Maine Mania

With all the craziness of the move, I have put off writing this lovely post. I know that I cannot do it justice. I know that my memories of the trip will be far better than any word/picture combo could ever tell.  And while that is always true, with the boxes and chaos surrounding us here, I know I won't be able to take the time.... the time to really tell you how lovely Maine really was. 

Even with the cancelled flights and added on 8 hour car rides. 

Even with the snafus.

It was lovely and fun and memorable.

And a trip of a lifetime for our family.

My 3 college roommates and I, along with her families, headed to Maine in August. 

The location was spectacular.

The laughter infectious.

The memories are forever. 

I'm so thankful for that.

And for a family that rarely leaves the house, taking a trip across the country was a big feat.

Why start small? 

After a 3am wake up call (thank you, United, for moving our flight back 2 hours), we made it to LAX (hell on earth) while it was still dark. The kids were giddy. No sleeping en route as I'd hoped.

First flight! Seat belts fastened!

Thank God the Kindle was charged.  United failed us on the outbound with no in seat entertainment (we looooved 5 hours of Disney Junior on the way home, however!)

All of the excitement caught up a few hours later...

And after a lay-over, my boy was a seasoned traveler, wanting to do it all himself (Abby was a pro, too).

And after all of that, we had to drive for 2.5 hours in the car. Sheesh!  He hung in there for awhile....

And soon he crashed...

But this lady was pretty happy the whole way (and she was wearing pants, people! Pants! AND tennis shoes!)

Soon enough, we were there.

So, here's the driveway. The driveway, people.

Ridiculous, right? And did I mention that the sweet Zabriskies hosted us. Yes, hosted us. We stayed in this heavenly place for free because it's "in the family." Don't you wish you were "in the family?" Me too...

The first morning was bubbles on the porch and a short walk to the water...

A little coffee.... and the most gorgeous morning we've ever seen.

And Daddy took an ice bath...

Abbs and Aunt Jenny...

The littles, finding more shells than they can take home...

Another day down by the water....(all on the property!)

Some afternoons just called for mac and cheese on the porch surrounded by buddies...

Or art on that same porch...(when it rained).

Campbell (the eldest) with the littles.

She cared for Abby and Ford the entire time. We owe her lots of babysitting money for giving us some moment of solace.

Typical morning chaos. I loved this.

Ford getting some afternoon reading time with someone other than mommy...

And every family took a night took cook (which included themes!) -- yes, it was much like a cruise ship.

There were mustaches....

There were sombreros...

There were mustaches with sombreros...

There was hair chalk...

Mickey Mouse called the upstairs phone...

There was a talent show...

There was seaweed finding...

Three of the four of us...

Impromptu hand-holding...

And there was one, and only one moment of screen time in which the kids sat themselves by age and size without being asked to.

And one day we got all Martha Stewart (according to her magazine, she was there a few days before us) and ate at the Acadia National Forest (which you can see from our property across the water) at Jordan Pond and had popovers and a lovely view and fun in the sun.

My little nature man...

After going too far, being rescued, again, by Campbell.

Ring around the rosey with the whole crew...

And an actual group picture. I could not believe it. 

Roommates! 

The four of us...

The boys!

My sleepy boy...

Waiting for our table (lovely, isn't it?)...

And after....ice cream!!!!

Our lovely family who hosted us with sweet Rose, Fordy's first love... (or maybe he treats her more like a BFF -- he's pretty rough with her -- but she laughs, so maybe it's all heading toward wedded bliss -- who knows! )

Two fashionistas headed to the pottery store (did I mention that it was 60 degrees and raining? That girl is back to not wearing pants)...

Crazy faces!!!

Happy faces....

Ford loving on Campbell, his new crush (other than Quincy and Miller, of course).

Miller and Abbs.... hanging on the porch in matchy match outfits.

The beloved group.... friends now, forever.

So, there is a teeny tiny slice. The teeny tiny slice that my brain can remember at the moment. It was so heavenly. The timing was truly ordained (we had this trip planned for 2 years and didn't know we'd be in escrow -- and closing while we were away!).  Already it feels like so long ago....

And we had another weekend yet --- a weekend of visiting family in New Jersey. Coming soon!

1015. Abby, Rose and Ford all sleeping in the same room

1016. Abby being big with the "littles" and little with the "bigs"

1017. everyone home safe and sound

1018. jenny's moments captured

1019. hair dye

Insta-dump

Friends. Sorry for being long and lost.... we've had some big news recently. News that we're so thankful to God for. News that has left us surrounded by boxes and displaced from bedrooms. But before we try to update you on the big move to Northern California, here is an instagram dump on the last few weeks before the chaos began.

Ford found a suit in his closet with no where to wear it, so he just danced around the house in it. That's saying something for a guy who prefers to be naked. Like, 90% of the time. It's a new battle.

This lady, on the other hand, just might start wearing clothes with sleeves and pants and hoods. Maybe. Especially since we've moved somewhere a tad colder. We shall see....but for now, she's enjoying fashion shows in her bedroom.

It was blazing the week before we moved. Like "high humidity, we live in the south" kind of stuff. But Red and the kids insisted on a picnic outside. I took this picture with the a/c blowing from inside. I think after this, they both wilted.

And then, there was the ultra hot day when suddenly a fascination with pregnancy started happening. We were all a little confused with this double pregnancy picture.

