Our little Maine Vacation

This time I have a really good excuse for not writing at all last week.... we were up in Maine at Dad's for the week.  Kelsey and I drove up separately last Friday afternoon.  It was a torturous ride up.  Apparently, everyone else from Connecticut and Massachusetts had the same idea and thought that they should also drive up to Maine and leave at the exact same time as us.  What is usually about a 4 1/2 hour trip took almost 8 hours.  Granted, that included an extremely long dinner stop (which is what happens when traveling with a 1 year old who takes an hour to eat while he looks around at all of the other people at the rest stop, and a 3 year old who has to use the potty three times.).  We were quite the popular people at the rest area.  While Kelsey was taking Colby to the bathroom (for the third time), Stella, Max, and I got asked by a group of Asian teens if they could pose with us for a picture.  I believe the actual question was, "Can I please have a picture with you and your beautiful American family?"  How could I say no to that?!  The next thing I knew, I was standing in a huge group of people while holding Max and clinging to Stella, while at least 10 others lined up with their cameras to take pictures of us.  It was quite a sight. 

Anyway, we made it safely to Dad's house and went straight to bed so that we would be ready for a day at the lake. 

We spent the entire weekend at the trailer.  The weather couldn't have been any better.  Saturday was a really fun day.  Joining us at the lake was Christie and her two sons, Max and Sam, as well as Max's girlfriend, Ashley.  Stella was very concerned about having two Maxes there, and instructed all of us to call our Max, Maxton (because, as she said, "What if we say, 'Max, did you poop your pants?'  We don't want the other Max to think we're talking to him.  That would be embarrassing."  Good thinking, Stella.)  Jeff and Hesty also came up for the day.  We all had a great time getting to know each other while we hung out on the beach, went out on the boat, and sat around the campfire.  We are looking forward to spending more time with Max, Sam, and Ashley.

Sunday was another great day at the lake.  Jeff and Hesty hung out for part of the day before heading back home.  Again, we spent most of our time on the beach which was the kids' favorite place to be for all of last week. 

Colby "grilling" with Daddy at Bupa's trailer

 Kelsey was able to take Monday off of work, so he had a long weekend up at Dad's before having to return home.  The kids and I stayed up there until this past Friday and we had such a fun week. 

 All three kiddos LOVED the lake and LOVED being in the water.  It was fun to watch them become more and more comfortable in the water as the week went on.  Even Max became fearless in the lake.  He loved doing this sequence of motions over and over again.  First, he would do his Frankenstein-style walk into the water.

He would walk until he would fall down.  Usually he would go right under the water.

Then he would pop right up with a huge grin on his face, clap his hands, and then do the sign for "more."  Then he'd crawl back out of the water like a little sea creature and do it all over again.  This never got old for him.

  

Stella grew leaps and bounds at the lake.  The girl who used to refuse to put her head under water is now SWIMMING under water.  She is so incredibly proud of herself... and she should be!  We're so proud of her.  I took this video the day she learned to do this so that we could email it to Daddy.  She couldn't wait to show him her new trick.

And, of course, Colby had to make a video for Daddy too.  He can put his head underwater too now, but kept doing it when I didn't have the camera with me.  He decided to make a video talking to Daddy. 

While we were up in Maine, I made plans to get together with my college roommates Amanda, Molly, and Robin.  The four of us lived together during my junior year of college and we haven't all been together since Molly's wedding 6 years ago.  Now we all have kids (Amanda and Robin just had their first ones recently), so we met up at an indoor play place called Peek-a-Boo.  It was really great seeing them and meeting their beautiful babies. 

L-R:  Robin with 11 week old son, Isaac; Amanda and 5 month old Annabelle; me and Max; Molly with 14 month old Mia

Here's my 3 having a snack at Peek-a-Boo

 

Stella loved playing with Baby Annabelle (Amanda's little one).  And, judging from her smiles, I think Annabelle loved Stella too!

Colby, rocking the trampoline!

I can tell the kids had a wonderful time at Bupa's because since we've been home, they've been total grumps.  They have been talking about our week in Maine non-stop and can't wait to go back. 

Thanks, Bupa!