We Survived Our Summer Vacation

Daddy & Logan

Preston throwing shells

I must say, after we made our vacation arrangements and the day finally arrived, I was apprehensive about taking two kids 3 and under on a flight across the country.  To put the icing on the cake Preston conveniently came down with a bad stomach virus and was, let's shall we say, not "sea worthy" for a day prior to departure.  Logan was sporting a drippy nose and mild temp.  We had a red eye planned praying to the high heavens that the kids would be so conked out they would sleep the flight away.  50% of that idea worked out.  One of our travelers was not a great sleeper on his first night flight.  Preston kept waking up to kicking and screaming every forty-five minutes.   Therefore; I didn't sleep a wink the entire time.  We were all in zombie-like status for the rest of the day.  We got a nap in but it took a good day and a half to get back on schedule.  

Grandma and Logan (and his new use of a cane)

Andover Bell Tower with my father's name on it?

Rob was all about walking around Phillips Academy and to downtown Andover.  It was great because it wore out the kids and they napped so well for being on vacation.   The large bell tower at the end of the campus has had names on the side dedicated to Andover soldiers who served in WWI. Under 1917 my father's name (close to it) has been a fascination of mine for decades.  Who was this Edward Hines Jr.? Did he have any relation to my father or my extended family? Looking at the names during our visit had so much more meaning because two names down from "my father's" are the last names Preston and under that Taylor (almost a Naylor very close).  The bell tower was the site where the Andover military would train and drill. According the plaque on the bell tower wall in 1789 President George Washington held an informal reception on horseback greeting the townspeople and the Academy students.  So much history in my little town!

Our adventures soon brought us to the Cape.  Logan had to make a brief appearance at the walk-in clinic to discover that he was suffering from a bad ear infection.  Antibiotics hard at work and we were at the beach the next day.  We lucked out and had wonderful weather and the kids loved it. Logan went into the water with me and splashed his little heart out, in addition, to eating fists full of sand.  Daddy and Preston dug holes, built sand castles and scoured the beach for rocks. The heat, the sun and our fun lent us all to some good Naylor napping later in the day.  We had the pleasure of a good old fashion BBQ thanks to the Maffie's and their grandchildren, as well as. a family visit from the Hines'and Mr. Mullen (who shares a birthday with Logan).  All and all a wonderful Cape visit with lots of great memories.

Nature had a surprise in store for us.  The rest of my aunts and uncle came to see Logan and Preston before we left.  About an into our visit one of the most violent of rain storms attacked my mother's house.  First it was thunder and lightening, then heavy rains but soon came whipping winds and hail.  It was a sight to be seen.  The windows, even while closed, got flooded with rain water.  What do you do when your power is off and it's dinner time?  You take the family to Joe Fish!  The boys were relatively well behaved for it being such a crazy evening.   Of course, the power went out and didn't return until 3 AM the next morning, which made for an interesting sleeping experience.  Thankfully there was no real damage and everyone was safe and sound.  We even got to see Eileen and the Coco boys at Mad Maggie's for some yummy ice cream.

Even with the sickness, the crazy flight and unexpected storms we survived our summer vacation. The late night flight ended up being a better fit for the boys who slept 2.5 hours soundly on the return.  Time to enjoy the last couple weeks before work starts up again.  Two months went by way too fast.
 

Logan 10 Months at the Cape with Grampie's picture

Preston and a New England stick