The Sleeping Porch

For the last three years, the kids have graduated to the sleeping porch which is on the 2nd floor in Maine. It sleeps six kids perfectly and has cradled many generations of Saumsiegle children. The pictures below were taken on the last morning and everyone woke up happy but loud. Normally kids get the second rate rooms, but in Maine, the children get the best room in the house (unless it's raining right Sue?). Just check out that view!

Well it is Maine 2009. Thanks to Scott and Sue, we got to spend some time up during August so the kids could spend some time in the water. Although Connor was the only one that took real advantage of the water it was nice to have the option. So to highlight some amazing moments: Kaya convinced everyone that she was a prinspess and that Brian was her prince, below is the royal dance that her highess demanded; the boys Andrew, Colin and Connor being a blur of constant motion and spending the whole time in the woods looking for treasures (they found a gold frog that Sue is trying to claim!); Jaxi's birthday party; the Brian and Scott show which I always enjoy (every year I have taken the same picture of them laughing together. It's fun to see them get older but still have the same relationship); watching Brooke imitate Sue all week (by the way she can't read yet though she's had me convinced!); and just watching all the kids play together...sometimes it was good and sometimes it was bad but it was always filled with laughter. Our week is in September which will be during Connor's birthday and I am excited for the fires, game nights, and cozy boat rides on the lake with friends and family. Only four weeks to go!

A late night picnic on the Beach

My kids have been dying (and whining) to see their Gram Gram so we called Donna and per usual she was game. Let's go to the Beach! It has been raining so much that this is only the 4th time for me and the kids. Brian and I brought towels, drinks, snacks and our kids. Donna brought a four course meal and Jim! It was a perfect night....fearlessly Connor jumps right in followed by Kaya. Jim thinks Connor is going to be surfer. He didn't leave the water until he was on the verge of Hypothermia. Colin is still traumatized with being taken under in May so he stayed far away from the water by making sand forts, castles and arm chairs for him to relax in. Connor and Colin found a sea monster that turned out to be an extremely piece of seaweed. Kaya switched between a sand mermaid and Anglina Ballerina which only means she basically danced along the water all night. Colin ate nine pieces of watermelon. But let me tell you the real cool thing-no one (not one) cried the whole three and a half hours. Then the gnats or sand fleas or whatever it was that got in my hair and bit me until 4 AM this morning chased us off the beach. Note to self: leave the beach at 8 BEFORE you get attacked. Still so, so much fun.