This weekend we took the kids on a short trip up to North Conway, NH. We had been talking about for some time and didn't know exactly when to fit it in. Last weekend we decided that it was now or never for the year ... I'm really glad we went. I'm still in the big Dad glow here.

On the way up we stopped in Portsmouth, NH to get special treats at a cool toy store there for the kids and to eat lunch. Henry found a old time car and Hazel was pleased to get a set of "guys" (Playmobil) which included a "baby guy."

It took a while to get to the hotel, but once there we went to the pool for a short swim. Hazel wasn't too into this time, but after some warming up Henry had some fun. His big moment was walking across the 3 ft. section without holding onto anything. "Mom, I'm swimming!" That evening we went for a ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad with some friends who were also at our hotel. It was great. They used a steam engine. We got all the authentic smells, smoke and cinders in an unpopulated car (Everyone else knew better and sat in other cars.). Afterwards we ate at Pizza Hut. I hadn't been to one of those in years. It had all of the original decor. I didn't eat anywhere near my record number of slices, just three this time, but it still made me feel twenty years younger! (The Apple Jacks I had the next day added to the effect.) We crashed very early at the hotel.

After a decent, free hotel breakfast that was only slightly marred by Hazel spilling pancake syrup on herself and necessitating a change of clothes mid-way, we packed up and went to Storyland. After paying we immediately went to the antique cars. We rode them twice back-to-back, once with Henry driving us all and once with both kids in separate cars. We then did a big round of rides, including Henry's first roller coaster ride. This was an absolute treat for me and a very proud moment. Henry loved it! We went twice. He had so much fun riding on that and the other rides it was hard for Meg and I to believe it. He was smiling and laughing non-stop. By the time most rides were over (the fast ones anyway) I often realized I hadn't looked at anything but his face for the full two minutes. Hazel had fun too and enjoyed rides that were faster than I thought she might like, except for the Twirling Turtles. For that ride Blue Doggy came in handy. Hazel was too short to ride the Flying Fish or the roller coaster. We ate a typical amusement park lunch, had some messy soft serve ice cream and played some more. We were at the park from 9 to 3 with no naps!

62 small dollars had one Canadian.

16,000 half dollars produced six 40% silver halves (1965, 4 x 1967, 1969D), six proof halves (1973S, 1984S, 1989S, 1991S, 2006S, 2009S) and one commemorative half (1991S Mount Rushmore). The silver stunk, but that's the first new commemorative I've found in some time.

8,840 quarters turned up three silver Washingtons (1959D, 1963, 1964), twenty-one Canadians, seven US dimes, four US nickels, one French franc, one UK 10 pence, one Cape Verde 20¢ and one Mexican 10¢ (1939).

8,400 dimes five silver dimes (1939, 1951, 1958D, 1959D, 1964), twenty-seven Canadians, three US pennies, one Bermuda 10¢, one Spanish 5¢, four UK 5 pence, one Irish 5 pence, one Jamaica $1 and one Swiss ½ franc.

5,800 nickels rounded up one Buffalo (1913S Type I), four War Times (1942S, 1943P, 1944P, 1945P), two Bermuda 5¢, one UK 20 pence, three Swiss 20 Rappen, three US dimes, three Columbia 50¢, one UK six pence (1948), twenty-two Canadians (9 Ni), one Euro 5¢, two Bahamas 5¢, and two Irish 10 pence. The Buffalo is really worn and although you can't read the date at all you can definitely tell on the reverse that's a Type I and that it has an S mark. I also came across a 1945S War Time nickel in change last week!

12,000 pennies yielded one hundred twenty-six Wheats (including one Steelie), ninety-six Canadians, eight US dimes, one Euro 2¢, one Armenia 20 Drams (2003), two UK pennies, two Swedish 50 ore and one Cape Verde 1¢ (1994). The Armenian coin is a new country for me!

1910, 1916, 1918(3), 1919, 1919S, 1920, 1926, 1930(2), 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939