Trying To Play Catch-Up

I can't believe it's August already! Where does the time go?

This will probably be the last post for 2 weeks or so. Or maybe not. It just depends on how much we get done towards moving. We've still got loads to pack and about a million other things to do. We're finally getting close to getting a new car and I think we've narrowed it down to 2 vehicles. You'll just have to check back now and then to see what we settle on.

It's supposed to be wicked hot today with heat index values well above 105F. NOT looking forward to the heat or humidity. Going to try and either spend the day at the mall (Gareth, if you experience a burning sensation in your backside that would be me spending money....it's just your wallet heating up so don't worry about it possibly being piles! *lol* If we don't go to the mall, we'll hit the pool at the YMCA. Although I bet it will be super crowded. It's just going to be too hot to have either kiddo out on the beach. Gaby especially. If I thought she'd do well, we'd go sit in the cinema all day. But I don't think she'd be too keen on that nor would the other people who were trying to watch a film while she either plays 'loudly' or is fussy.

I don't really want to be outside anyhow, combine the heat with the horrible mosquito problems we've been having and that's a sure-fire disaster waiting to happen. I'm already suffering through 11 bites as it is and I don't reckon I'd like to add to the collection.

Anyhow, I'll get on with posting some piccies. The first set is from last weekend when Gareth and Matt went canoeing out on the Scarborough Marsh. It's a salt/fresh - water marsh system that's fed by local rivers and the ocean, so it ebbs and flows with the tides. Maine Audubon has an education center and kayak/canoe rentals located just down the road from us so we went and listened to a lecture about the marsh ecosystem and some of the animals that live, nest and derive their nourishment from the marsh. It was very interesting. Gaby was equally interested in adding her two cents to the lecture. She tried to "out-talk" the naturalist much to the amusement of everyone. He'd try to speak over her and she's just start "talking" louder and louder. I think she was trying to communicate with the many varieties of stuffed birds and other marsh dwellers that were on display.



The next several are pretty much self-explanatory....














Looks like caoeing has really gone to the dogs!



Gaby got a bit tired waiting for Daddy and big brother to come back.







The boys had a great time and we made it back home in time to avoid a pretty nasty thunderstorm.

I can't recall which day it was last week, but Gaby had woken up and was playing in her crib and I went to get a glass of water and walked back into the room and this is what greeted me;

She's quite pleased with herself, obviously!



I had no idea she could pull herself up because she doesn't even pull up to a sitting position yet. I think this was just a fluke because she hasn't done it since! She can kind of roll and push herself into a sitting position, but she doesn't use her crib or anything else to pull up on....yet. Plus she's not crawling yet...creeping and backwards at that, but not crawling!



And boom! She's down. Doesn't seem to bother her at all...as a matter of fact I think she's realized the mattress kind of bounces, which should prove interesting a few months from now.



This past Sunday we decided to take Matt down to Salem, MA and visit The House of Seven Gables, the home made famous by author Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of my favourites.

Gaby is most definitely ready to go!



Matt and Gareth outside HoSG prior to their tour. I've taken the tour about 7 times now and thought they should do it. It gave me an excuse to walk around and enjoy the grounds of the settlement and of course, take lots of photos.



The House of Seven Gables



Gaby on the grass with HoSG in the background













All tuckered out after playing on the grass and walking around the entire settlement with mommy.



Matt had a pretty good time and REALLY enjoyed his tour of the house, especially the hidden staircase, he went on and on about that for some time afterwards. He also enjoyed the really old cemeteries that dot the area and some of the older historic homes which have plaaquards on them which state when they were built. There are several in Ipswich which date back to the early 1600's.

So folks, for right now that about does it! As if that wasn't already enough.

Uhg, it's already 85F and it's not even 10AM yet and I'm sitting here dripping wet due to the humidity. Yeah, this is definitely a day made for hitting the mall and enjoying the air conditioning.

Thank goodness we only get a few days, at most, like this here in this part of Maine, a year.