Somebody Stop Time PLEASE!!!

How in the world has time flown by this fast?  How is my sweet little 10 month old baby that could barely sit up turned 5 & is ready for school? How in the world do I stop time???????????  This was our 1st week of school here.  (I know I know... we start EARLY right?  We are supposed to have our last full day of school on May 31st -- so I don't mind if we can get out this early, however, I am told,  they have a bad habit of changing the last day..... here's hoping NOT!)

Our girly with her special "1st day of school" gift.  She's been begging for a "jammie dress".  She mostly has the shorts/pants w/ shirts -- well I found this one that came with a special jammie dress for Ling too!  She was thrilled -- we got BIG hugs for this one!  We headed off to bed a little before 8pm since we have to be up by 7am and at school around 8am.  WOW!  School starts so early!!

She requested chocolate-chip pancakes & strawberries for her 1st day of school breakfast!  NO PROBLEM!  I actually LOVE them too. (She claimed Ling enjoyed them as well!)

I have these exact pictures from her 2 years of pre-school. (Maybe I should post a comparison)  It's amazing how much taller/older she looks in each photo.  And ... p.s. she asked to dress Ling for the school day and travel with us in the van as well.  Mike and I made sure that she was in the van when we went to pick her up as well!!!

Doesn't she look SOOOOO small in the BIG hallway?

Our girl all ready for school.  She actually did quite well.  She was a little shy at first - grabbed my hand.  However, when the teacher came to show her where to put her things, she took her hand and said goodbye.  That was it.  No tears, no whines, no I LOVE YOU!!  Well -- from her that is.... Me?  All three!!!  Mike then took me to to Starbucks after dropping her off so I could cry in my coffee!  What a good husband I have!  He took the 1st day of school off work.  Part to take care of me ... and 2nd he was a little "misty" too and didn't want to miss that 1st day.  When we went to pic her up she was NON-STOP talking!!  She kept saying "and mommy, guess what?" ... she didn't take a breath for about an hour.  As much as I DO NOT want her to be in school all day & away from me, I am SO HAPPY that she's enjoying her days at school.

A Brave New World...

I'm Over the last 2 summers our daughter has made a HUGE progression in her attempt to learn how to swim.  She has always refused swim-lessons, so we have tried to teach her ourselves.  She has done quite well.  She has a cousin who is also 5 yr old and on the swim team & very very confident in the water, so that has helped to have someone to aspire to!  Cousin Naomi also LOVES to jump off the diving board.  Our little one has braved the board as far as standing on the edge of the board, however the poor girl starts to shake & whine & beg to get down.  Last week Mike promised to get our girl a special ice-cream treat - that she wouldn't even had to share mind you - and it still made her stand on the edge saying "I want ice-cream, but I don't wanna jump!".  So, she got down.  Then right behind her came 2 little girls.  I decided to ask their age.  The 1st girl said "I am 7!" - then proceeded to jump.  It didn't even make our girly flinch.  The 2nd little girl came next - I said "And how old are you?"  She proudly yelled "I'm 5!" as she ran off the diving board.  Anne Marie looked at me and said w/ a disgust in her voice "Ok, then, FINE! I'll jump." 

Let me tell you --- she has NEVER looked back!!!!  This is the fun that ensued after.............

(what a little friendly competition won't do for ya I guess!)



A Little Behind & A BIG post Becuase of LLBean....

Ok, so I missed a day!!  I was SOOOOO tired last night by the time we got to our hotel that we ate dinner (at 9:30pm) and went to bed!!!  We packed quite a bit into our day, left a little later than we wanted to and well, it was worth it, but I just couldn't bring myself to post last night.

After Kennebunkport & touring a few lighthouses, we headed to Freeport Maine.  Home of LL Bean!  We found a GREAT little pizza joint to have dinner (picture above is @ dinner), and headed to bed to get ready for our fun packed day ahead.  Of LL Bean shopping & more light-house touring! 

These stores are HUGE!  Along w/ quite a few other things surrounding the store!  Here is the classic LL Bean boot right outside the entrance.  (Don't mind the sign behind that says "please keep off for your safety"...ooooppppss... I saw it AFTER the picture was taken!! Promise!!) 

They had a HUGE fish tank inside that was full of trout, crayfish & salmon.  There was also a little "view bubble" for the kids to climb into so they could get a better view of the fish! 

The kids section had a TON of fun things to play with.  There was a little play-house, chalkboard walls & a picture booth.  You could pay $1 and get 6 pictures of yourself.  She just HAD to do it.. however wanted to be silly. She was embarrassed, so she made me leave the booth.  Little did she know that there was a TV on the outside that you could see what the person inside was doing! Heeee! 

She even had fun trying on a few items.  There was a men's, woman's, kids, hunting-fishing, biking/water-sports, home & outlet stores to shop in.  I"m telling you it took HOURS to go through.... then it started to mist...uhoh...there was still a lighthouse to get to!!! 

This lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the US.  (Or so they say)  it really was beautiful and even through the mist we stayed for quite a while just walking the rocks & taking pictures.  Again, this was a light house that you could not go into, but it was a GREAT view.  I am just in LOVE with the coast of Maine!!  Really -- how can we win the lotto if we don't play.  Ha!

