Soccer Fun!

What a week we have had!  I signed the kids up for the Challenger soccer camp last spring mainly because it is one of the only camps all of the kids could participate in.  Back in April, I checked a box that said we may want to host a coach. Well, I didn't hear anything and presumed that they didn't need us to host, so I forgot about it.  Until the Wednesday before they arrived that is... I know, I could have said no, which is what my mind was saying since we were leaving the next day until Sunday (which is when they were arriving), but I said yes to hosting both coaches instead. We had the space and we are trying to make a real effort to expose our kids to as much as we can from rural Maine. England and Ireland are not countries much different from ours, but they are not the US and the kids learned so much this week about the two countries.  I also think that it helps their education immensely to be able to actually interact with someone from that country and to be able to ask them questions in a casual manner.

Luke had been in the US since April, but Ciaran just arrived less than 24 hours before he made it to our house. Needless to say, the kids loved having two more adults in the house to play with them.  We had a very full week of camp in the morning and adventures with the coaches in the afternoon.  They ate their first lobsters and we made sure to expose them to fluff, Moxie and s'mores.  The weather wasn't in full cooperation in the evening they tried to paddleboard/kayak, but they got the experience none the less.  We even tried to take them out on the boat for some tubing/waterskiing, but it was not meant to be since our trim wouldn't go down.  So, instead, we took a nice slow ride around the lake and headed home.  Gabe left mid-week for some golfing, so I was pretty proud of myself for getting the boat in and out of the lake without him:)  We had a wonderful week and look forward to next year.  Thanks Ciaran and Luke!!

Civiello Reunion 2016

We have moved the chicks out into the garage in this fantastic pen Gabe so expertly crafted from some online instructions;) The kids have spent the last few days in the coop with the chicks reading to them... it is nice to have them out of the house.

The pool is warming up nicely with the warm weather we have been having.  Ben has learned to swim completely on his own and Audrey is finally brave enough to swim by herself with just her bubbles on.  Noah is perfecting his diving and James is a master at swimming under water.  He, somehow, has the ability to use the snorkel without plugging his nose or wearing nose covering goggles... it is impressive:)

Last weekend we headed back to Smith Pond for the Civiello Family reunion.  The men of the family get together once a year for the Civiello Invitational family golf tournament, but women aren't allowed at that, so we were fortunate to have this gathering too.  I was pregnant with Ben during the last reunion, so most of the relatives met Ben and Audrey for the first time.  Noah and James remembered a few, but not many.  The rain wasn't in our favor, but it didn't stop everyone from enjoying the company and getting out on the lake:)

Fourth of July 2016

Happy Fourth of July!  As this long weekend rolls on we took a family hike up Bald Mountain in Weld.  We didn't get a chance to do this hike last summer and it ended up being way easier then we remembered it from two years ago.  Probably because Ben could hike it himself, so we are FINALLY down to carrying only ONE!!! It was just about 3 miles round trip, straight up, but totally worth it for the gorgeous views at the top.  The kids spent much of the hike naming different landmarks on the way up, then trying to find them again on the way down.  Examples include: Moon meteor rock (a huge split rock with a tree growing out of/around it), the potato chip rock, and many more.

Farmington had their July 4th fireworks on the 3rd this year.  For the first time, we got all 4 kids to stay up late enough (and be fairly pleasant) to watch the fireworks for the Fourth of July. The parade in Farmington happened on the 4th and it was HOT! We spent the morning collecting candy at the parade and the afternoon on the lake.  It was the perfect way to wrap up the weekend:)

Haircuts, Chicks and Fun in Lakes:)

Last fall James decided that he wanted "hair down to my spine like that guy in Matilda". So, that's what we did.  This week he has decided that he doesn't want to comb his hair and that it is too hot when he runs.  I made him wait 3 days to make sure he still wanted it cut and when he said he wanted a haircut like Ben's I knew he meant business.  He is thrilled with not having to "do" his hair everyday, but is considering growing it long just for the winter...

The chicks are growing so big so fast!  They still tolerate us picking them up and cuddling them:)

Nannie got the kids an apparatus to put on the top of a soda bottle, so when you add a Mento to it, it erupts like a volcano...

We got to spend a few days this week down in Damariscotta with friends.  We all relaxed, played, swam and ate good food (while Gabe was working, that is...). Thanks for having us Abbotts!

Before the weekend started we got in a bit more boating with friends.  We also got to paddle board, kayak and swim.  We are extremely thankful for fun and generous friends this summer!