Winter Storm Vulcan

The big winter snow storm that came along at the end of the week put a damper on our exciting snow play plans. Freezing wind and 12 degrees is not a recipe for outdoor fun.

We powered through an awesome morning on the Tubing Hill with huge inner tubes. Mom tried to take a picture of us there with her iphone, but it literally froze itself down, simply refusing to power back up. Then we took a field trip to a restaurant with a miniature train running inside.

When we got tired of freezing outside, we jumped into the hotel's awesome amenities. Mom said we should put one of these in our playroom. 

There was even a game room where I got to practice shooting targets and beat Mom at air hockey. 

 

Can somebody explain to me why this half naked girl needed to dance in a sexy way and blow me kisses in between games? It seemed unfair because there were no shirtless boys popping up on any of the other games.  

 

Our vacation ended with a peaceful sunset reflected in the mountains,

leaving us hopeful that one day we can come back to this perfect place.

Snow Patrol

How to prepare your child for a fun day in the cold snowy mountains:

Step 1: Squeeze them into 4 layers of warm clothing.

Step 2: Take a picture, this is the only time you will see them smile.

Step 3: Bribe them with promises of smores at the outdoor fire pit.

Ryan was not interested in those heavy boots and skis. Not happening. And I'll admit, it wasn't love at first sight for me and the bunny slope, either.

But I'm proud to say that I stuck with it, and after successfully going down the hill without wiping out, I felt like an Olympic champion! Mom said she would call me a snow bunny, but I told her Urban Dictionary says that nickname is for European female escorts in ski towns now.

There should be a nickname for Brave Girl, because that's exactly what I was! I definitely deserved the treat of an orange Fanta after attacking that hill. It's true when people rave about apres-ski, it really is the best part!  

I hope I remember this day forever.

And I hope Ryan has a similar Brave Boy experience in a couple of years. Mom said he would be "shredding fresh powder" soon, but I had to correct her again, because Urban Dictionary says that means doing cocaine.

Mount Washington Hotel

We ended our week at a breathtaking resort that happens to be a National Historic Landmark. Mom was in awe of the mountains and beautiful 100 year old hotel.    

She said high end historic luxury is similar to the average grandmother's house in Georgia: decorative plates hang on the wall,

dead animal heads serve as focal points,

and oval glass tops polished wood tables.

They even have vacuum cleaners you can wear on your back! I know two women for whom that would be a perfect Christmas gift idea, and their names start with "Mom" and "Nana Mugs".

Dad geeked out over the fact that this hotel hosted the Bretton Woods Monetary Conference after World War II, establishing the World Bank and IMF. 

It even has "The Cave" that was formerly a speakeasy during Prohibition. We showed Ryan the cave "dungeon" and threatened to call the police to send him there every time he had one of his raging screaming tantrums.

The moaning, hissing, century-old radiators in each room gave credence to this gorgeous hotel's reputation for being haunted. It didn't remind us of the Overlook Hotel from The Shining at all... a remote snow-covered resort nestled in the mountains, containing a possessed little boy in the middle of the toddler version of a nervous breakdown. At least there was no red lipstick message of REDRUM on the mirror.

And no creepy little child ghosts.

Friendly's

For the second half of our vacation, we took a road trip up to the New Hampshire White Mountains. We managed to squeeze in a stop at Friendly's for ice cream on the way up. Just trying to keep Kalyn's Rules For Vacation. 

 

Ice cream is tricky. Sometimes it falls out of the spoon and you have to pick it up. 

Turns out, the 5 second rule is a scientifically proven thing. Yum. 

The T

When teachers and middle school students play hooky, what's the most fun thing to do? Ride the train into downtown Boston!

The original plan was to take them to Boston Common to ice skate on the Frog Pond. But the Frog Pond had to close that day due to technical difficulties. So, we came up with Plan B.

Just riding the train back and forth would have been the best day ever for Ryan.

We took a brisk cold walk over to the Children's Museum.

I did not like the brisk. Or the cold.

It was a short walk, and worth it, because the museum was full of opportunities for Mom's favorite thing: Quality Time.

Like bonding with some of our favorite people.

And scooping them up in our bobcat.

The craziest thing we saw was a box with number buttons, coiled cord, and ear piece that Dad kept calling a "phone".

There was even a salon where Dad got his hair did. 

And a karaoke stage where Papa and Kalyn got their groove on.

It was a good day.

And the second train ride was just as awesome as the first!

It happens to be a perfect napping spot.

Happy Birthday Nana

Luckily, our Spring Break fell on the same weekend as Nana's birthday. We went to one of her favorite restaurants, where we ate 25 loaves of soft, fresh bread, and a whole pound of butter.

But the best part was hanging out with family,

cutting the ice cream cake,

and singing HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NANA!

Ryan and The Godfather wasted no time getting reacquainted.

And I think Kalyn grew another inch just since cutting the cake.

We love spending time with our Boston family. Except after 7:00pm, when The Hulk transforms into his tired alter ego.

We can't wait to see them again this summer at the beach. The Return of The Booty Monster happens July 2014!