2 beach trips and a show

Rest stop break

A few weeks ago we took a trip to Boston. Well, not Boston but it's so much easier to say than listing the towns we went to in MA. Dave was playing a show and had to do some work. Elinor and I tagged along to meet up with some friends and go to the beach. I miss the beach a lot. I'm really a stay at the beach all day type of person. I think that's why I miss being so close. We would go to the beach sometimes for only a hour or 2 and it was so much fun and didn't take hours to get there.

We ended up making to the beach 2 days for a few hours each. It was so nice. Elinor made friends the first day. I didn't bring any toys so when we set our blanket next to a group of moms and their kids (and toys), I sent Elinor over to ask if she can play too. I know, I'm the worst but the kids ending up being so sweet. They all worked on digging a hole for 2 hours. I somehow forgot how rocky some northshore beaches are and I didn't pack her water shoes. I felt so bad. I had to carry her over the rocks to put her in the water.

We got to eat a ton of good food that you can reread over here and we also went to Dave's show. Since the venue was in the same town that Dorie and Henri live in, I was able to miss out on the beginning of the show to hang out with them and some other friends. I miss that area. Everything is so close and there are awesome playgrounds everywhere! Elinor and I made it back to the venue in time to see Daddy play. She was not into it this time. We were stuck on the stage as I held her from running away. We were both sweaty messes. After they played, we got ice cream and all was good. She was a maniac jumping on the couch behind the merch. I can't imagine what she thinks about the things she gets to do.

Hanging out with friends. Thanks Nancy and Stacy for coming to play too!

I always wonder if she will think that our music is so lame when she gets older or if she will think it's cool she got to travel so much. 

sleeping with one of her favorite puppy friends

bonus vine videos from the show 

I like food

I wanted to share this cute protein reminder. Vegans are not protein deprived! Stop asking how we get our protein! I don't know where this image is originally from but I got it from here 

 This week we were in Massachusetts. We had to visit some of our favorite places while there. Flying Saucer Pizza in Salem, MA is awesome but even better, they have a new menu. We tried out the Silurian, evoo and chopped garlic, Teese cheddar, mac n' Teese casserole, kale, sundried tomato. Insanely good! 

 tofu fro-yo from Kushco Bistro with starberries and oreos mixed in. Elinor probably ate more than half. She was so excited it was pink!

 The best cold brew coffee from Gusto Cafe in Beverly, MA.

 Life Alive!! So excited we got to eat it twice. The emperor with tofu and no cheese. Always my favorite. Elinor loves the vegan kiddie quesadilla and a pink smoothie (eros alive)

The cambridge location has a great kids space on the lower level. I sat with her at the little table while Dave and his friend sat at a nearby table so we could all still talk. It was one of the most pleasant dining experience. She would sit and eat then play again. I even read her a few books while she finished up her food.

We went to Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge, MA too. We only ate treats but for some reason my boston cream pie disappeared before I got a picture. Elinor tried the strawberry ice cream. I managed to get a taste of it before she firmly told me that it is her ice cream. For having a baby in a diner super late at night, everyone was friendly and helpful! Thank you guys for making us feel comfortable with being bad parents and having our child up late at a show!

Do you have a favorite restaurant while traveling?

date night

 Elinor and I are always together. Dave and I never have alone time. When my mom was in town she offered to watch Elinor so we could have a much needed date night. It was so nice, we went to a movie, got coffee and walked around Salem. We even lurked around our old apartment. We had a lot of fun and actually got to talk! Most of our conversations are while Elinor is squawking away and half of the time we don't finish what we are saying. We talked about what we did that day to future plans.

We did miss the baby so much though. When we walked in the door we thought she would come running to us for hugs but when we opened the door she barely looked up from playing with my mom. We need to make a point to plan more date nights not only for us but I'm sure Elinor needed a break from mama too!

This is the post that I was trying to write friday but my blogger app kept deleting it. Every time I rewrote it, I couldn't remember exactly what I had said before and it got shorter and shorter...so frustrating! 

sick day

We woke up at midnight last night to a sick crying baby. After getting her nose suctioned and settled back down I realized that I feel awful. We were up most the night.

We piled blankets and pillows on the floor for our sick day

That night it had also started snowing. We didn't see it or even know what was going on outside because we have no view. I miss our view in Salem so much. Now we see the building next door and a little bit of sky since we are on the top floor. Sometimes we even get to see our neighbor painting in his underwear.

But I love our apartment here so much more than our Salem one. I just miss sitting on our dresser and being able to see what was going on outside. Plus the ship was pretty cool!

salem with auntie

My sister is in town! She came to help out my last week alone. Our first trip of the week was to Salem for some Halloween fun with a baby owl. There was a dog/cat costume contest. Elinor loses it when she see animals so that was funny.

 Elinor and Courtney. As soon as I put the hat on her she stared and was very serious.

 Walking with Courtney. She spotted a ball

 and the went after it

you can see where we used to live behind her. Oh I miss it there so much (the town not the apartment)

 waving to more dogs

 baby owl

We had so much fun. We have plans for me to organize/clean the house and more fun outings. Hopefully it involves Elinor wearing more costumes. 

picnic date

A couple of weeks ago we went back to our old neighborhood Salem. We aren't far but we miss all the little shops and parks that were walking distance so much. We picked up lunch at life alive and then headed to Salem Common to have a picnic. Elinor loved people watching, it's her favorite! We also went on the swings for a bit.

segways rolling through our picnic

After our picnic we stopped at the beach. Elinor zoned out looking at the water for so long. This is before she realized she can try to eat sand (which now she does). 

 always sucking her middle finger upside down