Catching Up, At Last!

I have not forgotten you, my lovelies!  I've just been struggling with how to balance all this work stuff with the rest of my life:  CAM at school, family, unpacking still, and errands and meetings and all the rest of running a household (granted, with Mick, but still coordinating it all), and my precious sleep.  I think this bug is still playing a role, too -- the other day, I went to bed at 8:00!!

Anyway -- pictures of our weekend adventure in Boothbay last weekend are finally here.

For the record, Boothbay is about an hour away, but the roads to get there are typically only one lane in each direction and they wind through a very scenic, very touristy, route.  So we were anticipating a long ride, and because it was "Kids' Day" at the Railway Village, we wanted to be there early and ahead of any crowds.  (Kids' Day = free admission for kids, and we all know the masses tend to come out for free stuff.)

Last summer, we arranged our trip North especially to be able to see "the big Thomas" at the Boothbay Railway Village.  This year we were in Maine for Thomas' visit, but we'd already seen him in Chattanooga barely two months earlier, and we'd only just gotten to Maine when Thomas was here.  Those two factors together meant we had to pass.  Fast-forward a month, and I happened to see a commercial for the "kids' day" at the railway village -- kids' day as in, kids are free!

We woke up super early on Saturday anticipating traffic to get there (it opened at 9:30).  We didn't tell the kids where we were going, other than "a meeting far away." They woke up, got dressed, and were so sweet all morning.  Such troopers on their sleep-in day!  On our way we made two time-consuming stops: one for a quick breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts, and one at Target because we needed Pull-Ups and wipes. 

Despite those stops, we managed to get to Bootbay in just about an hour!  There was no traffic at all -- perhaps because it was so early (we were on the road by 8), or because it was overcast and dreary, but either way, we got to the Railway Village right around 9:40. 

While we were there, we rode the first train of the day ...

 went through a covered bridge that the kids called a "time tunnel" ...

waved to the conductor when we got off at our stop ...

... rode on a 1938 firetruck (in the rain; no pictures, sorry)

... toured the historic village

This is an old filling station from the 1920s, if I remember correctly.  It was moved to its current location in 1970.

... drove a few trains of our own ...

Love that runny nose.  Sorry, folks, I don't (yet) own Photoshop to spare you this view!

 ... and rode in a 1914 Model-T!  It's 98 years old!  That was super cool.

It rained on and off the entire time we were there, but we still managed to do everything the village had to offer, going in and out of all the buildings, watching an old internal combustion engine fire up, looking at the miniature model railway -- the whole shebang.  The kids loved it.

We loved it.

When we were done, I wanted to duck into the gift shop.  WHM, of course, was immediately sucked by the gravity of Thomas over to the Thomas the Tank Engine play table.  He had no desire to leave.  Finally, I said to him, "There is nothing on that table that is not also at our house.  It is time to go."  And the volunteer who was working in the shop said to me, "You have no idea how many times I hear that exact statement.  I have lost count!"

That made me smile.

WHM and Mommy matched on Saturday.  It was fun.  We might be in Maine, but it's still 'Bama game day!

 We had a great time, and the kids are already asking to go back. Best of all, because Thomas was NOT there, we were able to do so much more of the actual village part, and that was pretty darn cool.

Grandpa, are you reading this?  You need to come with us next time!

--Jen

Elmo. Nemo. Same thing.

I came home from work today with a ferocious migraine, so I asked Mick to take CAM to her ballet class (a kind-of big deal, because today was the very first day and Mick had to register her).  I put on comfy-cozies, popped two Excedrin Migraine, shut the blinds, crawled on the couch, and put on Ellen.  Oh, and covered my eyes in an effort, if not to sleep, at least to not suffer from any kind of light.

WHM snuggled in with me.  He was precious, even if he made sure I didn't so much as get a millisecond of sleep.

