Can you believe that Emelia is 13!

Just don't know how it happened? I am so proud of the person that she is, the person she is becoming. I just love her. She is in NC with her Grandmother right now and it is so strange to not have her here? It has been such a great time for her. And so good for her. Absence seems to have helped her realize that I'm not such an embarrassing mother after all. I think it helps that she is with my mother...who was far more embarrassing then I ever could be. Hehe.

Home and my honey

I looked for a picture of my handsome husband to add, but could only find one of him with all of his Red Soxs gear on that he got for Christmas. I don't think he would have appreciated that. So I settled on one of our home that we have built together. A place that we love and fill with good stuff. Yep, definitely a bit sentimental tonight.

Bart and I went on a date tonight. Since there is no school tomorrow and the fact that tomorrow is Bart's birthday, my mom was able to babysit. We went to Freeport to LL Bean where he spent his gift certificates and then to dinner at Broad Arrow Tavern. Not only was the food terrific, but I was reminded, yet again, how blessed I am to have such a great husband. We did a little dreaming and reminiscing - two things I love to do. I don't ever want to be one of those people that look back and say...if only I realized then ..... I realize it now. My dreams have come true and I love the dreams we have for the future. We have a home, four amazing daughters, careers that we enjoy (mine could be more lucrative), amazing families and friends, good health and a happy marriage. Don't get me wrong...we have our struggles. We have some debt we want to get rid of, we need to exercise more, we can't figure out how to get our daughters to do their basic chores and my kitty is in heat and I want her to have kitties (I can't believe I am admitting that on my blog). BUT plain and simple.....I am happy. Happy Birthday Bart, I love you. Hannah

Doughty Point

Here are my Babes on our hike Sunday. There was a picture of me, but it was of my bottem side going up the Mt. Definately not going to share that one. My big accomplishment was having Nina on my back and making it back home. I found a log I wanted to bring home and needed Bart to carry it back for me. Nina is definately bigger then last year....or I am older. Hmmm.

Kennebunk

Leslie and I have been spending a lot of time Kennebunk. This picture was taken at the School Around Us before Thanksgiving. We had a great show. Yesterday we enjoyed a small show at Wallingford Farm. We sat next to a wood burning stove and got to watch all the children sit on Santa's lap. After the show we all went to my sister-in-laws house for our family Thanksgiving. The guys got to do the cooking while we all showed our goodies at the fair. I sure do love my family.

This is crunch week for me. I have a big weekend next weekend with three shows. I hope to see everyone. I went with my family hiking this morning. I had just gone down to sew and Bart mentioned hiking out to the point. My first reaction was to stay home...but I didn't. It was so great. The weather is amazing for this time of year and the views were fabulous. Ella and Chloe had gone to run errands with my mom, so it was just Emelia and Nina. Great time!

A Little Delay

This picture is not the news. I tried to put it under the next paragraph, but with no success. My birthday was a few weeks ago and my husband surprised me with this sweet cake. We will have another weekend of birthday cake with both Ella and Chloe's birthdays coming up. I will be the one ordering the wording on the cake this time.

Okay.... I haven't gotten my part finished yet, so we are not ready for the announcement. I will say - this is not "BIG" news, so I hope I won't disappoint anyone. It has more to do with my future adventures. I must say, that it does make me happy to learn that my friends read my blog. (Would love to see you Becka)

It was a skirt, but now a bag!

Please notice my lovely friend and her new bag. Having company from away is so much fun, but even better when they like going to my favorite place.....Salvation Army. I know - sounds odd, but I love it. I think it is the same part of me that loves yard sales and sea glass hunting. It's the hunt, the surprise, and for sure the treasures. This lovely bag was once a mini skirt and the strap was once a belt. We had fun finding the skirt and even more fun turning it into a bag.

Loving my oldest daughter a lot tonight. She has been working on her first writing assignment at school - a letter to introduce herself to her teacher. It brought tears to my eyes to read how Emelia views herself, her family and to learn what she values. She is really funny and so lovely. She brought it to me with such pride in her work and you could see her pleasure in herself for having done such good work. This is the stuff that I love to see - my daughter feeling good about herself. Go 7 th grade!

Hard Core Hikers

They did it! Bart took Emelia and Chloe on their annual trip to Katahdin and they had a great time. The girls were a little worried about the hike, but did a great job. Next year Ella joins them. Nina and I will wait a bit longer. I love that they have that time together and come home with such special memories and stories to share. To think that this trip was something that Bart and I did together before the girls came. Sure was different then... I miss the alone time, but wouldn't trade a moment of time with my family.

All in the Family

My dad, Bart, Nina, Ella, Gigi (Bart's mom), and me - Ella made her grand performance on stage as "Jesse" the mermaid. Watch out Broadway here we come. If I could figure out how to do a YouTube video I would add the song that her Super Six Kindergarten class recorded about our town, Harpswell. It is amazing to me how much girls like music and singing when both Bart and I both have no special talent in this area.

Off to watch Closer with my husband. I love that show. We don't have cable so we watch it on TNT on the web. I think that is what we do. Maybe it is called downloading it from the web? Wow I need to update my lingo.

Sea Glass, Sea Glass, Sea Glass anyone???

Is it normal for my three year old to love sea glass? And look....she even has her little buddy joining her in the search. I guess I do threaten her with no dinner until she has found a bag full. Hehe. That was a joke. I tend to not be funny, so you probably aren't laughing.

Today was the last day of school for my girls. I am so excited to finally be able to spend our days as we wish. Unfortunately the weather is not cooperating. I couldn't convince them to go to the beach even if it was windy and raining. Luckily we ate dinner at Estes and we walked on the beach afterwords for a bit. I found a few treasures - the best - watching my four daughters stroll arm and arm with their dad. I won't mention that twenty minutes later I was negotiating an argument about cheating. We have to hold on to the happy times and let go of the negative. My mantra.