East Grand Lake

Last weekend (8/20-21), we went to our neighbor's camp at East Grand Lake, on the Canadian border near Houlton, ME. It was a great time. Very large lake with little development and hardly any boat traffic. We played in the water a lot. Snorkeling, swimming, diving, fishing, boating, jet skis, tubing. Well worth the 4.5-hour drive north. I'll post some pictures.

This past weekend, we went to Splashtown, the local water park. The kids each brought a friend and they had a great time. We also hosted a birthday party for our neighbor, Leighton (who's parents own the camp we went to). Sunday was back-to-school shopping, followed by more tonight. Emily is entering kindergarten and Michael 3rd grade starting Thursday.

Whale Watch

Chris' dad came to visit us this weekend and we had a great time. Saturday night we went to the races at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. It was a lot of fun. The kids really got into it, picking out their favorite cars during qualifying and rooting for them in the feature. We have to get some better ear protection for Michael, because the modified feature was too much for his sentitive ears and we had to leave early.

Sunday we went on a whale watch out of Portland and saw a ton. A few seals on our way out of the harbor. Then we saw a pod of Atlantic White-sided Dolphins feeding at the surface. When our boat approached suddenly we were surrounded by at least 20 dolphins surfacing, diving, bow riding, and jumping. It went on for probably half an hour when the captain decided to try to find whales. It didn't take long for him to locate a couple of feeding finbacks. 3 or 4 puffs at the surface separated by a 3-4 minute dive. We followed them for quite a while and got some close looks. Michael and I even got a blast of "whale breath" in the face.

On the way back to the harbor we stopped to play with the dolphins some more and one did an incredible leap 10-feet out of the water right off the starboard bow. Even the captain said that was great. We also saw a school of tuna jumping at the surface. All in all, a cool trip.

Emily's first fish

Chris had to work last Saturday, so I took the kids fishing again last weekend. I bought Emily a Barbie fishing pole and she caught her first fish ever - a smallmouth bass! The trolling motor on the canoe has been working out great.

I had to work last Sunday so Chris took the kids out on Sebago Lake with our neighbor in their 19' Grady White. Lots of sun and water.

Today was Michael's last day of summer camp. He got his camp shirt signed by all his friends, and got a yearbook too. He'll miss his friends, some of whom he only sees at camp each summer.

Fishing

Took the kids fishing Sat. Hot and sunny in the middle of the day but still managed to catch 1 pickerel, 1 largemouth, and 1 smallmouth. The kids did most of the fishing, I did the only catching, but they still got a kick out of it. We went around Dundee Pond on the Gorham-Windham town line. Very nice small lake. Not very developed.

Earrings

Emily got her ears pierced today for her Birthday. She was very brave. One ear stung a litle and the other one didn't hurt at all. She's walking around now with her hair pulled back and her ears sticking out (if that's possible).

I told Michael when he's 18 he can get his done too. He pinched his earlobe with his finger and said "OW! No Way!".