Maine Vacation

We've just had an amazing long weekend in Maine. We had planned this family vacation - Kevin, Sapphie and I, plus Penelope and Colin, and Hannah and Isaac - about 3 months ago. Brian was going to be in town so he came too! We had so much fun. We Wall sisters used to live in Maine, and we hadn't been back to Boothbay Harbor in over 20 years! It was just as beautiful as we remembered it, and some of our favorite places were still in business. Number one, the taffy shop, Downeast Candies, where they make homemade taffy the old fashion way and it just melts in your mouth. And number two, the popcorn place that makes so many flavors of popcorn!! Everything looked, smelled, and tasted exactly the same. Especially the ocean.It was so wonderful to be there with my sisters, and with Sapphie who really loves the ocean. It was really special to share the memories with our favorite boys, and watch them fall in love with the place. We've already planned to go next year, and will rent exactly the same house! It was such an amazing weekend and we left feeling sad to leave, but fully refreshed. Isaac has posted some of his fantastic photos on his blog. Here are some of my favorites that I took:

The ocean from our back yard

Walking to the beach

Sapphie playing in the sand
The guys taking in the ocean
Sapphie reading with Penelope
Walking with daddy to go on kayak!
First kayak ride
Playing at the beach, half naked
Saying goodbye to our wonderful spot

And, as usual, here are some more:

Marblehead

Last weekend, we went to Marblehead to visit the Manguals at their new house. We had such a blast!! Their house is absolutely beautiful, and I must admit we were a little jealous of how much space they have. One day, we'll buy a house and be able to renovate it just the way we want. For now, we'll have to go visit them more often. We've already invited ourselves for a week next summer!
Sapphie had so much fun at the beach, and with the kids. She really bonded with Julia and loved the ocean! We spent most of our time at the beach, and hanging out cooking. It was such a relaxing long weekend. Here are some of my favorite pictures:

With Daddy at the beach
Huge smile after she took a face plant in the sand

Bath time!! The three youngest took baths together every night.

On a walk with Julia

On her very first bikeride. She loved it and was so serious! We need to get her a bike.

And here are the rest!

My Office (by Kevin)

Do you ever have those days that you wonder why you are doing what you are doing? Maybe there is a better place to work? Maybe I should change careers completely?

And then there is something that brings you back to why you are doing what you are doing? Why you really do love your job, the people in the office or that commute for some?

I had one of those moments last week. Work has been crazy lately. The nights seems too late and the mornings come too early. Can't complain because I am gaining new business but that sometimes just brings that extra added stress. I sometimes daydream about Emma and I selling everything we got and packing up the family and move overseas and basically check out. Those daydreams are short lived and then something brings me back to Earth and I remember why I truly love my job.

The reality is regardless of the time of year I have one of the best offices in the State of Vermont from my windshield of my truck.

A couple pictures with my clients last week at Shelburne Farms. They seemed happy grazing and enjoying the view. Not a bad place to work or be a cow I must say.

Blog neglect

Yes, we've been neglecting our blog. The summer has been SO busy, and lots of fun. We went to New York for the 4th of July, we went to Colorado for a week, spent time at LaLa's and played with the baby chickens, and visited Nona and Grandpi in Walpole. We also picked a TON of blueberries, which Sapphie loves and still calls "bee-bees". Here are some pictures for you, but I haven't had time to write captions so you'll just have to guess where we were! We promise to write more soon!