Week in Rewind: August 28

A year ago, mommy intently watched as the neighborhood kids boarded the bus for the start of the school year. The thought crossed my mind that the little guy would soon be on that bus. With school starting on Wednesday, it seems so surreal that day has come. Wow!

We officially have a school age child.  

I'm as nervous and excited as a school kid. As difficult as it on us, we have to let him forge ahead with his life. He's ready. We keep telling him that change brings opportunity and its up to him to seize that opportunity. Something tells us he will. 

We're so proud of the little boy that he has become. Like a new chapter unwritten, we can't wait to see where the story will take us. 

Ladies, the boy is ready to charm his way through kindergarten....and he'll be on the look out for little chickidees on the bus (mommy, girls as gross). 

Week in Rewind: Gotcha Day

On August 17, we celebrated the little guy's Gotcha Day.  It's hard to believe that 4 years have gone by like a flash in the night.  It hasn't always been easy juggling everything...but the ways he has enriched our lives is immeasurable.  Below is our Top 10 Moments:

1.  His first word: kitty, said in Ohio while trying to grab my parents cat.
2.  Poop for twizzlers. The boy was potty trained by 2 years old. Holler
3.  First time at the beach, Cape May with the pups. He stood mesemized by the waves
4.  Learning to eat on his own.  Once he got that spoon there was no going back.
5.  Music, the boy has always had a groove for sound.
6.  Riding his bike. He zoomed around on his balance bike until graduating to the big boy bike
7.  Swimming. While other kids were wading in...the little guy charged full force ahead
8. Learning. I can't begin to count the number of "whys".
9. Stubbornness. At times a challenge, but later in life could serve him well. Never give up
10. Love.  There is a goodness in his soul.

In a few weeks, the little guy will start kindergarten. You can feel that a new chapter is beginning in his life. As his parents, we are ready to take that walk alongside him. But deep down, we know that it is his road and he will have pave his own way.

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!” 
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Day 5: Maine Continued

After all of that activity, we were starving so we headed back to SW Harbor for dinner.  Lobster at Beals, it's what's for dinner.

Pop pop: Lobster Grilled Cheese
Mom mom and mommy: Lobster Rolls
Daddy: a big harshell lobster
Little guy:  chicken nuggets....come again!

Someone was a little put off by lobster not even venturing a try. Let's be honest, that's probably a good thing considering the cost back home.

And to finish it off...warm blueberry pie and ice cream. Delicious.

After dinner, we ventured out of the deck. We sat entertained watching the activity in the harbor. A fisherman at work. Lobster men ferried back to land. Seagulls grabbing bait from containers. The sun perched across the way. Pretty cool end to our Maine vacation

Day 5: Maine

 

Today, we headed to SW Harbor. Lucky for us, a work colleague has parents that live in this area and she offered up some cool local perspective

We started at Cable Crossing, a small road that led to the water.  The views were amazing and the rock throwing, unreal.

We then headed past Seawall and had lunch. 

We checked out Wonderland and the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Vintage Maine. The contrast in colors breathtaking

We attempted to find Lopaus Point, but literally ended up at someone's private drive.  Next we heard to Pretty Marsh and a long rock throwing session  

And finally on the way back, a brief stop at Echo Lake where people were swimming. This lake offered warmer waters than most. 

A picture perfect Maine day spent with wonderful grandparents. 

Day 4 Continued

Ok, let's be honest the whale expedition didn't go that great...for some. But we turned that travesty around with a super cool outing in Bar Harbor.  And by super cool, I mean lots and lots of shopping

But first we had to get our land legs, so we took a quick stroll through the park by the harbor. How can you go to Bar Harbor and not get that iconic picture from the park. It makes you want to go out and buy a sail boat...but clearly, we could only take it out in the Atlantic unless it was picture perfect glass top, and I'm pretty sure that rarely happens in Maine. Those barb bags were there for a reason

Our first stop was at Gayln's Restaurant for lunch. (someone was super hungry).  This place was recommended and it did not disappoint. Mommy got the turkey, cranberry apple chutney sandwich.  It was so good. And, when the day gives you lemons, you drink blueberry soda and eat blueberry ice cream. 

After several hours of arduous shopping (picking out that perfect tshirt is so hard), we headed over to walk the Sand Bar before high tide. During low tide, visitors can walk this dune from the harbor to Bar Island. We didn't make the island, but we had plenty of fun throwing rocks.  

So what was a rough morning became a pretty darn good afternoon. 

