Overdue Vacation Update

My mother-in-law reminded me that it has been a while since I blogged so here is the condensed version of our holidays.

We went to Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park, Maine with my sister and her family.

We biked on the beautiful carriage trails built by Rockefeller starting in 1913. There are a lot of bridges that Connor liked to climb. He kind of reminds me of Kilroy.

Even though we had been here before we got lost a lot. Not surprising with maps that didn't show the underpasses and overpasses and great signs like this.
Connor went deep sea fishing with my brother-in-law and nephew. They came back with lobster, pollock and cod so we had a feast.
While they fished the rest of us went to Dive in Theatre with diver Ed on the Starfish Enterprise. It was educational and fun - a laugh a minute. We highly recommend it for anyone in the area.

We all enjoyed exploring the tide pools.
All of us as we are preparing to depart.

What we found at the Beach

Tori is demonstrating to Connor and I how to find microscopic sealife in the tidal pools.

She has always had amazing eyesight. When I went on hikes with her classes the teacher would ask "Who can find a _______________? Tori was always the first. Eventually she would be asked to give the other kids a chance. The first picture is a hermit crab. The second a regular crab that was half the size of her pinky nail.

After all that fresh air we needed lunch. Look where we ate! It was excellent - both the food and the service.
After lunch we went to a beach north of Amherst and had a nice swim. It took us longer to find the beach than we actually swam but we had the whole beach to ourselves. I guess everyone else had problems with the directions and lack of signs too. A few seals joined us but kept their distance. Connor has a waterproof camera but didn't bring it so blame him for the lack of pictures.

I'm so Excited!

Our honeymoon was car-tripping over southern Ontario. Over the years, we have had holidays all over Canada and 4 or 5 of the northern states. We have always driven to our destination and camped. Lately we have done more canoe tripping and camping. I have enjoyed our trips and learned a lot about Canada but have felt for a long time that I wanted more - an exotic locale and a flight instead of a drive. Because Kevin is a pilot, he doesn't get excited about the prospect of flight and because he travels more than I, a hotel is not exciting either. But for Valentine's Day, he gave me a note proposing a trip for our 25th anniversary. He had been consulting with a very good friend who is a travel agent and had a few places in mind. I must admit it was one of the few times I made a snap decision - without worrying about money or childcare. Of course I said yes! So the trip is booked for the end of March and I'm so excited! The exact destination is going to be a surprise but I know it is a secluded spot with bungalows on the Caribbean. A vacation where someone else does all the cleaning and cooking - and makes the bed! He printed me off some information today and substituted graphics for any identifying facts. Now all I have to do is shop! New bathing suit, sandals, sunscreen... And worry about the kids!