Spruce Head Island, Maine

We are on an island named Spruce Head in Maine, about three and a half hours from our house. Matt drove us up here. I wasn't surprised that he had to sleep most of the next day. Samantha was pretty tired from a week of riding camp too. She seemed to really settle in there, getting good praise for helping the other kids and giving encouraging, kind comments. I felt like she really blossomed, finally having a place where all of her strength gets to come out and be used. She kept right up with the horses and got them trotting. She rode several different horses in the week, I think Frosty, Madame Allbright and DeeDee.

Joshua got to spend time with Marie and not much else. I am trying to get my feet and back taken care of so there were lots of dr appts for me. Josh does like to go to Physical Therapy with me. My PT guy has a three year old too and enjoys having Josh there as long as Josh doesn't get into anything dangerous.

We have been beach combing int he back of the house. Sam and Josh and I sat on the rock at high tide so our legs were in the water. Samantha sang a very funny shark song she learned at Drumlin Farm camp. I am surprised sharks didn't search us out to make us stop singing such a silly song! We all three laughed pretty hard. Sam is enjoying the rope swing out the front door. She has found some interesting crab shells on the beach, flown a kite, and today searched through tide pools at Birch Point Beach with a family from Manitoba Canada. All four of the kids in their family were happy to pick up the crabs and show them to Sam and Joshua. Joshua got a bit scared of them, so Matt took him for a walk up the sandy part of the beach. They really did have a great time with the baby eels and the crabs.

We had dinner at Rustico in Rockland, ME. I had some great Sicilian Fish Stew, Josh ate grilled cheese and Sam had pasta Bolognese. We went to Rockland Cafe after for Pie and ice cream We are on vacation! Josh had vanilla ice cream and made us all taste it, saying, this is delicious, you have to try some! Sam's really was delicious, the chocolate silk pie. The best pie we have had so far was at Moody's diner. Sam and I polished of a banana cream pie in two minutes flat, with no thoughts of sharing with Matt. I think we hurt his feelings a bit. But it was really good! Josh had ice cream, no surprise there.

We are taking it very easy, watching movies, playing games. Sam put together a puzzle, and is learning cribbage from me, who can barely remember how to play even with the instructions. I hope Sam gets her energy back because when we return to Arlington, she has another week of riding camp and then she starts cheerleading in August. Two hours a night, 6-8pm for four days a week for the month of August. Sounds crazy to me, but the coach said it would be fun. Okaaay.