2016 :: week 31

July 24

We got a good deal on some nail polish and I let Lauren pick out a few colors. She chose red and blue so she could have "USA" nails like she did when Aunt Laura painted them on the 4th of July. I painted her before church Sunday morning and she was very pleased with the results.

July 25

The public affairs committee in our area organized a "Mormon Night" at the Royals game Monday night. They bought a block of tickets and we were lucky enough to be right next to our friends the Cooks. There was a pre-game tailgate and games, Andy Reid (KC Chiefs head coach and Mormon) and his wife threw out the first pitch, and Alex Boye sang the national anthem. We had a great time! The Royals had a very bad first inning, but made a few come-back attempts that got the crowd going. I love watching Will get excited at baseball games. He is so genuine in his excitement it's infectious. We left the game after the 6th inning to make final preparations for our flight to Boston the next morning.

July 26

Tuesday morning we flew to Boston! We had a direct flight and no real problems on the plane, unless you count wrestling Elliott for the entire duration. Like his brother and sister before him he does not nap well out of his bed. Even though he was a nuisance in the air, he was pretty sweet when we got to Nana and Papa's house. He took to them right away and made himself at home in the new room (or Papa's office as Lauren called it) while we watched Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

July 27

Tina watched our kids for us while Anthony I spent a day and a half on the Cape. Wednesday morning we took a ferry to Martha's Vineyard and spent the day exploring the shops and riding bicycles along the coast. Ten years ago we spent a few rainy days here on our honeymoon and I thought it would be fun to come back again. We had such a fun time together.

July 28

As soon as we returned from the Cape we got back in the car and headed up to Maine for dinner on the Marginal Way. Ogunquit, Maine, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We spent about an hour on the beach, ate dinner at the Oarweed Restaurant, then walked along the Marginal Way until the kids were too tired to behave. The Marginal Way is a paved trail along the rocky shoreline and it is so magnificent. It rained while we were eating dinner, but it quickly passed and the kids (especially Will) loved climbing on the rocks and exploring the coast.

July 29

Carly and her three girls arrived in Boston on Wednesday while Anthony and I were in Hyannis. We took the kids the Boston Children's Museum Friday morning. We've visited this museum before and the kids were really looking forward to going again. Armed with snacks, we were able to stay for about three hours. Elliott and Millie were even able to really enjoy themselves.

July 30

Sadie turned 7 Friday, and Nana arranged for us to go to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate. It was fun watching each kid and what attractions they were drawn too. The older kids liked games where you could compete and earn tickets. This picture makes me smile because it really captures their interaction. They both really wanted to win. Will is intently focusing on his target and Sadie is checking to see how Will's doing and if he will be able to catch up (she was much better at this game than he was, Will did a bit better on skee-ball). Lauren and Elise went back and forth, sometimes playing games, sometimes riding rides and sometimes playing in the playground. Elliott and Millie liked the rides and also wandering around with an adult at their side.