Then it was on to Hartford, CT.  It was 9:30 by the time we checked in & found something to eat.  We brought it back to the room & then got in bed we were T-I-R-E-D!! 

The next morning we thought we'd tour a little of downtown Hartford -- it is the capital of CT. and then head to our next destination towards home.  We heard about a sweet little carousel that was in the middle of a beautiful park right in downtown.  We just knew that's what we wanted to do.  It was beautiful!  It also was only $1 per ride! PERFECT!  Anne Marie road twice!  Then we thought we've venture out to see what else we could get into......... 

NOTHING!  Really --- NOTHING!!  There was nothing else to do.  NO ONE around!  REALLY!!  So much so that we went to ask the little girl running the carousel what the heck the deal was.  She said that it's a "business" town full of commuters during the week, but the weekends are fairly dead!  HOW SAD!  It's a BEAUTIFUL park - full of trees, well-cut grass, fountains, playgrounds and the carousel. 

The capitol building.  NO ONE THERE...not even taking pictures... but me of course!  Isn't it beautiful?! 

Really I"m telling you -- NOT A SOUL!!!  There were about 3 kids on the carousel ride with us, but that really is the only humans we saw there! 

We did find this little friend in one of the fountains though.

We've now headed off to our next hotel, grabbed some dinner, took a dip in the pool & are looking forward to our last day of "touring" and vacationing tomorrow!  

Sneak Peek...

After we left our Bed & Breakfast (Mike & Anne Marie in front of the B&B this morning) we headed up the coast of Maine.  Up route #9 to #77.  BEAUTIFUL!  I'm ready to buy a summer house in Maine.  (Haaa!  When we win the Lotto!)  But we are SOOOOOOO tired, so I'm giving you a sneak-peek at our day and since we are doing more light-house-hunting tomorrow I'll include ALL the pictures then!

One of the beautiful light-houses we visited today. 

 Dipping our toes in the water w/ the small light-house wayyyyyy far off in the distance.

Climbing the cliffs/rocks over the ocean near two of the 1st light houses we visited today.  Oh the view was just beautiful.  I could have stayed all day just sitting on the rocks & gazing out over the ocean.

Even Better Day in Maine!

 What did we do today in Maine?!?!  Next to nothing... if you call nothing......

Jumping some waves!  (Very Very Very cold waves mind you!) 

Getting close to the animals around us!!! 

Finding picture perfect post-card moments right in front of us! 

Rock climbing ON the beach.... 

Creating works of art! (turtles, starfish, regular fish & a mermaid) 

Finding the coolest assortment of shells & see-glass!

Yeah... just a relaxing day... all day by the beach in Maine.  We headed out about 11a.m - after our B&B breakfast -- we packed a lunch -- played, ate & played some more.  Until 5pm when we headed back to our room to re-heat last nights leftovers!  Now, this is my kind of day!!



On The Road Again.... to Maine!

Today, we headed to Maine.  I wanted to see a few lighthouses, so we decided to stay in Maine for a couple of days.  We found a cute bed & breakfast online and decided to book a couple night there.  It was in Kennebunkport.   Now, I don't know if you know anything about the area ... because we sure didn't but here's a little information........... 

They have GREAT food.  Seafood that is.  We grabbed lunch (a lobster roll & fresh fried clams).  Alot of their dining places are over the harbor area and it's a fun place to sit outside, enjoy the view & some yummy food and drinks.  (The weather was warm to cool, so it was GREAT to be able to sit outside without sweating half to death like we had been the beginning part of the week.) 

They have beautiful bed & breakfasts.  (Why have I not taken a picture of the front of the house?  Good question -- that is on the to-do-list tomorrow!)  This bed & breakfast has beautiful grounds.  With flower gardens & a small waterfall.  Anne Marie was having so much fun just looking around. 

They even have a cute little sitting/sun room for guests to come and sip on tea or coffee (or lemonade or hot chocolate) and eat yummy home-baked cookies! (4 different kinds mind you!!) 

They even have cute little rooms in the "carriage-house" that has an extra small bedroom added on.  Just perfect for a little 5 year old girl!  So, off to bed we went after a long day of walking around town, buying maybe one really cute ring & one really cute bracelet from a VERY NICE lady (let me know if you're going to kennebunkport, I'll let you know who she is.  She has items in her shop made by families in Bali and much of the money goes back to them & to help them w/ medical issues for their children!) waiting out a huge lightning/rain storm & and eating some yummy food.

I will say this,  if I must be honest about Kennebunkport.  The locals here are GREAT!  Our innkeeper has been so sweet to us and very helpful.  Our little waitress today was so pleasant.  The lady that owned the shop - well, I could have talked to her all day.  However -- some (SOME) of the vacationers here are, shall I say, very stressed out people.  I can't tell you how many ugly words I heard today in public, nasty attitudes - and even a couple asked to be moved from their table when we came down to sit to eat.  We're thinking based on what we heard it was because we had a "small child".  I understand it's a "romantic" place here, w/ the bed & breakfasts and all.  But let me tell you, this little 5 year old has been thrilled to be here - eating almost all my clamstrips, begging for more & ooohing over the boats & wildlife, plus, she's been very well behaved.  We're hoping when we hit the beach tomorrow things will get a little better.  (The nice lady @ the shop even told us we were "refreshing" to talk to.  I'm not 100% sure, but I might know what she meant.)