Seal Harbor

Today, We had our first excursion to the ocean this season. The coast is one of my favorite places ever, and I always beg to go. I even wanted to go last weekend in the rain =0). We went today and I'm already planning my next trip ASAP. We took the kids to Seal Harbor, on Mount Dessert Island. Brad spent a lot of summers there as a kid doing just what we did today. . . looking for sea creatures in the tidal pools. When we arrived, the tide was out the furthest either of us have ever seen it. We walked and walked, searching, and all we found were shells. Just as we walked back to our car, a woman came over to us to say that if we just walked a bit further, there were hundreds of sand dollars on the shore line. Sure enough, we walked where she directed, and found the sand covered in sand dollars! There were so many that Liv had a hard time walking without stepping on them. We also found sea urchins, 2 dead crabs, barnacles, snails, 1 hermit crab, more crab legs, clams, clam shells, and lots of green sea weed. I don't know who had the most fun, Brad and I were right there excitedly searching for creatures.

I also included a picture of my feet standing on a rocky part of the beach. One of my quirks is that I love rocks, and I always want to take them home with me. I told BR that I was using all of my self control to not take some of these rocks home with me (since I learned it is illegal to remove them from a National Park). He informed me that taking home rocks had never crossed his mind, and I realized not everyone has that urge. Seriously, I see them and I want them.

Labels for some of the pictures above: The rock BR is holding with the big squiggly thing attached is seaweed, the thing that looks like a grassy pebble is a sea urchin, the picture of the girls is of them holding the frisbee they were using to hold all of our finds, and after our family pictures is one of the sand dollars covering the sand.

Proof we were there

I have explained it before. We hiked Bald Mountain last Friday, I took pictures, I bonded with those pictures, I lost those pictures, I was sad. Well, now those pictures are back! A friend at church told me about a program that will recover deleted files from a memory card. It even works after a card is formatted! Amazing. So, now we have documentation of that experience which means we can always go back and remember it. Ahh.

When I was down loading these last night, Brad was genuinely excited, I know he didn't care much about the pictures, but he knew I did. . .Love him.

Dear Bank, you are now on day 85 of your 30 day limit

We have been in the process of selling our house, and buying a different house. We aren't moving away, just getting more space. Our current status is this- We made an offer on a house nearly 3 months ago, the sellers accepted our offer, but had to get approval from their bank (its a "short" sale. . . why they call it that is beyond me.). We are still sitting around waiting for the bank to approve our offer. In the very beginning, we were told that the bank had 30 days. When the 30 days passed, we were told, "Oh, well the bank has a pile of 3,000 other short sale applications to go through too, be patient, poor bank, poor bank..." Last Friday, we were told, "You guys are the top application on the pile, You'll know by Monday, for sure Tuesday." Today is Saturday, and we've heard nothing. Call me crazy, but I think 2.75 months is more than enough time. Get on with it already.

I love everything about days like today

Blue skies, perfect weather, working in the yard, swinging on the swings, joining in on the swinging, giggling children, freshly mowed green grass, a house that is actually clean from yesterday (that never happens). I wish all days could be like this, but I guess they can't. . . Oh, well. The weather has been perfect, and it is amazing how that is the perfect thing to make me feel alive. It helps that I finally feel like I have recovered from the newborn stage (which I love, but definitely sucks my free time), I am on top of things in our life, and I actually have little bits of time to do things that are "extra." (like blogging) Welcome summer!

I guess we are just going to have to go again

We just got back from one of my favorite things. Hiking Bald Mountain. I would describe the hike as shortish and steep. Which makes it very rewarding in a short amount of time. We decided to stop by a sandwich place we had never been to, hike to the top and eat at the summit. The weather held out for us (rain was predicted) and it actually turned out perfect. I came home from our excursion, excited to download the pictures only to realize they deleted somewhere between downloading and saving. So disappointing =0(. . . You will just have to imagine it as I explain. The first picture would be of everyone hiking up the trail, a steep face completely granite, with Gwen ahead of everyone else by at least 50 feet. And to think that she was the one we were worried about making it =0). Next a picture of the sweet, white, bell shaped flowers that will become wild blueberries late summer, yum =0). Then a picture of Liv next to the face we made on the trail. A circular area naturally carved out of the granite face, still granite underneath, with a bit of moss growing along the upper curve for hair. Brad added the first stick mouth, then Liv added the two rock eyes, and they both agreed on a pine cone nose. Next a picture of Brad with Beckham in the back pack, and Liv and Gwen standing next to each leg, all with their hands in the air celebrating our arrival at the summit. Followed by a picture of Liv and Gwen sitting on a rock, eating their grilled ham and cheese, overlooking the pine tree covered hills and the setting sun off in the distance. Next to last, a picture of our family at the top with the gorgeous view behind us, everyone smiling, and Gwen making a funny/scary face. Lastly, pictures of the descent, Brad up ahead holding Gwen's hand, and Beckham on his back, and a picture of my hand holding Liv's. The perfect outing. . . on the bright side, I think we will all look forward to doing it again.

