Jo Mary Take #2/COVID-19 Birthday

 

All Ben wanted to do for his birthday (since a "regular" party wasn't in the cards this year) was to camp at Jo Mary one more time. As it turns out, midweek camping the week before Labor Day isn't super popular and we were virtually the only ones in the campground.  The kids brought their bikes and our kayak and spent most of their days on bikes or on the water.  We were lucky enough to have family come to visit and celebrate Ben's birthday... as it is turning out he is getting to have quite a few cupcakes because of COVID;)  It was a really awesome way to celebrate Ben's birthday and the end of summer.  Ben ended the time saying that he hope to do the same thing next year for his birthday, only "with all of our friends"... we hope so too!

Clearwater Respite 2020

 

In some ways this year at the camp on Clearwater Lake was pretty different, but the fun and relaxation were the same. The weather wasn't great this year.  It was cold, windy, and even a bit drizzly. Not enough rain to help with the drought we are having, but enough to make it less fun.  We did check all of the boxes though. The kids got to play king of the raft, we got out in the boat and everyone except Ben (due to his own insistence that he wasn't going to try) got up on water skis, tubed, and knee boarded for the last time this summer. We got out in the kayaks a few times. We played lots of board games, read lots of books, and just relaxed. We were lucky to have a few visitors to enjoy our time with us too!

From the Mountains to the Sea

 

These last few weeks we have been trying to really live up summer.  Our friends from New Jersey have been in Maine and we have spent time in Rangeley with the boat, hiked Bald Mountain and Mount Blue with them in Weld, and visited Carabassett Valley to explore the bike trails, Reed Brook, and the wire bridge.  We have also made more progress getting all of the walls closed in on the tree house as well as some wood chips down for landscaping and safer playing.  Also tucked in there we took a family trip to the Reid State Park to enjoy the ocean before summer is over.  

More Exploring and More Treehouse

 

On the heels of our Katahdin trip we didn't stay still for long.  We picked off a bit more of the treehouse by getting the roof on and starting on the walls. The kids are excited that it is really happening this time and it didn't get blown down by the wind storms like last time:) Gabe was pretty amazing in his willingness to climb up and put on the roof... I was mostly thankful that I didn't have to get up there!

The kids and I took a quick and unexpected day trip to Medway Wednesday to celebrate Nannie's birthday.  I think we were only there for 3 hours, but we did get to explore the Penobscot River trails.  They weren't renting bikes due to the recent COVID outbreak in the area, but we all enjoyed walking the trails and the kids can't wait to come back for biking and nordic skiing!

Today we met Uncle Doug and Aunt Sue "half way" at Grafton Notch in NH.  Sue had some of her dad's memorabilia from WWII she was giving the kids to explore (which they are beyond excited about!) and we drove to meet them half way between our home and theirs in Vermont.  We found a great little hike neither of us had done before and it was a great way to get out and stretch our legs before the drive home.  It was also lovely to get to catch-up with Doug, Sue, and the dogs for a bit. Not to mention that is was a beautiful blue bird day!