The Maine Event

After almost two years of waiting and anticipation, it finally arrived.  The New York Times calls it "the greatest thing this summer", The Chicago Tribune's editorial board says "this is a long time coming and definitely worth the wait", the Morning Sentinel summed it up with the headline: Finally!*

That's right.  Katie went back to Maine.

Luckily for me, she allowed me to join her.  As mentioned above, it was almost two years since the last time we were in Maine (five points for guessing the last time).  Far too long.

The trip began by dropping the pup off at "summer camp", aka a friend in lower PA with three other greyhounds, lots of fenced in land, and a big heart.  From there we made our way to see my dad at the National Model Railroad Association's National Convention in Hartford, CT for dinner.  Check out page 15 of this PDF (it's big and takes awhile to load).  Not only did he win the scratch built competition for cabooses, he also won: 

• the "Favorite Model Award"
  
• the United Trans Union Brass Lantern Award (this is awarded by the people who actually work on cabooses to the model that most accurately captures their world.  A very prestigious award.)
  
• the People's Choice Caboose Award (incorporating both kit built and scratch built models).
  

Congratulations Dad!

Eventually we found our way to the greater Boston area to see Jack and our newest nephew, Nate (born 9 July).  Both of them were extremely well behaved (I don't think Nate cried the entire time we were there - he'd gotten it all out the previous evenings apparently).  While Nate (and hopefully Lauren) slept, Jack and my Mom and brother showed us the neighborhood.  We were both envious of the 18 basketball hoops within a one block radius of Jack's house (we know because he pointed every single one out to us and ensured we saw them).

Prior to leaving for Maine we also managed to make it up New Hampshire to see my grandmother.  All in all a successful first two days!

Once in Maine we were able to relax, see the coast, enjoy home cooked meals, and visit Katie's family.  A few of the highlights include:

Ocean Point.  Katie's favorite spot in the world.

Relaxing on the coast after celebrating Katie's Great-Grandfather's 95th birthday.  

What's that Aunt Valerie?  There's a ghostly-looking pirate ship out there?  I'm skeptical.

Oh, there really is a pirate ship out there.

Perhaps the highlight of the trip, however, (beats the creepy pirate ship for sure), was our visit with Katie's cousin Megan's two girls, Hazel, and new baby Stella.  At barely 2 years old, Hazel is talking up at storm... and the storm is hilarious. When told that Uncle Mike, Aunt Kathy, Katie and Andy were coming to visit, she replied "No, Mommy, not Andy... Andrew."  This kid has more snappy comebacks than a comedy routine.  So cute.  And Stella is a good natured baby who loves to smile and didn't complain once in the nearly 4 hours that we spent together... even when being kept awake during nap time.  Good kids.  

There are many, many things that I'm leaving out about our time in Maine, all of them however, were wonderful.  

Unfortunately though, the vacation eventually had to end and, after many, many hours in the car, we finally arrived home.

*Okay, so none of these papers actually said these things or ran stories about our trip.  But they should have.