everything else

This summer has been really, really great.  There have been long, slow, lazy days, and days filled with  interesting activities.  It has just zipped by.  School's back in session, a certain someone turns one this week, and we're gearing up for cooler days (this week is in the 90s, though, so it isn't coming to soon. That's fine!).

This is mostly going to be an onslaught of photos as a way for us to remember all that we did.

One of the most exciting things is that we got Kyalo a bike. It was long over due, and he has LOVED it.  The first few days he would would rush outside to ride.  There's a bike path in Bethel, about 30 minutes from here, that we've gone to a few times.  He's still figuring out things like up and down hill and breaking properly/completely, but it has been a great way to fill time.

We had a rainy Sunday afternoon with no plans, so headed to the little bowling alley just down the street from us.  It was Kyalo's first time to bowl! And it took me right back to my childhood bowling days because we had to keep score on PAPER. Using MATH.  In New England, we do candle pin bowling, which are small balls.  I had never done 'real' bowling (the heavy balls with holes in them - is there a name for it?) until I moved to California after college.  Kyalo loved this, too, and asked if we could keep going.  I think we've found a nice winter-weather activity.

But mostly, we tried to take advantage of beautiful weather and beautiful places around Maine.  It is a bonus to do that exploring with friends!  

First, Screw Auger Falls, just outside of Bethel, with friends Landric, Branson, & Ellie:

 checking out the tadpoles

 being brave - it is nice when other parks have new things to try out

Screw Auger and Step Falls are these natural waterfalls that are gorgeous.  Both days I was there were gorgeous and they were teeming with people on picnics, hikes, and braving the cold water for swimming and sliding down the falls.  In some ways, they feel like little hidden gems.  There are so many places like that around us.  One of the things I love about living in Maine.

Since Kyalo still love baseball (and we're still playing endless games all the time!) we met up with my parents in Portland for one more Seadogs (Triple A for the Red Sox!) game.  Kyalo spent a lot of the game chasing after Slugger, the mascot.  Since we went on a Sunday, he was allowed to stay to run the bases at the end of it.  That game ended up going into extra innings -- maybe 11? -- so it was a long wait.  But he loved it, so well worth it.

gathering eggs at Pineland Farms

fresh eggs and pears from a visit with friends

Last weekend we went to the Maine Wildlife Park, which is like a zoo, but it has animals that are all native to Maine. We finally got to see our first Moose!  Kyalo was pleased.  We also saw some bears, foxes, porcupines, etc.  A fun family, Maine day.

 Malaikah's started a whole-hand pointing thing. I think she was pointing at a fox or coyote.

Naps ended a long time ago, but I instituted quiet time each afternoon.  It is always interesting to see what kinds of things he gets up to while he's in his room.  A lot of times, he's covered head to toe in marker.  He went through a stage of changing into his church clothes. Then there was the day he dressed in his church clothes, put some music on, and had a dance party.

never a dull moment around here

Life is good (and we're pretending winter is not fast approaching).  We are more settled in here, we've done a lot of exploring, we're hitting our stride, I think.