The first of seven new posts- Maine Wildlife Park

So I'm finally updating the blog after a month off. I think I knew it was going to take a while (2 hours!!), since there's been so much going on. So here it is- seven new posts. Enjoy!!

Today, Rick and I took Cate to the Maine Wildlife Park. We took her there two summers ago, when she was just a baby, and I remember us trying to get her to look where we were pointing. Somehow, we never made it there last summer, but I definitely wanted to go this summer. It was so much fun seeing her reactions to all the animals!

Mom, the above picture is for you- a fisher (in case you see one in your backyard!). Below, a porcupine.


Cate loved this moose cut-out and asked for multiple pictures in front of it. Below, smiling in the bear's mouth. We have a picture of her in the bear's mouth at about 7 months old. I know it's in an old post....

Mommy bear!

Groundhogs having a lunch of cut fruits and veggies.

The black bears

A seriously cute baby moose. Not sure what its story was or why it was there, but gosh, was it adorable!!!

A couple of videos

Below is Cate on the dock when we were up at camp this past week.

Besides the usual singing and dancing, Cate also loves musical instruments. I think the guitar thing started when we were staying at Aunt Diane and Uncle Jim's back in February. Cate found Jarrod's guitar in his bedroom, and I picked it up and plinked out "Twinkle, Twinkle" for her. Upon our return home, Cate discovered this old guitar we had in the attic, and now I can often find her up there playing songs. Her technique leaves something to be desired, but it's pretty darn cute.

A day at camp

With all of our visitors, we had not made a single trip up to camp this summer. So this past week, Cate and I gave Rick a day to himself to rest (recovering from pneumonia) and went up to camp for just a day. Mom and Dad were up there for a couple. Above, Cate wanting to net some fish. That quickly turned into needing to put on the bathing suits and get out the floaties.

Thanks to Mommy's cat-like reflexes and extensive training in zoology (haha), Cate ended up with a bucket of netted fish for her viewing, and petting, pleasure. I love the look she's giving!!

Such fine specimens of baby bass!

After catching little ones in a net, we decided to try our hand and catching something bigger. Cate, of course, wanted to hold the rod, so we caught nothing. :) She had fun though! And on a related note of irony, while we were fishing, Mom sat down on the dock and dangled her toes in the water only to have a sizeable large-mouth bass that was loitering about under the dock (yeah, totally missed that one!), bite on to two of her toes!!! That was a first! We quickly reeled in the line, and I dangled the bait right in front of the fish. It bit on, and just as I was about to pull it up, the hook broke! Not the line, but the hook! The big one that got away! Mom was sorry to see it go, as she was hoping to photograph it as evidence of the toe-nipper.

Laurie and Zach's visit

Laurie and Zach were up for a week visiting, and left a week ago Friday. We had a great time with them, especially since it had been almost a year since we last saw them!

All the girls!

The whole family!

One day of Laurie and Zach's visit, we went up to Camden. Somehow, I didn't get any pictures of Laurie and Zach in Camden, but I know Mom has them on her blog! :) Before we went into the downtown to wander through shops, we went out to the beach/park for lunch and for some time in the sand.

Cate, being her usual self.

Chrissy, Nate, and Barrett's visit

Chrissy, Nate, and Barrett came up from Philly for a weekend visit last weekend. We managed to fit quite a bit into their three days, despite Rick's coming down with pneumonia (seriously, and he was diagnosed the day they left!!). We took them to a beach (Cate, below, exploring all the shells and other washed-up goodies), and they explored downtown Bath (Cate and Barrett, above, by the dock at the town boat landing). Cate had to take her new "purse" and headband from her Great Aunt Chris (thank you!!!)

Awwww, cousins holding hands!! Chrissy and I agree we make extremely cute children.

Cate helping Barrett with his new puzzle.

Barrett and his daddy on the boat.

That big lump that I'm holding is Cate, hiding under a beach blanket. She's learning to deal with her boat anxiety by simply hiding. I guess it's the old "If I can't see it, it doesn't exist," mentality.

Cate modeling her new life jacket.

Cate kept Barrett entertained during lobster dinner night by providing some dancing, which Barrett thoroughly enjoyed.

Dogs, Sea Dogs, and Salty Dogs

Sorry for being a little out of order. With this many pictures, it's easy for stuff to get missed! Above, Papa drives the boat back home while Daddy takes the pictures.

Below, new friends, Tate and Zoe. There was just such a size difference, it made me laugh!

Rick's dad took these pictures the day we were out in the boat. We call this "Seal Island," though I don't know what it's really called. Every time we've gone past it, however, it's had seals on it. So exciting!!



Below is what we usually see when we're out. Suddenly, a little "sea dog" head looking back at you!

Big Rick and Mary Jane's visit

The third week in June, Nana and Papa came up from PA for a visit. They brought their new 28ft. camper (travel trailer), and they camped down at a campground in Georgetown that was right on the water. They spent a lot of time up in town with us, but we also enjoyed a night picnicking with them at their site. Above, Cate is in her new pink chaise that arrived with Nana and Papa. Below, one of the new outfits Nana brought for Cate.


Aside from new clothes, toys, and furniture, the best thing Nana and Papa brought with them was their new Shih Tzu puppy, Tate. Tate became Cate's best friend, and she dragged (literally) that poor dog all over the house every time she was at the house. After Zoe realized Tate wasn't a squirrel, she was cool with her too. :)

Hugs for Tate.

At one point, Cate disappeared upstairs with Tate, and when we found them, Cate had put Tate in her rocker in her room and was reading her books.



We enjoyed a long boat ride one afternoon with Rick's parents. We made the usual trip down to Five Islands, where we enjoyed lunch on the dock.

A lobsterman pulling and setting his traps...

Cate has been a little more uneasy about the boat this year. You can see her enthusiasm below!

Playing, jumping, & singing

It is not at all unusual to go into Cate's room in the morning or after her nap to find her standing in her crib, holding onto the side, and jumping up and down, laughing hysterically. I also think it is no coincidence that we read and sing, Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, nearly every night. As I stood watching her jumping in her crib last week, I thought to myself, "That child needs one of those mini trampolines." Low and behold, as I read the garage sale ads the very next day, one was advertising a mini trampoline! I was there at 8am, and we are now the proud owners of this fine specimen (and where were those safety rails when we were kids??)

Cate loves hiding and seeking, and on this particular night, hiding under a blanket on the couch and then trying to sneak a peek at Mommy was a super-fun game.

Below, experience the jumping fun...

This morning Cate wanted me to sing the Baby Jesus song, which pretty much means either "Jesus Loves Me," or "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights, Cate, "likes the Christmas Jesus best." Yes, Cate, when talking about Jesus, prefers the Baby Jesus. So we're still reading the Christmas Story, and all babies will most likely be called Baby Jesus. Below Cate sings a little bit of "(Baby) Jesus Loves Me..."