Maine 2009

Here we are at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Boothbay. Isn't this place just beautiful?!! Everything is so lush and green. Madeline loved playing in the yard, catching fireflies, and relaxing by the fire.

ROBINSON'S WHARF

Here we are at Robinson's Wharf. This was our favorite hangout in Maine. We loved the happy hour specials, great food, and friendly staff...not to mention the beautiful scenery. Madeline loved going downstairs to see the lobsters ('mah-ners') in their tank. She even enjoyed a bit of calamari ('cracken') with us...this child never ceases to amaze me with the things she eats!

ICE CREAM




This seriously is the BEST ice cream in the whole world...Mountain Top Homemade Ice Cream in Boothbay Harbor was our favorite anytime treat!!! I will miss this place dearly!


OCEAN POINT

Ocean Point is absolutely stunning! If I could live anywhere in the world, it would probably be here. This place is just breathtaking! We visited Ocean Point twice because a little storm rolled in on our first trip, but even on a rainy day this place truely is spectacular. Madeline loved feeding the ducks and turtles in the pond at the Ocean Point Inn (and chasing a few too!). My great grandmother (the original Madeline Belle) lived and worked at the Inn for many years. It was very cool to bring our Madeline Belle there to visit.


BOOTHBAY COMMUNITY PARK








There was an awesome community park just down the street from my parents' home. Madeline had a blast playing on all of the cool stuff!

LOBSTER FEAST







We had a fabulous lobster feast in the backyard one evening. Madeline was not too sure about the lobsters and actually through a major fit when we sat down to eat them. I think she may have been a little disturbed at the fact we cooked and ate the 'mah-ners' she had just seen frolicking in the tank at the Wharf. She eventually got over it though and happily enjoyed her mac-n-cheese!

BOOTHBAY TROLLEY

Madeline and I on the Boothbay Trolley.

WENDAMEEN AND PORTLAND




















The highlight of our trip was spending an afternoon at sea on the Wendameen, a boat built by my great great grandfather in 1912. We had PERFECT weather for sailing. Debbo packed us some yummy snacks and cold beers and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery on this amazing ship! Madeline slept most of the time, which was probably for the best, but she did enjoy catching the wind in her tongue and steering the boat with Grandpa ('pah-pee') while she was awake. We really enjoyed roaming around Portland too.

SEA DOG




After our day at sea, we stopped at Sea Dog Brewery for a warm dinner and some ice cold Blue Paws (the best blueberry beer you will ever taste)! Madeline enjoyed mac-n-cheese and chicken wings. Yum!

MAINE BLUEBERRIES




Here I am picking some yummy Maine blueberrries. These things grow wild on the side of the road and are literally everywhere. Such a beautiful place!

BOAT BUILDERS FESTIVAL






















Our last day in Maine was spent at the Boat Builders Festival in East Boothbay. This is where the old Adams Shipyard (where my grampy was actually born) is located. So much of our family's history took place in East Boothbay...it was a very cool place to visit. One of my favorite things about the Boat Builders Festival was how much they catered to the kids. They had so many activities that even little Madeline was able to enjoy. She got her face painted like a pirate and had her very own pink pirate sword. The coolest part was the pirate show during which a group of enemy pirates attacked the harbor in their pirate ship, firing canons and all! After the big pirate battle, we were able to take some pictures with the pirates. Madeline was a little freaked out and cracked us all up with her "happy place" pose in these pictures. She would not even make eye contact with any of us...I think she thought we had handed her over to the enemy pirates! Ahhrrrrrrrrr!

BOSTON

We spent our last day on the East Coast in Boston. We made the drive from Maine to Boston on Monday morning and were able to spend much of Monday afternoon exploring downtown Boston. We visited a downtown fire station and had some AMAZING sandwiches at a local Italian deli. We spent our evening with my dad's Aunt Sis and her son, AJ, and his family. Madeline LOVED the boys and the "Annie" doll Aunt Sis made for her. Everyone was so hospitable, it was hard for us to say goodbye.

This was such a great trip and a wonderful experience for our family. We look forward to spending many summers on the east coast as our family grows...what a wonderful place to bring our kids for summer vacation! Thanks, Mom & Dad ('mah-mee' & 'pah-pee') for inviting us and making our trip so wonderful! We love you, miss you, and can't wait for you to get back home!!!