There was a commercial for the new 3D Finding Nemo.  Here's our conversation:

WHM:  I wuv Elmo.  I watched dat mooovie at my school yesTURday.  At my school in Georgia.  Not in Maine.
ME: You watched Finding Nemo?
WHM:  Yes.  Finding Elmo.
ME:  His name is Nemo.
WHM:  No, Elmo.
ME:  Did you watch the fish movie?
WHM:  Yes.
ME:  That fish movie on the commercial?
WHM:  Yes.
ME:  It's called Finding Nemo.
WHM:  Wight.  Elmo.

--Jen

Firefighters' Parade

Today was one of those days where it was really kind-of cool to be in rural America and/or Maine.  There was a firefighters' convention that was kicked off with a parade this morning in Freeport.  We woke up early (well, early by most standards, and certainly earlier than we wanted to wake up!) and headed out -- lawn chairs, rain jackets, snacks and cameras all ready.

Funny note:  CAM and I were in our Alabama game-day apparel.  WHM had a full-on meltdown that he was NOT wearing an Alabama shirt this morning.  We are raising this kid right!

The weather was funny -- damp and just warm enough to not have us all shivering, but it never rained.  The parade was wonderful -- it was pretty lengthy and although there were no marching bands, there were enough firefighter music groups and pipes that the music kept on coming.  Mick and I took a bunch of photos of all sorts of cool things.  I'll spare you most of them, but here are a bunch of our favorites.

--Jen

Yowsa.  I need a haircut even more than I realized!

Those sirens are LOUD!

Laughing at the "big boot car!"

I'm thinking they've had this plate since ... well, since plates!

Aunt Sheila is one of their coaches and as I took these pictures, she was hugging and talking with CAM.  So cool!

Coolest thing we saw all day.  The lawn chair makes it especially perfect.  I can imagine all the old-timers saying, "well, we're happy to play for you, but we damn sure ain't marching ..." and lo and behold, a flat-bed trailer becomes a mobile orchestra pit!  LOVE it!

WHM loved this fire truck!

That's the McDonald's, folks.  Don't tell me it's not the coolest McD's ever ... 'cause it is.  :)

One group stopped and gave the kids suckers.  This is what they said.

Egg Horns

You know!  Egg horns!

Duh!

(I'm thinking speech classes may also be in CAM's future?!)

I love my sweet girl! 

--Jen

More on This Week

The other post wasn't very photo-filled, so I needed to break it up.

What else happened this week?

Well, CAM is loving kindergarten, and WHM started at his own new preschool this week!  It is almost nothing like where we had him in Georgia -- for starters, he's there half as much time as he'd have been in GA, but for the same price!  And he's expected to be potty trained (he's not) and that was a small issue when Mick went to register him the other day, because it's contrary to what we were told when we found this place to begin with.  (For the record, it wasn't required where we were in Georgia, and our pediatrician said not to press it, but the preschool wants all kids potty-trained.  So it's stressful in that sense, because WHM's just not at all willing.)  But so far, it's okay... and best of all, WHM did GREAT! No tears!  He loved it!  I'm not sure if it's more of a playgroup or a preschool, but we'll feel that out as we go, and for the first day, we were thrilled with how well our little guy did.

Daddy did my hair, made this sign, and is taking me to school.  I'm hoping Mommy's okay with all that!

 Another great thing --  we found CAM a place to take dance classes!  If you've been following along, you know I've been sick over not having a place for her to take her beloved ballet and not having a kindermusik place ... well, we're still out of luck on Kindermusik, but ballet AND TAP has been found, and starts Monday!

This is what CAM wears to play outside. Or inside.  Or anywhere.  So dance was a must-find.

For the record, this is what WHM did while CAM was playing.  He "needed sumpin'" out of my car, he told me.  Breakin' and enterin', I think it's called.

 --Jen

We Are Ready for Some Football!

My not-yet-famous red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and hand-piped red chocolate "A"s.

And shhh ... these are not for commercial sale -- but just in case, don't tell the CLC!

I know, I know.  The frosting looks awful.  I had a miserable time trying to pipe it for some reason, and ended up going "old school" with a butter knife. 

--Jen