We made it!

Day 6

Leaving Gorham at 9:30. Great hotel with pretty views, and a good value, too! Will got to sleep in a regular bed, and Ethan got to flop around all he wanted.  

Within 15 minutes, we are in Maine! The top of New Hampshire is pretty small across. :). This part of the drive was probably our most unpleasant, at least for me.  It was rough road, and extremely curvy, and this mommy was getting bit green.  It didn't help that Eleanor wanted me to read her a few stories.  Ugh.  The kids seemed fine, though, and I was fine once we got to the major highway.

And might I take a second to brag about how awesome the kids did with all our driving?  Each day, which start to finish was always at least 6-8 hours, they only watched an hour of cartoons, and the typically didn't even start watching until the last part of our trip, with a couple of hours to go.  They might ask early on, but we always said no and they didn't really pursue it.  They kept busy with drawing, tanagrams (thanks, mom!), books on CD, playing with superhero figures, and just pretending and talking.  They had their moments, but, overall, it was definitely Will and I that were more travel weary.  Granted, they were total animals in the hotels and so hyper, but that's to be expected with so much time cooped up, I suppose. 

Anyway, so we finally got to the major highway that would take us to Bangor.  We stopped for sandwiches at a travel stop and then drove through Bangor and on to Ellsworth, right before the island.  The drive itself took longer than expected given what we were told, or maybe we were just so anxious.  In Ellsworth, we hit a grocery store to load up on things for the week and then drove on to the island. We found our place easily and were immediately impressed.  

The man we are renting from, Doug Beal, is fifth generation on the island. His grandfather started Beals lobster pound, which is one of two major lobster pounds on the island and featured in guidebooks.  His brother is a fisherman.  He mentioned if I want any lobster to cook here, if I give him a hours notice, he will get me some for 5 dollars a pound. I've never cooked my own lobster and have only really had a whole one once, but he told me exactly how to do it.  We will see.  Not sure Will will eat one, and the kids might be traumatized if the watch me kill our meal!  Anyway, Doug and his wife Vicki live in a house about 30 yards away (it's beautiful) and there's another cottage like ours just a stone's throw from ours.  I will post a link to the pictures of the cabin. Doug build his own house, these two cottages, and another house (now his neighbor).  Clearly, he's handy.  

The grounds are very pretty, and we have an outdoor fireplace with adirondack chairs, a picnic table, and a grill in the back with views of the bay.  Foggy today, but still pretty. Will and I will sleep in the loft, which faces four large windows that face the water, too.  The cabin is new and all wood.  Very tasteful and comfortable.  And, I have to laugh because I brought my own knives, thinking there would just be crappy old ones here.  Well, he has the same knives as I do, as well as really nice stainless pots and pans, and all kinds of other nice  kitchen things.  I am pleasantly surprised! 

The kids have claimed a cave-like half closet in the loft  as their bat cave.  It blends right into the wood  but there's a small knob to open it. They think its the coolest and have pushed all my clothes to one side, meaning I will have to crawl in to get them.  But at least they are entertained.  Oh,and we already had two deer sightings in the yard.  The second time it was a mom and a fawn.  So cute! Nabbed a picture before they went off to eat Vicki's garden.  

The one negative we have so far is that we've noticed some large ants.  I've killed several and Will has saved a few.  They are carpenter ants and some are pretty big!  We will talk to Doug about it tomorrow, and he will hopefully have some answers.  We expect bugs and moths and such where we are at, but these ants are not cool. 

Right now, we are enjoying some peace and quiet in the living room, watching cable, and loving the fact that we can watch tv or read after the kids are asleep because we have our own space.  Hooray! No sure what our plans are for tomorrow. Probably do at least part of the park loop, some short hikes (Doug gave us the names of some easy ones for the kids), and check out the beach at Echo Lake near our place.  

Here's the link to where we are staying:

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p3498716

Haiku:

Twenty hour drive

We rocked this road trip to Maine

So glad to arrive

I heart Vermont

Day 5

Today was our shortest day of mileage, but we also took the longest to get from point A to point B.  That being said, it was also maybe my favorite day of traveling.  And here is why...I looooooooooove Vermont.  Like, I want to live there.  For real.  It's so beautiful. But let's back up.

