Island Life

Saturday was such a beautiful day in New England. We decided to take advantage, especially with the forecasters calling for six days of rain.

This beach is literally 10 minutes away from our house, so cool!

Like most things, Madie was reluctant to see the beach at first. But once we got down there, she was running all around and climbing rocks. She was pretty disappointed when we didn't stay longer than 10 minutes.

The Finn-Man was especially happy to get out.

We hit the Ocean Path and saw a lobster fishing boat in action, which Madie couldn't get enough of.

What a confident looking guy.

Scoping out the granite cliffs.

Madie loved running around the rocks. We had to help her step around some of the larger rocks.

I was playing with Madie in our backyard the next day, and she was helping me step down the slopes and rocks. It was cute to see her re-enacting us helping her around the rocks along the Ocean Path.

Thanks

I think right now is a great time for a thankful post. I'm going to try to be very specific right now rather than more general--like "family." I mean, of course I'm thankful for my family, but rather than say something like that I want to keep it more precise so I can read this years from now and remember exactly why I feel the way I do.

First and foremost, I am so thankful for Alexa's call yesterday. I needed a good, hardy laugh, and when Alexa's on the phone I'm almost guaranteed to get one. And yesterdays what harder than usual--I don't know why that story never struck me so funny before, Lex, but I was just in tears (for the second time!) laughing over it with you. And I love thinking of all the things that could have happened in that short period of time.

                  Officer: You fell from the car? Where's the car?
                  Me: It left.
                  Officer: Who was with you in the car?
                  Me: My grandmother, my mum, and my big sister.

Hahahaha! I'm laughing to myself even as I type this and Madie keeps asking me, "What?"

I'm also thankful for what a great big sister Finnegan has. Madie is hard to deal with some days, but she is always a sweet big sister--even if sometimes her love for Finn is a little overwhelming.

Speaking of Madie, I am sooooo thankful (and hopeful) that it looks like her eating habits may slowly (oh, ever so slowly) be turning back to the way they were before she turned 2. She has been much more willing to lick things lately that she doesn't think she likes.

And on that note I'm also thankful for Dr. Seuss and coming up with the phrase, "Say! I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them Sam-I-Am!" because Madie loves it when we say that after she's tried something new. (Only we modify it to fit whatever she's tasted.) Hallelujah for putting ingenious authors on the world for us all to enjoy.

I'm also thankful for rainymoods.com. Finn is finally asleep. :)

Week One

Today marks one week since we moved into the rental. Mike had his first week of work and the kids and I are--I think--finally in some sort of a schedule. So, an update, I feel, is due.

The Finn-man doing his neck exercises. The kid's getting strong. He is rolling onto his side from his back. And even scooching around a bit on his belly!

Mum came down with us and helped us get settled as much as she could. She wanted a sweet picture with Madie the day she left, but Madie kept acting out. I have three pictures, and this is the best one. (One of them Mum isn't smiling, another Madie's picking her nose, and the third she's got her eyes closed.) 

The landlord has had roofers working to prep for winter and they were here every day until today. Hallelujah! 

We went out the other day to explore our back yard. The yard itself isn't huge because of the woods, but it looks like we have a decent amount of land about us in the back. Madie loves running around back there acting out scenes from her favorite movies, Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. 

Shot 1: Nice faces but a little dark.

So we'll turn around and face the sun.

Shot 2: Nice light, but weird faces. Oh well.

Today we passed some time while Finnegan was napping by making paper planes and coloring them. Then we flew them around for like 45 minutes before Madie's quiet time. She loved it! (Pardon all the odd shots--it's hard to handle the camera one-handed because of it's bulk.)

It's been a good first week, minus the utter lack of sleep I've had.

Off the Plane and Out of Suitcases

 We flew into Maine in the middle of an arctic cold front, from Arizona mind you! Madie wanted to go outside with me in her flip flops, dress, and cape. I'm sorry Madie, but you aren't in California anymore. She made me carry her everywhere for the first few days. It was a rough acclimation for Madie.

We went to an apple orchard and picked up some cider, and a bag of apples. Mal and Marilou later turned the apples into a tasty honey apple pie.

He is a happy man.

Madie refusing to walk haha.

And Finn loved playing with Grammy Haskins.

We got settled into our house in the woods on Saturday.

This is in front of our house.

The foliage is so colorful!

Looking down our street.

Nana and Papa's House

Since we video chat with our parents on a weekly basis, Madie has had zero problems warming up to grandparents. Madie was getting busy with the toy kitchen after we got there. I think she was really hoping that she was eating ice cream.

Ty, Sadie and Lexi all came over to say hi.

We got to spend some time with Hannah, and she wanted to take Finn's pacifier the whole time! You can see her watching intently on the pacifier 'situation' Papa is trying to resolve.

Madie called these 'fire hydrant hats'

It was so hot and the sun so powerful that I grabbed one of these for Finn from Nana's dress-up box. Arrrrr, matey! I found his Halloween costume!

Nana and Finn.

This is about how Madie looked most of the time. Some sort of dress or leotard with a cape.

We met up with the McDonalds. Nathan and Madie hit it off and loved laughing out the glass window.

Madie tried out Aunt Tiffany's Preschool for a couple of days, and they all went to the pumpkin patch for one of the activities. Madie is doing her 'klingon' face here.

Madie took the net from the kids game Ele-Fun game and decided to wear it. I had to trick her to take this picture, she is such a stinker and won't show her face!

We also celebrated Mallory's birthday with bbq chicken, salmon, salad, and ice cream cake. Yum!

We did a little demolition and remodeling while we were there.

My nephew Sam is so happy to be on a train, he wants to be one when he grows up.

Madie, Lexi, Sadie, and Kylie on the train.

Brodi on the train.

Train park after the train ride.

Madie braved the sliding monkey bars.

Hannah and Madie still don't really know each other, but I think they'll come around in the next few years.

The Finn-Man. He loved playing, smiling, and laughing with Nana and Papa. Special thanks to the many hands of my siblings and in-laws that held him and rocked him to sleep.

Before we went to the airport, we spent some time at Freeman Park to feed some ducks.

Look who decided to show up...

Thank you Nana and Papa! We enjoyed being in Arizona (despite the heat).