The Village

One of our favorite traditions is the family dinner at The Village the night before the Beach to Beacon race - carb loading!

Family!

Pretty in Pink

Watching cousins and daddies make Molly giggle was the highlight of my dinner (we didn't start dinner until an hour after Molly's bedime). Considering the day she had had - birthday party, cake, etc... she was exceptionally good!
Probably one of my favorite pictures of the trip!

Molly is ONE

How old is Molly? She tells me ONE!

I like cake.

Princess Cousins

Did I mention I like cake?

Fisher MEN

The men go fishing (and some surfing). Doug catches the biggest one - and everyone was on equal footing. Cooked it up for dinner and it was delicious! (We also cooked the small one that Roy caught)
I just wanted everyone to see the equipment they boys took out - 2 boats, a kayak, and a surf board.

Salmon and Wine

COUSINS and COOKIES

Aunt Stacie, Caleb, and Anna made BEACH cookies! This is beautiful!

Enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Aunt Emily said, SURE you can have a cookie at 8:30 in the morning.

Roman, Aubrey, Anna, and Caleb

COUSINS!

Broken Record

Another amazingly beautiful day today. We did hit the beach this morning and have lots of fun with all sorts of new friends at the river. Aubrey is so brave swimming and really loves the water - but the water was FREEZING today. Yesterday warm, today FREEZING! My feet went numb but Aubrey wanted to swim so I did it.

While the kids had VERY long naps I had a pedicure (see previous post about Doug not fishing due to conditions). I ran some errands by myself and it was great.

We had an amazing dinner out on the deck - just adults. Grandy made Baked Ziti and then a heart healthy Peach and Blueberry Cobbler that was amazing. Kids are down for the count and we are invaded with the whole famdamily over the next 15 hours.

Hypothesis and Log Entry

Doug's Theory of Heat and Rockfish:
As the temperature of the water rises, the striped bass become somewhat dormant, eat less, generally are more lazy and take the bait less. Therefore, the current environmental conditions in Cape Elizabeth are not condusive to productive fishing.

Log Engry for 7/31:
A most beautiful day! We hit the beach for a couple of hours and found a live crab and live hermit crabs. Aubrey SWAM in the ocean and we got it on video! It was very cool. Around 11:00 we packed up and headed down to meet Grandy and Granddad at the boat. We took a family boat ride around Richmond Island, to Higgins Beach and then to Two Lights. Aubrey said, "Faster". Molly was either screaming or asleep. Aubrey got to steer the boat again and was very cute snuggling with me.

Aunt Jean and Uncle Alan arrived safely and are enjoying a beautiful sunset on the deck - Doug and I are sitting at opposite ends of a table on laptops.

Grandy's Lily

Taken in the garden this morning.

Pictures

So I figured out how to get pictures from Doug's camera... use his computer to post :) Here are some random pics from the last few weeks.

Trying to wrangle my girls.

Fun at the beach.

Flying with Daddy - this is a beautiful shot taken by Grandy at the beach.

Uncle Mark reading to Allison, Caleb, Anna, and Aubrey. (Allison is Anna and Caleb's cousin)

Molly randomly hugged Aubrey. It was so cute!

Happenings

Saturday Doug and I went out on a date. We headed into the Old Port for drinks at a couple different bars and then headed to the Good Table for a great dinner and a pitcher of Sangria.

This afternoon we all took a walk. This is about 3:30 today. It is VERY foggy. Daddy and Aubrey are looking for sea glass.

Aubrey thought Molly should wear the butterful wings and Molly loved it! She flew all over the house!

I was trying to take the picture of Molly and Aubrey gave Molly a spontaneous hug. Very sweet.

Before and After

These pictures were taken less than one minute apart... Molly was MUCH happier after stealing Aubrey's spoon and eating some ice cream.

Friday Beach Fun

We spent the morning at the beach again. Aubrey was VERY brave and enjoyed jumping in the waves and was out up to her neck. Molly was as brave, but was a bit hungry today and spent most of the morning in the stroller EATING every bit of food we packed.

Aubrey and Daddy Water Fun! Spinning and waiting for waves.

Mommy and Aubrey built an island and a castle on the island.

"There will be no bears there because we turned the dark off" That is what Aubrey told me about the castle.

More Water Fun

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.

---------------------------------------------------

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