Touching Base

So I have not been very good about blogging this week! We have been busy. I have my camera working again but still haven't gotten a bunch of good pics from Doug's camera. So things will be out of order for a few days :)

Aubrey went on a big boat ride on Saturday the 21st! She had so much fun with Daddy and Granddad.

She even got to captain the boat!

Thursday we spent the morning on the beach as a family. Daddy got Molly to go for a nice nap!

Thursday night we went to LL Bean and Ben & Jerry's. Daddy got Aubrey an ice cream cone with Brownie Chunk Chocolate Ice Cream... the mess was unbelieveable! But she ate every single bite.

Aubrey, How old are you going to be on your birthday?

The Fish

I received this email from my husband - as did both his brothers.

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Well, after one of the greatest fights from a striper, I landed a behemoth.

Initially measured at 40”, the official measurement is 39”.

All I can say is thanks to my wife and children for their unconditional support. Also thanks go to Grandad and grandy for all their support and help.

-D-

PS – Most of the fish will be given as a birthday gift to my mother in law, and of course, Ted gets the tail.

General Update

My camera is broken and it is taking a little bit of work to figure out how to get Doug's pictures on my computer - but I am working on it.

Molly cut another tooth - her 7th. And she is having MAJOR break throughs in TALKING! She has said the following in the last 3 days:
1)Mama
2) Ark - Uncle Mark
3) Granddad
4) Cracker
5) Fall Down
6) abre - Aubrey
7) Axie - maxie
8) The previously mentioned NANA
9) Dirdie - Birdie
10)mo mo mo- MORE (always 3 times...)
11) stacie - Aunt Stacie

And other VERY distinct 2 syllable sounds repeated while pointing that I can NOT figure out but are used over the course of 2 days in the same general vicinity.

Summer Fun

We were having some silly time on Thursday evening. Aubrey was learning how to use the camera and was using daddy as a jungle gym.

Everyone say, ahhhh, sisters! They were playing VERY nicely together.

Grandy and I headed to Red's Eats for the most amazing lobster rolls (all the meat of an entire lobster on a "itty bitty" roll). Then we went shopping at Edgecomb. This was after we had a very relaxing hour at Picture People with the girls.

When I say relaxing I am LYING. AND when I say ITTY BITTY I am doing it in the Aladin voice...

Link to Edgecomb and amazing pottery: http://edgecombpotters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=EP&Category_Code=P

So after getting Harry Potter this morning, we hit a yard sale and got this "Paris Hilton University" for Molly and the gigantic doll house for Aubrey.

Another Gray Day

Daddy, Grandy, Aubrey, and Molly headed down to see Aunt Stacie, Anna, and Caleb and go to an Animal Encounter show at Kensington Elementary. Caleb held a 15 ft boa constrictor. They all went to the park to play and had a yummy lunch. Apparantly Molly did great walking everywhere with her new Tivas on.

It was leftover night for dinner and I enjoyed 2 Lindt Lindor Truffles - Dark - YUM. Girls had baths and Aubrey is watching Ice Age.

Pretty wonderful day.

Story Time and Groceries

gray day...

Daddy and Grandy took Aubrey and Molly to story time at the library and then they all went to the grocery store. Aubrey drove the car all around the store and ran into a little boy who had cheese so she had to have cheese.

Grandy and I hit the consignment shop and had a nice hour of relaxation and shopping - I found some great buys!

I have been up since 4 working and fading in a big way but Doug and I are going to go The Front Room - a new restuarant on the East Prom. It was AMAZING! We hit the drink specials and house wine and Shipyard beers were 2 bucks a glass :) Everything was fresh and yummy - seriously yummy.

One bit of news - I painted Aubrey's toenails and fingernails for the first time last night(with that color we got at About Faces, Lori-Anne). She was SOOO cute about it - and in fact still is holding her fingers/hands very daintily.

Sorry no fun pictures or stories... did I mention fading fast?

Water Fun

We are having so much fun with the water! And while we were out here we made stepping stones - a hand print for Aubrey and a footprint for Molly, with all our treasures from the beach!

This is what it has come down to when trying to grill while mommy is working... Daddy carries the baby to keep her out of trouble!

Family lunch! Yummy grilled hot dogs!

GIVE ME THE CANDY!

I am a princess and I am cute - DEAL WITH IT!

Fishing Log - Updated Daily

7/26 and 7/27 - No fish, but apparently great days out on the water.

7/25 - 30 and 26 inch Stripers Caught, the 26 was legal, and made a GREAT dinner!

