I Want OUT! And Other Things We Heard, Saw and Did This Year in Mystic

Summer wouldn't officially be here for our family without our annual trek to Mystic, Connecticut.

A few days before our road trip I took the van in to have the carseats checked by a professional (yes, four kids in and I still don't trust myself to install them properly). I was mainly concerned about Leo's booster but when the tech noticed Harry and Lucy were still rear facing, we started to talk (she was impressed they were still rear facing since it is technically safer). But then we began talking heights and weights and since they were close to outgrowing their seats in their present position,  it made sense to take care of that while we were there. So, one hour and most of a Lego Batman movie later (thank you, minivan DVD player), voila!


Two officially forward facing, big kids.

We hit the road early on Saturday morning. Lucy has never been what I'd call mellow in the car but I was really hoping the novelty of the forward facing would help.

No dice.

Three minutes into New York State and Lucy was shrieking, "I WANT OUT!!"

It was just as relaxing as it sounds.

We stopped in Connecticut to use the restroom and let the kids get their shakes out. We taught them the art of relay racing (not the firing squad that it appears).



It calmed Lucy. For about three minutes.

Side note: I had to laugh at us the night before we left, as we ran around the house like the proverbial chickens, throwing clothes and toys and swim goggles into tote bags. We were going away for One. Night. The scene reminded me of the beginning of "Home Alone"--which takes place the night before a large family is leaving for a trip to Paris. So I had only one goal really, for this year's trip to Mystic: to not forget any of our children.

Newsflash: It's hard traveling with many small children. Really it only takes one miserable child (not mentioning any names) to make the whole thing challenging. But in certain moments, all the hard stuff, all the whining and struggling and cajoling and haggling all falls away.



Our first stop when we hit town was Abbots, our favorite Mystic (technically in nearby Noank) restaurant. Its location on the water (coupled with its lobster rolls and lobster chowder) is truly transporting--it screams "Vacation!" even if you do have to eat your lobster roll while you are chasing around an almost three year old and keeping her from landing head first in the water.






If these two pictures of the kids and me aren't the quintessential shots of being a mom of four kids then I don't know what is. (My favorite part of the picture below is Leo, by the way). And notice how Lucy is getting set to go rogue and refusing to look at the camera? Yup.



I always aim for little, transcendental moments when we travel with the children. For me, that came after lunch, at the hotel pool. Everyone was tired and stir crazy from the car time. But all we had to do was add a little water and soon, all four (all six actually) were in bliss. We had the pool to ourselves for a while--allowing Leo to cannon ball off the side to his heart's content, while Ellie practiced her back stroke. Erin and I took turns throwing twins around the pool (Lucy squealed "I want to do that AGAIN!" about ninety-seven times).

The big plan for a nice dinner at another favorite local restaurant was foiled by an unnamed, non-napped preschooler. Needless to say what began as an "early dinner" quickly became "Uh...can we actually get that to go?" Cheese pizzas and Greeks salads and spaghetti and meatballs were quickly wrapped and it was "home" to our hotel room where the kids picnicked on beach towels and I (out of desperation) paid more to RENT "The Lego Movie" than it costs to buy the DVD. Best money we've spent in a looooong time.

I'll skip the part about the pretty torturous night in a hotel room with twin two year olds (complete with a 1 a.m. wake up due to drunk wedding revelers in the hallway outside our room). It was everything you would imagine it to be.

Oh but I do have to share this.

Poor Leo is afraid of the dark. At home he sleeps with a lamp on in his room. He pleaded with us to leave a reading lamp in the hotel room on. WAY too bright. We agreed to leave the light in the bathroom on AND the door open. He was not satisfied with that compromise. Which is why this trip to Mystic will be remembered as the One When Leo Slept In the Bathtub. I'll once again use the line that sums up our family: Can't. Make. This. Stuff. Up.

Needless to say, we all survived, as we always seem to. There was hot, dark roast venti-sized Starbucks in the morning (shouldn't all hotels have a Starbucks in the lobby?), along with a breakfast buffet complete with strawberries and whipped cream (of course Lucy fell off her chair in the middle of breakfast). Par for the course.

After breakfast came the moment we'd all been waiting for:


Visiting an old friend, the beluga whale at the Mystic Aquarium.


We took our annual picture in front of the penguin statue. Notice anything different about this one? No stroller! This is the first trip we've taken as a family of six wherein no stroller was used. Hooray! And also, EEK!

