The kids had a blast a youth conference. It was at a really cute farm outside of Charlottlesville. It was Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
I dropped off the kids and snagged some photos.
Shanna did not want a photo, haha
Everyone had to show a vaccine card or take a rapid test upon arrival. So far through all the youth activities my kids haven't contracted COVID.
While the older kids were away playing we took Liam and Elden out to eat at El Paso. I told them, "Are you guys ready for it to just be us four hanging out in 4 years?" Crazy how fast the kids will be off on their own.
We also went to Lee's office that night. A firefighter died in Elkton and there was a nice ceremony for him and they had this display for the funeral. It's just down the street from us.
The back of Liam or Elden's eye. Not sure.
Once the kids got home from youth conference, showered, ate, and we finished packing up, we got on the road. Clark also stopped by his friend Nathan's graduation party. First part of the 3 and a half week vacation was Maine! We had stopped in Maine briefly before but it was to go to Walmart and stop at the gas station as we were passing through to go to Prince Edward Island. This time we went to Acadia National Park and explored Bar Harbor a little too and the surrounding area.
First stop was church in Maine. We went to a very welcoming ward. Lee showed me that the RS has it's own office. Pretty sweet!
We stayed at the Blackberry Cottage in Hancock, Maine. We were early to the area and couldn't check-in yet so we found some coast line to hang out at--Carter's Beach.
So pretty there! I thought Maine would have mountains like the Smokies or West Vriginia. But no. But loved all the pine trees and coast line.
Blackberry Cottage! www.abitofmaine.com/crabtree-neck-cottages
The cottage was very cute--we loved it. The only downside is that we happened to be in Maine during a heatwave staying in a cottage that had no air conditioning. But we survived. It cooled off a tiny bit at night and there were a few fans in the cottage.
Clark, Cal and Elden stayed in the loft.
We brought our bikes!
Cute, little kitchen. I decided that I don't like open shelving. It was nice with the shelves because everything was right there and easily accesible. But it's too busy for my mind for a daily kitchen.
Games!
A section of the map of Acadia National Park.
First up was the Beehive Hike. This was a super fun hike complete with handle pulls mounted into rocks!
Behind us is the "Beehive"!
Pretty views!
At the top!
Next we hiked up to Gorman's Mountain
We stopped at the Mount Dessert Bakery for some yummy treats! The island is called Mount Desert, so fun play on words.
We enjoyed our snack foods back at the cottage!
That evening we decided to go mini-golfing.
Trying to grab a ball that went the wrong way.
The next morning we did some exploring and watched the sunrise at the same point we were at Sunday afternoon before we arrived at the cottage--Carter's Beach.
Carter's Beach
Breakfast! Hunted down some yummy blueberry breakfast stuff.
The blueberry muffins were really good! The server we had probably shouldn't have been working. She had suffered a stroke and had a hard time helping us. Poor lady. She couldn't even spray whip cream out of a whip cream can.
Of course we ordered way too much food!
We then did a lighthouse tour via boat. That was so fun!
We rented a couple pair of binoculars for $5 each. Glad we did!
It was fun hearing some history stories about Maine and the little islands. Like this guy bought his mom a really nice coastal house as a gift. When they were little they would go to a little cottage every summer. Then one summer he brought her to a huge house and said, "It's yours!". Lots of other fun stories too.
It was so cool seeing all the seals!
We then went on a bike ride on the Carriage Trail if I remember right...I am not sure what we did the rest of the day. But I think we went back to the cottage and hung out! On the Carriage Trail my bike got a flat tire soon into the bike ride. I walked back, found someone who could fix it because Lee eithere didn't have the right tool or something. So take initiative people!
But my bike was fixed and then I rode off and found them.
