Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Steven and Meredith....a visit in between rotations

We visited Steven and Meredith in between his surgical and pediatrics rotation...
Which coincided with the leaf changing season in New Hampshire....perfect!
We flew out of Seattle on the red-eye to Boston on Thursday




Here I am with straight hair...quite the change--
whenever I get a "cut and color" all my curls go wacky,
so lately I have been having Kori give me a blow out--
so for 3 days, Ron has a different wife...
I think he likes that a bit too much!! haha





see, what I mean!






 but I have to admit, it is fun to be different once in awhile!

We arrived while Meredith was at work and Steven was on call,
so we took them up on  their offer of a nap and a sneak peek at their
new place in a 19th  century farmhouse!
We were so happy to see them...
and here they are now,

One of our main reason to visit them,
to bring BABY GIFTS 
So we had our own baby shower!
I even brought a "New Mom" tiara for Meredith to wear
while we opened the presents....  

My children know that I am not a real "seamstress" so
any thing I sew, I sew mainly with LOVE not expertise!
But lately I have been having fun with
baby flannel
making blankets and burp cloths...

I also crocheted a "blessing" blanket for baby boy maxfield,
I think it's somewhere there in the "haul"
including Mariner paraphernalia
along with a few shopping trips to Carter's...
(there are a lot of cute baby boy clothes out there!)


We went out to eat a couple of times,
once at the Hanover Inn across from the Dartmouth Green

On Steven's one day off, Saturday, we took a trip to Woodstock Vermont--
on the way we stopped at the Farmer's Diner for lunch in Quechee

They were having a antique fair --so we just had to check it out


After finding my Bell canning jars and snowshoes for our cabin
(that became our carry-on  luggage when we flew home!)


We went for a hike up Mt. Tom that over-looks Woodstock,Vermont






this photo is kind of funny...
it looks like Ron is creepy behind 
Steven and Meredith!!

Almost to the top, there was a "walden-style" pond

Meredith had taken the hike last year with the YW
and she remembered it being a nice little "stroll"
It was beautiful, but it was longer than a stroll
Meredith was a trooper and only needed a few rests along the way
baby boy maxfield seem to enjoy the hike!


the VIEW....worth the hike

resting at the over-look

Ron and I  enjoying the scenery

and of course no matter where they are, the maxfield boys
will find a way to make it into a SPORT--
here they are playing acorn baseball!!

wrestling to see who wins!

and showing their "love" for the camera!

We took a detour on the way back....
along the "one less Traveled" path...


not sure it was faster....

but it was fun!!

we got back to the parking lot--
AFTER closing...
but they hadn't locked us in...
thank heavens...
our little stroll ended up over two hours!

On Sunday, Steven was on call,
so before we went to church,
we meet him in the hospital cafeteria for lunch

On Monday,
 we left Hanover and drove an hour to meet our friends,
the Conlans,
(yes, the ones we visited in Spain)
they have retired in a picture perfect location an hour from
Steven's--can you believe that!

they took us on another "stroll" around their winter wonderland,

Here is Ron with Mike and Claudia in their picturesque 
New England village

we hiked back along the cross-country ski trails right to their front door.



We flew out of Boston that afternoon and arrived back in Seattle by midnight-

a fast fun weekend--

We loved seeing Steven and Meredith and helping them with the
 nursery and being a part of their lives.
We are excited to see baby boy maxfield
and know that they will be great parents!!

Labor Day filled with labor and love!

In August we were able to visit Morgan and Jacob in New Mexico (see previous blog)
In September we were able to spend some one on one time with Michael, Jessica and the girls--
we are loving having them live so close,
and enjoy when they get time to run away with us to the cabin--

The start of our Labor Day Holiday weekend was spent at the Roslyn Day Festivals--


First we attended the Logging competition
there were authentic lumberjacks here!
they put on quite a show.



Next we enjoyed the parade
down Main Street in Roslyn

the antique trolley...

The horse and buggies--
 the Roslyn Day "Queens" past and present


here's the mayor

the antique firetrucks for Ronald and Roslyn






Don't you love the bearded character along the parade route!?



Afterwards Ron had to do some "labor" on this holiday weekend
He installed snow guards to the shop roof
 


 

 When Michael's family arrived it was time for some FUN...
the girls are wonderful entertainment...

Lucy provided the musical portion of the show

 She can now sing along with
"itsy bitsy spider"



"up came the sun..."
after singing she was ready for a ride with grandpa



then it was time to snuggle with Riley....


The previous week  Jessica had to take me to 
Spokane for my "eye scare"--posterior vitreous separation--
we celebrated the positive outcome by shopping
at the Carter's outlet store there...

So the girls just had to put on 
a fashion show 
to display grandma's purchases!


They know how to walk the runway!!
work it girls...

We also had to take some photos in their "cabin" shirts....



The next day was bright and sunny,
I felt bad, because last Labor Day we had invited the
entire Scott Family up and the weather was miserable
(except on Sunday of course!)
We had a good time with them...and spent time on the lake
but we had to bundle up and brave the cold and rain on the water...

This was the year they should have come to the lake...
It was Beautiful!!

the girls LOVED playing in the mud...
look at Lucy's happy face...


Ron and Riley out on the water..

Michael on the "loaner" from Cascade Playtime--


 Ron's turn to test it out....


Sean (the owner) was out on the lake and the let the guys
play on his newest toy...


What a great day on the lake....


Grandpa teaching Lucy a new skill...
rock throwing...

our base camp for the day...


Michael taking Lucy for a spin



time for snacks...



My turn on the lake...
I really love to jetski now!



Jessica and Emma


After the day on the Lake...
we returned to finish our labor on Labor day
the girls wanted to help grandpa
pour cement...
sounds fun right!

Watching grandpa smooth it out....
it was perfect....

But then we talked him into messing it up...

you HAVE to have handprints in wet cement...
you just HAVE to!

So here is Riley leaving her mark on the cabin


then it was Emma's turn to leave her imprint...


and then Lucy, sweet, Lucy 
had to leave her mark too...

Just like they have left their imprints in our hearts....


How we love this little family....