Labor Day Weekend 2017

So my parents have been vacationing up at the Lodge for the past 2 weeks.  We headed up there early on Friday to spend Labor Day weekend with them.

On Friday, we went for a hike at Kilburn Crag in Littleton.  The hike was an easy 0.7 miles each way, with a great view overlooking downtown Littleton and the whites at the top.

After the hike we just hung out at the Lodge the rest of the day.

On Sunday the weather wasn’t very good.  We had Polly’s for breakfast.   In the early afternoon I took Eli to the indoor rock gym, then to run some errands.    My parents headed home after dinner.

On Monday morning we packed up and headed home to beat the Labor Day traffic.

Overall a low key and relaxing weekend with the family!

First family hike success!

This weekend Michele was finally not in Florida.  She headed up to the Lodge with the boys on Thursday.  Andrea, Nathan, and Hazel were up Friday night until Saturday morning.  Dave came up Friday night.

On Saturday morning we did Polly’s w/ the Watson’s.  After that we did the Basin.  After the Basin the Watson’s headed home and we went back to the Lodge for Tommy’s nap time.  After nap we just hung out at the Lodge the rest of the night.  The kids have been building a hiking trail in our backyard, which has been keeping them occupied and enjoying outdoors.

So far hiking as a family has been a challenge.  There is usually lots of whining, fighting, both parents and kids getting frustrated.

On Sunday we decided to try again and do the Lonesome Lake trail.  This trail is 1.2 miles from the Lafayette campground to Lonesome Lake, then another 0.4 to the hut.  The trail is easy to moderate grade the entire way.

Early on in the hike we decided to split up, Dave took Eli and Aaron, and Michele took Tommy.   This turned out to be the ‘hack’ that solved our family hiking dilemma.  Dave could hike at a faster pace with the older kids, and Michele could take her time w/ Tommy.  Also, when the kids are split up they don’t fight and whine as much.

It turned out to be a great hike.  We had excellent views of the Franconia ridge and everyone had a good time.

At least for now, it turns out the best way to have a family hike is to not hike together as a family!  We’re hoping this turns around soon!

 

Parents visit for the first time!

This weekend Dave’s parents visited the Lodge for the first time.

Michele was traveling for work over the weekend, so on Friday night Dave drove up with the boys.

On Saturday morning Dave took the boys to the playground in Sugar Hill center, to kill some time before the parents arrived.

Turns out the playground was a big hit, there were a ton of trucks for Tommy to play with, and enough to keep the older kids occupied for a little while.

After the parents arrived we then had to hang around the house for the internet guys to arrive and install service.  We definitely wanted to get internet, primarily for remote home monitoring services (nest, security, etc.), and satellite was the only option.  Turns out the satellite internet is fast enough for netflix and everyone’s devices to be running in parallel.

After nap time we went into Littleton and did Chutters, the music store, and the toy store.  The kids know how to capitalize on the grandparents visit!

After shopping we went to Dutch Treat in Franconia for dinner.  It’s very much a local place, but good atmosphere for the kids and decent grub!

On Sunday we went to the transfer station to get rid of all our garbage that has accumulated from the move, and then got a ladder at Lowe’s, things made easier by borrowing my parents pickup!

After chores, we went to Clark’s Trading Post.  The boys had a blast on the snake slide, train ride w/ the wolf man, the bear show, and of course, shopping in the gift shop.

Once we finished up at Clark’s we headed back to the Lodge, my parents left, then I fed + bathed the kids, and we went back home.

All in all a successful, fun weekend at the Lodge!