Last Friday night, Rick suggested we go out for a boat ride, and the boat ride turned into dinner at Five Islands- Rick's favorite stop for grilled cheese and haddock chowder! And really, who can ever complain when this is the dinner view?
On our way back home, we spotted this Harbor Seal hauled out on a rock. Cate (and Mommy!) were very excited!!
After much searching, Mom and Dad found this slide at a yard sale for a steal, and it has become one of Cate's favorite summer toys. Below, she expands her repertoire by adding the "backwards slide."
And a sliding video...
Cate wearing her boots from Nana and Papa Davis.
The picture above and below are from the Memorial Day parade. Cate and I walked down to watch, and Rick was supposed to be at the firehouse covering for the guys who were in the parade. To our surprise when the Bath fire truck went by, Rick was driving! I was too busy making sure Cate saw that it was Rick to take a picture. Oops!! 
And now, more funny things Cate says...
Last Thursday morning we left Maine for the drive down to New Jersey for Sheila's Coast Guard graduation in Cape May. Rick and I have not been to the Jersey shore since we moved away from DC, so I was really excited to go back. Our first stop was in Smithville, a little "village" of shops and restaurants around a lake. Grandma Pappas used to live right by here, and I have so many childhood memories of this place. I was really excited to take Cate there. Unfortunately, I had the camera on the wrong setting, and most of my pictures turned out kind of blah. Plus, I kept promising Cate she could feed the ducks, and when we arrived, there were signs posted everywhere forbidding feeding them! Boo!!
Below, Cate checking out (but not feeding!) the Canada geese, their goslings, and some laughing gulls.
After we left Smithville, we went on to the Ocean City boardwalk. First stop- Mack and Manco's pizza- yumm!!!!!! Unfortunately, Johnson's popcorn was NOT open, and many of the shops were closing up at 5. I had to remind myself that it was only early May and it was midweek. Oh well, at least we got our pizza!
Cate ran up and down the boardwalk- good exercise for a little one who had been cooped up in the car all day.
After we left Ocean City, we made the short drive on to Cape May, where we got checked in to our hotel- the Montreal Inn. We had a beautiful view from our 3rd floor balcony (see above!). And shortly after arriving, we went to the beach. Rick took Cate down first, and that's actually them in the middle of the above photo. Below, you can see our hotel- the long place with the red roof- from the beach. I wish we would have been there for more than one night!
Cate with hands full of sand.
Right along this stone jetty, there were tons of fabulous rocks and shells that made for lots of fun. Rick's pockets were also clanking with shells on our walk back to the hotel.
Below is Cate's artistic pile of rocks and shells that she created.
Look at those sweet little footprints!
Cate digging in the sand and doing her best NOT to leave the beach. In the end, she had to be carried away. :(
Cate took full advantage of all the new sights and sounds, and she seemed particularly pleased with all the grassy areas in which she could run full tilt.
I LOVE this picture.
Below, we're in the bleachers waiting for the ceremony to start. We could see the companies lining up all around the perimeter of the field- "newer" recruit companies participate during the ceremony of the graduating recruits.
The graduating recruits marching out onto the field.
Sheila is the little fair-skinned one right in the middle of the picture!
Sheila receiving her certificate.
After graduation- that's her boyfriend, Derek, in the green.
Sheila's aunt and uncle drove down from Boston for the celebration. We were happy to finally get to meet them.
After the ceremony and a tour around the base, we all went out for lunch. Then we said our goodbyes to Sheila's aunt and uncle, and we went on to PA to see Rick's family. During our two days with them, I realized that the only pictures I took were of Cate and her cousin Barrett. There really were many other family members there, but somehow, all the pics were of the kids!!
Semi- Hugging.
We had our first showing on Saturday (side note- she's coming back for a second showing this week), and I had Zoe's dog beds stowed away. So when we got home and Cate knocked a couch pillow on the floor, Zoe decided to claim it as her own. If you look closely, you'll see that she managed to curl up her 70+ pound self and balance it on top of the pillow. Cate said, "Zoe go sleep. Zoe need blanket and baby." And she then covered Zoe with her beloved taggie blanket and plopped her favorite dolly on top. So sweet! Will try to get actual pictures of Cate sometime soon!