You know what else was pretty cool?





On our way out of town we finally got to meet Abby and her family. Her mom Cate writes one of the first DS blogs I ever read (hers was one that inspired me to start writing my own). I can't believe I've "known" her now for six years--when we first connected, Abby and Leo were toddlers. Now look at these giant big kids.


Until next time, Mystic. Our goals for when we do return are mighty: Dinner AT a restaurant, sitting  at a table, perhaps? And sleeping through the night in beds. Oh we ask for SO MUCH!

Remind Me Not to Take These Twins Out of State Again Until They're Four: Trip to Mystic, 2013

Oh, I kid. We all had a good time.


There may have been one small girl who spent much of the time a bit cranky.


Have I mentioned Lucy turned two? And now officially hates strollers and holding your hand when walking?


It's taken me a while to figure this out, but I've come to realize that when you have four kids, the odds that someone is going to be irritated about something or unhappy with a situation is almost inevitable. Of course when they're all happy At Once I feel especially proud and revelatory. And it does happen. At least, so I'm told.


See? Totally recovered.




Truthfully, our annual trip to Mystic, Connecticut was just fine. Fun, even! When we weren't fighting with Lucy to sit in the stroller or hold a hand when walking. And in spite of the Miniature-Time-Bombs-Off-Their-Nap-Schedule-Known-As-Two-Year-Old-Twins, we partook in the usual things we love about Mystic: boat climbing, beluga watching, lobster roll eating and hotel pool swimming. (Please note: I am choosing not to disclose what happened on Thursday, between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m. Let's just leave it at, I now know what it's like for someone to sleep with their body draped across your throat. And yes, I'm looking at  you, Lucy).




She's momentarily in control so of course, she's thrilled.


As the big kids like to say, Harry "blew his mind" looking at all the boats at the Mystic Seaport (although I think in this picture he was actually taken by the sound of a passing truck-that boy is in loooove with all things vehicle and mechanical).


What happens when Lucy is contained in the medieval torture device stroller. She kicks. Me. A lot.

This year we were lucky enough to have extended family along to join us: Grandma Jerry and niece/cousin Brandy.

I hope we didn't embarrass them too much.

After a long day of wrangling uncooperative toddlers exploring seaports and children's museums and aquariums and waterfronts, I can think of only one thing: All hail the intoxicating benefits of the hotel room television and Disney Jr. Room-service wine is also helpful (for the moms).

I can't think of a better end to a day with four kids on vacation a trip.


And as I like to say whenever we manage to leave the house: cue the theme to Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey!

Heaven is Here

If there is a Heaven, and I really hope there is, I'm pretty sure it looks like this:And also this.

Saturday afternoon, sipping lemonade against the backdrop of the tall ships lining the Mystic River, the soundtrack of our children laughing as they ran up and down the grassy fields (we played the "Let's tire them out game"--aka who can run the fastest--works every time).

This weekend was the annual trip to Mystic. It always feels like the kick off to our summer.

You may recall this photo from last year.

No, that's not a beluga whale in between Leo and Ellie, that's just me, bloated and swollen and pregnant with twins. Yes, things looked a little different last year. I remember looking at that picture and thinking: Technically, there are five people in this picture. Next year we'll come back here with two babies.

And here they are. The missing two, on the outside now, here to enjoy the aquarium and our little patch of "Heaven" (yes, I realize they don't look all that thrilled to be there--you'll have to trust me--they did have a good time.)

That's more like it. Thanks Harry. (Lucy's pondering something: her next escape, perhaps?)

We spent a wonderful afternoon by the river, the babies on a blanket, getting their shakes out after the long drive. Here Lucy demonstrates her newest favorite trick: Climb whatever obstacle is in front of her. There was a time when a setting like this, the bank of a river, would have given me palpitations, in relation to Leo. But he's in such a great place right now. I really see him maturing in wonderful ways. He's listening better, mellowing out.

Lobster rolls and macaroni and cheese (I'll give you two guesses as to who ate what) by the river at Abbot's. Everyone looks so giant to me here. The babies are clearly still babies but in my mind I often think, We have two kids and two babies. But I look at this picture and it's very clear: There are four of them. I also think: How did we get all these kids?

