Annual Summer Family Reunion

Everyone on my mom's side of the family gets together each summer when the out-of-staters of the family pack their cars and road-trip it up to Maine.  We had a pretty good turnout this year with four generations represented, but were missing an aunt and a cousin. Here's the gang that could make it:

Lobsters, corn, rolls and all the fixin's were on the menu - just like we used to do at Nana and Grampie's house... only there's more of us now and I doubt we could all fit on the old porch where we always used to gather for this meal :)

We spent every evening at their beautiful rental house on the ocean, chatting, playing games, eating lots of yummy food!  Jane and Bernadette made fast friends of each other. Bernadette loved getting Jane to chase her and Jane is always up for a game of chase!

Another night we met up with Kelly and her family for an introduction to a New England classic: Candlepin Bowling (or as Justin kept saying, Candlelight Bowling...now that sounds hard :)).

 And since the bowling alley is across from Gelato Fiasco...... any excuse, right?

Had a great time with everyone. Looking forward to the next visit!

Annual Summer Trek to Popham Beach

We went to Popham Beach and Fort Popham with Brian's brother Scott and friend Tegan last weekend. Tegan had never visited the old forts so we hiked up the hill and checked out the old stone fort buildings, then took her down to the beach for a nice walk in the sand and only a semi-dip in the ocean.... it may be July but the water's still got some warming up to do :)

Lend me a hand

Brian got stung by a wasp of some kind last Saturday when grabbing some firewood; no big deal, right?  But by Sunday afternoon he started to react.....and by Monday morning his hand was so puffed up you couldn't see his knuckles! Looks like Brian's super immunity to bees isn't so super anymore :(  Good thing he isn't a professional bee-keeper, or he'd be in trouble! We'll try to keep Brian and the stinger-insects separated from now on....

Camp Fire Love

The annual Alexander camping trip was a few weekends ago and boy was that weekend overdue! It's so nice to spend the whole day relaxing, only thinking about what the next meal over the campfire will be!

While Brian split wood for our evening fire, the rest of us kicked back.  Brian's aunt and uncle have a spot at this campground for the entire summer, so they came to hang out with us with their dog KD.

Campfire dessert time: smores and breadsticks Mmmmmm...

 Another visitor who lives at the camp...

 And some lawn games for all ages.

Time to plan another camping trip!

Off Leash Fun

In anticipation of our doggie date with Tyler, Kristen, Sam and their dog Poppy, we decided it was time to do some off-leash training with Jane.  And since Tyler's parents live on a lake, we also need to convince Jane that life's more fun in the water.  So, last week we started going to the pond through the woods in our neighborhood. And Brian devised a fun new game....

 ...and this goes on and on until we run out of rocks.
Where'd that rock land?

  

Run, run, run...

 Now that's the look of a happy dog!

 Time to swim... this part will take a little more practice.

 A tired dog's a happy dog, right?