Bar Harbor Day One - Arrival

  We're here!  The drive wasn't as nearly as bad as I thought and even though we left a little late we still arrived in plenty of time for the pool.  I was a little worried about taking all seven of us up in our old van but it was fine and even the lack of air conditioning was a blessing in disguise.  It turns out that when the windows are down we can't hear the kids at all!  I'm kidding (mostly), but it was a very pleasant drive.  

Charlie checks out a moose

Colin does a flip on the playground

  After check-in and a quick trip to the store we succumbed to the pleading of the boys and headed down to the hotel pool.  The pool was beautifully deep at one end and at the other there was a roped off section just shallow enough for Colin, Will and Jon to keep their heads above the water.  It was perfect for all the boys to practice their "swimming skills".  Jon would stand on the pool steps and say "one, two, three, swim!" and then jump in and swim as far as he could.  I am so proud of him!

Colin in the pool

playing in the pool

Will in the pool

James swimming with the boys 

  We had so much fun in the water.  James and I even had a cannonball contest to see who could make the biggest splash.  I hate to brag but according to the boys... I won!!  :-)  James however was voted the best at throwing the boys into the water.  I wish I had brought my underwater camera so I could show you pictures of Colin and Will doing flips.  They had a blast!  Charlie had fun too, swimming around in his float and trying to jump into the pool.  But he got cold first and ended up cuddling in Grandma's lap while they watched the rest of us swim.

Colin dives in

Will gets ready...

...he leaps...

...and here comes...

...the splash!!

  I was meeting a friend for dinner so James and Camille took the boys out for pizza in town.  Apparently the boys were very good at the restaurant and also later when James put them all to bed.  Bedtime in a new hotel is usually tricky (even when we only have two) and I felt a little guilty for leaving James alone for the hardest part of the day.  But I shouldn't have worried, James is a pro and he had all of them laying down quietly by 8:30 and three of them asleep by 9.  Will stayed awake until 10 listening to "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White.  (He is just like me!!)  It went so well that I think I should go out tomorrow night too...

Colin waits for dinner

Grandma entertains the boys

  My friend, Candace, picked me up and we went to the other side of the Island.  We met in Freshman English at college and we have been friends ever since.  We've always lived in the same area but a couple of years ago Candace, along with her husband and son, moved to Bar Harbor and we though we occasionally talk we haven't seen each other since.  So I was really excited to have the opportunity for a girl's night.

Our evening was perfect!  The dinner was fabulous, each dish was better than the last.  And we just sat and talked and talked and talked.  Finally, as the staff was vacuuming up, we decided it was time to leave.  And still when she dropped me off we stood outside the hotel and talked for another forty minutes.  It was as if no time had passed at all.  It was wonderful!  I am so thankful for her friendship and for the opportunity for us to get away and just spend time together.  But now, alas, it is very late so I am off to bed.  Tomorrow we hit the town and take a boat ride!

Bar Harbor - Memories

I am packing today in anticipation of our weekend trip to Bar Harbor, Maine.  In addition to our family of five (Charlie is still with us), we are traveling with Camille and the boys' best friend, Colin.  Bar Harbor has long been a vacation spot for James' family and since we've been married I have gone there a number of times as well.  But there is one particular trip which I shall always treasure. 

  Four years ago this fall, Camille, James and I set out for Bar Harbor with four kids in tow.  We had Will (age 2) and Jon (age1) and their friends, two brothers, Colin (age 3) and Chesney (age 2).  The drive up was not much fun and I was worried about what that would mean for the rest of the vacation.  At least two kids had accidents that night, always in the car I was driving.  We were all exhausted and cranky (and smelling slightly of pee) by the time we got to our hotel where James and I were faced with the impossible task of getting four boys (all under 4!) to sleep in a small and unfamiliar room.  But finally we succeeded and even slept for a few hours ourselves before all the boys woke up early the next morning.

  Then, as now, we were only there for three days and since I didn't blog back then I can't remember what we did when.  But there are some abiding memories.  The first is of friendship.  These four boys loved each other.  Colin, in particular, was the one who drew them all together.  He had boundless energy and the most loving heart I have ever seen.



Jon, Chesney, Will and Colin on the balcony of our hotel

Four friends ready for adventure

   Although I'm sure we went into town, most of my memories (and our pictures) are of Acadia National Park.  One morning we visited Sand Beach and Jon buried himself in the sand while the more adventurous Colin and Chesney raced and splashed in the waves.  And my little bookworm, Will wanted to sit on the sand and read his Cars book. 
 
  One of my favorite pictures is the one where Grandma is playing with Colin and Chesney by the water.  Of course soon after that picture was taken Camille was knocked over by a wave and she had to spend the rest of the day soaking wet.  But she was a good sport and thankfully the day was warm.

