First Family Vacation!

Last week we took our first family vacation up to North Eastern Ohio and it was SO fun!

Our sitter was on vacation so we decided it was as good as time as any to pack up and head out of town for a few days.

Our main objective was to get to a little bit of water but also not be in the car for too long because we weren't sure how LM would do.

Thankfully we are less than 4 hours from Lake Erie so that is where we landed!

We stayed in Port Clinton, Ohio and we very centrally located to Catawba Island, Kelley's Island a Put In Bay.  

Neither Mister nor I had ever been up to Lake Erie so we did a bit of research before we went and talked to some friends that knew the area to get some ideas of things to do.  We also left our agenda open to be able to do whatever we wanted and adapt to LM's needs.  

We packed up the car Monday morning and hit the road!  LM was a CHAMP in the car and slept the entire time.  Mister and I listened to The Magnolia book and if we didn't love Chip and Joanna enough before, we are full on obsessed now.  We just love them.  

We pulled right into town and had lunch at a cute spot on the water.

We settled into the hotel and LM was thrilled to have a big ol bed to play on.

 Later that afternoon we took the ferry over to Kelley's Island.  It was adorable!  It is teeny tiny island but oh so cute and a great little afternoon trip.  

 We found a little beach to walk onto and dipped LM's toes in the sand and the water, he seemed to love it!

Tuesday we woke up slowly (LM slept until after 8!) and we took a BIG ol ferry over to Put In Bay.  We've heard many stories that PIB is party city but mid June in the middle of week and the middle of the day it was totally calm and pretty.  We took LM to a park we found and he had his first big swing on a swing set (don't worry I took approximately 1000 photos).  

We had another water side lunch and LM had his lunch reclined in his stroller in a park...rough life! 

Funny story, we forgot one part of his bottles and didn't realize it until we were already on the island.  Mister and I stood and looked at each other for a good 60 seconds like what in THE heck do we do?!  Thankfully we managed to find a hole in the wall grocery and they had ONE bottle there and I snagged it up and we were good to go!  Adventures in parenting! 

That evening we strolled around Lakeside, walked out on the pier and took in the beautiful weather.  

 LM also had his dinner in a park that night...vacation rules!

Though our trip was short it was perfect and we loved experiencing so many firsts with LM!

Boston : Part 2

If you need to catch up you can check out the first Boston post here!

After we saw a whole lot of downtown Boston we headed North for the weekend!

Mister and I had a goal of seeing as many states as possible and we were able to check off New Hampshire and Maine in one day.  

We spent the first part of the day in Ogonquit, Maine at the beach and checking out the adorable small town.  

While we weren't getting chased up the coast by the tide, I was reading Judy Blume's new book.  (I'll have a book review soon, but I felt so so about it.)  Regardless, it was fabulous to sit on the beach and do nothing in the sunshine.

After some beach time we headed up the coast to Kennebunkport.

Holy adorableness.  

I've heard and read about Kennebunkport but it was even prettier and more picturesque in person.  I would love to go back and spend more time there.  

(get ready for a million boat and water pictures...you've been warned.  I couldn't stop taking pictures.)

That evening we found a great outdoor patio and enjoyed a few drinks over looking the water and dreaming about boats we wanted to buy.

The next day we headed the other direction and out to Martha's Vineyard.  I was really, really excited to see the Vineyard and I am so glad we were able to go.  

We were able to drive about an hour and take a 45 minute ferry and land in the Vineyard.  We then took buses around the island to the different areas/small towns, do some shopping and grabbing delicious seafood dinners.

I can totally see why so many people buy houses out there, it is beyond beautiful!

We could have easily spent a lot more time out there.  

Thankfully we were able to catch an incredible sunrise on the way back...breathtaking!

(I have to give Mister credit for this sunset picture...it was all him and on his iPhone!)

Don't worry East Coast, we will be back!

A huge THANKS to Bethany and Kevin for their hospitality and showing us the best time out East!

Boston

Very good friends of our moved to Boston a little over a year ago and we have been dying to get up there to see them.  We hear nonstop how amazing Boston and the surrounding areas are and how quickly they can be reached.

Our friends both celebrated birthdays over Labor Day weekend so we thought it was a great time to head north!

We packed a lot into the 5 days we were there so for some sanity, I will break these recaps into a couple of posts.  I love looking back at our old trip posts and remembering our vacations, such a great journal! 

But first, we (by we I mean I) had a small hiccup before we left town.

By hiccup I mean I feel down our stairs, twisted my ankle and smacked it good and hard on our tile floor.  SO walking all over Boston was interesting but by golly I did it!

The real kicker is that I wanted to run in as many states as I could while there.  This did not happen but I don't think it's broken so I am calling it a win. 

