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