It always seems like going away (even for one night) is so much work but every time we do it (whether it's going away for a weekend or spending six days in Disney World) I'm always so glad we did it. I can't believe I'm saying this but it was actually more fun with the babies (except for the sleep part--Harry and hotel rooms still don't mix but we all know sleep is overrated).

Another highlight of the trip for me was a Sunday morning swim with just Leo and Ellie. Ellie adores a hotel pool--I'm pretty sure she would have chosen the pool over the aquarium--lucky for us we got to do both. It's just so different now that they are these big kids who know how to swim. It's-dare I say it-relaxing to be with them. We laughed and threw a foot ball. At one point Leo and Ellie were in the pool and I snuck over to the hot tub--of course I was watching them but I didn't need to hover. And of course no one was happy with me in the hot tub and I was ordered to get back in the pool to throw the football to Leo in a matter of minutes.

By the way, pool, then hot tub, then pool? Big Mistake.

Mystic

I didn't take that many pictures. We were very busy.

At the aquarium.

Of course, they wouldn't pose together. Ellie is seen here giving her "I'm so shy" look (that's a new phrase she's been saying and it's about the biggest lie I've ever heard. This child is SO not shy.)

This guy was totally "talking" to us. It was pretty amazing. And I love how belugas look like they're smiling.

It's so weird to think that technically there are five people in this picture. And I look so swollen here there are practically five and a half people.

Time

I think that I need to back away from the twins books.

Unless of course, I want to burst into tears or hyperventilate. But you know what’s funny? What’s getting me is not the idea of nursing two or not sleeping (because it won’t be that different from now, actually!), or changing twenty diapers a day. It’s how it’s going to affect the kids that are already here. The big kids. Leo and Ellie. My babies.

Everyone I’ve heard from with big families (really, who has four kids these days?) has nothing but good things to say. There’s always someone to play with! We were our own little gang! With four kids, someone is bound to like someone, right? And the opposite of course, but I won’t think about THAT right now.

Still, I can’t shake the anxiety that I’ll be spread too thin, that Leo and Ellie, who are so accustomed to the spotlight, will feel resentful and hurt, when they have to share. It is what it is, and I know all of this is normal. It would be weird if I wasn’t thinking about all of this. I guess reading about “older siblings” in a twins book last night (big mistake) just kind of did me in and made me want take to my bed with a glass of merlot (don’t worry, I didn’t). I remember feeling this way when I was pregnant with Ellie too. I would look at toddler Leo and my burgeoning belly and think What Have We Done?

Probably the one thing I'm not worried about is the love. Before Ellie, when it was just Leo, I worried and wondered, how can I love someone as much I love Leo, my first baby? Now I know better. The capacity for love? It's boundless, truly. I guess that's the saving grace (well, one of them) in this crazy life.

***

Switching gears: This weekend was a babymoon of sorts. We took what was likely one of our last trips as a family of four (gulp) up to our beloved Mystic. On the way, we also met up with old friends who bestowed on us a minivan full of twin hand-me-downs. After unloading the van Sunday night, the future nursery looks like Babies R’ Us after a hurricane. I have a lot of organizing to do but seriously, I can’t thank Amy and Elizabeth enough for their generosity.

The trip to Mystic was whirlwind.

More pictures to come, but I will say that we swam in the hotel pool (Ellie’s favorite, hands down). Actually, I’m not sure what she was more excited about, the pool or her new bikini, courtesy of Grandma Jerry. It’s replaced the ballerina dresses in terms of the amount it’s taken off and put back on, just BECAUSE.

We visited with everyone’s favorite, the baby beluga (not really a baby, but no matter). We even got this book from the aquarium gift shop. Ellie made me sing it to her before bed on Sunday night and I panted all the way through).

This is my last week of work for a while. I know. I am in state of shock. Life is about to change in ways large and small. This week is a week of “lasts.” The last time I will attend a staff meeting, eat a burrito in the company cafeteria (not sure which is more momentous), sign off on a proof.

I’m ready though. I’m feeling a little unsteady on my feet as I navigate the crowded, increasingly warm streets of Manhattan (today is flip flop weather though, thank goodness, and while we’re on the subject, I waited a leetle too long and now can’t get my rings off my sausage fingers. Oy.). The nightly commute home gets more and more challenging.

And there are two little people who need more of my undivided attention.*


*(And yes, that is a two-foot tall chocolate Easter bunny.)

All Good Things

This morning, I feel like Ellie.

"I wanna go back to the hotel room!"

