Temple Trip & Scout Camp

My Mom, Grandmother, Zoe & I went to the Boston temple today.  We saw other members of our branch there, too.  Brooklin took good care of Zoe in the temple, which was sweet of her.  We had a very good day.  We stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel on our way home.  :-)

Scout Camp started today.  Matt went to the camp this morning with our boys for a little bit to help out.  He will leave early tomorrow morning for camp and stay until next Saturday.  Camp on Sunday AND on the 4th of July...don't get me started about that!

Fun in the sun

After swimming lessons, we went over to the Millis' to play!

They really did have a fun time!  Don't let the last picture fool you. 

Matt & I had a fun date night this evening.  We ate at Pizzeria Uno and then we did some shopping. :-)

Swimming Lessons

Beginner 1

Beginner 2

 Seals

Sun shower!

Sharks

 Eleanor jumping in...

 Eleanor doing a belly smacker...on purpose!

We headed to Bar Harbor after swimming lessons to clean our friends' home.  They moved out of state several years ago and they have been trying to sell their home here ever since.  The realtor had a to-do list for them, so they asked us to help.  The kids had fun exploring the 3 levels.  Kate wished that the couch had been left behind.  The bare house sparked my desire to declutter!

Zoe is home from Girls Camp!  She was super tired this evening.  It sounds like she had a great time!  Aly did, too.  :-)

Let's Go

We spent a lot of time in the car today. We went to Bangor, so my grandmother could have her temple recommend interview with President Martin. Then it was off to Ellsworth for a scout meeting and Activity Days. The girls had fun picking out material to make skirts. The funny part of the evening was when Eleanor was trying to open the car door. She was pulling on the handle when I unlocked the car, so her door didn't unlock. I was inside the car telling her to let go of the handle. She just kept yanking on the handle. I opened my door to tell her again to let go. Eleanor says, "OH! I thought you were saying "Let's Go!"

BEST DAY EVER

We spent most of the day with the Barrett's at the Children's Museum.  It is such a fun way to spend a rainy day!

Zach waited patiently all day for his one on one time with me. We ate dinner at McDonald's and then we went bowling!   He had fun AND he worked on math.  :-)

 He went back and forth between throwing the ball on his own and using the board.

Things got exciting when a family from out of state arrived and requested the disco lights!

The light up shoes were fun!

We did a bit of shopping at Walmart and then we headed home. Zach mentioned throughout the evening how much fun he was having. I had fun, too. :-)

Plan...

Getting Zoe & Aly to camp today was quite an adventure!  I was hoping that she would be able to get a ride with Tiffany and until 6:30 this morning, that was a possibility.  That was plan A.  To meet Tiffany at church, so she could pick up Zoe & Aly.  Now, we were on to plan B.  I would take Zoe & Aly to Camp Natarswi in the yukon.  I was hoping to not have to make this long trip in the yukon, but it had to be done.  On our way to pick up Aly, my check engine oil level light came on.  GRRRR!  This is normal for my yukon, but we were off to a late start and Zoe & I were already grumpy and stressed.  Now, I would have to stop to buy oil and stop at Matt's work to have him add the oil.  This will turn out to be a positive thing for the future because on the way to Matt's office, I realized how silly it was to have to stop to have Matt add the oil.  I should know how to do it.  Unscrew the engine oil cap, add the oil, put the cap back on.  Done.  Got it.  It was fun to see Matt, though. My Mom heard that I was driving to camp, so she called to offer plan C.  I would meet her to switch cars and she would take the kids to her house, so they wouldn't have to endure a long car ride.  Plan C sounded awesome, so I went with it.  :-)  We got to camp earlier than I thought we would.  Yay for the new 75mph speed limit going north past Old Town!  We were late, but we beat Tiffany.  :-)  The ride back by myself was quite delightful! 

Zoe was stressed about being late and not getting a bunk next to Aly and with the other Ellsworth girls.  Being with strangers didn't bother her (she acknowledged that she would get to know them and then they would be friends), it was not being with Aly that she was worried about.  I love Zoe's ability to make friends easily.  It is a great skill to have!          

My Boys

I love seeing Matt, Zach & Noah all dressed up for church.  :-)

Eleanor loves to lay on my mom's lap or my grandmother's lap during Sacrament Meeting.  She told me this morning that as she does this, she is totally relaxed and is better able to listen as her ears are wide open.  :-)

Zoe & I went for a walk this evening.  It was nice to spend time with her before she heads off to Girls Camp tomorrow.

Now, go back to my Sand Beach post to see more fun pictures that I have added!

Cleaning Day

The kids & I had a much needed at home day.  You can only neglect the house for so long! 

Matt arrived home safely this evening.  :-)  He paddled 22 or so miles by himself this weekend!  He got a great workout and he enjoyed his time away.

I went over to my grandmother's apartment to watch "A Warrior's Heart" this evening.  It was a good movie and I enjoyed the company.  :-)

Down Day

Matt left this morning to go on an overnight canoe trip with other men from our branch.  :-)

I took Emily this morning to get her picture taken.  It hasn't taken the new employee long to get to know me since she has seen me 4 times in the past few months.  She took Emily's picture and then she let us do our shopping while she enhanced the pictures and got them ready to show us.  We are supposed to sit and watch her, but I liked her plan better! 

The kids & I spent the afternoon & evening at my parents' house.  Card games, monopoly & Phase 10 were played.  "Hugo" was seen again.  The kids really liked this movie.  Yummy food was eaten, and Phil has become Noah's Angry Birds buddy.

Sand Beach

The kids (including Aly) and I spent the day at Sand Beach.  It was a beautiful, hot day that we enjoyed with friends.  :-)

We are now watching "Hugo".

Added photos...

Eleanor shows off part of a dead jellyfish that the kids found!

 The little kids enjoyed the river inlet much better than the cold ocean water!

More of the same

Swimming at the pool this afternoon.  It was hot out today, though!  It was so delightful!  Going to the pool used to be a lot of work, but now it is quite relaxing.  I sit on the edge of the pool or stand in the water and watch the kids jump in or catch them time and time again.  They LOVE being in the deep end!  Plus, not dealing with swim diapers anymore is AWESOME!   

Matt took Zoe & Aly to Young Women's this evening.  The girls had fun playing croquet.  My parents & Phil came over to play a game of Phase 10.  Always fun!

I ordered a new vacuum today!  I have heard great things about the Shark Navigator Lift-Away.  I'm excited to try it out!  I have never owned a vacuum that I love.  I'm hoping this is the one! :-)

Pictures as promised