We left Lake Placid in rain at 9am.  For breakfast, since our craptastic hotel didn't serve any, the kids ate some of the popcorn we'd gotten the night before at a cute popcorn shop.  We drove a ways then found someplace with donuts and juice.  Breakfast of champions.  It took us about an hour to get to Lake Champlain, where we were taking a ferry into Burlington, VT.  We had to wait about 25 minutes for the ferry.  Then the ferry ride, on a double decker, was about an hour.  We imagine it would have been beautiful, had it not been rainy and cool.  But the kids still thought it was neat that we got to drive our van on to a big boat.  We sat outside on the top deck under an awning for a bit but then sat inside for most of it.  There was a little snack bar and gift shop.  

As we got closer to Burlington, you could see some of the mountains through the fog, and, despite the weather, it was picturesque.  We ate lunch at a hipster, Whole Foods-esque co-op grocery then headed on our way.  The weather cleared up, and thus began my love affair with Vermont.  Seriously...it was so freaking pretty.

We had decided to try to take a tour of the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory on our way, which was not too far away from Burlington and on our way to NH.  We stopped, but since we were going to have to wait 30 minutes for a tour that was another30 minutes, we opted to skip the tour and just eat some ice cream.  Ethan got strawberry, Eleanor got cherry Garcia, and I got Chunky Monkey.  You can all likely guess what Will got.  It was all yummy!  

Back on the road, and I was so glad Will did all the driving.  I would have surely driven off the road looking around.  It was different from being in the Adirondacks because it was not as claustrophobic.   We were still driving through mountains but with space and so much green.  Contrasted with the red of well kept farm buildings, it was all one big post card.  I've been to a lot of beautiful places, but I honestly think this was the prettiest drive I've ever been on.  I'm excited to see how Maine will compare because I think it will. 

My favorite part of the day was having the windows open and driving with the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack on in the background.  Pure heaven.  And I even got to see a couple of covered bridges.  If we don't come back from Maine, check Vermont.  

Or New Hampshire, which so far seems just as lovely.  After several emergency potty breaks for Eleanor, we made it to our final hotel before Maine.  It's pretty great - two bedrooms and a small living area for less than our terrible Lake Placid hotel.  There is a heated outdoor pool (hopefully try it out in the morning) a little jumpy house, and gorgeous views of Mount Madison from our outdoor patio.  We ordered take out from a restaurant in town and the kids had a date in the room while Will and I ate outside facing the mountain.  Not a bad way to end the day.

We are looking forward to getting to our actual vacation destination tomorrow.  Laundry will be a first priority, as will unpacking for more than a night.  Stay tuned.

Wills quote of the day, after Eleanor yelled," So...shut up!" Will then said to me, "Anytime she gets sent to the principal, I will believe the principal."  She's going to be a slippery one, no doubt.

Haiku:

Foggy ferry ride

Vermont will be our new home

Syrup everywhere

Lake Placid

Day 4

On the road at 9:45

We stopped in Utica for a few supplies and then headed for the adirondacks.  The scenery on the drive was pretty incredible.  We saw a couple of deer crossing the road, which Ethan loved.  Our lunch stop today was in Old Forge, super cute, quaint and touristy town.  We set up our picnic on a huge lake with beautiful mountain views.  By far, our best picnic stop yet.  The kids played at a neat pirate ship park while I looked at some of the shops on Main Street.  I bought the kids a black and white cookie for the next leg in the car.

After the cookie and some winding roads, Ethan started to feel a bit car sick.  It didn't last too long, though , and we opened the windows and breathed in the fresh mountain air.  We stopped at a little parking area about 45 minutes from Lake Placid.  The kids picked wild flowers while I took a lot of pictures.  A state trooper (very McMountainman) then pulled in, and we were a little worried, until we realized he s just bored.  He and Will talked a while (Will was full of questions...). We made it to Lake Placid around 4.

Our hotel, as the reviews had warned, was in dire need of a face lift, but the location was pretty awesome.  We walked to the public beach so the kids could have a quick swim.  The water was surprisingly warm, though with cooler weather due to a storm rolling in, I decided just to play photographer.  It was later that Will learned that the kids were not actually in Lake Placid but Mirror Lake, which is weird because we were on Main Street in Lake Placid.  But, apparently the actual Lake Placid is all private and there is no public beach on it.  Bottom line: we stayed in Lake Placid but never actually laid eyes on it.  A storm at night that continued with heavy rain in the morning prevented us even from going back to the beach.  Oh well.  

After a quick shower, we headed back out to Main Street to find a place for dinner.  We settled on a small pizza/Italian place.  It was forgettable but fine.  Bedtime was a bit rough with one overtired little girl, and both Will and I were feeling the effects of a long day of travel.  But, all in all, we are having a good time, making memories, and not killing each other...all pluses.  

