trucks doing work. It’s a little campy, but surprisingly informative! Have you ever seen a feller buncher?!? I’m not a big fan of media for little kids but I am okay with him watching these videos occasionally. He probably knows more about construction vehicles than most adults! He also got some great books, a fun puzzle that makes sounds (he really like the cruise ship’s horn) and a little stuffed loon. Our rental house in Lubec has a clock that makes a loon call every hour, and he was quite taken with it so my mother-in-law thought she would get him his own little loon.

And, last but not least, a cute video (he’s eating an apple, in case you were wondering…)

Zane’s 2nd Birthday from Kelli Wilson on Vimeo.

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admin / August 20, 2013

first haircut

In honor of his upcoming birthday (he’s turning 2 on Friday *sob*) we decided it was time for Zane to get an “official” haircut. I’ve been trimming his hair for all of his, albeit short, life. But, it takes me forever because I’m not a very confident, or trained, hairstylist.

Before — very cute, but a bit wild.

After — I barely recognize my little Zane! Who knew there was such a handsome boy hiding under all of that hair?

He’s a dead ringer for his dad in this last photo. Okay, I’m going to go distract myself so I don’t start crying. How could he be so big already?…

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admin / August 19, 2013

lubec // day three

On our third day of vacation we took a boat ride out into the Bay of Fundy. We were really fortunate to be able to charter the Lorna Doone (Downeast Charter Boat Tours), which is a small boat so we didn’t have to share it with anyone. We’re all introverts so we’re always going to choose the option that doesn’t involve interacting with strangers, if possible. Our captain’s name was Ralph and I’m guessing he was an introvert too because he was pretty quiet (which was great — there’s nothing worse than being stuck on a boat for several hours with some wise-cracking weirdo…my worst nightmare).

Taking a boat tour is a fantastic way to see the area without having to spend hours in the car. There are many beautiful islands to see, all with the quintessential “bold coasts” of the Downeast area. There’s also an abundance of unique wildlife. We got to see a bald eagle, some porpoises, and even a whale! One of the coolest parts of the trip was seeing the “Old Sow,” which is the “largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere.” Photos and video can’t really capture how dramatic it is in real life. It is located in an area with a confluence of currents which causes the water to be alternately glassy or choppy, depending on where you look. I must say that it’s pretty eerie to pass through those areas of smooth water out in the middle of the ocean. At the end of this post I’ve included a short video of the Old Sow. Other than a brief period of seasickness for Lillia I think that everyone really enjoyed the boat ride, and I highly recommend the Lorna Doone if you’re ever in the area.

The Old Sow, Eastport, Maine from Kelli Wilson on Vimeo.

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admin / August 17, 2013

lubec // around the house

Every year that I’ve gone to Lubec with my in-laws we have stayed in the same house. In fact, it feels like a second home at this point. The house is located on the West Quoddy Head peninsula, just a mile or so from the Easternmost point in the US — the closest one can get to Europe while still standing on land owned by one of the fifty states. The state park at the West Quoddy Head Light is one of my favorite places in Lubec (I’ll post photos of it later in the week). The rental house is an older home, with the owner’s photos and trinkets covering every wall and surface. Even though the original owner has since passed away, her daughter has left it mostly in the same condition that her mother did while she was living there. There are two large windows facing the water and at night you can see the lights of the town of Lubec sparkling on the other side of the channel. I thought it might be nice to post some photos from around the house and yard so others can get a sense of the place we enjoy so much — the starting point of all of our adventures.