End of Summer Round-Up

We have had a very busy September! But before I get to that I need to share a few leftover shots from the end of the Summer...

Benj taking a nap!! at the PawSox game

Last PawSox game of the season for us

My blue-tongued boy!

Tonka tough!

Launching rockets with Dad!

getting adventurous on the swings

Even upside down!

Flying Benjamin!!

Our family buoy

I've probably mentioned before that our kids are slightly obsessed with buoys. If you've seen them recently you know this because almost every other word out of their mouths is "buoy." Here's a sample conversation from our house:

Me: Julia, what would like for breakfast?
Julia: a buoy
Me: I'm not sure how to serve that
Julia: a cooked buoy
Me: we're fresh out of buoys, today...

Anyway, we did have the opportunity to see lots and lots of buoys when we were Maine and Helki's Dad explained to the kids that the buoys on the lobster pots are all painted differently so that the fishermen know whose is whose.

So of course, one of our activities on the trip home was to design a family buoy. I think Julia's ended up being adopted and here it is:

The Crowder Buoy

Julia's Gallery: Monkey

There were step-by-step illustrations on how to draw a monkey on one of the drawing pads that we took to Maine. So during one of the car rides Julia decided to take a stab at it! And voila, her first monkey drawing!

Benjamin's Gallery: Mom

Ben drew this picture (using pencil) during one of our car rides on the Maine trip. He very proudly pointed out the eyes, nose, mouth, and hair and when Andrew asked him who he drew he declared, "Mom!"

Maine - Trip 2! - Part 4

The kids secret hiding place at Schoodic Point

a typical shot of Benjamin! He was thrilled to spend so much time with other kids who also do not stop running!

Handsome boy, beautiful view

Another picture of us! I think that's a record for one of our vacations!

We ended our trip with a lobster dinner - yum!!

and homemade blueberry buckle! made from blueberries the kids picked and with love added by Yvonne! Delicious!

All in all we had a fantastic trip. We loved seeing a new area of Maine. Andrew and I adored Acadia and the kids were in heaven spending so much time by the water. We were all sad to have to leave the farmhouse and our friends. Hopefully we'll be together again soon!

Maine - Trip 2! - Part 3

Buoys!!! The kids were obsessed with buoys on this trip so I couldn't resist taking this photo.

Looking for crabs at Grindstone. Besides crabs there were absolutely stunning views and the most beautiful rocks I have ever seen.

She found a crab and she looks so old in this picture - I can't get over it!

the teeny, tiny crab

The group!!

Picnic dinner at Fraser Point right inside the portion of Acadia on the Schoodic Peninsula

Most picturesque dinner I've ever eaten!

It was hard to pull ourselves away! Especially after we spotted a harbor seal swimming by and checking us out!

And, of course, there were more crabs to catch!!

Maine - Trip 2! - Part 2

Atop our first mountain (Blue Hill Mountain). Julia was a great climber! Benj rode a lot of the way in the ergo making sure Mom got a good workout!

We made it!

In the mist on top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. We drove up this time!

Tag on the top of Cadillac

The kids humoring us by staying still for a minute for a picture!

photographer

her subject

Daddy-daughter moment

It's chilly up here!

We couldn't ask for a better view with lunch. And Julia chewed her sandwich into the shape of the United States!

Hiking from Bar Harbor to Bar Island on the sand bar at low tide. Lots of tide pools to explore!

A starfish!! The find of the day... although I think the boys were much more interested in all the crabs that were to be found!

Maine - Trip 2! - Part 1

The end of August brought a much-anticipated return to Maine - this time we were there to explore new places and visit with old friends. We spent almost a week starting in Portland at the Narrow Gauge Railroad museum, then spending some time with Aunt Helki, Annabel, and Finley, and then moving up to Acadia National Park and spending a few days with our great friends, Yvonne, Paul, and their kids, Andrew, Daniel, and Natalie. 

The kids hiked their first mountain (Blue Hill Mountain - yes, there was a debate over whether it was a hill or a mountain, but after hiking it we all agreed it was indeed a mountain!), they fished, they climbed rocks and more rocks along the coast line, they searched for sea creatures, they picked blueberries and found wild turkey feathers, and best of all, they got to know and played with friends. It was a picture perfect vacation and I have the pictures to prove it! I'll share them over the next few posts.

Riding the Narrow Gauge Railroad in Portland

Aboard Dave's (Helki's dad) boat. It was a great treat to get a tour of Tenant's Harbor!

So many buoys out there!!!

Jamie Wyeth's island

Saying goodbye - see you soon!