Ethan's quote of the day: "Hugs are way better than kisses.  Because they are bigger.  A hug is like a thousand kisses."

Haiku of the day:

Adirondack bound

Great mountain views-winding roads

Lake Placid...guess not

Syracuse

Day 3

Left Cleveland, after multiple hug sessions, around 9:30.  We will be back through on our way home, thankfully.  What great hosts we had! Ethan asked as we pulled away, "are we going to be staying in that hotel on our way home from Maine?" Yes, yes we are, whether they like it or not...though we are fairly sure they like it.  :) 

10:40 We crossed into PA! Just passing through the northwest corner of the state before hitting New York.  Plan to wave to Erie in honor my my good friend Emma's hometown.  

11:20 New York! Very pretty drive so far.  Hilly, lots of vineyards. 

Stopped at a cool travel stop near buffalo for a potty break and lunch.  Covered walkway over the road to get to everything.  Will taught Ethan how to get truckers to honk their horns.  Great.  Unfortunately, there was no picnic area for our lunch so we are driving a bit further to try and find a good picnic stop. 

Lunch in a dilapidated park...Eleanor pooped on her portable potty twice, likely to the delight of the summer campers there.  Not to the delight of Will, who is responsible for the disposal/clean up.  We definitely are glad we brought that thing, though.  

We arrived at our hotel right around 4 o'clock and went swimming at the pool.  Ethan "chillaxed" a bit in the hot tub, and then we got dressed to head to Ethan's Embassy Suites birthday party.  They have a nighty reception in the atrium with free drinks and hors devours, so the kids and I went to that for a bit while daddy showered.  They feasted on cheese, crackers, pickles, and kiddy cocktails.  

Then we took restaurant recommendations from a nicotine addicted waitress and headed out with directions to this presumably close restaurant.  45 minutes and one wrong turn later, we arrived at Friendly's.  Friendly, yes, but not the best food.  Fine for kids, I guess, and your typical greasy fare.  Ethan, who downed his chocolate milk in 10 seconds, didn't even want the sliders he ordered, and ate the apples that came with the meal instead.  We even headed out before the kids got their ice cream that came with their meal.  We will try to find a nicer place tonight that will bring him some cake. Not that he really cared.  Between Marj and Carolyn's and his kids birthday party, he's been celebrated enough.  Plus, we brought some presents into the restaurant with us, so he was happy.  

By the time we got back to the hotel, it was well past bedtime.  Eleanor hung on until 9:45 before finally giving in.  I had plans to work out in the fitness center after they were in bed.  But after dozing in bed while I waited for Eleanor to stop telling stories and drift off to dreamland, that was definitely not happening.  It was bedtime for us all...

Haiku of the day:

Birthday in the car

Chillaxing in the hot tub

Lost in Syracuse

Day 2

Day 2

After a rough night with Eleanor, who we now discovered caught Ethan's summer cold, we were welcomed with a delicious quiche and bacon breakfast, among many other goodies.  Chef Carolyn really spoiled us the whole time.  

The big star of the morning, though, was the deer Ethan  spotted in the woods during breakfast.  He, Eleanor, and I promptly went out to try and get close to it.  I got a great picture of Ethan watching the deer through his binoculars (and he was quite close) and the deer looking right at him, though the deer did not have binoculars.  That would have been an even cooler picture.  

Later in the morning, we went to a really cool park Marj and Carolyn had scoped out for us.  It was huge and set up like a little town with buildings like banks, a fire house, a school, and, for Will, a gym.  We didn't stay too long since it was pretty warm and all the slides were a bit too hot to slide on.  But the kids had a great time running around and exploring.

Next, we headed to downtown Shaker, a really adorable place, and had lunch t a cute diner called Yours Truly.  The kids, because it was so warm, decided chicken noodle soup was an appropriate meal.  Fortunately we were in air conditioning, and the soup was very good and full of thick noodles.  

With the afternoon came a decent amount of rain, but that was a nice excuse to watch cartoons and rest.  And the rain let up for some dodge ball fun after dinner for the kids.  Then, it was an early and relatively painless bedtime before an incredibly delicious salmon dinner for the adults.  I'm leaving cleveland with a lot of recipe ideas, that's for sure!

Ethan's quote of the day: after an afternoon of rain, he spotted a deer in the woods in the yard.  He ran inside and announced, "I know why the deer was out now....because it's a reindeer!" The funny thing is, he didn't understand why we all laughed so hard.  Homonyms are a lesson for another day.

