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.

baseball with grandmothers

With Kyalo's love of baseball, he's always looking for someone to just play with him.

But I think his absolute favorite playing buddies have been his grandmothers.

I'll let the pictures do the talking here because really, they say it all.

 look at that catch!

 focus!!!

 J O Y

Malaikah was there too, playing on the deck.  I was trying hard to capture her cute little arm and leg rolls...they're already disappearing! :(  But those little toes and fingers.  Perfect and precious.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, (or, just Grandma), is the end of the pictures with the Kenyan Grandparents.  Thank you for joining in with us!

that's a wrap!

Finally! We've reached the end of these posts about the visitors from Kenya.  It already seems so long ago, so it has been nice to breeze through photos again and remember all the good times, and all that we did. We sure packed a lot into the two and a half weeks they were here.  We're so grateful for the opportunity to show them around our home and life here, and to introduce them to our kids.  Dexter's mom was a huge help with the kids and house (she did all the kitchen clean up while we were putting kids to bed. Let me tell you, that would NEVER get old), and it was just so special to be with them.

We weren't always doing big trips, of course.  Some days were just life-as-usual.  T-Ball. Swimming Lessons. Quiet Time.  Dexter went to work.  Nothing really blog-worthy.  But isn't that the way it is - doing life together?

One trip we did that didn't get blogged, because I wasn't a part of it, was a trip back down to Essex and then to Boston to the John F. Kennedy Library.  I figured that was a trip that wouldn't appeal to the kids, so met up with a friend at a park instead.  That was the right decision.  The trip into Boston and the library was a big success, and possibly both of Dexter's parents' favorite activity! Of course my parents would pick it!

We would have stayed in Essex longer, but had to rush back for T-Ball of course.  It was the last week, and we couldn't miss it (even if it was a kind of a crazy day).  Kyalo even got a trophy!

chances are good that if you come over, this trophy will be the first thing he shows you.

Every now and then, he'll randomly say, "I love that I got a baseball trophy."  The trophy wasn't for anything - just has the year and the name of his team on it or something.  But it makes him so happy.

Kyalo also had three weeks of swimming lessons at the local lake this summer.  Lois was a huge help that week, keeping Malaikah entertained - or just holding her while I tended to Kyalo.  

This is my absolute favorite picture of the whole trip (except for the strangers photobombing in the background)

Malaikah's happy face here is the best!

Please note:  this is a cloth. Tied simply around Malaikah and Lois.  That's it.  You would think it would be easy to do, but there is NO WAY I would trust myself to try it. I know that there's been a big push lately for people to wear their babies. But that usually involves hundreds of dollars for some big contraption (i.e. the $75 Ergo I got on consignment).  This is the way to do it!  Malaikah was so happy and content this way.  It was perfect.

They left on July 4th (originally they were to leave on the 1st, but that is Julius' birthday, and I didn't think it right to send him home that day. Also, I thought I'd make a cake or something.  Instead, we all forgot about it.  Winning.)

So, back down to Essex we went since they flew out of Boston.  

 sweet goodbyes.  What will Malaikah be like the next time they're all together?

 Maybe the only pic of the four of us?

Why Kyalo can't give us this radiant smile in all his pictures is beyond me.

And just like that, they were gone!  And we were exhausted.

It was the fourth, and my parents had a house full of guests.  We got to crash the party, which was an excellent end to our busy time:

Lobsters, Steamers, roasted marshmallows.  A perfect summer day.

And! I've just remembered, one more set of pictures!  I'll put them up right now! 

Mt Washington

Oh yes, we're still recapping the adventures with Dexter's parents.  But we're winding (slowly) down. I think.

Another place we wanted to take them to was Mt Washington.  The drive alone, through mountains, I'd heard, was worth it.  Plus, it IS the highest peak in the north east. And it IS the windiest place in the country, so sounds cool, right?

There are a couple of ways to get to the top of the Mountain - The Cog Railway, which I think goes straight up, or a CD-led audio tour in the comfort of your own car up the 8-mile long climb.  We opted for the ride.  It was. . . terrifying!  I have a wicked fear of heights, and there are moments when you're barreling up the side of a mountain with no railing, and what feels like you're about to drive off the edge of the world.  No biggie.  Eyes closed helped a bit.

The weather at the top can also be unreliable.  I tried - oh, I tried! - to convince Dexter's mom that it could be VERY cold and VERY windy at the top, and she would want more than just a short sleeved dress.  She insisted she'd be fine.  At the last minute, Dexter ran in for a sweater for her. This was not a bad decision.

It was a beautiful ride there!  And then, the ride up was, too.  We stopped to take a few pics along the way.

these two!  

also, Malaikah's hair has grown in so much since then!

The above photos were all from a spot where we stopped, about halfway up, both so we could stretch our legs and take in the views, and to give our over-worked engine a bit of a rest.  As we were walking out there, Kyalo said, 'Are we hiking?'  I think he's going to be a hiker!

After taking in the views, we headed back to the car to continue the trek up and up and up.  We got to listen to the history of the building of the road which was fascinating, but now I've forgotten :) 

At the top, it was cold and windy.  Dexter's mom was glad to have that sweater!  And on the way home she even said, 'I have been defeated.'  I did my best not to gloat, but I'm not sure I succeeded.

The picture isn't the greatest, but I think gives you a sense that everyone was about to blow over.  See Julius holding on to the railing behind him?  When we walked out onto the observation deck, the wind just about took us all out!

A quick wander through the museum and the observation deck, and we were ready to head home.

Come visit, and we'll take you there.  I may stay at the foot of the mountain, though.

more exploring

After a successful day picnicking and visiting with friends, we were up for more adventures the next day.  We started at Pineland Farms, a 500+ acre working farm that also has trails (never done those!) and businesses - even a YMCA - on it.  I'd been there a few times, and always love going.  Since Dexter's parents are farmers, I thought they might enjoy it, too.

I am happy to report that I was right!  Dexter's dad says he learned a new way to keep chickens after visiting the chicken coop in the barnyard, so I call that a successful visit.

 serene

Kyalo loves feeding the cows!

there's the chicken coop!  Lots of learning in progress.

After grabbing lunch in the market there we headed off to Wolfe's Neck State Park which is just outside of Freeport (of LL Bean fame).  It was so different and so beautiful. I was sorry we didn't have more time to explore the area.  This is a state park right on the coast (and right next to another working farm) but it doesn't really have beaches, just a rocky shore.  But that didn't deter us!

my favorite pic from the day!

Kyalo loved it and was totally in his element.  Now, we keep a walking stick in the car for him in case an adventure should arise!

It was a beautiful day seeing a new part of the state.  Dexter's mom kept being surprised that we would drive an hour or more and still be in the same state.  I tried explaining that Maine is very, very large, and we had only shown them a teeny tiny part of it.  They'll just have to come back to see other parts of this great, vast state!

Also, Maine has like 1 million state parks (give or take) and my hope is that we'll get to as many of them as possible in the duration of our life here.  Seems like the best way to spend our time - out exploring the world around us.