It's hard to believe this was our first stay in the White Mountains! My husband and I grew up here in New Hampshire, but staying up north was a new experience for both of us. Here is a little peek into our glorious family trip up north a few weeks ago.
Traveling with children is fun, but it is not always relaxing. You know what I mean, right? But this particular weekend was not that way at all! Maybe it was the clean mountain air. Or the jaw-dropping vistas around every turn. Either way, we kept an easy, slow pace and spent lots of time outdoors without an agenda. Our boys were SO happy running, exploring, jumping on rocks, and getting dirty in the autumn mud.
BREAKFAST AT POLLY'S PANCAKE PARLOR. This was another first for me, and so delicious- for lunch! After a morning of driving up to our little cabin, this was the perfect pitstop before the final stretch through Bethlehem, NH to the White Mountain National Forest.
We (my in-laws, plus John's sister who was visiting with her two children from Tulsa) stayed in a charming rental that was right on the trails of the Bretton Woods resort. Mt. Washington was visible in all her glory from our living room window, and the Mt. Washington Resort was just a short car ride down the street.
Abram is now at an age where he participates in most of our family activities, but he still takes a solid afternoon nap. John seized that opportunity to take Judah on a hike for some father-and-son time. Like many kids, our boys love the chance to be one-on-one with us (what we like to call "special time"). Judah probably talked about his hike with John for the next two days!
This whole trip was sort of about reconnection. Reconnection with our family from far away, and even our in-laws (who we live with!), John, Judah, Abram and me. Reconnection with the outdoors, with nature, with fresh air.
Something neat we noticed while up north was Judah's level of comfort outside, playing, taking healthy risks. He's always enjoyed outdoor time, but since starting preschool his love for playing outside has really exploded. Running, jumping, getting SO dirty!, giving Mama a heart attack as he leapt from huge rocks . . . it was fun to witness him so at ease and energized by his surrounding. Also partly terrifying to watch our 20-month old Abram try to copy everything his older brother did (palm to face).
It's easy to take New Hampshire life for granted- easy to gaze past the beauty surrounding us, the sacredness of nature in it's undisturbed state, the crispness of truly fresh, clean air.
We came back home feeling revived and relaxed, fantasizing about living in a little mountain cabin and raising the boys in the woods instead of the suburbs. Not sure that will ever come to pass, but I'm excited to think about visiting again!
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