Midsummer Update

Whew!  We are just coming up for air after a whirlwind three weeks of travel and adventure.  It feels like we started moving as soon as school ended and we haven't stopped since.  First the Maercklein Reunion at the lake, then the usual fabulous Fourth festivities, then a week up in Rockport.  The boys are in camp at Broadturn Farm this week, and I am very much enjoying a few hours of peace and quiet every day.  When I registered them for camp back in the spring, I envisioned a whole week of projects - painting, cleaning out closets, etc.  But it turns out that after three weeks on the go, I am instead busy catching up on housework and paperwork, doing what feels like 100 loads of laundry, and running many overdue errands.  But to be honest, it's a nice change of pace and a welcome return to reality before we relaunch this weekend.

This little break has allowed me to upload and process the zillions (slight exaggeration) of photos we've taken over the past few weeks.  So, in a nutshell, here's what we've been up to.

Gardening.  Watering, weeding, general tending, animal controlling (we currently have resident moles, voles, and groundhogs), and even a bit of harvesting!

Making many trips to Mutiny Brook in Waterford.  The cool falls are just what the doctor ordered on these hot summer days.

One of our trips to Mutiny Brook included the whole Maercklein gang.  We spent an unforgettable five days with forty something cousins on Grandma's side of the family, in from all over the country, together for the first time in eleven years.  The reunion deserves a post of its own, and some pictures from photographers other than ourselves - we were too busy having fun to take quality pictures!

Celebrating our nation's birthday, Stockwell style - multiple parades, cookouts, family fun, and of course, costumes!

We dressed as characters from the Lego movie this year - Mrs. Scratchen-Post, Kabob Bob, Emmet, Wyldstyle, Michelangelo, Mister Business, Wonder Woman, Vesuvius, Batman, and Spaceman Benny.  We were robbed of the Best Group award and took home the Looniest Award instead.

Our back-to-back trips to the lake also allowed for lots of much-adored cousin time.  Brian and Andrew were here for three weeks, and the boys picked up right where they'd left off in Arkansas.  Watching these four play and interact is beyond precious.

Picnic at the Maine Wildlife Park

Our last night together - snuggling on Stonywood porch

Fishing, fishing, and more fishing.  These boys cannot get enough.

Playing, watching, and listening to sports.  Along with the rest of the country, we've had World Cup fever these past few weeks, and the boys now fall asleep to Red Sox radio every night.  Back in June, we spent an awesome Sunday at Hadlock Field.  The Sea Dogs won, we caught a foul ball, and the boys got to run the bases after the game!

June weekends also brought friends' birthday parties, and the opportunity to explore future careers.

Make-up artist

Cowboy

A trip to the Duck House, filled with sailing, a science show, hiking, and lots and lots of pool time.  Adam has finally gotten a hang of this whole swimming thing, and it was hard to keep my two fish out of the water long enough to do anything else. 

Climbing Mt. Battie

Kisses at the top

Me and my mountain goats

Lobster lunch

Summiting the Samoset playground

Watching the Windjammer Parade

Beachcombing

Taking the helm

And in between all of our fun adventures away, we've made many trips to the farm.

Meeting the newest calf, Babycakes

As you can see, we've been busy.  These last few weeks have been such a fun blur, and I'm a little sad that the calendar already reads mid-July, with almost half our summer behind us.  Maine summers are far too short.  So that's it for now - I'm off to enjoy the second half.