Chesney, Grandma (Camille) and Colin on Sand Beach

Grandma and Chesney contemplate the waves

James reads to Will and Colin

The boys bury themselves in the sand

What happened to my legs?

  Another time we drove up Cadillac Mountain and climbed around on the rocks while enjoying the beautiful scenery.  Well, the scenery was enjoyed by the adults in those brief moments when we weren't stopping a child from jumping off a high rock, running headlong down the mountain or eating sand.  The boys barely noticed the view since they were too busy running, jumping and playing with sand.

Jon on Cadillac Mountain

James watches over the boys as they play with... dirt.

Chesney on Cadillac Mountain.  Doesn't he have a great smile?

Colin climbing on rocks

Hurry up Jon!

Bethany and James with all four boys

Will climbing rocks on Cadillac Mountain

  One of James' family traditions is to eat at Jordon's Pond in the park.  Camille was undaunted by the presence of four little boys (did I mention they were all under four??) and we all went out to eat.  I don't remember much about the meal, which I suppose means it wasn't a complete disaster.  My favorite part of the day though was the walk through the blueberry bushes down to the pond.  The boys loved running up and down the little trails and throwing rocks in the water.

Eating at Jordon's Pond

 

James, Colin and Chesney walk down to the pond

 

Will, Jon and Chesney in the blueberry bushes

  I wish that I had blogged or kept a journal all those years ago.  I am sure that I have forgotten so many silly moments, cute smiles and little adventures.  But I have also forgotten sleepless nights, dirty diapers and loud tantrums.  And I am so thankful for these pictures which remind me of the good times and the fun we had. 

Grandma and Will in Bar Harbor 2009

I can't wait to start our trip tomorrow!

Fireworks on the Beach

  Today was the last day of our Independence Day celebrations and it finished with a bang.  (see what I did there?)  James had to work in the morning and the boys and I spent most of the day trying to stay cool since it was in the mid nineties and very humid.  But after nap we all headed to Short Sands Beach in Maine for a family get together and fireworks.  We were joined by my parents, Camille, my brother Joe and his wife Elisa, James' friend Bob and his daughter Hannah and finance Amber.

Joe and Elisa

Relaxing on the beach

Bob and Amber

The fireworks barge

Short Sands Beach

   We got to the beach around 4:30 which was perfect because the people who had been at the beach all day were leaving so we were able to get a good parking space.  It was still ridiculously hot and as soon as we put sunscreen on the boys we headed down to the water.  The tide was out and to get to the ocean we had to traverse a wide stretch of very painful rocks.  I thought the ocean was supposed to wear down rocks until they are smooth but all of these had very sharp sides.

Cold water!

Jon heads in



Hannah on the beach

Charlie watches the waves

 

  Will and Jon ran eagerly down to the water and just as quickly ran out again.  The water was freezing!!  Fortunately there was a large tide pool that the boys which was much warmer.  I was the only one to brave the water and actually go swimming.  I don't know why every one else stayed out, once your body goes numb it isn't that bad.  :-)

running into the water

Jon and Hannah running up the beach

Me and Will in the water

Will in the waves

  We had brought a picnic dinner and we all just hung out on the beach talking and watching the kids play in the sand and in the water.  The boys and Hannah made some new friends that were sitting nearby and all the kids had a great time together.  Charlie even got to play football with an older girl and a little boy his own age.  They were so cute!!

Charlie makes a new friend

Playing with new friends

Charlie gives Aunt Elisa a hug



Bob and Hannah

Very sandy boys

 






















  Today I did more sitting down and watching than I did active playing with Will and Jon which felt a little strange.  It was good, they were playing with friends and they didn't need me, but I missed it. 

Charlie at the beach

Hanging out with Uncle Joe and Aunt Elisa

Talking to Uncle Joe

Will on the beach

Jon and Amber talk by the water

Jon throws rocks into the water

Charlie loves the water

Jon plays in the sand as we wait for fireworks

 
















































 

The fireworks were amazing!!  There was a bunch of new fireworks and it was a really good show.  Unfortunately the kids weren't as excited.  Will asked why we were seeing fireworks again and said that he wanted "to be home in my own bed".  Charlie shouted "Yay" and clapped excitedly for the first few minutes and then spent the rest of the time moving around from person to person.  But I thought it was a great show and I am so glad we came.

Short Sands Fireworks

Fireworks on the beach

2012 Short Sands show

 All the boys were asleep long before we got home and now it is time for me to sleep as well.  I hope you all had as much fun celebrating the 4th of July as we did. 
Goodnight!!