By Ashley Thompson

Kate has decided that for the family's glorious return to television that she will take her brood to New England. Packing for Type-A-Kate these days is a lot harder than in the past. Firstly the kids no long like to match, secondly the females of the family are very opinionated about their styles... throwing fits, exchanging already packed items. I bet she's wishing she would've had all boys right now. What will this family be like when every child in the house is a teenager??

(Before they leave she prepares all of her fresh produce to freeze so it doesn't go to waste. It's nice to see her still being health conscious and frugal.)

First stop is Plymouth via 5:30a plane to Boston and a rental bus. Naturally each child has their how tech devices for entertainment so there's no more massive meltdowns on planes or in cars. However, as typical teenagers do, there's a lot of talking back, crying over confiscated cell phones (neither Mady nor Kate remember why the phone was taken away), actions based on spite... and it's a little surprising that control-freak-Kate lets them speak to her the way they do sometimes. But with eight kids, I'm sure she's learned to pick her battles.

Activities on this northeast vacation included getting crabs (live ones at the ocean), painting (to keep them quiet) and a zip line/obstacle course (to burn energy). This maybe the kids favorite activity thus far, half because it's amazing and they are naturals and half because they like laughing at their mom who is too afraid to join them.

(Might I add, the boys are so stinkin' cute. "Good job!" "You did great!" "It's great spending time with you!" "We're boys!" I mean, stop it.)

Photo credit: TLC