Boating on the Kennebec

On Thursday, we took the boat out but went down the Kennebec River (the river that runs through Bath) to the ocean. Cate left her boat fears at the launch and was ready to take over as captain of the vessel. By the look on her face, she's taking this new job very seriously (LOVE that picture above!)

Above, Daddy occasionally adjusting her direction, to which she would say, "Daddy, no!" Below, a look that can only be described as "so Cate."

Taking a break from driving to sit back and enjoy the sights.

Below, we are leaving the Kennebec River and entering open water at Popham Beach, which you can kind of see off to the right. It's one of the largest sand beaches in Maine (since Maine isn't really known for sandy beaches!).
I had to throw in the below picture, since I think it shows how quickly the "water calmness" changes once one hits the ocean. And this was a relatively calm day, but when you're in a 15 foot boat (pardon, Boston Whaler), even small ocean waves can make one feel like they're on an episode of Deadliest Catch. Cate did not appreciate the waves and was clinging to me for dear life. We made a 180 and headed back into the river!

Fort Popham, at the mouth of the Kennebec. Built for the Civil War, but I don't think it was ever really used. I guess the Confederate soldiers decided that attacking the North via Phippsburg, Maine was not the best strategy. Another side note for history buffs- Popham was also the site of a 1607 settlement by English colonists. They abandoned the site after only a year-maybe lobster for dinner every night was not enough to make up for that first winter??? :)

Annual Shift Party

Last Sunday afternoon was the annual Bath Fire Dept. Shift 1 party at Mike Drake's house. It was lobsters and clams galore, and luckily, the weather cooperated. Hard to believe this was Cate's 3rd (4th if you count in utero) party.

Below, Cate hugging her friend Olivia.

Enjoying the hammock!

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.