A golden moment...

Our coastal town of 8,000 quickly became one of 80,000 this month as the Annual Yarmouth Clam Festival got underway. I noticed on a Monday lots of chairs lining Main Street. Lisa, our fabulous Mail Lady (I have a mail lady, who climbs up on my porch, knows my name and gives us the scoop on everything in town), Pat at Hannafords, the librarian, and the chatty grandma I sit next to at swim lessons all gave me the low down on the giant parade. According to Lisa it is Maine's largest.  And it did not disappoint. We lined our chairs up on Wednesday (the parade was on Friday), finding just enough room for our mishmash of outdoor seating for 5 right on Main Street.

A crowd of some of the most gracious and polite people from different generations, squished together rows deep to celebrate with one another. I loved watching little faces light up as silly floats and bands went by, clapping, dancing and the occasional ear covering when a fire truck would strut its siren.

When it was all said and done, we scooped up our chairs and along with the rest of the town made the long walk home carrying our awkward load knowing this would be one of our greatest summer traditions.

 
We went to the carnival too, we are more of a ride watching kind of family:) I watched with horror hoping my sons would never think it cool to impress a girl by going on one of those rides with the spinney cages.

It was nothing short of hilarious watching the boys try to convince Anna Grace that cotton candy is edible.

And just coming off the Clam fest.,  I heard Erik on the phone with a friend from college. Stuff like, "I think it's supposed to blow 10 to 15," and "I'll look at the chart tonight," were tossed around. Once he says chart I know he's in sailing mode. We were on the water by noon. I packed a dose of patience knowing all too well the battle that was about to ensue between a certain two year old, myself and one neon life preserver for the next few hours. With that said, I do believe the next image captures Erik at his happiest.

Another tick on the "right choice" list regarding the move.

Weaved in between these great Maine adventures and weekends is life. There are piles of laundry, skinned knees (and just knees) in need of band aids, plates filled with crusts and crumbs that need cleaning, sibling squabbles and even a few adult quarrels. 

With the mundane of daily life you get the golden moments like these which are just as great as sailing the high seas.

Daily life stops because you know this may very well be the last time she fits just so (especially for me as I seem to make such large children), and you forget about the plates with the crumbs, who had what first and who is right.  There is nothing quite like your baby asleep against you....it creates some of the greatest centering moments in life.

Settling in.

When our friends and family call they all ask if we are "settling in?" I think we are there. The last of the boxes are either unpacked (and or out of sight), we have cable, a home phone, and I can now get to the grocery store, post office, library and Target all without my BFF of late our car's GPS, in the first few weeks his voice was my only adult friend (as far as friends' go he is loyal, reliable and knows how to get everywhere.) I even got annoyed yesterday at a few slow tourists gawking at the sights.

But much like Eli, I still feel on vacation. We have been testing out the local ice cream shops.

I know, white shirt? What was I thinking.

We tour around the city of Portland, and take pictures outside of cute shops as if we might not come back.

I swear they eat healthy stuff too.

I even find myself taking more pictures inside the house as if it is some sort of vacation cottage.

All the while we are trying to create some traditions knowing that we are not on vacation, we were here this July 4th and will be the next one too.

July 4th Parade in Freeport. Sadly the best pic of the children. Sorry Cam.

I thought it was so funny that the bands don't march or maybe just not anymore....

I wonder if we will ever "settle" or if the sights and smells of the coast will continue to feel like an adventure we researched. And if so,  we best take it all in because in no time we will be packing up to head back to our other life.

After all, just after lunch today, we got into the car and in no less than 10 minutes my children were ankle deep in Casco Bay with the Atlantic Ocean in sight as an osprey flew overhead.....