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Summer feet!

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we need a REALLY big drink after a two hour basketball practice:)

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Like Mother like daughter. I think when I was your age, spaghetti was the only thing I would eat for lunch......

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corn!

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this VERY big project is nearing completion---we are so excited to enjoy it!

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Today.

We picked 11 pounds of strawberries (and that's not counting the one's that were eaten in the field by a certain 5 year old, rotten and all) and we made jam, one of my favorite things of the summer. We also harvested some fresh lettuce from our own garden and ate a salad that even the kids gobbled right up! I love summer.

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Me: Lucas we're going to be going home to our house today.

Lucas: But Mom, we are already home........

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Our vacation at Quimby Pond

Our cabin was better than a dream (if we won the lottery tomorrow, we would buy it---it's for sale!) it had boats, a shower, games, books, a view , total seclusion (yet only 10 mins from town) and that wonderful log cabin smell. We didn't have perfect weather, but we all found plenty to do--and totally unplugged (except for music). Here are the highlights:

• Hiking: we did Hunter Cove, Smalls Falls and some of the appalacian trail. The kids did great, no one really complained (even when it was REALLY muddy---all the better to spot moose tracks) and walked(and climbed) the WHOLE time---Breanna actually spent a lot of time jumping.
• The breakfasts
• Josh's morning kayak ride (with coffee in hand)
• being out there
• campfires (lots of dry firewood provided!), smores, sparklers, and bringing our burnt sticks down to the water to hear the sizzle.
• the bunkhouse
• a vacation "as good as Disney world"
• Fishing (and being obsessed with fishing)
• riding in the kayak (and being obsessed with riding in the Kayak)
• the charcoal grill
• Lucy swimming two miles around the lake (and Josh mistaking her head for a buoy)
• no motor boats
• Trevor, "Mom isn't it just so peaceful out here?"
• Firsts: Breanna's first Kayak ride, watching a first duckling flight, Breanna;s first time peeing in the woods, the kids 1st loon sighting (up close)
• swimming, canon balls
• digging in dirt
• baby ducks
• bugspray (and Breanna's poor swollen eye)
• Lucas: I think we have a little problem here...I'm hiking all the way to Georgia."
• Trevor and Lucas being the "captains" of the boat.
• Trevor learning Sudoku, solitaire and Poker
• The view
• The sunsets
• The stars
• The quiet
• fixing the handrail (Bear Grills style)
• Quality time, savoring every minute (even when it rained)
• not wanting to go home
• booking another 5 days in August:)

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I think we kind of like it here.

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Yesterday......I was so lucky to spend the day with my favorite Dads'. I was so proud of My parents for running their first 5K (Mom came in fourth in her age group!). We had a really fun lunch out (where the guys accidentally ordered us a SECOND Martguerita-YIKES!) Just a super fun (and hot!) day. Today, we head up to the woods for a little R&R and unplugged time by a lake. Anywhere in Maine is just the best in the summertime (why we try to never leave in the summer). I'll see you back here on Friday!

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Father's Day:

A tribute to a man who knows what really matters, and who has always known. My best friend, You inspire me every day. Love you:)

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Happy wedding shower to a very special cousin. I'm so happy to be there for your special days, Here's to a lifetime a happiness and to all your wishes coming true.

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The first full day of summer vacation (and it actually felt like summer).....only a little bit of complaining about having to play in a baby pool (which he ended up playing in for like two hours).....Let the adventures begin.

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And just like that....in the blink of an eye (sniff, sniff....), and 531 peanut butter sandwiches later, you are done with Elementary school......Love you, boy.

Second Grade Memories

We remember..........