That was her refrain last night, all the way down I-95 and across the sparkling Tappan Zee Bridge, as we returned home from our annual weekend (one night, does that qualify as weekend?) sojourn to our beloved Mystic.

No one wanted the weekend to end.

Who would? Let’s see…lobster rolls at Abbot’s, exploring a local playground, swimming at the hotel pool for Erin and Leo while Ellie snoozed in the car followed by dinner with friends (fire roasted fresh clams and mussels washed down with chilled Rosé) topped off with a playdate with two of the most patient Jack Russell terriers I’ve ever met. Then it was back to the hotel room to sink into the multi-pillowed bed for a night cap of Mickey Mouse on-demand.

The next morning began with everyone’s favorite way to start the day: a breakfast buffet. Yes, that meant unlimited scrambled eggs for Leo and yes, his head almost exploded. Then it was more swimming at the hotel pool and on to the Mystic Aquarium, where Leo made a friend.


I know the second shot is blurry but I couldn’t help but include it. You see he’s getting tickled by the bird, who tiptoed behind his neck. Clearly, Leo adored the bird sanctuary, where you hold up a stick with bird seed and some kind of irresistible mush and the birds flock to you to snack. One of the aquarium volunteers spotted Leo and approached him with this trained bird who is exceptionally friendly and tame and well, I think the pictures say it all.

Another big hit was the beluga whale, who Ellie serenaded (sorry whale but you bring new meaning to the term captive audience) endlessly with her favorite song, “Baby Beluga” to. But the piece de resistance was the discovery of…wait for it…a pink baby beluga stuffed animal at the aquarium gift shop. I know! You can imagine the squeals of delight with that one. Ellie hasn’t put it down yet.

Late afternoon was spent at the Seaport. It was a cool but muggy, overcast day and we arrived so late that it was practically deserted, which was surprising and lovely. We rode on a steamboat and a horse drawn carriage tour of the grounds. Then the kids explored the excellent boat playground.

We made the mistake of arriving to the little children’s museum ten minutes before closing time. Leo was not happy to leave there and serious tears ensued, but we rallied.

All in all the kids were wonderful this weekend, really. I hate to sound so surprised but I am really starting to see a bit of a shift, with both of them. Leo still has his impulsive ways and likes to give me daily heart attacks (where's Leo? He was just here!) but all in all, they are just getting to be such kids now. They listen better, stay with us when we’re walking in public and also, they kind of get along with each other, seem to even be little friends who (much of the time though trust me, not all) seem to enjoy each other's company.

Perhaps the biggest development in the Becoming Kids Department: they are really playing together now. It’s more than just hayrides. They’ve moved on to these elaborate story games. Admittedly Ellie is the leader in the language department (“OK Leo now you go there and hide or the bear is going to get you”) but Leo most certainly contributes, and it’s fascinating to watch the two of them communicate, sometimes non-verbally but also in spoken word (have I mentioned that Ellie almost always understands what Leo is saying, even when Erin and I haven’t the faintest clue what he’s saying?). Hide and seek is big (the sliding glass doors on the closet in the hotel room where the awesomest, apparently, for hide and seek). The two of may have discovered Narnia in that closet and at the very least built a village out of extra pillows and laundry.

I wanna go back to the hotel room!

The Weekend of Boat Love and Dog Years

This weekend was our annual trip to Mystic, Connecticut. We normally spend the majority of our time at the Aquarium but this year it was all about the boats for a certain young man in our family.

But let’s back up a moment. We couldn’t just leave town Saturday morning as originally planned. Oh no, that would be too easy. First we had to make a pit stop at the pediatrician’s office for Ellie, because I had a sinking suspicion she’d finally caught the strep that we just seem to be passing around the family. Thank goodness for Saturday hours because yup, she has strep. So it was a quick pause at the pharmacy and then we hit the road.

Leo in travel garb.

We made decent time in spite of the late start and arrived in time for lunch at one of our favorite spots.

Leo could not stop talking about the boats. He was basically furious at the young family who parked their boat next to the dock of the restaurant. Leo could not understand why he too couldn't join them when they left.

That's when we decided to skip the Aquarium and opt for the Seaport.

This year’s visit was much different than last year. A certain little girl is now mobile and quite opinionated. She did not understand why she couldn’t walk along the docks (you know, the ones next to Open Water) without a held hand. I’ll just cut to the chase: I’m a Nervous Nelly. I fully admit. I am terrified of kids and water, particularly my kids. There’s Leo, who doesn’t listen and is prone to unpredictable, quick movements, and there is Ellie who is, well, a month from turning two. Enough said.

