Fab Squad Retreat Day 4: Heading home

Since Lin only lives an hour away, she came and picked me up so we could hang out before heading to the airport! We went to Disney Springs where we wandered, shopped, and had lunch!

They were closed the first time we walked by and then the line was too long on our way out…but I got a pic anyway!

Then I ran into a SeneSister at the airport!

And it was good to get home to everyone…

Marshall Point & Owl’s Head Lighthouses

Today’s adventure in Maine…So happy it was sunny today! We started at Marshall Point Lighthouse in Point Clyde, ME. This is where the Forrest Gump scene of Tom Hanks running was filmed.

Back to our lobster place to get a few more for dinner!
Sharing a $1 beer!

Read the book? Check!
Visited the lighthouse? Check!

Friday Fave: fresh lobster

I’m in Maine so that means FRESH LOBSTER!

There’s a dock just a few miles from where we’re staying that we visit every other day. If you saw my reel yesterday, that’s the place.

Honestly if I had my choice I’d probably choose a lobster roll, but there’s something about cracking open your own personal lobster!

Lesson learned and Pemaquid Point

Last night we had asked Owen to take out the lobster waste and set the bucket inside the garbage bins (because it was too dark to go too the beach and dump in the water—but it couldn’t stay in the house or be left out where animals could get it.

Never underestimate the non-listening power of a teen brain. This is what we found in the morning. He somehow missed that we said to put the lobster shells IN the garbage bin and just left it on the porch. So then he got the glorious job of cleaning it all up! We all had a good laugh.

Exploring on our beach again!

Then it was off on another adventure—to my mom’s favorite spot: Pemaquid Point!

When we got home, Katie wanted to swim but it was a little too chilly.
Us girls had a nice time catching up on the beach.
Of course, lobster for dinner!

You’ve seen the lobster dinner, now see our dessert! Everyone loves strawberry shortcake!

Lobster, lobster, lobster!

When in Rome…

When vacationing in Maine, fresh lobsters straight from the dock are mandatory. You’re looking at nine lobsters coming in at 18-ish pounds!

Yesterday’s leftover lobster getting made into lobster rolls for lunch!
Katie loved exploring on the beach and looking for sea glass. She’d send us pictures when she found things!
Beth and Kath flew in today for the long weekend!
We dared Katie to touch a lobster again.
Grauntie Rose offering to take Katie’s share of lobster.
Mmmmmmmmm.

Our beach, Mount Battie & food!

Our view to the left.
Our view to the right.

There were LOTS of rocks between us and the beach.

Heading back up to the house to get ready for the day’s adventure!

On top of Mount Battie.

Then it was off to the surprise for the kids—Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe. They each got $10 to spend there ($5 from Grauntie Rose and $5 from me) and Katie spent all of it plus some of her own while Owen didn’t spend a penny and saved it instead.

This was one of the things she got—fruit flavored if you were wondering.

And this was what I got—it was interesting.

Then we went to mom’s favorite place for dinner—The Happy Clam. And of course I had to try their infamous Blueberry margarita!

Katie was enthralled with the old school playground so she spent most of her time out there! After dinner we took pictures!

Then Owen got involved!

Maine, I am in you.

My mom said this was probably going to be their last trip to Maine—so I took both kids out of school for a week and off we went!

And with my mom, the reason for the vacation!

Looking up at the beach cottage from the fire pit.

Two-pound lobsters for dinner? Yes, please! Katie hated it (color me not surprised) and Owen liked it. Tomorrow we’ll have lobster rolls.

Katie wasn’t thrilled with any of it.

Owen tried everything—from cracking to eating.

After dinner they surprised me with a birthday cake—complete with 50 candles!

Agate Day 4

Lunch prep!
They all pottied!
Tom’s project—fixing and refinishing the gliding bench! Which I found out was a wedding present!
Annual mini golf outing while Anna and I shopped!

ESRAY PARK OUTING — The kids love coming here—climbing the rocks, playing in the water, finding creatures…

We didn’t match them up for an exact redo but we’re just happy they’re all in it and smiling!
After our dinner out!

Friday Fave: Thimbleberry margaritas

This is something I only get one week a year — and ONLY if we pass through Calumet while Carmelita’s is open!

Thimbleberry Margaritas

The thimbleberry is a berry unique to certain areas of the US — and the upper peninsula is one of them. And they’ve gone and turned it into a delicious drink! (They also make jam but give me the margarita!)

If you’re ever in the area, please stop by and try one! We even get two pitchers to go to enjoy throughout the week since it’s an hour round trip to get them!

Seriously, Lansing?

We decided to stay the night in Lansing on the way home so we wouldn’t have to drive the full 6 hours at night…plus we’d get a chance to stop and visit with Beth and Jim and shop at our favorite Horrocks in the morning.

And then we noticed this when we were heading to dinner. Ughhhh. It wasn’t like that when we left Reese… So in the half hour we were in the hotel room, this happened in the hotel parking lot.

AND THEN! I realized that someone stole my unicorn magnet, too! Like, seriously?!

The Len Christmas in July is over!

It’s now just a gathering with food (lots of food!) and catching up…and euchre!

Plus we get the chance to get the kids together for comparison pics!! (They were all really good sports about it, too!)

Nick (18) and Owen (14) have been going back-and-forth over the years, but Owen is taller now (he was taller than everyone except Tom!).
2013—Katie (1) • Owen (4) • Aubrey (almost 5) • Grace (almost 7) • Nick (almost 9)
The three close birthdays!

Friday Fave: mom’s back yard

This is the back yard I grew up with — mostly. Some trees and stumps have been removed over the years and there’s more green now…but it’s the place of family picnics, birthday parties, campfires, s’mores, reading, croquet, sun bathing, the tree swing, kiddie pools, leaf forts…and tons of photos.