::Warning:::

Picture-Heavy Post Ahead.

We just got back from three exquisite days exploring Campobello Island, New Brunswick and the Downeast region of Maine with some good friends. We really couldn't have asked for a better few days together.

^At about Bangor, Maine, Blake discovered the ash tray. Yum.

We had some great travelers with us--the boys did a wonderful job during the journey.

Along Route 1 in nowheresville, Maine, we came across a section of road construction...and a red light. A looooooong red light.

This was the view from the window of our cottage on Campobello. No, really. It was gorgeous.

Bringing bikes on vacation? Yes, please.

Campobello was made famous by the Roosevelt family--and we toured FDR's summer home. It was really beautiful--with the added bonus of containing his actual furnishings.

There's really nothing more joyful than the look on a child's face while fly a kite.

Annnnnnnnnd.....here's some pictures from the beach...

^We came home with quite an extensive rock collection. Granted, I grew up in Maine and never saw such smooth, weathered stones. Those Canadians sure know how to grow 'em!

^photo by Ian.

Joe found a natural spring....or as Ian called it, "A water fountain outside."

We took an afternoon to head to West Quoddy Head, Maine (the easternmost point in the United States). It was foggy and beautiful.

Blake liked to explore the lighthouse's outhouse... =)

We found a local park on Campobello--with equipment that was circa 1980...but SO much fun for the kids to explore.

On our way home, we visited my "ancestral" home of Milbridge, Maine. We "visited" my great-grandparents, along with many of my grandmother's siblings in the same cemetery.

Topping off our trip, (literally), we headed to Acadia National Park and ate our lunch on top of Cadillac Mountain. Windy, but fantastic.

Below are some of our favorite scenic pictures from our trip. Campobello is one of the most stunning places we've ever been. If you're local (or even if you aren't!), I'd highly recommend a trip north...between the natural beauty and the Canadian hospitality, it was a perfect vacation.

There comes a time in every boy's life when a significant rite of passage must be undertaken:

Getting a library card.

In our town, there is no lower age limit for a library card...the only caveat is that they know how to write their first and last names. Ian's been able to do this for a while now, but I kept forgetting to sign him up. So today we made a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig deal out of the occasion and packed up the kids and the camera and headed out to the library.

1. He needed to sign the application form (he was so excited about this....giddily so).

2. He signed the back of his library card.

3. Mom made him endure a couple dozen photos in front of our [very beautiful and very old] library.

4. ....Whiiiiiiiiiich continued once we got into the car.

Not pictured: The 20+ books he checked out on his own--most of which came from the biography section. He's currently on the couch looking through a book about William Penn.

Yesterday, we took our annual jaunt to Rhode Island to see the ponies. =) Between the gorgeous weather, the warm company of friends.....and all of the kilts, well, you couldn't ask for a better day.

Blake had a thing for Joe's hat and sunglasses.

Ian and his friend, Drew, had a cute moment eating their sandwiches. Like I said on Facebook...they looked like two little princes watching the sport of kings. =)

Ian mildly tolerated some photography during the divot stomp between the 3rd and 4th chukka.

....still tolerating

U.S. played in blue, Scotland in white. Did you know that the visiting team plays on borrowed ponies? (I guess I'd just assumed that ponies flew...but that wouldn't make much sense, would it?) Also? Ponies only play for 2 chukkas, and then they're done. That's a lot of ponies.

Did I mention that Blake loves hats??

^How cute is this?

Blake took the opportunity to help himself to the cooler...

.....and all my boys certainly love blueberries.

Another family brought some water guns.

I'll give you three guesses as to their popularity!

This was our fifth year going down to Newport, and our third time seeing the. U.S. play Scotland....annnnnnnnnnnnd the firs time we've seen the U.S. beat Scotland!

Yay!

As part of preschool, we bought some caterpillars.

Yes, caterpillars.

We love, love, LOVED watching them grow! Ian had a blast watching the caterpillars get bigger and bigger....then turn into chrysalises....then enjoy their emergence as Painted Lady butterflies...then as they dined on oranges and sugar water in their habitat on the kitchen counter....

...and then as we let them go in the back yard. (We had them for a few extra days inside because it was far too hot last week to release them.)

(annnnnnnnnnnnnd, Blake liked it, too. How much do you love this picture?)

First things first: This is my sister, Hannah, dressed as the POTUS.

(Yes, I just said POTUS. My brain is saturated with 'West Wing' references.)

^Blake is best friends with the castle and knights.

He loves it.

He can orchestrate quite a battle, that boy.

We went to Maine for Memorial Day weekend.

And no Springtime is complete without cuddling some adolescent chickens.

We went to the cemetery to see our people.

I love this cemetery.

With all my heart.

Ian is getting acquainted with my great-grandmother, Elsie.

Ian and Joe spent quite a bit of time removing lichens from my sister's headstone.

I sort of liked the lichens.

They're folksy. And homey.

Ian was excited to see that my great-great grandfather, Thomas Libby, was a Civil War veteran. (He recently learned the word 'veteran' when he donated some of his own money to the American Legion at the grocery store.)

Somewhere along the line, we realized that Blake's version of "pruning" involved picking the flowers.

It was sweet....in a "we-really-need-to-clean-that-up" sort of way.

One of the reasons I love this cemetery so much is because so many (many!) generations of my family are buried there. It's really quite a sight to glance down this row and count the generations.

It being Springtime and all, Joe and Scott moved the chicken coop to the back yard...

(....and we moved in the ladies.)

Ian had a blast playing with the Texas and New Hampshire cousins...

...and it was a doozy of a hot day on Monday...

...And Blake had a blast playing Where's Blake? with my cousin, Carley.

Aren't they cute?

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Side note: someone asked me to post this week's menu. I hereby honor that request--

Bean Burritos (side of cucumbers)

Chicken Parm (side of watermelon)

Hawaiian Haystacks

Chicken Divan (side of raw veggies)

Pizza (side of green salad)

Bean & Barley Chili (I omit the chicken to make it meatless)