Providence Children's Museum

On our first visit to the Providence Children's Museum:

Sophia drove some heavy machinery, 

tried out a bed in the hull of a ship,

 used a phone that only her parents had seen outside of a museum,

 and went camping.

 All of these experiences are why we love bringing her to children's museums. However, it came as no surprise that the water room was her favorite. 

We genuinely wondered how long she would have continued her work if left uninterrupted. 

Nantucket

I have been wanting to visit Nantucket since I moved to Massachusetts, almost half my lifetime ago.

With two year old in tow, we splurged for the one hour high speed ferry.

We were a bit nervous as to how she would react to being awoken at 5:30 in order to catch the first ferry for our day trip.

When I whispered that we were "going on an adventure" and that she could eat a sandwich in the car for breakfast, a big grin spread across her face.

It was truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The cedar-shingled houses and beautiful gardens kept reminding us of Aunt Hazel's. Even the bathrooms were beautiful (as pictured above).

We spent most of the day bicycling around the Island. Sophia was thrilled to be riding one for the first time with her very own seat and helmet.

Since we were there on a Thursday, the beach was pretty empty and Sophia improvised with my sandals for toys.

She also decided that the space under the lifeguard stand was her very own house.

Inspired by Sophia's Uncle James the month before in New Jersey, my highlight was running into the water with my daughter and hearing her delighted giggles as we both got soaked.

Before boarding the return ferry, the three of us shared an ice cream with a homemade waffle cone that you could smell baking while we waited in line and was still warm when we held it.

Labor Day Weekend

My brother came to visit us for the Labor Day Weekend. It was a good excuse for Sophia to go on many mini-adventures with her Uncle James.

Picking vegetables in Godparents Glen and Carolyn's garden.

Taking the train into Boston.

Riding bikes at the Boston Children's Museum.

Dinner with dear friends Kelly and Jacob.

Grilling at the South Shore Children's Museum.

A walk on Wollaston Beach.

   

Visiting animals and picking apples at Jane and Paul's Farm.

Riding turtles in Norfolk.

A cook out at Aunt Aimee's.

Lake Winnipesaukee

Joshua's favorite childhood vacation spot was Alton Bay, New Hampshire on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Given the choice of swimming locale, lakes are at the top for me, particularly when surrounded by Mountains.

Alton Bay is about two hours from where we live now, so we left as soon as the Boston rush hour traffic finished and arrived in time to eat lunch right alongside the water.

One of the shops had a large print of pink ice cream, which combines two of Sophia's favorite things at the moment.

Since we were there on a Friday, she enjoyed a playground and the swimming beach pretty much all to herself.

She was very proud of her new found ability to collect water independently.

However, the clear highlight of the day was when her Dada swung her in the water, "again, again, again".