And then there were a few days where we soaked up time with friends...

And a few last minute shopping runs when they helped keep my costs down by taking up most of the room in the cart.

As always, there was swimming...

And rapunzel hair...

And more swimming...

And coyote sightings...

And there's more.

But I'm surrounded by boxes. 

I promise not to be so long and lost...

more soon!

1010. that shower head

1011. the gate working

1012. making not yet birthdays really fun

1013. feeling loved beyond anything i could measure

1014. a final run at popsicles

Lake Arrowhead 2013

Packing update:

This is the last Tuesday I'll spend in this home.

I'm getting excited about our move and yet, so bittersweet to leave a home where my boy was born, my girl has grown and grown...

but hope is ahead!

Newsflash:

My kids haven't eaten vegetables in 3 days. 

Do avocados count as wonderfood? I remember reading that when introducing solids to Abby. I'm taking that to the bank right now -- believing that certain people have existed by simply cutting, slicing, dumping. Hallelujah. No steaming for this family until the move is complete. But, I rejoice in that I haven't yet resorted to McDonalds! Small victories!

Some of our dear friends were at Lake Arrowhead this summer and they graciously offered to have us come up for the day. I knew Fordy would want to be jumping into the lake constantly, but I figured Abby would be her normal no-water self.  The day was a shock on so many levels.

Before we headed out on the boat...Adorable Grace with the kids.

And once on the boat, everyone had a job. Grace = looking fabulous, Abby = held the flag, Uncle Bob=held the rope --- while the boys skied. 

And our fearless driver....Auntie Tam!

And before Jake was done skiing, Abby said, "I wanna do that." 

WHAT?!

I was shocked.

Amazed.

Slightly terrified.

And so Grace and Abby decided to try it together.

The beauty of this thing is that they don't even have to get in the water to get started. Brilliant!

And within seconds of getting going, Abby was saying, "Faster! Faster!" 

I'm sorry.... WHAT?

Faster? 

At one point, I actually told Tam NOT to speed up. That was enough. Goodness gracious. I almost had a heart attack. 

And then... they stood up. 

They stood up!

I do have video but I won't bore you with that craziness (i'll just make you watch it if you ever bump into me!)

They were all smiles getting back in the boat and sure enough Fordy grabbed Jake and said, "Our turn!"

Oh dear!

So, off they went.

Adorable. 

And Fordy tried to stand up, too. 

"Sit!" i was yelling. "Sit!" 

My second heart attack.

But Jake took great care of him.

And just when I regained my breath, Abby wanted to go by herself.

And she rocked it.

And stood up.

So, after all that craziness, it was time for some fun.

This little beauty had a few inches of water in the bottom so they treated it as a bounce house and went nuts. To get out, mom had to get in, hoist them up, and get soaked.

Shortly after lunch, I turned around and Abby was getting helped on to Jake's paddle board. 

Do I need to mention that there are no handles on these things.

No handles.

Just a life vest.

And the slow and steadiest rower I've ever witnessed. 

Are they in college?

(I can only hope Abby will surround herself with such neat boys as Jake!)

They spent an hour on a beach, acting out amazing scenes (with Ford following behind). I might as well have not been there. It was magic.

And a late afternoon ski with Grace did result in two little girls who were saying "faster, faster" and who did in fact stand up too soon and plummeted to an amazing wipe out. 

A few tears later, they were back in the boat -- I was so proud of my girl that day.

So, ice cream before dinner was in order.

1005. remembering to count my blessings here

1006. a book to get lost in

1007. a super cheap kindle mag subscription

1008. new, crazy kicks

1009. recounting "Life Is A Highway" with Papa

Huntington Gardens Summer Memories

Recently I dug out all of our "get in free" cards and found that I had a few for the Huntington Gardens. I don't think Fordy has been there as a big boy and it's been so long since Abby has been that it's new all over again. We went on a gorgeously warm day (not like the 100 degrees we've been getting lately!) and it was magical -- especially because it was the day they were doing inspections on our home and we wanted to be far, far from here! 

"If you are a dreamer, come in...." (doesn't this remind you of Shel Silverstein?)

First stop -- the fake fishies floating in fountains that spit water. Sheer amazement to the little mind. (And  nice place to cool off your feet!)

Next, these fun fountains (10 of them!) with stones in between to trample and stomp and tread. (Obviously the little lady would hop over in an attempt not to get wet whereas the boy splashed and laughed his way through)...

Unbelievable tricks with rocks. A symphony when you dropped one down this contraption...

And a nice little climbing path that leads down to the most awesome of awesome....

rainbow tunnel!

They would run through and around and through and around like wild indians while waiting for the misters, those heavenly misters (every 15 minutes if you need to know!)

And every time we go out now, Abby is really great about making new friends (which makes my heart so happy about the near future and our move....)

And we ended it with an impromptu lunch on the grass while we got dry. 

Ford's rotation of exclamations, recently...

"That's RIGHT!"

"Right, mama?"

"I want THAT!"

"ABBY did it!"

"I like hot." (weather, food, anything that I say is "too hot")

1000.  that verse on that exact day pertaining to that exact conversation

1001. knowing God has every moment of my day planned - even when I don't like it

1002. their excitement for change

1003. savoring what we have

1004. free boxes