7/24 FORTY INCH STRIPED BASS, yes I said 40 inches. Doug is still out on the boat... he just radioed in and we are going CRAZY here at the house! Pictures and details to come! (picture is the 40 incher)

7/17 Doug 26 inch Striped Bass

7/11 Doug 29 inch Blue Fish
7/?? Dad Craig 24 inch Striped Bass, Doug 2 Small Ones
7/4 - Mark 29 inch Striped Bass

WORD!

This morning I held up a banana to Molly (who eats an entire one every morning). She looked up and said, "Nana". Clear as a bell! Granddad and I both started and cheered her on! YAY a WORD!

Monday the 16th

You could not have asked for more beautiful weather. It was an amazing day today here in Cape Elizabeth. We started the day off with a long walk on the beach at a VERY low tide (almost a drainer). Aubrey and I found lots of treasures on our walk.

Understand, I had no idea this picture was being taken or it wouldn't have been at this angle!

After lunch and naps Doug took the girls up to see Grandy who voluteers at the Portland Head Light gift shop.


Everyone (except Molly and I) just headed over to Fairy Beach where dogs are allowed to swim and run in the evenings and in the mornings. I am waiting for a call from work - BOO! Unfortunatley, I am looking at both cameras so there won't be any pictures from that adventure!

How Could I Forget... Max

Max had quite the wild weekend. Friday night he had a run in with a skunk and we ALL came out on the losing end of that. His head STILL stinks - full head shot of spray! (luckily we were in Lake Winni and didn't have to smell him all weekend - thanks Grandy and Grandad :))

Sunday morning Max cornered and CAUGHT a chipmunk in his mouth. He is such a good dog he listened to Granddad and let go of the chipmunk - who was still very much alive.

Five minutes ago I took Molly out of her high chair and Max got his HEAD stuck in the leg hole and almost took down the whole kitchen trying to get it out...

Great Friends, Great Fun

We had so much fun this weekend! The house was beautiful or as Aubrey said when we walked in, "This is the most amazing cool house I ever saw in my life". Sydney is a great hostess and Aubrey wants to "see cindy tomorrow, she's my friend". Cole is so adorable and laid back! He and I really bonded, I think. Scott and Kimberly were wonderful hosts! It was so fun to see Billy - and JULIE WE MISSED YOU!

Dillon and Owen are amazing! They are so vibrant and happy. Aubrey was QUITE excited to see "Uncle Brian". She was very curious about Lynne being a dance teacher.

Kimberly took us on a great boat ride! Doug and my girls stayed home for naps. We saw some beautiful houses on the lake and went into Wolfeboro. It was a beautiful day.

We ended the day with some poker and more beer. Doug was out early (no surprise), and Lynne really cleaned up! Guts was interesting... I guess...

Can't wait to see everyone again early August! Enjoy the pics.

Rainbow

A beautiful rainbow behind the house.

Lake Winnipesaukee

Doug headed to Lake W today to play golf and hang with the boys. The ladies and the kids are headed up Saturday morning for a beautiful day on the lake! We are staying at the most beautiful house on the lake - with lots of boats, jet skis, etc. We were lucky enough to visit there for an afternoon last year but this year we get to spend the night! Nice to have friends in high places!

I will post pics and updates on Sunday after we get back and rested. We will not have cell coverage!

Lots O Pictures

So I forgot that Doug had pictures from the beach yesterday on his camera... here are a bunch of shots of Molly!

I did about 4 posts this morning... so scroll down!

Making Brownies and a Bike Ride

We had a MOST beautiful day on the beach today. Aubrey was a mermaid! I took a lunch break and headed down because the weather was too good to miss! Grandy and Aubrey made brownies after nap time and then the girls went for a bike ride with Daddy to the playground and to the farm - they got lettuce and carrotts and saw live lobsters.

For those that think I may be ignorning Molly in the picture area... every single picture I have snapped over the last few days, she has turned her head... here is an example :)

Max Is Right At Home

Grandy and Max are really enjoying their time together. Max has all the privileges of a king in this house!

Wentworth by the Sea

Ahhhhhhhhhh...


Doug and I had a wonderful day/evening in Portsmouth and the Wentworth. It was beautiful! We enjoyed some kid free time - although we missed them IMMENSENLY and are happy to be back with our family. Only issue I have is that Max seemed to miss us WAY more than our daughters did.

We had the most incredible dinner and watched a dumb movie - 300...

