Garden hors d'oeuvres

Despite the horrible start to the gardening season this year, ours has actually done quite well. It's produced a lot of food, although it is definitely the ugliest garden around because there is no sense to it. Tuck has been really interested in picking fruit this year so lately we've been hanging out before dinner and checking out the garden...

We started off with cherry tomatoes and he really liked those. After a couple though he would start squishing them so we moved on the peas. The little man loves peas and we shelled a bunch. Tuck would eat the peas and Casco would play with the pod. Great team. Next were the purple pod beans and he really liked those. He'd eat a couple raw and then play with the pile I collected for dinner. He liked them cooked too. We picked lots of squash, cucumbers and peppers and Tuck was really excited about all of them.

Finally after a couple days of snacking on veggies, I showed him a little pumpkin, jack-be-little and we picked it for him. I have about 30 of those things growing so eventually I'll let him stomp around for them, but for now, things are still growing well!

Beach in Georgetown with relatives

Jay's Uncle Don and Aunt Terry rented a great beachfront cottage in Georgetown this past week and on Wednesday, Meacy and I took the kids down for a visit. We picked a great day because even though it was cooler, it was plenty warm by the water and the kids had a blast.

We visited last year as well, but Tuck napped just about the whole time. Now he's a year older and really loves to play in the sand, as well as Spencer and Evelyn. We brought out buckets, shovels and plenty of toys and found this great tidal pool to play in. Evelyn started everyone off by helping her build a hole and then we poured water into it. Tuck tried to help carry the water but he was more fascinated to dump it out on himself.





After awhile playing with buckets and water, Tuck started to venture off and explore a little. He found some rocks and tried climbing them. Yep, he could do it and then he wanted more rocks. Finally I had to put the brakes on a little because he's becoming a little daredevil, but he got a kick out of it anyway.
Terry made a great lunch for everyone and we all devoured it, hungry from burning off energy on the beach. Then sure enough, we were all back outside on the beach again. Unfortunately Tuck and I couldn't stay too long because I had a Dr.'s appt. in Portland that afternoon, but we played until I absolutely had to have him in the car. All the kids had a blast and it was a great visit! As soon as Tuck and I drove off, he was asleep and slept all the way back to Portland. We wished we could have stayed longer but Tuck's little sister was calling... and her heartbeat sounds great!!! (almost 21 weeks along).




Tuck has been trying out more and more words and on the way home he started saying "hello" totally out of the blue. It's so cute! He also sings "Baa Baa" from Baa Baa Black Sheep very well, and hums the rest of the tune. The little guy is growing up for sure! Another kind of interesting thing he has done that I've been trying to catch on camera is him attempting to pick up Casco. He watched Daddy do it all week at Moosehead and throw her into the water so now Tuck tries very hard to do the same. I'm not sure Casco is psyched about it but it's hilarious to watch him really strain and try to pick her up. Luckily she is a very gentle dog!

---I just bought a new videocamera, it's the Flip Ultra HD, or something like that. Anyway it's the size of my little still camera and takes wonderful video. These pictures are stills taken from the videocamera!

Moosehead Lake vacation - part I

With over a week off together and great weather in the forecast, we headed up to Moosehead to spend some time with the Roy family on the lake. For the past couple of years, we've gone up there for a couple days at a time but rarely do we get the whole family together. Luckily we all picked the best week of the year, weather wise, and the lake was plenty warm for swimming!


We drove up Friday evening as did the FieldRoy family and EE and Papi. We were all up early first thing the next morning of course and it was such a hot day already. Basically from the minute we woke up to the time we put the kids to bed, we were in the water all day. It was so warm out that we lived in bathing suits and hung out beside the water, going in and out. Evelyn led the pack for sure and became a huge fan of "the rock."

Tuck was very excited to throw rocks in the water and after a little while, he was ready to get in too. The lake was very warm and it was so nice to just go out and float around. We put on his swim floaties and turtle shell, and he was off. In fact after getting used to it, he was pushing us away, well not really but he liked it.























Basically for the first couple days we swam, ate, swam, played trucks, swam, went kayaking, napped, ate, swam, read books and played cards. It was great and the weather was as good as it gets. The kids were all having a blast and it was really neat to see Spencer and Tuck playing. They're about 6 months apart and getting to the age where they can play together well and be more aware of what each other is doing. It's really fun to watch them.

So we also had quite a few dance parties.... to the Squirrel Nut Zippers. EE got a little crazy during one of our dinners and got up and started dancing. Evelyn jumped up, then the boys and soon after we were all up dancing and jumping around. It was really funny and the kids were having so much fun! We have some pictures but I think video would have been more fitting...

KAYAKING - yes well kayaking is and has been a huge part of Jay and my life for a long time and you can say we've been excited to introduce the kiddos to it. We brought Tuck last year a time or two, he was only 4 months old at that point. We tried to bring him earlier this summer and all he wanted to do was get out of the boat. I didn't have high expectations for trying again but we were using rec boats instead of sea kayaks so I thought that might be better. From the minute we put them in the water, Tuck was into it. He sat still in our laps, held on to the cockpit sides and just watched. He especially liked it when we hit the little buoys and kayaked near where people were swimming. All three kids really enjoyed kayaking and that allowed us to take several longer trips. We paddled to the islands to swim a couple times and they all did really well, I was so excited. I think the boats really helped but Tuck didn't give any fuss when we strapped on the lifejackets and pulled out the boats... we'll stick with flatwater for now...haha

All three of the little kiddos got really excited about taking pictures and any time they saw a camera, especially the two boys, they went crazy. Not to mention that my camera is a waterproof, shockproof one, so we had it in the water all day. It's a good thing we're using digital cameras now with the amount of pictures they took!