Day 4: Maine

Today started innocent enough.  We got up early to catch the whale site seeing boat.  The first thing that we did was settle into our indoor 2nd floor cabin....while others rushed for outdoor seating (suckers). As we patiently waited for the boat to take off, the captain came on the loud speakers to warn of rough seas ahead. I believe his exact words were "we expect to experience 3ft waves on average. And if you dont think you can handle it, don't be afraid to leave for a refund."

Now, let's face it. This was a direct challenge to our kinhood. 3ft waves, we laugh in its face. Take that puddle hoppers.  We come from good stock that crossed the Atlantic in search of a better life. But I digress. 

The cruise started well enough. Glistening blue skies covered beautiful Bar Harbor. Oh, but there were dark skies ahead, my friends. Very dark skies. 

After a brief stop at an island full of Puffins, we turned our attention to the whales. Oh the whales. Those illusive whales. 

We motored around the Atlantic in very rough seas to find those blessed whales. The waves must have been 100 feet high.  (in 10 years that will be our story). 

After what seemed like an eternity of cruising around in progressively worse seas....there she blows!  And I MEAN there she blows.

No, my friends, not a friendly whale siting. No, no, no ....something much more ominous. 

It started with one women on the outside. Cookie in one hand...barf bag in another.  (clearly torn with the troubling decision of which should take priority). But atlas, the barf bag one out....(note, she did somehow finish the cookie, a miraculous feat)

But she was not alone. On no..not by any measure. Suddenly, as if a starting bell sounded, there were tons of people with their barf bags.  

And then suddenly, there was a rumbling on the seas, a slow, quiet rumbling. Clearly something was building. As it continued to gargle, there was another quicker eruption nearby.  This apparently started a seismic chain of events. 

My friends, the low, quiet rumbling grew strong (and quiet loud). With a giant crescendo, it blew right into its barf bag. 

The two continued to erupt while simultaneously laughing. Small, short eruption...battling long bounce off the wall eruptions. 

But they were not alone. The horrors, oh the horrors. Hazarding a guess, 90% of the boat was sick. As Mike and I looked on in amusement (ha ha). The rest of the boat was in agony. 

And what of those darn whales...clearly put off by all of those puke bags.  Not one sighting.  

The sea was ANGRY that day, like an old man trying to return soup at a deli (George from Seinfield)--in 10 years, that's how the story will start. 

To summarize:  rough seas, filled barf bags in the thousands, no whales... and two people are getting totally awesome Christmas gifts. 

Campfire

Day 3: Maine

Today was a rather low key day...because we know the next two days are action path

Mommy and daddy started the day with jogs in humid air and cool, refreshing weather. It made those darn hills easier to  run. Gotta burn off those wonderful blueberry desserts

We then headed over to LL Beans Outlet store. And we scored with a back pack for school and fall jacket. 

After lunch we headed over to the Oceanarium. Here we watched baby lobster and saw a mommy with 8000 eggs. That's right 8000 eggs. And we saw a 1 in million blue lobster. Someone,however, was  more impressed with the fog machine than lobster. 

Of course, the little guy wanted to do one more round of golf.  Let's just they got s hole in one and another free round of golf!

Tomorrow we head out for a whale watch bright and early. Anchors away my boy

Day 2: Maine.

Today we headed over to Eagle Lake to ride bikes.  After much prep work (and i mean a lot), we headed off on the "easier" path. Let's just say someone was not pleased on the "easier" path. After 2 miles, the boy was done. And really you can't blame him. There were a lot of hills. So after 2 miles, we headed to the car while mom mom and pop pop rode on. 

We then headed to Jordan Pond for lunch. Luckily, we secured an indoor seat because it was freezing outside. The highlight, pop overs which are a very tasty bread. 

By this point, it had started to rain so we headed over to the Atlantic Beer Factory. Blueberry beer anyone?  After a beer tour, we headed back to the RV. A cold rain had settled into the area.  We can't really complain, yesterday was simply beautiful. 

Maine: Day 1

Today we headed to Acadia Park to do the loop drive.  Someone was not happy about being confined to a car. But once we got going and exploring the park, he was one happy camper.

With the first stop, the little guy literally back flipped off the trail. Thank goodness, it wasn't a massive dropped or it could have been way more serious. But it was an important reminder.  

The little guy loved climbing all over the rocks. And he explored tidal pools and watched fisherman catch lobster. But the thrill moment was watching Thundering Hole. We caught it at low tide and the waves thundered in and out of it. Power in action

The beauty of Maine is unreal. Gods work.  Blue ocean, green forestry and mighty mountains. 

After a long day, we headed for our first lobster dinner. Only one of us braved breaking apart the lobster...the rest of us cheated. And blueberry pie for desert...uhmm