The kids had a GRAT time with their grandparents. When we got back to the house today, Granddad was feeding Molly lunch and had just changed a poopy diaper - only the 2nd time in his life doing that! He said he survived, just quit breathing and did it! YAY Granddad! We appreciate it. Aubrey and Grandy were with the Garden Club touring beautiful gardens in the area. The whole club stopped by to see Grandy's Gardens and Aubrey was the hit of the day! I asked her what she had been doing and she said, "Seeing people, those ladies people" (as she pointed to the large group of women in the driveway). It was quite cute.

Come Monday

Come Monday

There'll be lots of rain

Come Monday

There'll be lo -ots of work



I spent 2 weekend days

playing in the sea waves

And I just want to nap with my kids

LLBean

A very rainy day at the cape, but we had fun. Aubrey went to get bagels and baked goodies with Daddy and Granddad this morning - and she was dressed up as a fairy princess.

We headed to LL Bean to take a horse and carraige ride and do some shopping. Aubrey got her face painted and met the LL Bean Bear!

Pictures from Saturday!

Saturday!

YAY, I didn't have to work! I went for a great run and then Doug headed to fish and Grandy and I went looking for yard sales, took the girls to the library, and then we all packed up lunch and hit the beach for a couple of hours. Both girls had an amazing time.

Doug swam the length of the beach - while Grandy and I got nervous with all the boats going in and out.

We packed everyone into one car and headed to LL Bean to see the Paula Cole concert. It rained. Aubrey danced and was the quite the show off for people around us. I think she thought everyone kept clapping for her. She walked right up to 3 policemen and said, "Hi Policeman, do you want to watch me dance?" And they did!

We got home around 9:45 and both girls behaved amazingly well for staying up so late.

First Friday

What a nice day! Lots of work to do, but the kids went swimming at the Agan's. Caleb swam the whole length of the pool! It was VERY impressive. Anna and Aubrey had fun standing on the side of the pool playing "whack a mole" with Caleb and Aunt Stacie. Molly splish splashed with Grandy and tried to eat the noodle. We all had a nice lunch on the deck until the BIG thunder storm moved in and chased everyone inside.

A quiet afternoon, more rain and thunder, ahhhhh we are in MAINE! We headed to Christmas Tree Shop and then met Granddad at The Village where apparently all the stars alighned and we had a drama free dinner. The kids were great and we all stopped for ICE CREAM! Aubrey and I walked home from the ice cream stand and she dripped chocolate ice cream down her entire front! Toes to forehead.

Doug and I took a long walk on the beach and over the rocks and looked at each other in shock - WE ARE STILL A COUPLE! YAY!

(Having technical difficulties with todays picture, keeps showing up as brown square... will work on that tomorrow).

Journal Entry Day 2

The day started out rainy and cold (with pancakes) but turned into a fun beach day.

Doug took a 4 hour shopping trip with Molly. The older cousins all went to the Ft. Williams playground for 2 hours. I worked, and was amazingly productive. Doug took a long swim out to the Caper.

At the beach someone had built a "boat" in the sand and everyone had a great time using their imagination, being captain and "helpers" and passengers.

We grilled up Mark's 29 inch fish and it was delicious!

Here is a picture of Anna and Aubrey taken this morning as they played with toys. Aubrey is really enjoying playing with her "friends". "Well, mommy I'm playing with my friends for a little bit". That is how she responds when I ask her to do something!

Parade

The kids had a great first day! We had our first injury - Aubrey was running from the Dadster, who was scaring all the cousins and WHACK, Aubrey hits right above her right eye as she runs right into the corner of the dresser (if you read yesterday I had the details wrong, sorry).

But they had so much fun together! And they had a great "4th of July, Flags, Aubrey and Anna and Caleb, Flags and Glow Sticks Parade, Parade"

We pulled into Kettle Kove at 11:15 after a record 8 hour 45 minute drive - no one was on the Turnpike! BUT there was some sad news as we pulled in, Mark was just walking around the corner of the garage with a 29 inch Striped Bass. Doug realized he would quickly need to get to the business of fishing. And then he remembered we were here for 5 weeks, so he relaxed!

We had fun on the beach! Molly ate some sand but I believe she learned her lesson. Aubrey was just running and running and has no fear of the water.

And then the clouds rolled in and it is CHILLY! I just got back from a nice walk/run on the beach and we are making our lists to get settled in.

The Trip Up....

Well, it rained hard in Maryland last night, hard enough to wake us up and get us out the door 2 hours sooner than expected. Yes, getting on the road at 2:30 am is a new feat for the Craig family.

After a trip of 8 hours, NO traffic, and lots of giggles and laughs (and whines), we are almost there!

The next post will be with beer in hand celebrating this wonderful holiday.