Bittersweet

It's been a week of bittersweet feelings... I don't like it.

I've been doing pretty well. We've made it almost through our year of "firsts". I've had so many people call and write offering such sweet support! I truly appreciate all the support. The year anniversary date of losing my nephew Andrew has come and gone - along with my 16yr wedding anniversary and my parents 44th. I thought it would be a lot harder... but actually the days before were the hardest & saddest.
I focused on my Mr Safety Man! I cannot believe it's been 16yrs married! It's been a blink!!

So this weekend was not a fun weekend... but it was a necessary one. We've been sorting, organizing, cleaning, throwing out, trying on, giving to Goodwill, etc etc etc. It feels good to get my life back in order. But for some reason I just don't feel like I have.

This summer is supposed to be about fun, spending time with my girls, and just make up for last summer. And I just don't think I'm there. I feel horrible that I'm always cleaning this place, always have something that needs to be done.

I see people and they are getting so much done, they're reading every day, doing fun crafts, just doing awesome stuff... and I feel like I haven't... But I guess maybe we have. Perhaps I am just whining...

I dunno you tell me - here's what we've been up to...

The first 10 days we were on vacation in Maine. We did get to do a lot of fun things...Like

Dedicating an important bench in Grammy San's name, spending time with Pam, Linda, & Sandy - we love you!

Special lady!

Installing Grammy San's granite bench in the woods on MORSE MT

Finding beautiful spots, spying Fairy Houses

Reflecting upon quiet moments

Investigating tide pools

Writing in the sand special to Mommy

Planning our new home (someday) Isn't this color the BEST?

Cuddling with my boy! Love this kiddo!

Loving the ocean!

Quality time with my nephew

Flirting with Mr Safety Man

Getting stuck with abyss below me... Watching beautiful waves coming in and out

Playing in the Buttercups

Smelling intoxicating Lupins

Sneaking some snuggles

Tiptoeing in the grass (boy I miss New England grass)

Being goofy

Rolling down REAL hills

Visiting old towers (sorry too tired to turn it)

Remembering our engagement on Mt Battie - admiring the CAMDEN harbo

Making bubbbbbles!

Sneaking some quality time with my sweeties

Stealing quiet moments by the Atlantic on a ROCKY beach

Finding fun spots to explore

Sharing family time

Loving our family

Standing up to my NEMESIS - Verona Island Bridge (over huge gorge) bleck!

Supporting, visiting, and loving three generations of family

Climbing like I couldn't 2 yrs before

Visiting Bath Maritime Museum and being in AWE of history

Becoming a fish...(visiting LL BEAN)

Celebrating Daddy's Day - and being GOOFY with 'said' Daddy!

Actually SWIMMING in sub zero water

Hunting for seashells after

And saying some hard goodbyes... LOVING spending time with our family

 And the rest of our time... well let's hit that tomorrow...

What a day!

The Start~~~

We had such a great morning... I love getting up with my girls and making them breakfast. Well let me clarify... I love to do it when it is not that I am MADE to do it (in other words for school every day). Quite honestly I have not done it as much as I like to this summer - because of not being able to sleep at night. So this morning was a nice time.

Kyky had one of her best friends sleep over. What a doll she is. The three girls were all well behaved and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast (if I do say so myself) of chocolate chip pancakes. You know it is special times when I make these badboys. And... hey... WAIT A MINUTE... I didn't get to eat any!!! hahaha oh well! Next time!!

After their friend left, our girls did a great job just reading and playing. I heard some real active "pretending" and I just melted. I truly love that. I love to watch their imaginations running wild!

The Middle~~~

Kyky had asked if we could go to the beach and since that is just around the corner... and I really needed a day to just unplug... I said SURE! But while they wanted to play a bit longer and I started my ceramics again - so we left after noon. It was actually a nice time to leave. There really was not a lot of people on the beach. I did watch some teenagers and I am telling you right now, if my daughters act like these girls and their nasty behavior, I will NOT be a happy Momma. But I am so proud of these girls and how well they are doing... I AM a happy Momma!!

Me and my girls... enjoying our day together!

The Afternoon~~~

All-in-all we swam, made small sand castles, swam, ate, swam, sunned, swam, snacked, drank, swam, read, swam and even Kyky got a little nappy in! We just had fun playing Marco "POOL-o" (as cutey patootey Boo says). We had fun playing Simon Says. We had fun swimming. We had fun playing Boo's bucket game (don't you all just want to know how to play this game?! Fill a small bucket with 1/4 of sand, throw it and Boo retrieves it!!!), and we all had fun while I tugged them around the water on their boogie boards!!

Smiley girl - ready for some company in the water...

Kyky decides a snooze is in order (complete with sleeping mask!)

Momma enjoying the sun and watching her kiddos!

The Departure~~

The girls were so wonderful about leaving when it was time and we had just a BLAST on the way home! Singing, "Fred" the seagull following us all the way to "5 guys" (wink wink, nudge nudge) and just giggling and laughing. They both donned wonderful hats and looked so darn cute...

Car trip home... the girls singing and being silly made my day!

We ended the evening eating, watching a family movie, and tucking them in for bed... hard to believe another day of summer is gone... but it truly was a superb day - one that will remain in my memory for years to come. I SO enjoyed being with my girls today. And really was able to relax with them! AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 'da BEACH was NI-Iiiiiiice!!! So nice!

Musings on memories...

Let's start the summer off right!

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