Newport

We took our week long vacation the second week in August and did a little New England tour. The Sharp’s brought their sailboat, Stolen Moments, up to Newport for the whole month of August, and we were happy to get to live on it for a week. We started in Newport and then went to Menemsha, Nantucket, Edgartown (Martha’s Vineyard), Cuttyhunk, and then back to Newport. Lydia also came with us. This was only her second time on a boat, and certainly the longest. She did great – feeling seasick only a few times (eek!).

Here’s a shot of Menemsha. It’s a very small, picturesque fishing village where the moving Jaws was filmed. It consisted of just a main street with some shops, one restaurant, and one ice-cream place. Really all that we needed.
Dave and the girls caught this monster fish off the back of the boat. If we were going slow enough we put out a fishing rod with some bait to see what we could get. Unfortunately it was a blue fish, which taste disgusting, so we threw it back (no so unfortunate for the fish I guess). 

I took every opportunity to do what I like to do most on the boat – drink wine and read. I read a book called The Vanishing Year, which was a thriller and so good! 

There was only one day of bad weather (where both girls got seasick). Unfortunately it was our longest day on the water, traveling from Menemsha to Nantucket. I think Lydia might have been regretting her decision to come on this vacation at this point. 
Once we got to Nantucket it was gorgeous. Here is Dave and the girls in front of the lighthouse that welcomes you into the harbor. Nantucket was the only spot that we paid for a dock slip. The rest of the time we were on moorings out in the water. We took the opportunity to use their showers and laundry.

Right off the beach in Edgartown the girls caught little puffer fish in their nets. They were so tiny, and when you picked them up they puffed right up – providing hours of entertainment. 

Family shot on the lookout in Edgartown, which was my favorite spot of all the places we visited. We were actually there a few years ago, when I was pregnant with Lauren and Sophie was just 2 1/2. 

Our last stop before heading back to Newport was Cuttyhunk – a little island with less than 100 residents. This is a shot of the mooring we stayed in from a hill on the top of the island. This was also the second time that we’ve been there. It’s such a unique place – a one room school house for all children who live on the island, one little “grocery” store, an ice-cream stand (of course), and of course ample opportunity to eat oysters and lobster. 
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At the end of August we took a week and headed up to New England to stay on a boat and sail around, visiting a few different places. We started in Newport, sailed to the tip of Cape Cod to Cuttyhunk and then went to Martha’s Vineyard where we visited Edgartown and Vineyard Haven. It was an excellent vacation with perfect weather. Sophie got sea sick the first day and then was great for the rest of the week.

Sophie spent a lot of time helping Dave steer the boat. 

We dubbed this hairdo “boat hair.” She wouldn’t keep her hat on, so this was the only way I could keep it out of her face. I think it might be a new fashion statement. 

We enjoyed a lot of ice cream. This is a spot in Edgartown. 

Heading off to visit the Edgartown Lighthouse. 

We visited a nature sanctuary where they had a kids program. They found lots of little water critters and then the instructors talked about what everything was. I’m not sure who was more into it, Dave or Sophie. 

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Last weekend we all drove up to Newport, RI to see the America’s World Cup World Series. They were racing right off the land, and Dave really wanted to go see it up close. Sophie and I hung out in the town and visited the racing a few times.

All of the boats. 

On the Ferry out to the island where the racing was. 

There was a band playing and Sophie took full advantage by dancing her heart out. You can see her in action here.

Soph and Dave checking out the boats.

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