Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, Maine
Highlight: I was singing “Over the River and Through the Woods” when Joseph stopped, picked up two sticks, and began tapping them along. For the rest of the hike he tapped.
AND
The Lobster Shack at Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Isaac and I were up before everyone else (why, Isaac, why?!) So we headed down early to see the sun coming up over the water. (Very odd for this west-coaster!)
Joseph could have played at the beach all day, and I would have posted a million more cute pictures of him, if he hadn’t had a full-time stream of green boogers running down his nose.
You’re welcome.
We just got back late last night from a little spur-of-the moment weekend trip to Maine!
The New England fall colors were on my lifetime “to see” list, and lo-and-behold, here I am in New York!
So, we found a VERY cheap hotel (surprisingly nice, if you don’t mind trains barreling past your window at all hours of the night), printed out some directions and we went!
First off, we stopped in Redding, Connecticut to pick up some pumpkins. A place I never thought that I would visit, but it was absolutely GORGEOUS!!
I tried to narrow down the pictures a little, but come on!!
Pumpkins + fall colors + fat baby in a pumpkin hat
= GAAAAAHHHH!!
(my its-too-cute-I-can’t-stand-it sound. Rhymes with Baaah.)
Plus my mom and my mother-in-law love them all, I promise.
So, if you are not them, feel free to skim.
Highlight: When Joseph saw the first pumpkin out in the patch he yelled, “Look! It’s AUTUMN!!!”
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(Nom, nom, nom!!!!)
And, lastly, what is now my favorite picture ever:
How can I NOT get up with that little loverboy 3 times a night??!!
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Now, how does one go about carving a pumpkin in a hotel?…
There was once a lovely artificial potted plant on the hotel room’s coffee table.
It is now looking sadly sparse around the edges as more and more leaves and branches are being systematically destroyed.
The culprit?
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We pretty much love it!
Love it, I tell you!
And trust me, no one is more surprised than I am!
Things we love:
- The weather: Now, granted we skipped the hot muggy, summer, so let’s revisit this in June… but for now we are loving the rain, sun, coolish temperatures, and general moisture in the air! (my lotion-usage has dropped dramatically since leaving Boise…)
- The people: Despite what you might have read/saw in movies, everyone here is REALLY nice! Well, okay, not EVERYONE, but in a city of 6 million people, you are bound to get some nice ones, eh? I have encountered so many friendly, welcoming, helpful people. I have only had to stand in a subway ONCE, every other time someone offers me a seat, and someone almost always asks to help me with my stroller getting down and up to the subway platform. (more on the subway in another post.)
- The energy: As soon as you walk out the door, you are swept up into this intense and amazing energy. Everyone is moving, talking ,doing…I feel immediately energized.
- The shopping: Enough said.
- The food: Yum. Everything and anything that you ever wanted to eat, and more. My motto is, if I see a restaurant with a long line, I should go in and get something.
- The things to do: Parks, museums, landmarks everywhere!
- The diversity: Today, when we were out running errands I encountered:
Caucasian people, asian people, hispanic people, african american people, and Arab people, in almost equal proportions of each.
Also a few 8 foot tall models with thighs the size of my wrists.
I heard- spanish, french, german, italian, some asian languages (sorry I can’t tell the difference) and several african dialects. I’m not joking! I kept track!
I saw-people in traditional/religious muslim dress, traditional african outfits, traditional/religious jewish clothing. Not to mention the range of clothing that most people wear- from sweatpants to high fashion- it is all walking the streets and no one cares what you are wearing! Be who you are!
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So, although I am TIRED of having to keep an eye on Joseph every second of every day, and sometimes I have to hold my breath when I am walking by certain areas (bodily fluid alert!),we are really enjoying ourselves and soaking in this experience!
