Since I’ve moved here, I keep seeing things and experiencing things that I want to share with my kids. My children were born in Kansas City, but we moved to Oregon shortly after Autumn was born. Even in their early lives we explored many places and had many adventures.  Sometimes our adventures were centered on the nature like renting a cottage on the Oregon coast, rafting a river, seeing a waterfall, or sledding in the mountains. Other times our adventures were in the cities of Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco. In Missouri we continued our adventures including the sites of Kansas City, St. Louis, Jefferson City, Lake of the Ozarks and other trips resembling Chevy Chase’s Vacation family trekking across the country.

My words can’t describe how much I love being with my kids and sharing new experiences. Now that they’re married and have families of their own, shared adventures are much more difficult. We made it happen this year by flying both families in for the week after Christmas. We rented an apartment on the coast in Hampton beach that holds all of us and give us room to move around as our apartment is too small. If you can’t tell, I’m pretty excited. Baby Elizabeth is coming too! This is her first trip and the entire Sheppard clan is excited to see her. In my role as amateur travel agent, I’ve booked everyone to fly in on the same airline arriving so close together they are sharing the same baggage claim!

Our week has been mostly family time. We visited the Sheppard clan and had a large family Christmas at our apartment clubhouse in Manchester. Another day was spent with the Bow/Concord Sheppards just for fun. Elizabeth and Lillee are friendly, but still too young to really play. At the beach house, we’ve played games, taken cold walks on the beach, eaten lobster rolls, and enjoyed each other’s company. I’m so fortunate to be the first adult, other than her parents, that Elizabeth has fallen asleep with.

Jim needed to leave our adventure early so we booked him a flight to leave Tuesday morning. Of the 6 days they spent with us, Tuesday had to be the day to drop six inches of snow.  Amanda, Elizabeth, and Janet stayed at the beach house while Erik, Autumn, Jim, & I  braved the weather to get Jim to the airport. Traffic was certainly wicked that morning, but we got him off.  Erik and Autumn were left to experience Tour Guide Dad! We parked the truck at the Wellington station and took the train to Quincy Market. We ate breakfast at the table we’d eaten clam chowder in 2003 when we’d had a Sheppard family Thanksgiving in New England. From there we took the Old Town Trolley for a tour of Boston. Erik was psyched to go by Fenway Park. The tour finished at the Boston Tea Party museum, and we enjoyed lunch at a North End restaurant. Not too bad for a snowy day.

The rest of the week included more family time and a beautiful drive up the coast to Nubble light in York, Maine with Erik and Amanda to give Elizabeth a perfect nap.  Travel agent Dad lucked out again as Erik & Amanda’s flight had them switch planes in Newark where Autumn was headed.

I really enjoy my solo adventures. I love my adventures with Janet. I find I cherish my adventures with my children. Showing them the world is a dream come true for a tour guide dad!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller