After the gluttony

We went for popovers, of course, at Jordan's Pond.  I think each of the kids made it through half of a popover.  Silly children.  They weren't interested in lounging around while the adults finished their beverages, so Mark took them down to the pond.  Noble Mark.

To the reef

The problem with going to Maine without cousins is that you've got to entertain your own kids.

Drat.

To that end, Mark and I took the girls out to the reef one foggy morning. 

 I was in running clothes, Frances was in her bathing suit, and Chandler was in her pajamas.  For whatever reason, this is a fairly normal array for us in Maine.

Frances was doing her best to pose for the camera.  Never mind she's standing on a rock in the ocean that's covered with snails, crabs, seagulls, etc., and everything that snails, crabs, seagulls, etc. leave behind.

We found an impressive population of hermit crabs and managed to convince Frances not to bring one back to the house (to die).  Yay us!  Then Frances decided it was time to go swimming.  What self-respecting Arkansan would go swimming on a day like this?

It's like she's from Boston, or something.

Blue Hill Fair

As usual, we squeezed in one more trip to Maine before the school year started.  Mark was able to spend the whole week with us!

The weather on our first full day there was supposed to be iffy, so we gladly headed over to the Blue Hill Fair.  I'll (mostly) let the pictures speak for themselves.

Chandler, we learned, does a spot-on imitation of a goat.

When I was growing up, cotton candy came in pink and blue flavors.  At the Blue Hill Fair, it comes in maple.

Wonder if they're related?

There's some smiles!

How I spent my summer vacation, Part II

Remember a few weeks ago, when Chandler was scaring me by standing on chairs?

Boy, was that naive!  Now she's scaring me by climbing ladders, like the one seen here behind her stroller.

I love that she's fearless, but keeping my anxiety in check is putting me through my paces.

May you always be fearless, kiddo.  You are a wonder to behold!

Good bye, Copper Beech Montessori

Frances had her last day at Copper Beech Montessori.

Excuse me while I sniffle.

Ok, with that out of the way, here's Frances posing for you in the Peace Cove, a little space off the main classroom where the kids could relax.

I don't believe her new classroom includes a Peace Cove.  I'm still not sure if Frances totally understands that she's changing schools, and that means not seeing her beloved Copper Beech folks every day.  We shall see.  So far, she seems to be sailing forward smoothly.

Now if mom and dad could just relax...