A Swing Set afternoon

Liv's home today and I've been thinking

that I can't wait for school to be out again.

Mothers Day 2010

I was that little girl whose dream was to grow up to be a wife and mom. I had a great example. My mom created a childhood for me that I think of as perfect. And one that I hope I can recreate for my own kiddos. My thoughts on what it's like to be a mom? Some days I get stuck on the Laundry, the potty training, the never ending messes, and the constant questions. There have been days when I worry about being able to do enough for them. But really, I feel so lucky that I get to look at my children through a mother's eyes. My mother's eyes see how each of them is perfect. I love them completely. I love who they are. I am so proud of them for who they are becoming. I get to snuggle them, and kiss their squishy cheeks, and make them feel how much I love them. My goal as a mom right now is just that. To make them feel how special they are, and how much I love them and to help them gain a relationship with God. I hope that I can step back, let go of the frustrations, cherish them, and focus on enjoying this journey. Thank you Liv, Thank you Gwen, Thank you Beckham for coming to our family. I hope you will always know that your mommy loves you more than I imagined was possible. And you too Brad, I love you.

Road Trip 2010: Part Seven

I'm losing steam. The rest of my documentation of this trip is going to be sparse and quick.

Day 8: Dollywood. Mostly as a joke. Ended up being great fun. we wish we had planned to be there longer. Laughed until we cried while driving down through the town. Stores full of eccentric junk were plentiful. It almost felt like a different country.

Day9: Met up with friends from Iowa, The Reynolds. Toured the Hershey Factory, Played outside, went to dinner, much much too short.

Day 10: The Crayola Factory. A children's museum designed around art. Spent hours there. Started our drive home around 4:30. Went almost crazy while we waited 3 hours in traffic in NYC. Felt way better as soon as we started moving again. Arrived home around 2:30 A.M. Slept nicely in our own beds, Ahh.

Road Trip 2010: Part Six

One of the coolest things we did on our trip was to go to a concert at the Grand Ole Opry. We went to see Craig Morgan, whom we have seen before and loved. When we saw him in Maine, it was at a huge stadium filled with thousands of people. In contrast, the concert in Nashville was quaint, at a small theater loosely filled about 3/4 full. Our original seats were near the back, and after eyeing an empty row up front for quite a while, we decided to be brave and move up to it. The move was amazing and put us about 10 feet away from the performers. Before we arrived at the concert, Brad bought a rose for Liv to give to Craig Morgan. She was excited the whole night for her chance to bring it to him. After one of his first songs, Brad carried Liv up to him, and she did a great job holding the rose up high, right in front of him. Craig Morgan didn't notice it for a while and Liv never wavered. Finally he noticed it, and thanked her, telling her he had never received a flower during a performance. She was stoked, and said it was her favorite part of the whole trip. All of the kids liked the concert. Liv LOVED every minute of it, Gwen liked the people watching, and Beckham is happy anywhere. About half-way through the performance, I wrapped him up in a blanket and set him on the bench beside me. He rolled over, fell asleep, and never moved again =0) {The concert didn't end until almost 10:00}.

Road Trip 2010: Part Five

Day Three in Nashville Started off at the Pancake Pantry, where we gorged ourselves with their specialty pancakes. The girls had polka dot pancakes (filled with M&Ms), and Brad and I ate sweet potato pancakes drenched in cinnamon syrup. YUM! After that, we went back to the hotel for swimming and naps. We ended out the day at Centennial park where we followed the kiddos wherever they led us.

After dinner, Brad decided to see what Beckham thought of pickle juice which led to everyone joining in. We had a good laugh with Gwen. She tried it and tried so hard to like it. After her sour face she gave her best try at a smile and rubbed her belly, saying, "yummy."