The "Maine" Event

   With Grammie Millie at her apartment

Sitting on the dock

On Uncle Larry's boat

Swimmers brave the cold, cloudy day to go down the slide

At New Castle Beach on the only sunny day

It's been awhile since my husband and daughters have been to see my extended family in New England, and we decided this year was the year to make it happen. It was a - fog delayed, unexpected landing for refueling, rental car mishap, little girl with a runny nose and a fever, driving in a rainstorm- kind of trip to get there, but we weathered it well (the girls even better than I) and happily arrived at Little Sebago Lake in Gray, Maine. My parents, most of my siblings, and their families were able to join us so it was one big Smart Family bash out there by the "watah." 

The kids reveled in swimming, blueberry picking, frog catching, "crystal harvesting," cousin sleep-overing, s'mores making, hot tubbing, boat riding and ice cream eating.  One thing Madeleine and Beth learned about Maine is that you get bit by leeches when you play at the water's edge, but a little bit of salt takes 'em right off. One thing I learned about Maine is that when it rains, IT POURS! Day and night for most of the week. Even so, the rain let up enough for us to do all of the above as well as visit a Wildlife Park, eat some lobster, and spend a day with our G.G Millie down in Portsmouth (G.G stands for Great Grammie).  

Wouldn't you know, the very last day was a bright, sun-shiny, blue sky day so we ran back to Portsmouth for a quick visit to the beach before we headed to the airport. Despite the weather, all in all it was well worth the trip. The week was full of reliving old memories and creating new ones. With your family there to share it, what more can you ask for? The kids are asking, "when can we go back to Maine?"