Lobster Lake 2023!

Off we go on the annual pilgrimage to Maine.  Love how much our kids look forward to this week.  Bonus is, our friends look forward to it almost as much if not more.  Let the caravan begin.  Love how full the car gets with humon and dog bodies.

Love that this showed up this morning.

We needed beans for dinner and beans for the top of Katadin.  Which is which?

Love these smiling faces at the last civilization stop

Sometimes I just can't tell if Nora is happy or miserable.

Love the ages and stages - these new drivers sure are handy

Wait a minute - this is really a new driver!!

NIck, how did you get the boot this early?

The dirt road caravan

First evening sunset did not disappoint.

In just a matter of minutes it went to this.

I love how much they love it.

Let the hikes begin - to the summit of Spencer.

Drew is making his rounds of question asking

The mid point - looks hot doesn't it?  Or maybe we all just look hot

The summit with this good looking guy

So much to love about these ladies - 

When I see these photos I still cannot get over how tall Frankie is - and its very noticeable that we are missing Asa this year.  There is surely a void in the group and we know he isn't thrilled to be missing out either.

Almost the Christmas card photo =)

Someone please insert Asa in this photo - otherwise its perfection!

There were not too many moments of the lake this still - I was thankful to capture this one.

Now to the Katadin hike - they had enough water this time.  made it to parking on time (FIRST TIME) Drew was the only kiddo that opted to stay back.  He could totally do it physically but just not mentally interested.  Lizzie and Sarah did great!  its a LONG hike.  Kids played the 3 word game?  Mountain Schmoopy is alive and well.

They hiked up Cathedral and down Chimney trail.

Meanwhile, Mary and I took Drew to Raymonds (it was closed) so we walked to the boat launch.  We also picked raspberries and drew fished.  He seemed content, but of course as Chris came home, likely exhausted from the hike, Drew didn't let him rest, rather begged Chris for a fishing trip!  Which being the amazing dad, he went right out there.

General beack activity

Love this simple shot

Followed by this one.

Such a cute on of these 2 chatting away

We did a little hike at Tibs - it wasn't terribly manicured.

Nature's cup holder

Can you see the kids out there?

Another fishing trip

Best swag ever - 'the golden road'

Again, does she love it or hate it?

Happiness is

this one too

family dinner deliciousness

This is the night of Rebecca Briggs Euchre

The view I wish I could wake up to every morning

Love that Mary captured these photos of the kids on our final morning

I see all their personalities here.

These 3 beauties too

And yes!

Lobster lake 2023!

Loaded up and decided to go straight home this time.  Stopping only at a Lobster role shack just outside of freeport.

Yes another soul filling week all together.  Love it so much.

 

Oma Sue goes under the knife

Something my mom has debated for YEARS.  She remembers the FIRST time she injured her knee when she was a kid falling out of a tree.  Countless other injuries after that to include a slippery day on the Okemo slopes.  It was time to thank that knee for all its effort and get a new one.  NOTHING is easy about that decision.  My sister came up the night before to help out.  Love the knee markings.

Time to wheel her in.  It amazes me what these doctors can do.  Take care of this sweet lady!

Meanwhile, we needed to take care of the other guy.  A little taboo for the evening.  I even got to take Maddie and Shane to see Barbie - we sat front row (which as you can appreciate is not ideal)

She came home the next day, my sister had everything set up so there was plenty of mobility around the first floor.  My mom had researched and picked up all kinds of helpful things like elevatored toilet seat, 2 different ice coolers, a couple walkers etc.  She wanted to be as independant as possible!  Being out of surgery was a HUGE relief.  Now each day to get a little more mobile.  The PT was helpful in 'pushing' her body to use that knee right!