Beach Days and Balloon Fest 2012

Last week some friends introduced us to Mackworth Island. A walking path circles the island with smaller paths down to the beach. It is also home to a fairy house city of magnificent proportions. The kids loved visiting so much we had to go back this week---the lure of hermit crabs and crabs and tide pools and so much beach to explore was too much for just a one time visit...

first touch of a crab

coolest hermit crabs ever...

fairy houses!

such handsome dudes...

so sweet: Jaden took a spill and was limping so Jeremie came over and held his hand --and Jaden's limp was magically cured! Friendship is the cure for many pains...

Mackworth Trip 2

bucket o crabs

Sand Angels

Balloon Fest

Today we went to the Balloon Festival. Last year we decided that the early morning balloon launches are the best--the cool crisp morning air, a much less crowded walk along the river while we watch...followed by doughnuts at Georgio's...nothing tops a balloon fest morning and this one was no different.

Don't forget to check out Brian's movies! Click here to see the latest movie featuring the Great Falls Balloon Fest!

A Little Slice of Heaven

So this is my second blog post ever on the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. I love it there. I would live there--hidden among the hostas, under the giant rhubarb leaves....or maybe beneath the lavendar....I dunno. But I love these gardens. This year we went on a field trip with friends and cousins instead of just us as a family. The kids had a wonderful time hopping through the frog ponds, playing monkey in the tree house and building fairy houses. Anyway without further ado here is the day in pictures...

Fairy House exhibit

ground level with the frog ponds

looking at tadpoles and frogs and even a turtle

Ben in the tree house

the boys

the is a re-do from last year...

last year 2011

Breanna and Erin made a fairy house

playing at the maze

Gavin helping Ean look at the camera

moments before she fell in

ending the day with some local ice cream--couldn't be better!

Happy Birthday to me

I spent my day doing what I love....hiking with my four dudes...the only thing missing was my husband who had to work....

 I was so proud of Ben --he actually hiked for about 1/8 of mile--for those of you who are local and have been to Mt. Apatite--he hiked from the parking lot to the first right hand turn--about half way up the mountain! Not bad for 16 months!!! We got him training young...hehe

 I have to say the day was perfect spring weather--warm and sunny and everything so bright. We were at the park early--the only ones there for quite some time--it was sooo quiet....

 I spent some time letting them use the nikon --Jaden took this one....

 Gabe took these

Ean took this one...