The way life should be

Andrew, Emma, and I had an awesome trip to Maine last week/weekend. The last time we were up north, Emma didn't do so well in the sleep department. But this time, being that much older, she did great -- both in Winthrop and in Boothbay. What a difference a few months make! Our days were full. Here's how they went:

Tuesday: Emma and I left Easton around 2:00 and drove right into terrible thunder storms. We had to pull over for almost an hour in Waltham. It took us five and a half hours to get to Winthrop, two hours longer than it normally would have. Emma was awake the whole time and I must say, she was on her best behavior. Thank God for our portable DVD player and the movie Tinker Bell (courtesy of Grammie). I couldn't have survived the drive without them. Emma was bouncing off the walls by the time we got to Winthrop.

Wednesday: We spent the morning with my Mom. She and Emma went for a walk and Emma saw her very first deer. After lunch we visited my Dad at work. Emma spent the evening with Grammie and Grandpa while I took Becky out to dinner and a movie as an early birthday present. We saw Up and it was really, really good!

Thursday: I had a remote meeting to attend for a few hours in the morning, so Emma got in some more Grammie time. Then Emma hung out with Aunt Becky in the afternoon. The sun was finally out so we took a long, leisurely walk. We also visited Mom's friend Laurel at her new house in Wayne. Emma had fun running across Laurel's beautiful lawn (where she saw a little chipmunk) and playing with Laurel's pug puppy.

Friday: We drove to Brewer to visit with the Jewell-Hackett-Bradford family and had a blast! Emma loved seeing Annie and Timmy and eating CHIPS. (Thanks, Tim!) She swam like a little fish in the pool with Annie, Timmy, and Andre. (Uncle Pat, Deb, Olivia, and Andre were there too!) Annie gave Emma a song she'd written between visits -- what a thoughtful little girl. (I'll post the song shortly.) Andrew drove up after work to meet us in Winthrop.

Saturday: We drove to Boothbay in the morning and spent the day with the Demers-Gilpins. OLIVIA DROVE us to the beach where we spent the afternoon playing in the sand, water, and kayaking. I even took Emma for a little kayak ride around the swimming area. As always, it felt so good to be at camp.

Sunday: The whole Demers gang got together at camp. We celebrated all the "0" birthdays -- Bob, Anne, Maureen = 60; Pat=50; Shawn=40; Colleen, Becky, Rob=30! Emma had tons of fun with her cousins, especially Hailee and Andre.

Monday: Debbie made pancakes for Becky's big 3-0. Then we sat around chatting and watched the tractor fill the mud puddles at camp. It was way more fun than it sounds! Mom & Dad treated us to lunch at Sarah's in Wiscasset. Then Andrew and I caravaned home.

I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting already, but a good time was had by all. That's the most important thing. Emma can't stop talking about her trip. ("Where Andre?") I'm already counting the days until we're back in August...