Maine Vacation : 1000 Gifts

For two weeks in late July, the five of us vacationed in New England. We had a wonderful time exploring Boston, the North Shore of Massachusetts, and Acadia National Park in Maine. All of us are ready to go back. Maine quickly became our favorite summer vacation spot.

Across the miles, I pulled out my journal and scribbled additions to the list. Beautiful gifts from His hand... I want to remember each one...

#1018-#1081

:: EZ pass.

:: A quick stop at the lake. A night with Nana and Papa.

:: And many jumps off the dock.



in Massachusetts...

:: Boston swan boats.

:: A duck tour. Quack.

:: The hospitality of old friends.

:: Walking the Freedom Trail.

:: Ice cream stands with driving ranges.


:: Rocky beaches.

:: Wingaersheek Beach... 100 degree day relief. (Thanks for the recommendation, Kit!)

:: Spotting a Sea Kettler on the train. : )


:: Cherry Farm Creamery.

:: Finding a good local deli.

:: White New England church steeples.

in Maine...

:: White sail dotted bay.


:: Cool ocean breeze after a long hike.

:: Cottage #9.

:: Laundromats.

:: Charcoal grills.

:: Picnic tables.

:: Honey Nut Cheerios - their vacation cereal.

:: Walking together.

:: Pine cones.

:: Late afternoon hikes.

:: Being in nature all day. Every day.

:: Balsam fir scented woods.

:: S'mores.

:: Skipping stones.

:: Clear reflections.

:: Fern-covered forest floor.


:: Reaching the top.

:: Mountain-top picnics.

:: Sea cliffs.



:: Cold water on hiking tired feet.

:: Sea spray.

:: Wonder.




:: Being silly.

:: Taking our time.


:: Tough five year-old legs making it to the top... and back down.


:: Tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House. With dear friends from church!


:: Kids that go and go and go... loving every mile. : )

:: Walking sticks.

:: Birch tree forests.

:: Wild roses.

:: Clearly marked trails.

:: Deep inhale of fresh air.

:: Rented bikes.

:: Carriage roads.

:: Encouraging words from older brother and sister.

:: Hard earned junior ranger badges.

:: Adventure-loving kids.


:: Late night mini golf.

:: Wild blueberries. Everywhere.


:: Blueberry Soda.

:: Lobster pound dining on the sound.

:: Lobsters that do tricks.

:: Lobster rolls.

:: Sweatshirts at night.

:: Starry skies. Gasps from city kids.

our last stop... back at the lake...

:: Cannonballs.

:: Sunsets along I-95.

:: Two weeks. Just us.


I know it's not Monday, but...

Florida Vacation

(I can't believe I still haven't posted photos of our July Maine vacation... very soon.)

The kids and I just returned from a week in Jacksonville with my parents. The 12 hour drive is so worth a week of relaxing, catching up with family and friends, and my dad's amazing cooking!

Hannah decided to have her long, summer-streaked hair cut for Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Pantene only needs 8" compared to Locks-of-Love's 10". Hannah wasn't sure she was ready to let go of 10".

So, we took her to Jenean - who has been cutting my family's hair since I was 13.

She loves it!


More big news! Peter is officially a bike rider! My parents' small, no thru-traffic, Florida-flat neighborhood was the perfect training ground. (My children do normally wear helmets.)

And a few dear friends stopped by the house. We just sat by the pool sipping iced tea while our kids swam. Perfect.

Angie and her sweet girls.

Lately

It's been a bit (a month!) since I posted here. Summer is going by too quickly! We just returned from a fabulous trip to Maine. Deep blue summer skies, evergreen mountaintops, chilly evenings, rocky coastline... it was summertime bliss. I will be posting more photos (than you would ever care to see) very soon.

But today we went to the Nationals vs. Braves game. (Thanks Jennifer and Mike for the fantastic seats and lovely parking pass!) What a great way to spend a rainy Wednesday afternoon.

A short rain delay... Peter's face says it all.

Sharing one cotton candy. : )

The Nats lost. We were very wet. But it was a great time!

4th of July at the Lake

My husband spent his childhood summers on this lake. Now our children bike the same paths, get ice cream at the same stand, decorate their bikes for the same parade. I cannot begin to tell you how much we love this place.

The Parade... Christopher, Peter, and Hannah decorated bikes and scooters.

The Rinky Dinks is a boys' club at the lake - celebrating their 87th year. My husband used to be one of those boys. Will wants to move there when he turns 9 so he can join.

The kids loved being with all their cousins... so wished we lived closer.

Family.

Just the cousins... why do I even try? Peter is in an anti-camera phase.

Mark is renting a house in the village this summer... "Please let us live with Uncle Mark!"
It was nearly impossible to leave... for all of us.

Blueberries

picking blueberries ... a perfect summer day

We did convince Will to eat ONE. This kid is not a fan of fruit... but he will happily drink smoothies. Have I mentioned my wonderful husband bought me a Vitamix for my birthday? We are living in smoothie heaven these days.

We waited til Friday (pastor-husband's day off) so dad could come.

We bought our 20 pounds (!) of blueberries and sat in the shade while the kids played in the meadows around the farm.
Summertime dreaminess.

and then comes the

Sunday morning blueberry muffins,
summer evening blueberry cobbler,
blueberry zucchini bread....

National Building Museum

We started the day with a class - City by Design (it was homeschool day at the NBM). As city planners, the kids each constructed a different type of building and discussed where to best place it.

Will decided this city needed a soccer stadium.

After class we headed up to the LEGO Architecture exhibit. Amazing.


The rest of our visit was spent in LEGO paradise.

The building is beautiful! Built in the 1880's to house the Pension Bureau and to provide a suitably grand space for Washington’s social and political functions (the Great Hall).