• The ripstick and wave board
• Writing with the quill pens
• loving history (the constitution, George Washington)
• A note in your lunchbox everyday
• Your morning alarm (8:05)
• Cub Scouts
• Swimming
• The caterpillar Story
• Sibshops
• Track and Field (7 ribbons)
• Getting the hang of skiing
• loving the snow and building forts
• Being obsessed with big numbers, time and the speed of light
• Mrs. Belanger
• New Balance Running shoes Size 1
• Tying a "triple" knot
• Getting Bunkbeds
• Disney World
• Your first sleepover with Nick
• The 39 clues (reading out loud to us every night)
• Doing Yoga and soaking our feet before bed
• Basketball with your friend Niall -The Timberwolves
• Stratego
• Mrs. Helms, the principal's last year
• Being line leader
• Playing with the neighborhood boys Russ, Will, Will, street hockey and three square
• Doing morning announcement
• Show and Tell
• 3 Hot Lunches a Month (usually pancakes or fishburger)
• Your First "oral" report on careers about Uncle Jeff
• Being student of the week
• Your PBS kids writer's contest book "Trevor's election"
• Your First Power point presentation on the Mako shark
• Baseball, and loving playing second base (Aero)
• Riding your scooter down the hill
• Your life Story painting
• The Beach field trip
• Peanut Butter Sandwiches every day
• You wanting to learn how to play the electric guitar
• Mileage Club
• The get healthy spring Concert
• 50 Nifty United States
• Cake Day
• writing your name in cursive
• The Best Birthday Party ever (Owen)
• The Ship commissioning at Bath Iron Works
• Silly Bands and GoGos
• Fun Day
• The last day Ice cream party
• Your best Friends: Nick and Niall
• Playing castle
• Loving Sharks and the whole ocean
• The Terrific Kids presentation
• Popsicles on the bus
• Getting to use "the pen"
• Being the "Big kids" at school
• Being sad to leave, but excited about what's coming next.

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I always want to remember these little tiny moments that just sneak up on me (sometimes even when

I have the camera in hand).

Just a little reminder of how all the really hard work (of parenting three) is worth it.

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Today, I'm so glad I got to play Teddy the Horse and Curious George with you....and we got to go to the mall, but you hated it (and I wasn't a fan either). So far, you don't like many girl things (and sometimes it makes me sad.), but you are definitely girly in other ways. Raising a girl is so much different than a boy. Boys kick and scream and punch and then get over it when things don't go their way. Girls, well they can still be mad a few days later.......

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Where we are headed 7 days from today....to the lake and woods to unplug, relax, unwind and be a family celebrating the beginning of Summer vacation. The kids are sooo excited (and we are too!)

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Just finished this book. Probably one of my favorites of all time. It was almost like listening to my very own voice about 10 years from now. Very inspirational, and A must read for every Mom.

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Finishing up a great, and really fun baseball season, Run it home....WE love you number 4!

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The Second Grade terrific Kid exiting ceremony. We saw a slideshow with pictures of the whole year and heard about each classes community service projects. The last three years has really flown by, I can't believe you are almost done elementary school Trevor! We are so proud of you:)

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Little girl,

Today was your big day....preschool graduation! You made us so proud today, we were holding back the tears. You were such a big girl, up there singing in front of everyone. You did it, you made it, and we made it. Thank you so much to everyone at Shooting Stars who were holding back their own tears about watching you leave after three years. They love you and believe in you, girl. At the end, one of your speech therapists turned to us, looked at you and said to us , "now this is a child with endless potential, she really is remarkable...". I have to agree:)

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Mornings......full of (whining and complaining and crying and rushing) a little peace and tiny little moments of love and happiness.

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It's hard to believe we're in the last week of your FOURTH year of baseball. All the boys have improved so much this year:)

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THEY'RE HERE! the first sweet taste of summer:)......

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On this yucky and rainy Sunday.....Lucas and Bre got their very first trip to the big screen to see Marmaduke.

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It was a whole day affair, the Cub Scouts of Pack 47 got to participate in the christening of the SPRUANCE (DDG 111). They got a tour of the ship, heard the governor speak, participated in a confetti parade, and even got to ride on a bus WITHOUT their parents!

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Today.....was all about spending the morning at the beach with the second grade class. What a lucky Mom am I!

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It is hard for her (riding a bike), but she is doing it and she loves it and is so proud of herself!

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I want you to know that there is no where else that I would rather be than sitting right here next to you on a Wednesday afternoon blowing bubbles and talking about the world....

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Welcome June (and the coating of pollen you bring) ! Only a few more weeks until Summer vacation.....