Fish, Fun & Fright

We headed to the aquarium again this year for their annual Fish, Fun & Fright.  This year we went as a group theme... the Bubble Guppies.  This is a popular TV show for toddlers which Micah & Vitoria like.  Izzy agreed to the theme as she enjoyed them when she was their age.  The TV show is based off a classroom with 6 merstudents and 1 teacher (Mr. Grouper).

We were:

Izzy - Oona

Micah - Gil

Victoria - Molly

Liz - Deema

John - Mr. Grouper

Bubble puppy

Costumes there year were a group effort between John & myself.  Deema's hair was a hat John's mother knitted and with 60+ pompoms attached.  John was giving of himself in making this creation. He also used his handyman skills to make the frame for Mr. Gouper.

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Throughout the aquarium are trick-or-treat stations.  Each asks a different task of the kids before they are awarded their treat

Fish memory game.

Pin the tale on the octopus.

An enjoyable night by all!

Jack-O-Lanter Spectacular

 This weekend we headed to the Rogers Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI for a change a pace.  While figuring out what to do there, we came across their Halloween celebration.... Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular.  On display were 5,000 carved pumpkins with over 100 'veritable works of art'.  The level of detail was amazing.  As we walked, there were themed areas of these amazing carved pumpkins ranging from endangered species, icons, movies and patriotic.

We were in for a fun holiday experience!

The 3 large appearing pumpkins are exactly what they look like.  They are over 1000lb carved pumpkins.

StoryLand

For Columbus Day weekend we headed up north to New Hampshire.  Over the years we've heard of families talk about Storyland with such nostalgia we had to check it out for ourselves.  Storyland is well done for younger children like Micah & Victoria.  There is only one ride they were too small to go on.  Everything else was fair play.  Izzy, on the other hand, was probably the upper limit for age.  However she had a great time! 

One, two buckle my shoe....

I think me my die on this ride with Izzy driving.

 A special activity was tea time with Cinderella.  We bought 3 tickets; Izzy, Victoria & Micah.  However, Micah preferred to grab his cookie and sit with mama while the girls had tea.  John was a trooper and joined the girls on stage.  I think he was as enchanted with Cinderella as the girls were!

This was a favorite amongst us all... the Loopy Lab.  So many balls and so many ways to shoot them, suck them up and drop them.

One of the biggest surprises was running into Izzy's classmate, Michael.  Izzy & Michael have been in the same class since Kindergarten.  After this chance encounter, we spent the rest of the day with them.

 We rode a pumpkin carriage to Cinderella's castle.

The Polar Coaster... Izzy & Michael are in the 1st car.  All of us rode this earlier in the day.  Remarkably Micah did not get sick.

 If we had to vote, this was everyone's favorite... the Bamboo Cutes.  We rode this back to back before calling it a day and heading home.

King Richard's Faire



The weather this past weekend was gorgeous.  With Oma still up visiting, we headed outside Boston for King Richard's Faire... a local renaissance festival. 

HELP ME!

CHARGE!

 So many choices.... Izzy settled on a peacock feather.

 Exactly what Micah and Victoria wanted... food and to be a princess.

 These princesses were part of the major theatre production.  A smaller performance included a round of Ba Ba Black Sheep, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Alphabet song.

 The jousting was one of the most entertaining events.  Our knight, Sir Demetrius, was the winner much to our astonishment.  Another event was the kilt competition.  There were 3 categories; best kilt, strongest and best to embrace the essence of the kilt.  Unfortunately it was late and the kids were on fumes making us leave before watching it fully... much to Oma's disappointment!

Happy Birthday Oma!

 While Oma was up helping me out while on service, we took time out to celebrate her birthday.  A recommendation from one of my colleagues was to eat at Max Brenner.  What a place.... chocolate lovers dream.  Oma ordered a hot chocolate.  The cup reminded us of a urinal.  Good thing it tasted so yummy!

 Micah & Victoria ordered mac 'n cheese.  With it came a syringe of tomato sauce.  Interesting combination but mixed well with each other.  Squirting the syringe was way better though.

The finale was urban s'mores.  I would come here again just for the desserts!  

Mystic, CT

For a fun weekend, we headed south to Mystic, CT.  Yes... the place where the movie Mystic Pizza was filmed.  Of course we stopped for a slice.

One of the highlights in Mystic is their aquarium... beluga whales, sea lions, touch tanks, oh my!

 SHARK!!

The draw bridge in downtown Mystic was amazing.  It was built in the 1920's.  What we were amazed by were its two 230 tons concrete-filled counterweights.  Impressive engineering.