Portland Children's Museum

On our last day in Maine, we had a relaxing morning before saying goodbye to all our Forseter housemates and heading to Portland for one last vacation adventure.  But first, we looked at several shops for a Maine sweatshirt for Finley. After three attempts, success!

We drove the hour to Portland and then picked up some pizza to eat in what we thought was a park but turned out to be a food truck haven with tables and benches.  Ah well, plenty of space to eat and lots of pigeons to chase, so it worked out.  

After lunch, we headed over to the much raved about Portland Children's Museum.  It was AMAZING and totally lived up to all the hype we had heard and read about!! Both kids had a terrific time going in all different directions on two floors for nearly two hours and only when we realized how late it was getting did we have to drag them out.  Pure bliss.  Too many photos to caption, so just enjoy them!

 Blast off!

 We did it all and could've gone back the next day to do it all again!  We walked back to the car and by the time we were cruising on the highway back to Massachusetts, both kids were snoozing away for a nice quiet ride home.

What an excellent way to end our wonderful week in Maine!

First Day of School 2014

Here are the kids the morning of their first day of school at CBE's Early Learning Center.  Finley began Parparim and Dagny began her second year in Doobim.

Their pose is a bit stuff since I asked them not to hold their crackers up in front on their faces.  Such dutiful models! But then, they got goofy and were waving the crackers around, eating them, and generally showing their excitement for the start of the new school year!

 Oh and no, I did not coordinate their outfits since Finley picks out his own clothes these days.  But I love how they look together!!

Bubble Run 2014

On a sunny Saturday morning in August, our crew plus GG and Grandpa headed out to Westford (one town over) for the Bubble Run.  Finley's love of sports stems to running races and since the last one in May, he's been ready for another  It was about a 1/3 of the way around the track with other kiddos who were 4 and 5.  Dan took Finley to the starting line while GG and Grandpa were in the middle and Dagny and I were at the finish line.

First, they stretched.

 Then, they waited for the race to begin.

On your marks, get set, GO!

 Once he came into view, Dagny and I were yelling for him and jumping up and down.

 Love the smile he was wearing as he zoomed by!

 Ah, finally, some bubbles!!

 There he goes into second place and the local newspaper's photographer getting the money shot.

We eagerly shared Finley's name and age, both of which got printed correctly, but too bad he forgot to write down we live in Acton not the race's hometown of Westford!  

Follow the link and look at the last picture in the series.

http://westford.wickedlocal.com/photogallery/WL/20140818/NEWS/818009993/PH/169_629_548_396#

A week later, we hunted down a paper copy of The Westford Eagle and Finley was beyond excited to himself in print!! His reaction was truly priceless and just as exhilarating as running the race I think!!

And don't worry, Dagny had fun at the race too - there were bubbles after all :)

Summer 2014 Continues

More assorted photos from our summer adventures:

On my birthday, the kids celebrated with me at Dunkin Donuts.

 We also went to the Old North Bridge (for your Revolutionary War buffs) and tossed rocks in the river while chatting up the park ranger.

 

 Later, we met Dan for a delicious dinner followed by ice cream cake for dessert. Happy Birthday to me!

Dagny LOVES doing sidewalk chalk on the driveway and fell in love with the bunny I drew, she even laid down on it telling me "I hug him!" 

 Finley and his friend, Ben, had a blast at their two weeks of Drumlin Farm camp.  And I enjoyed my first real carpooling experience with Ben's mom, what a life saver!

He milked a cow, climbed a mountain, brushed a pony, and did lots of other awesome nature stuff. He was truly disappointed when the two weeks were over, that's a ringing endorsement for camp!

 This has certainly been the summer of Legos for Finley.  We may be able to throw out ALL his other inside toys and he wouldn't mind, it's all legos all the time!

 One more Mud Run photo with my friend Megan that we got off the event's website :) We also signed up for a fall 5K road race in October together--less muddy but hopefully just as fun!

 We went peach picking and while the peaches weren't quite ripe and I had to do most of the picking since the fruit was high up, the kids had a delicious time.

 We took the purple commuter train in, again, to meet Dan for dinner and walked around Porter Square afterwards.

 The other night was Dan's final summer league frisbee game.  Dagny and I both ran on the track (I ran several laps while high fiving Dags each time I passed and then she and Dan ran a lap together to catch up to me).  Dagny also perfected her frisbee toss.

 

Suddenly, a big dark cloud came over and dumped about 5 minutes of huge raindrops on us.  The kids weren't thrilled, but the double rainbow sure made it worthwhile!

I have a couple of weeks left before school starts again and I will be very sad for this summer to end.  May August pass by slowly....