Aunt Kristen and Uncle Andy came by on Monday and joined in on the fun for a couple days as well. It was great to have the whole family there and it made for some exciting days and crazy card playing nights. With kids running around there are very few times to sit, relax and have conversation, so it was nice to have a couple nights to do that.





Jay, Tuck, Casco and I stayed up at camp throughout the whole week but the first five days when the family was around was the most exciting for everyone I think. We all love watching them experience the outdoors and get excited about the little things! Each year will get more interesting but with Tuck and Spencer so close in age, those two are really going to have a lot of fun together. Plus, Evelyn will totally love being the big girl cousin to the next little one on the way for next summer-

Day at the beach

Monday morning as soon as we got up, we got on the phone with Aunt Meacy and decided to come down to Portland and head to Scarborough Beach. It was a very warm and muggy day, perfect for hanging out at the beach. We stopped in at Meacy and Dave's first and played with cousins Evelyn and Spencer before packing up and loading in the cars. We got to the beach around 10:30am and lubed up the kids with sunscreen. Evelyn wanted to hit the water first but Tuck really didn't have much interest so he played with Spencer in the sand. They were driving their trucks around, chasing sea gulls and just having a blast. Evelyn and I were jumping in the waves and splashing around.

We stayed for a couple hours but were quickly approaching the crucial napping hours so we redressed the kiddos and headed home. I was trying hard to keep Tuck awake until we got back to Meacy's house but he wasn't having any part of it and fell asleep. He actually got a little mad at me for trying to keep him awake, it was funny. Luckily I easily transferred him to the house and then the pack 'n' play, he was out! He was so tired that he slept for a long time, longer than he ever sleeps at our house.


We also had the Ultrasound that afternoon for Tuck's little sibling and since he was sleeping, he stayed at Meacy's. After finding out that everything looks great with the baby they told us that we were having a little girl! How wonderful, Tucky is going to have a little sister! We still have a long way to go, I'm a little over 18 weeks, but I can't wait for Tuck to be a great big brother!

Great weekend down at the coast!!!

We are absolutely loving the sunny weather! We all enjoy being outside, but I think Tuck especially needs to get outdoors the most. From the minute he wakes up until we put him to bed, he's either outside or trying to get out.







We have spent much of the last week down at Penobscot and on Friday we headed back down early in the morning. Auntie Janet and Uncle Trap were down as well so of course Janet wanted to play with Tuck. We have gathered quite a few toys for Tucky down here, especially since we found that Little Tykes climber castle thing at the dump so he loves being outside. Plus he has a few ride on toys, he thinks the golf cart is one..., and Grampa Mac hung up his swing outside too.

The blueberries were in perfect condition this weekend and after last Tuesday's success raking, we decided to go back and get some more. It really only took us about 30 minutes to almost fill 2 5 gallon pails full which also translates to several days picking through all those berries. Oh well, they are just so tasty and we all love them. While Tuck was sleeping, Grammy, Janet and I also went down towards the pier and picked a ton of raspberries. They were also in really good shape.

Jay came down after he finished up with his camp and got to spend a lot of time with Tucky outside. My cousin Ashley was also on her way with Albert and her two boys, Grant and Hayes. We were all excited to get Tuck and Grant together again. Both boys nap in the afternoon so each morning we made sure to let them play. On Saturday morning we walked down to their place and we played cars inside. Tuck was still a little leary of the totem pole thing after last week, but he was okay after we moved it again.








We also went to the Farmers Market in Blue Hill and found some good stuff. I bought some really good salsa! There was also a little fair type event going on and we walked over to check it out. There was a bounce house but I think Tuck is still a little small for that, next year for sure. We did find a bunch of older toys that were 25 cents and I got a couple of them. One was a piano type toy and Tuck was very excited. We also found a tambourine so we can have some concerts later on. It was approaching Tuck's nap time so we headed out, got some Bagaduce lunch and got him ready for bed.

While Tuck napped, Grammy Lyn and I went over to Blue Hill CC to get in a round of golf. I can't believe how horrendous I played but it was still fun. I also couldn't believe that when we got back, Tuck and his Daddy were snuggled up napping still. I guess Tuck woke up after 1 1/2 hours and was still very snuggly, so Jay laid down with him until I woke them up. You play hard, you sleep well I guess!

Later on we had cocktails at Uncle Forbes' house and then dinner at Auntie Jan and Uncle Trap's. Their new house looks great and this was their first big dinner there I think. Tuck did really well for it being a late night so of course he slept well too.





Sunday morning, Grampa, Grammy and I played golf while Jay stayed to play outside with Tuck and later Grant joined too. They were having a ball playing in the yard! After lunch we also went on a big boat ride out in Castine Harbor and then around Cape Rosier. I hadn't been down there by boat before and it was really beautiful coast. Tuck again fell asleep when we hit Castine and slept for a long time. He did get a chance to check out the sites when he woke up though as well.

It's a long ride home from Penobscot to Windham but we're getting used to it. We had such a good vacation and especially a great weekend! Tuck is really getting a ton of great experiences this summer and he really loves it down there as we all do. It was nice to get home though too and play with toys he hasn't seen in over a week.