Ferry Beach

Max loves Maine too. As soon as we get about 3 miles away from the house, he starts barking and crying. He knows where we are going. Ferry Beach allows dogs before 9am, so we take him swimming. This beach is so lovely, and at low tide, you can walk to sand bars, see crabs in tidal pools, and hermit crabs are ABUNDANT!

I took so many pictures this morning, so forgive me...

My family

Grandy and Granddad

Hermit Crabs

This is the crab Aubrey found in a tidal pool.

Granddad showing it to Molly

In the tidal pool.

Doug swimming with Max... because Max couldn't find the Frisbee.

Molly having a temper tantrum.

So daddy put a hermit crab on her back.

Things Aubrey Mastered

... in Maine this year.

1. Riding a bike, look mom no feet, look mom one hand, look mom eyes closed!
2. Riding a razor scooter, one foot up, spinning around
3. Frisby Throwing and Catching - hours with Royal playing "real" frisby!
   

CRAZY and as much as I am proud, I am shocked and kinda sad - have I been holding her back?

What else could she do if I let her?

Top 10 Things I Didn't Have to Pack

1. Pack N Play
2. Diapers
3. Wipes
4. Stroller
5. Baby Monitor
6. Bottles
7. Sippy Cups
8. Booster Seat
9. White Noise
10. Anything knitted

... hear that? The sound of my heart being ripped out of my chest?

Circus Smirkus

If you live in New England, and have an opportunity to hit Circus Smirkus, you should! We had a blast. Aubrey and Molly sat next to the ring for 2 solid hours ENTRANCED! Our group had ages 3- 73 and we ALL loved it (that did include a 16 yo boy)! Photos were not allowed, but here are some we took before the show.

Treasure Island

We once again did our tour around Richmond Island, stopping at different beaches searching for treasures. We found sea glass, rocks, shells, and sand dollars.

Top 10 Things I Love About Maine

10. Scratch Baking Bagels
9. Jody's Farm - lettuce, carrots, lobster, etc
8. Taking Max swimming at Ferry Beach
7. Edgecomb Potter
6. LL Bean
5. The Good Table (muscles and sangria)
4. Two Lights Lobster Roll
3. Looking for sea glass with the girls (and finding it).
2. Spending time with family and Aubrey and Molly's COUSINS!
1. The sound, smell, and feel of the ocean restore my soul.

Ice Cream Stand

One of the great things we do in Maine is walk up to the ice cream stand each night. Our first trip up - and Granddad treated!





I think everyone enjoyed it!

Treasure Hunt

There was a treasure hunt on Saturday night, a pirate map washed onto the beach in an old bottle. Aubrey found some very nice jewels and I think it was a hit!

Everyone ready to read the treasure map!

Aubrey ready to read her clues.

She found her treasure!

Molly found hers!

Aubrey with her pirate booty.

She she took up a notch.

Posing for Anna, they would never do this for me!

Birthday Dinner at Bugaboo Creek

We celebrated Molly's actual birthday with dinner at Bugaboo Creek.

Husband saying "Take the picture, dear"

They are ALMOST looking at the camera.

Riding a Two Wheeler

On Sunday, Aubrey's cousins were riding bikes in the driveway. They had brought up an old bike for Aubrey to ride, it needed training wheels put on but was perfect. Aubrey didn't want to wait for the training wheels and with help from me one or 2 times, Aubrey started riding a bike with no help. Starting, turning, riding. You could see the set of her face she was going to figure this out - and she did.

I was in tears and later Doug and I laughed, we thought that in a year or 2 this would be a "thing" - you know where you are yelling at her, scraped knees, lots of tears kinda thing. Nope.

That kid is amazing!

She is so good she can be silly and ride with her eyes closed.

Feeling Crafty

I have been working on some hair candy for the girls:





I also just bought this fabric to make a quilt... GULP. BUT this site has step by step instructions and pictures and promises that if I can cut straight (will try), and sew straight lines (or close to it), then I can do it! So I am going to try! (here is what it would look like - but different colors if I get it right :)

Faces of Molly

After the last 10 months of Molly making the most awful faces when you ask her to smile for a picture, she now loves to have her picture taken and loves to make faces and see them! So here are some faces of Molly:

Molly's Perspective

today I climbed a cliff 5 times taller than my barbie.
today I built a damn and created a sand bar to make a drip castle
today I walked into an ocean and jumped the waves by myself
today I climbed on to a boogie board with no help and floated
today I jumped off cliffs
today was a great day.

Attentions

At the pool today, Molly crawled up in my lap, put her hands on my face and said, "Mommy, I never get ANY attentions".

She is so excited that she can stand up in the big pool, spent most of our time there today hopping from one end of the pool to the other.

She has turned into such an amazing little girl, and a joy to be around, always trying to make us smile and always generous and willing to help!

Molly sets her place and her sisters for dinner lately - and gets water for her and her sister - and even offers to get up and refill Aubrey's water. She loves to carry things for me, and again, just a joy!

Simple Freedoms

As Aubrey gets bigger and bigger, small things are happening that blow me away. Very simple tasks that for 4+ years were my job, and that add up to lots of time. I am constantly blown away when one of these gets added to the list, so proud, and at the same time, my heart breaks just the smallest bit.

1. Aubrey can strap herself in and out of her carseat.
2. Aubrey can open and close the car door.
3. Aubrey can anticipate throwing up and make it to the toilet.
4. Aubrey can clean her room.
5. Aubrey (and Molly) can both set the table, and get their own waters.
6. Aubrey can brush her hair.
7. Aubrey can fold and put her clothes away.
8. Aubrey can turn on the radio in her room.

I know, small things, but they add up to 8 less things I have to do for her. So I find new things to do for her!

Best Granola and Garden

So I found the best granola recipe, and made it and it proved to be the best granola recipe.
Alton Brown's Granola

I also wanted to plant a Cut Flower Garden and worked on half last Tuesday in the rain and added to it yesterday. I used this template as a guide, but added on to our existing "Bob's Garden. Our garden now this new stuff includes:
Coneflowers
Sunflowers
Snapdragons
Zinnia
Dianthus
Cosmos
Double-Knock out Roses
Peony
Phlox
and I am going to pick up and plant:
Lavender
Yarrow
Shasta Daisys

I am hoping the girls really enjoy cutting flowers and I know I will enjoy having fresh cut flowers in the house all summer!

I have also started from seeds 2 kinds of tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, rosemary, basil and thai basil, curled Parsley and lettuce. We picked up a 2nd upside down tomato planter so we will get that going this week!

Starting on Friday the wedding activities kick-off - Aubrey and Molly are flower girls in my cousin's wedding this Saturday! We are all very excited but no one more than Aubrey.
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It seems to me that as my girls get closer to 3 and 5 Doug and I have more time and energy for each other and for doing things with the house and the yard. It is at once really nice and one tiny bit sad that time goes so fast and the girls are so independent so quickly. I still cherish the snuggles I get at bed time routine - just as I cherish the people Aubrey and Molly are becoming.

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Dinner last night we went around and said what we love about Mommy.
Aubrey, "I love Mommy because she bought me new pretty pajamas and skirts with shorts in them".
Molly, "Because I throw tantrums and I like to cry and mommy knows"
This is what she seriously said, I have NO idea...