Time passages.

March madness.  March. The longest month. It was an arduous slog toward the finish line. At Bates, it's been petitioned more than once to just remove it from the academic calendar. The demands! The rigor! For the K-P clan, it was no different.  Tumbling classes, birthday parties, visiting friends, friends visiting, Easter. Add in a sprinkle of daily obligations and a dash of unpredictability and there's one whopping recipe for busy.

As we inch (crawl, skulk, creep...) toward springtime in Maine, I find myself becoming acutely aware of the passage of time.  Spring, if and when we ever get there, signifies regrowth, rebirth, rejuvenation! We're seeing glossy-eyed farm babies popping up across the landscapes, and somehow the air has changed from the bare chill of winter to the fresh and dewy breath of spring.

And, we are now less than a month away from a newly minted three year old.  THREE! 3! T-H-R-E-E! Time passages, indeed.

March does have its redeeming qualities. Last year, it was the nearly 2 weeks of 75+ degree weather. An anomaly not seen in these parts very often, for sure.  This year, with out-of-town guests to impress, we tackled a long-standing pine-tree state tradition in Maine Maple Sunday--where local farms open to the public for a snapshot of the maple syrup tapping biz.  Pancake breakfasts, all things maple, all fun and delicious.  Our farm of choice? Jillson's in Sabattus.  Petting cows, maple on ice, maple on a stick.  All the ooey gooey goodness one needs to ward off the late March chill.  Garrett and his two new pals enjoyed exploring the farm and all its delightful offerings.

Next stop, Popham Beach for a little post-winter, early spring exploration. Not quite as enjoyable as a day in July, but almost.  Gabs enjoyed herself too and made new friends. 

We ended the weekend at a special picturesque place and good restaurant...Cook's Lobster on Bailey Island.  Shenanigans ensued.

March also saw Grammie's birthday.  Garrett and I took a half day from work and daycare and drove south to take Grammie and Grampie out for lunch.  Boo loves his Grammie!

And so, after all of these wonderful times, where we spend quality moments with family and friends, I tend to become reflective about how fast it goes and how little of it we really have...time, that is.  In an age where everyone is so busy, busy, busy, it's important to stop and put ourselves in check.  Put down the smartphone, tuck the computer away, and just be.  It'll all be there waiting for us, but for now...be active...be attentive...be patient.  Just, well, be.

Vacation: day two.

Day two of our vacation.  It's August in Maine, which means it's HOT.  Where do we go on hot days? The beach!

Yesterday we went to Popham for the umpteenth time this summer.  Naturally we spent most of the time down at the water.  I even went in the whole way. Dad thinks I'm nuts but hey, I practically grew up in these icy waters, and you're a true Mainer.  If we don't go in, you're not going to want to.  You went with me, and had a blast.  Your giggles competed only with the crashing of those frosty waves.  Boy, did we have fun.  Dad got you a kite and we flew that the whole walk around the beach.   I forgot how fun kites can be. Definitely more of that in our future.  Dad and I also put together a Pooh puzzle for you.  There was a time when we did tons of puzzles, and even glued/framed some of them.  We've had this one for awhile and decided it was time to finish it.  You wanted to help. Someday you can. 

Day two of vacation was another hot one.  But this time, we trekked up to Boothbay with our buddies to spend the day at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.  This is one of those places that one can go over and over again and not get tired.  There are so many beautiful flowers, and the children's garden is spectacular for our curious tots.  These boys are hysterical together, and the little bit older they get, the more comfortable with interacting and playing with each other they are.  To listen to their toddler banter in the backseat of the car or while running back and forth on the grounds is priceless.  A thousand cute and funny things happened today and yet impossible to capture them all.

Suffice to say, we had such a blast with our friends, and so many laughs.  We fondly remembered the days we carted you around in the baby Bjorns, only now to see you running full speed here and there, touching, smelling, and even tasting (water from the fountains, Garrett, is NOT the same as that from your cup).

Tomorrow's supposed to be cloudy and maybe rainy. We're supposed to go to a children's concert on the Brunswick mall in the evening.  But what will the day bring?

Summertime...and the living is easy (and hot!)

A month ago we were wondering if the sun would ever come out and now we’ve been having multiple days of high 80s, low 90s.  Be careful what we wish for! We started our official summer vacation by going to Bar Harbor for a few days, which was awesome. Last week, daycare was on vacation, which meant so were we.

In these busiest of times, sometimes it's ok to just stay in and get creative.  We’re armed with a plethora of indoor activities (playdoh, painting, coloring) and while it’s not fun to be stuck inside on a lovely summer day, sometimes the occasion calls for such.  Like a couple Saturday ago, when T was working and the day started out cloudy, drizzly and not so beachy.  Boo and I got silly.  

First we looked at some pictures.

 

 Then he made some calls.

  

Then we sat down for some serious painting.

  

Next it was on to playdoh.  

  

We've gotten very interested in our potty. Just sort of getting familiar with it. 

 

The sun came out and it was time for some water table play!

  

Our next favorite activity is sprinting away from Mama...

  

...and then wanting help getting back up the hill.

Playtime isn't complete without Gabs investigating the scene...and taking a drink.

  

 Even though it was so hot, we still baked.  Fresh blueberry and strawberry crisp. YUM!

A hard day's play makes for a weary Boo.

Next up...Sunday Funday! Not feeling like driving to Popham, we head to White's Campground which is a local spot, with a warmish pond to swim.  We met up with our buddy, A and his mama.  Nice spot, but having grown up almost exclusively in ocean water, the teeny silvery fishes grazing my ankles still freak me out.  As do the inch long leeches.  Gross.  G didn't mind tho. He was ready!

  

  

  

  

Hot days mean lots of time just in the diap.  

  

  

On Wednesday, we spent a glorious day at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Such a favorite spot and truly something for everyone.  The children's garden is a spectacular buffet of colors, textures, and sounds.  It's impossible to ever get enough of this spot. 

Thursday brought another hot, delicious day, where Boo and I trekked down to Falmouth and visited Mackworth Island to meet Auntie and the cousins.  Mackworth is a place I've wanted to visit for years, and now having been, I can't believe I waited so long.  Definitely another must for another time.

Yep, there'll all related.

  

Nothing says summer like some tractor time!

  

  

Friday brought...Storyland! (most of the pics were lost but here are just a few) Resting before the fun begins!  And suffice to say, the kid had a blast. 

  

  

 My sister and I were talking about how lucky feel we feel to live near the ocean and that really, we just couldn't have it any other way.  On hot days, when the beach is just a short drive away, I'm so thrilled that you are growing up oceanside.  There's nothing like it.

  

Sunday mornings are meant for trips to Lowes...  

 

...and the so many other things that we do to make our days special.  Trips to the Gelato Fiasco, where you eagerly share the sweet concoctions with us...cooling off at the Bowdoin Museum of Art while taking in a little culture at the same time ...special two year old photographs, taken by exquisite artist and friend, Brianne Hasty, to capture this very remarkable time of your (and our) life...play dates with your buds, tearing through the yard in just your diaper while you dodge the sprinkler, and endless watching of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Winnie the Pooh.  

What's next?