Bedtime Books

Full Disclosure:

This post is for archival purposes to preserve a sweet voice that is already changing and that I never want to forget.

Snapshots of Summer

Third Fourth

We spent the Fourth of July holiday this year in New Hampshire.

We began by picking strawberries.

While Sophia did more eating than picking in the strawberry patch; she did help her Grammie and Aunt Aimee make the shortcake biscuits to eat with them.

Additional activities included Badminton in the Backyard:

Climbing on Cousin Aaron:

And a Fourth of July Parade:

We drove back to Boston Fourth of July night and saw fireworks throughout the two hour trip. Each time Sophia saw one she would exclaim, "Pretty flowers Mama!"

Road Trip

When Sophia was 4 weeks old, we drove ten hours to see our family in Ohio and introduce them to the newest member. We were happy to do it because as an infant she slept most of the time and as a postpartum Mom I sat quite a bit while still healing and had the maternity leave to spread the drive across. 

The following year, when Sophia was 13 months old, we flew and were very glad we did. She hated the car seat, had the attention span of a 13 month old and with a backward facing car seat would have spent many hours with our auto upholstery as her view.

This year, we decided to attempt the drive again, with our newly two year old. First I considered going to the store and buying toys for the trip, but then I decided I didn't want to spend the money. Then I considered going to a Thrift store to buy toys, but decided I didn't want to have the stuff fill up our home after we returned. I finally decided to ask a few friends if we could borrow their toddler approved car toys. Novel toys (and lots and lots of freeze-dried fruit) definitely made the trip doable. 

There were absolutely moments where all three of us very much wanted to get out of the car, but the pictures below show why every mile was worth it.

Stop #1: West Sand lake, NY

Visiting friends Di and Rob

Rob and Sophia finding bolts that will match to spin on screws

Stop #2: Salem, Ohio

3 Generations of Walton: Sophia's Maternal Great Great Aunt Betty

The Schaeffer Family Reunion

Second Cousins

Guilford Lake

Stop #3: Lancaster, PA

A stop at Dutch Wonderland and a visit with friends. Sophia was thrilled by the idea that she was driving and her Mama had to sit in the back seat.

Stop #4: Philadelphia, PA

A visit to her Grandparent's house and time with friends including Lianna, Charlie and Danny (pictured below).

Stop #5: New Paltz, NY

On the way back to Boston we stopped for a Father's Day lunch at Mohonk Mountain House where we had gotten married on Father's Day eight years prior.