One more day of state exploring with Grandma and Grandpa meant we couldn't sleep in like some of us wanted to!
There was plenty of time to rest in the Moose anyway.
And plenty of time to visit!
Of the three states we visited with Grandma and Grandpa, I think everyone would agree that Maine was the favorite, although we were happy that we didn't have to pick just one! We headed up to Portland to see beautiful lighthouses and the impressive coastline.
Although we all still had to bundle up, it wasn't quite as cold this day which was perfect for exploring the craggy rocks that met the ocean.
As we were scrambling over the rocks I told my family (more than once, I'm sure) that this trip nicely summed up my childhood- my parents were always up for finding an adventure in whatever state we were in!
We all could have stayed on this coastline for hours.
Adam, mid-jump and Leah, fearing the seagulls.
This first spot was our favorite spot of the coastline, but eventually we headed back up to the lighthouse and the fort- what a dramatic pose.
I inherited my eyes closed in pictures from my mom.
Grandpa Mark, informing the kids about the island/peninsula across the bay. Grandparents always have good stories to tell.
The second beach we visited was completely sandy smooth for miles, and was the perfect place to collect 28 huge seashells for Emma's class.
The ocean is full of such weird and beautiful stuff.
Our first time standing on an Atlantic ocean beach in a few years!
"On three" means different things to different people...
Grandma stayed with us by the water- this was her favorite beach-
and Grandpa took a nap in the sand. He can sleep anywhere.
And we could have stayed at this beach all day too. But we had to keep moving! Lighthouse number two and beach number three was also rocky and windy and beautiful.
And the rocks were nice and jumpable!
There are always pockets of time for mini-dates on vacations- lots of togetherness for everyone!
And that's a good thing.
Next stop: the very delicious Warren's for some lobster! Like all great seafood restaurants, this was located right on the water. We basically parked under this bridge and walked right out to the water for the freshest seafood we've had all year! ;)
This was a highly anticipated and delightfully relaxing dinner in Maine. Like just about every place we had visited up to this point, we had the place nearly to ourselves. I think that the lack of crowds and lines are generally worth the gray skies and cooler temps, but there were plenty of moments on this trip when I imagined what a place must look like in the summer with blue skies and sunshine. But we were so happy to experience everything just like we did this time around!
Fact- we live smack dab in the middle of the country. Just about as far as you can get from fresh seafood on either side. So it should come as no surprise that we're not huge seafood lovers- we just haven't been all that exposed to it. But we were all willing to try!
Emma especially wanted the bragging rights of trying lobster. And with Grandma's help, she cracked into a claw and got some big hunks of meat out. Doesn't she look happy about that?
Adam- I just want a picture with it.
Noah- the popcorn lobster was delicious!
Leah- this lobster roll has a LOT of lobster in it!
The salad bar was really delicious, the coconut shrimp was the best I've ever had, and now the kids officially know whether or not they are lobster fans (mostly not so much, but I'm impressed that they were all willing to try!).
With our bellies full and our feet rested up, we were ready to hit up one more beach before calling it a day. There were so many cute beach houses and resorts along our drive through Maine, but I didn't get many pictures of them because it was just too cold to wander up and down small beach town streets. The last beach we visited was Grandpa's favorite, and it was different still from the three before it.
We all took the job of helping Grandma look for sea glass very seriously.
The beach is always an amazing place, and it filled up our souls to be out on the water, admiring the many incredible wonders of nature and strolling along together.
Once we got back to Grandma and Grandpa's apartment we had to document Adam's growth against Grandpa, who seems to be shrinking!
We didn't have any chances to be hungry while we were with Grandma- she made sure of it! We ended off the night with some Whoopie Pies- so tasty!- and we all laughed about Liquid Death in a can,
and we very reluctantly called it a night, our last one in New Hampshire.
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