Thursday when we arrived we headed straight to Wahlburgers...sweet potato tater tots and the possibility of seeing ce, yes please!

We took it easy that night and hung out, had wine and loved on the doggies.

Friday we took the train into the city and our first stop was Fenway.

Fenway was number one on Mister's list to see and it was pretty high up on mine as well.

It lived up the hype!

We had an awesome opportunity to go up in the press box

the Green MonstAH 

and on the field!!

They said they don't always let tours on the field so we were very excited!!

To say Mister was losing his mind would be an understatement.

After Fenway we walked around the city some more, headed over the Commons and on to the number one item on my list...the Swan Boats.  The moment I found out about these, I knew we had to do them.

$3.50 a ride, I am easily amused.

Next up, we hit up Cheers, the North End, Boston Public Market, Qunicy Market and more!

We rounded out the afternoon with a tour around Harvard and delicious burritos from Felipes.

Bethany's FitBit told us we walked 18,000 steps and almost 8 miles.  

I spent a good majority of those miles (hobbling) and staring at all of the architecture.  Mister spent them pointing out places from Good Will Hunting. 

I will be back tomorrow with the rest of our trip! Get ready for one million beach, boat and sunset pictures.  You've been warned ;) 

Aloha! Hawaii Part 5

This may be long but it should be the end of the Hawaii recaps ;)

Unless you want to see step by step of our photo book creation process...

In our finals days we tried to cram in all the last little things on our list and eat up more deliciousness.

(see, Leonards, we had it twice and I will never regret it.) 

Friday morning we were up early and headed to Pearl Harbor.

We did not have tickets but had planned on just walking around the exhibits and forego touring the Arizona Memorial.  Well we got lucky and Kait was able to score tickets for a tour starting right after we got there! 

Though somber, the memorial and all of the exhibits there were very well done and I am very glad we had the chance to experience all of it. 

After Pearl Harbor we headed down to beautiful Waikiki.

I had no idea Waikiki had such great shopping and high end shops, really fun window shopping!

Not too mention, the beauty that was the beach! 

The next day Mister and I headed back to Waikiki and were able to check out the Royal Hawaiian hotel.

You may recognize it from an opening season of Mad Men, which is one reason we wanted to see it.

That and also because ENTIRE thing is bright pink. 

One day we will stay there...

We took our last day slowly and tried to soak up all the wonderfulness that the past week had been.
We delayed leaving as long as possible and tried to put Judy in our suitcase.
Before leaving we walked down to the ocean, made a wish and tossed our leis out to sea...

As the Hawaiians say

(thank you)
to Kait, Dane, Judy and all of Hawaii for showing us one of the best and most beautiful vacations we've ever had!

Aloha! Hawaii Part 4

Now that we had hiked the side of a cliff, Diamondhead was next on our list.

Mister and I started bright and early to try and beat the heat Thursday morning.

It sure isn't a smooth path but the trail at Diamondhead is relatively paved, which is nice.

It's also windy, steep, hot and full of metal stairs.

But the views at the top are incredible and were totally worth it!  

After Diamondhead we headed to what turned out to be my favorite beach. (well besides Miss Judy's secret beach but that's another story.)
I present to you Hanauma Bay in all of it's beauty.

You can guarantee this one is being framed in our house.

We snorkled, we beached and we soaked up the beautifulness.

And to cap off an amazing day, we went to dinner at Dane and Kait's favorite Thai restaurant.
Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
We are still drooling over the Pad Thai and drunken noodles.
And I don't hate BYOB either.

Happy bellies and happy hearts.

Aloha! Hawaii Part 3

Back with more aloha for you!

Long before we got to Hawaii I asked Kait if we could go to the Makapu'u Tide Pools because I had seen her amazing pictures and really wanted to experience it.  Getting to the tide pools required a bit of a hike (totally fine) and then scaling down the side of a cliff (not so fine).  No one told me about scaling a mountain to get to the tide pools and it is better that they didn't.  The climb was intense and scary and really awesome all at the same time.  About halfway through I thought 'well this is happening and there is no turning back.'  I am actually pretty proud of myself for doing the climb, it was a doozy.

The photo we told Mister to send to Dateline if we didn't make it. (Kidding Mom, sorta...)

And totally worth it!  The tide pools were absolutely beautiful and worth the trek.  A true hidden gem.  

And what goes down, must climb back up...

Just a bit daunting...

But also one of my favorite parts of our trip.

When we weren't out scaling mountains, we spent a lot of time with Miss New Judy.

She is such a sweet, sweet girl.

And loves a good golf cart ride...

Stole this one from Kait

And when Judy needed a break from us, we would happy hour at cool places...like a bar full of Coast Guard memorabilia or the best and most unusual mai tais you've ever had.