Huricane Irene

When I think hurricane I think of Meghan down on the coast. I envision North Carolina, boarding up windows, mandatory evacuations.... I do not think of Hampden Maine where we are safely tucked away a half hour from the coast. But just when you feel safe! Then come the winds, the rain, we are talking boatloads of rain and flooding and ultimately the loss of power. After 2 1/2 days with no power. Carrying bucket after bucket of water out of the basement I am excited to say we are back on the grid. Thank God!!!!! We will also be purchasing a generator asap. The flooding was made worse by the construction going on but no power = no working sump pump. It also means pumping (still nursing) in the car (tricky when you are watching all three kids). It means explaining repeatedly why those three kids should not 1. open the fridge, 2. flush the toilet 3. run the water and also why NONE of their entertainment devices are working. Even those with battery power eventually die out. This makes for a very loooong 2 1/2 days! Needless to say when I hear hurricane or even tropical storm I will forever be reminded that we may be the frigid north but anything is possible.

Gondolas (part two)

At the top of the mountain we got to explore a bit. Hard to believe people really ski down from places like this! So scary! Mt Washington in the back, you can drive to the top but after our flat tire (wouldnt be a samoluk vacation without one!) only 20 miles from home we thought we shouldnt risk it!

He looks a bity nervous here but it  had started rainging and the noise on the glass was loud.

But the view was still beautiful. This was the view of the Appalachian trail.

Henry is checking out the view of Mt Washington.

Gondolas (part one)

The kids were soooo excited to try the ride up the mountains. Me, well, not so much. I am deathly afraid of heights. We love the white mountains in New Hampshire. We love North Conway and the kids love Santa's village. But the best part of our trip... was actually the ride up the mountain. The views were priceless. Even Henry thought it was spectacluar.

Yeah! We are on solid ground!

Vacation Bible School

What a blast! A week of fun filled crafts, songs, stories and friendship. These kids had a BLAST! We are already looking forward to next year (Next year we heard there is going to be a lion's den! ). Here is tribe Joseph (minus two little guys):

Our new church goes all out with the tents, the outfits, the snacks... This year it was Jesus's life as a kid, growing up in Nazareth. They played games from biblical times, ate dates and pitas with honey, shopped in tents, made beads and painted crafts. They loved (eventually ava was a tough sell) the singing. Her favoirte song is Big House. I hear them singing around the house and we got a cd to bring home with all the songs they learned!

Good old Michael came home after the first day and told his little buddy, "I learned alot of crap about Jesus!" Luckily he was bragging. We had the best time ever!

Trouble maker #3

Even after 3 kids it still amazes me that someone so small can make such a big mess - in only moments!

sliding around on his "skateboard"/tupperware lid

Happy Birthday Michael!

It's hard to believe our big boy is eight! Every year he grows a bit taller, more mature, but still remains just as adorable as he was when we first brought him home.

Sleeping with his Spence dog, he used to suck his fingers.

At Dysarts his favorite truck stop. He loves blueberry pancakes.

Tractors, trucks, cars, trains he still loves all things that go.

Even all grown up and too cool for school he is still our sweet little boy. Michael we love you, your compassion, your insight and your sense of humor!

Love,

 mom and dad

You have WHAT in your mouth????

I know it is a stage but I swear Ava and Michael didn't put alot of things in their mouths. Maybe it is getting 8 teeth mostly at once or that the poor kid has his dad's crazy metabolism. But he is always scrounging the floor for food, pebbles, fuzz from the carpet... Yesterday I caught him with this in his mouth....

Seriously?

Then he got mad when it wouldnt come off and proceded to yell at the knob!

Just had to try one last time! It's not worth doing if you dont go the extra mile...

Bummer. Cant wait to see what he is trying to eat next!

Ready for school!

New backpacks and matching lunch bags for the big kids. Michael got a sprts theme and ava got these adorable pink owls.  Here is Michael loving on his sister (her not loving it) while they model them!

If walls could talk...

First came the footers...

Then the walls...

Then the backfill....

And now we are waiting for construction to begin!

Here is a good view of the size. Current house 28x28, new space 26x 30. Its going to feel like a mansion to us, we are so used to 5 people in 2 bedrooms!

Officer of the Year

Every summer the sheriffs dept employees all vote for officer of the year. This year they picked Derek!

To me it isn't really a surprise because I know how hard he works, how he has endless patience with the staff and the "visitors," he never calls in sick, he works in one of the most fast paced and stressful areas (intake and booking) and he always has a positive joking attitude.

Tonight we are going to the recognition BBQ. The kids are so excited and I am so proud! Way to go Dad!

Day one and it looks like ground zero.

Michael waving from one of the piles.

The deck.

Taking it all in.

I think we are ready for this! Mostly I wish we could just fast forward over all the mess. And this is only day one! 

And so it begins...

Oh no here we go! Our little cozy house is soon to be gone.

With the porch cut in half and the area staked out we are ready to go. Finally! Tomorrow is our official start date. New job, new house - eeek!