Eleanor's last words before succumbing to sleep: "one time, I saw a honey bear, and it kicked me, and then it said..." Easiest it's been to get her to sleep in weeks, thanks to an earlier start to the day, a decent cold, a busy day, and some Benadryl. 

Haiku:

Cool park then diner

Rain will not spoil our fun-no!

Dreams of salmon-YUM

Maine Road Trip Day 1

Day 1 - June 24

Leaving LaGrange 7:25 am...almost an hour later than planned...

10:45 (time changed hour ahead) first stop somewhere in IN.  Made it out in 20 minutes...a new record.  

Kids have entertained themselves with busy bags, snacks, coloring, ropes and superheroes...doing great.

12:40 Stopping for lunch at a travel plaza in OH...picnic packed. Back on the road at 1:25- another new record.  Lunch stop in less than an hour! Ate in the shade at a table.

  

Stopped about 2:30 for gas because Eleanor had to pee.  She went.  Five minutes back on the interstate and she started yelling that she had to go again.  This is what she does.  It's like she really doesn't want to get there.  Ugh. 

Made it to Euclid and it's beautiful! Kids were in absolute heaven in Marj and Carolyn's backyard.  Woods go on forever, tons of cool birds hang out by the multiple feeders, and there's even a dry creek bed (Ethan can't remember the word creek and keeps calling it a curd) to explore.  We had a great Chinese dinner on the screened in porch, had a little baseball practice, and even had an ice cream birthday cake for Ethan...a couple days early. Kids went to bed and Will and I stayed up to watch the Hawks win the cup, very thankful they did it in regulation too! A great first day.

Haiku of the day:

Uneventful drive

Stellar backyard fun for all

Thank you M and C

On the Eve of Kindergarten

August 26, 2012

Dear Ethan,

Tomorrow is your first day of Kindergarten.  Somehow, the significance of this fact didn’t truly hit until today.  You see, today I drove past your school and choked up.  Today, I chopped vegetables and began crying as I listened to you in the next room, playing so sweetly with your little sister.  When you came in and asked if you could help, I had to compose myself quickly.  Today, and all weekend in fact, I could not get enough kisses from you, my sweet baby boy, all grown up and starting elementary school. 

Ethan, I have so enjoyed watching you grow into just about the cutest little boy.  You have your moments, but, really, you’re pretty awesome, and I find great pleasure in being with you every day.  And I know you feel the same.  My little homebody, you are always perfectly content hanging out with mom.  You’re such a good helper always, and I love that you still want to assist me in the kitchen or in cleaning the house.  I know, all too soon, this will no longer be the case.

At five years old, I see you as an incredibly creative and articulate boy.  You can still be on the shy side, but you’re definitely coming out of that protective shell.  Your mind is a crazy sponge, and you soak up everything, repeating lines from movies you saw months ago or constantly quoting your books to me.  One of my favorite things is to observe you playing when you think no one’s watching.  Usually near your Bat Cave, you make up elaborate stories with your figures that go on forever and ever.  Perhaps even more fun is watching you and Eleanor play together.  More and more, you are playing with her, not just near her, and you are always helpful and encouraging.  You love to teach her new things, and she eats it up and absolutely relishes the attention you give her.  My heart nearly bursts with pride when I witness you loving your little sister so tenderly, like when you snuggle with her and sing “Baby Mine” before her nap.  You love her so much.  

Though your new status of Kindergartner is making me feel nostalgic, I am also quite excited for you as you begin this new chapter.  I am not really worried about your academic success (let’s face it – you’re bright!), but I do wonder about the kind of student you will be in school and the new knowledge you will come home with.  I can hardly wait to witness you reading on your own since I know this will open up even more opportunity for you to explore other worlds.  You will, no doubt, be a voracious reader.  

I also wonder about how your personality will continue to develop as you start school full time.  My hope for you, and what we really try to stress to you right now, is that you will be kind to everyone.  As you get older, there will be even more opportunity to exclude others or put others down, but we really hope to instill in you a strong sense of self that will resist these urges.  In your world of good guys and bad guys, we want you to be a good guy, the kind you can always rely on to do the right thing.  But know that when you slip up, we will still be there for you, even if we are a bit disappointed.  

You may be growing up, Ethan, but I will always remember my sweet baby boy we brought home from the hospital five short years ago.  I can still feel you in my arms as I rocked you to sleep or see you smiling at me when you woke up in the morning, always happy to see me.  You, and later your sister, have been a source of such joy.  You both have filled a hole in my heart I didn’t even know was there until you arrived.  I love you so very much!  I know you will be simply amazing.

Love,

Mommy