Back to school fashion show!

In keeping with tradition, we did a small back-to-school fashion show.  I only got her to try on two outfits for the camera, but here they are!  We went school shopping with Mimi again this year - great fun!

 This also shows more of her pretty hair - this is a veil style.

First day of school!

I am posting a little out of order today, I need to share the pictures from our camping trip and the Folk Festival, but I couldn't miss out on posting the first day of kindergarten pictures!  She was very excited with only a pinch of nervous. I think it helped to meet her teacher and see her classroom at the open house earlier in the week. Here she is, ready for her first day.

 Pretending to walk to the bus.  She would have to walk almost 2 miles to get to her bus stop (the bus doesn't come down our street - I think Lizzie is the only school aged kid down here) so we plan to drive her and pick her up at the school - only a few miles away from home.

 Marty didn't want to leave the school - he was prepared for Lizzie to go, but didn't want to miss out on the playground!  He is ok now - playing drum set while I type this (I can hear him clapping the sticks together saying "1 ... 2 .... a 1, 2, 3 and then hitting the drums - so cute!).

 Excited to see her friends from pre-k and ready for the day!

Blueberry raking!

This past weekend, we had our annual blueberry raking.  We had a beautiful day for it and the blueberries raking was pretty easy!  It was great to have the day with Mimi, Timber and Auntie Angi.

 Look at all of those berries!  We realized that last year we got rained out, so Martin didn't have much memory of it.  He caught on quickly!  Lizzie really had the hang of it this year.

Story land!

We found ourselves looking at the calendar for the fall, trying to make plans for a camping trip or a trip to NH for Storyland and we realized the next available weekend was in October.  With school starting up soon, our time for summer fun is quickly dwindling!  So, I took a vacation day and we headed to Storyland!  This year, we went in the opposite direction from the year before - starting near the singing veggies and ending by the humpty dumpty.  We decided to take the train through the park first thing to get the lay of the land.  The kids could have stayed by the singing vegetables for some time!

 We also decided to do the face paint early on this time, hoping to avoid the lines.  Lizzie wanted spider man again and this year, Marty picked a tiger!  He was too little last year, so this was especially fun.  They do such a nice job!  I didn't get many pictures during the rides as all four of us were able to go on them all - Marty was just tall enough to ride with an adult (and what a relief that he could go - he loved the rides!)

 We did get some photos of the merry-go-round - here I think spider man and tiger are making plans for an epic battle (it was a tie).

 I think it is fair to say I have as much fun at Storyland as the kids do.

 I like taking these photos every year - they match up with the pictures of me from nearly 30 years ago.

 We left the park for lunch not long after taking this photo.  The park had lost power but it had returned when we came back.  It was a little unreal to be there without all of the background park music!

What a great time!

Family Reunion

A few weeks ago, we all geared up and headed to the coast (Owls Head) for our annual family reunion.  In looking at the pictures I got, you wouldn't know it, but much of the family was able to attend.  What a perfect day!  Uncle Dan made the trip up and was a big help with the kids.

 Lizzie also got to have her first soda (other than a root beer float) and she decided Dr. Pepper was her favorite.  Luckily, the cans were half the normal size so she was able to try a few different varieties.  It will be awhile before she gets another chance, but looked how excited she is about this new thing!

 What a perfect day!

Heat wave!

We have spent this hot week going from soccer camp in the morning to the lake in the afternoon. I haven't had my camera out much, these are phone pics.

Fourth of July!

We had the Dickens clan over for a fourth of July party.  What a beautiful day! Tom and Char brought there boat and there was plenty of tubing and water skiing for everyone.  Lobster for lunch and then lots of swimming.  Here are the cousins in attendance:

 Marty and Grampy in the kayak:

 Lizzie just started jumping off the dock today without someone to catch her, and once she got comfortable, she did it over and over and over!  This is what she calls her "star" jump.  She also does a mean cannon ball and is working on a spinny move.

Marty loved to "drive" the boat.

What a fantastic day!