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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!