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.