So since playing by the dock wasn’t scary enough, we went back to the hotel to go swimming in the pool. Seriously, that was fine. Ellie basically squealed with happiness for the first ten minutes in the pool. One glitch: the part where Leo switched gears from jumping into Erin’s arms and managed to make a break for the hot tub, located right next to the pool. Thank goodness for the nice family that was in the hot tub who caught him and kept him from going completely under. Heart attack special, that’s all I can say about that.

The hotel room was trashed within minutes of our arrival. Leo and Ellie are worse than any rock band when it comes to quick destruction. All the telephones were swiftly unplugged, small appliances hidden.

We decided to lay low the rest of the evening.

The kids were tired. We were more tired. There was room service pizza, “Finding Nemo” on cable and finally, bed.

Waiting for dinner to be served.

Make that, attempted bed. Ellie had other plans.

Seriously, Ellie? Refusing to sleep in a big queen bed with Mommy? (Erin and Leo bunked in the other bed, no way we were all going to be in one bed and live to see morning.) Choosing instead to roam around a dark room, chatting to yourself while your moms pleaded with you and your poor, hysterically overtired brother literally cried himself to sleep? That was the night that felt endless, interminable, yes, a night that could be counted in dog years. I’m being a bit dramatic, I know. It only took her about an hour to settle down before she finally just passed out. I knew she would, but there is that irrational fear of What If? What if she never goes to sleep? What if I’m awake all night?

Just remember:
“Going away with kids is not a vacation, it’s a trip.”

On to the evidence:

The captain of our ship at Mystic Seaport.

More boat driving at the Seaport's playground, located right next to the wonderful little Children's Museum. A great find!

A suspicious stowaway

A cranky captain

Lunch at Seaview Snackbar . Yes, heartburn on a tray but TOTALLY worth it.

Lastly, the back view of the t-shirt I stupidly didn't buy. I've been regretting it since we left.

Still more vacation photos

Index to photos:

-View of where we would have eaten lunch if it hadn't been so cold (63 degrees!). Also both kids were napping in the car. So we ate lobster rolls and tuna sandwiches (Erin made endless fun of me for this but what can I say, I like tuna) without them. Oh darn.

-The obligatory Mystic drawbridge shot.

-Leo and the Humpback Whale.

-Leo and his penguin friends.

Vacation Photos

Here's a selection of photos from the weekend. We left Saturday morning and got back very late Sunday night. It felt like we were gone for a long time, but in a good way. It felt restorative to get away. I felt relaxed. I think a change of scenery is almost always a good thing.

Some highlights of the weekend:

-Swimming with the kids right after we checked in on Saturday afternoon. The both laughed and howled and it was the first time Ellie had ever been in a pool (not counting baby pool).

-The Mystic Aquarium. Always a great time. I had forgotten how breathtaking it is to be so close to all those creatures. The humpback whale that greets you right after the entrance is pretty impressive! (see photo of Leo).

-Laughing so hard with Erin that I cried.

-Leo having time to bond with his penguins. He loves penguins (one of the cutest things ever is seeing him do the sign for penguin).

-Snuggling in bed with my two adorable kids (Leo was super cuddly this weekend).

-Reading a magazine, drinking coffee and then just staring at a wall while Ellie napped and Erin took Leo swimming Sunday morning.

-Just hanging out with the kids in the hotel room Sunday morning while Erin had to do some work. They got along so well and I found it relaxing to be with them somewhere other than home. The view of the water from our room was relaxing. Water is good. We need to live closer to it.

-The best pizza I've ever had at this restaurant. We were on our way out of town last night and needed to get dinner. We stopped for gas and I asked the guy in the store for a recommendation for a good pizza place. Without missing a beat he recommended Angie's and Oh. My. Gawd. Don't laugh, I'm serious. And maybe the best part was that since the dining room was full they had us eat in the bar. It was like a clean, friendly dive bar. It even had a juke box. A really good one. Erin played Tim McGraw and Hank Williams (ignoring my pleas for the Pixies and Michael Jackson and Oasis--that to me is a juke box music but no matter). We even ordered a pitcher of root beer. If that's not the cherry on a great weekend I don't know what is.