The Way Life Should Be

As you drive through three states in one hour in the Northeast and pass from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and into Maine (a giddy experience for a Central Texan who needs a flight on the Concorde to pass through three states in an hour when starting from Austin), you'll see this sign:


And I have to agree. We recently returned from 8 days in Maine and it was most definitely the way life should be. Except for the drive out with the HUGE bottlenecks of traffic that happen at the toll booths. But other than that -- yes, it's the way life should be.

Our man of New England, Ben, was getting hitched and it was too tempting to enjoy cool temps and a break from the Austin summer grind. So we indulged and went for the full week instead of the traditional wedding weekend. Plus once you load up the bags with baby gear and get your head wrapped around putting your 6-month old in a long tube for many hours en route to the furthest corner of the continental U.S., you feel like you better get while the gettin's good. Just witness our staring point of packing:


But the Planes, Trains and Automobiles adventure was worth the calculated effort. We arrived Saturday night after baby Grace was a champ on the long flight and the LONG drive from Boston to Bar Harbor, ME. Of course we stopped through BWI and met the President (and future President?...shudder) along the way.


We rented a house that was, uh, fantastic. Very relaxing front porch that got a lot of mileage with the cool mornings (and afternoons and evenings) as seen from bubble-blowing pics:


Anyway, we knew the wedding week would be a marathon, so we didn't want to sprint right out of the gates. You know, being experienced track nerds and all. So we took it easy and strolled around beautious Bar Harbor Sunday. This started the first of many "this is the best place I've ever breastfed" moments of the week.


Monday, in typical Monday-like fashion, was rainy (but it was the only such day except for the following Sunday when we returned home, which is like "so what" you know? Totally). But we still went around beautiful Acadia National Park (I'm having trouble with word variety since everything truly was beautiful). We hit the one sandy beach in the rain (and some crazies were in the 55-degree water) and visited our buddies staying back at a house with a no-fooling polar bear in it.


The next couple days were hermosa again and so we toured the beach, Cadillac mountain and a lovely island restaurant with the wedding crew. Mucho good times.

On a seaside hike with the family and Gracie strapped on.

The sandy beach on a sunny day -- packed with many brave swimmers

Grace hanging with Nana and Pops -- our triumphant baby sitters/vacationers for the week.

Atop Acadia's "Cadillac Mountain" with a view of the sailboat that Nana and Pops were aboard.

Crossing the actual "bar" of Bar Harbor which only materializes during low tide and you can hike across it and hike on the island it connects with. Pretty cool.


Dining on Isleford (another island that most certainly cannot be walked to) after a brisk boatride for a pre-wedding dinner evening with friends.

Then as the wedding neared and more folks arrived, we rendezvoused with many an old friend and enjoyed hanging out and, as usual, enjoying the surroundings.

Grace making friends with Leila, another babe traveling with brave parents and friends of ours. They were also toting 2 more kids...somehow.

Hiking around Jordan Pond with friends. Kelly stopped to breastfeed at a very suggestive viewpoint.

The old crew after the rehearsal dinner. Yours truly messing up the picture as usual.

And on the magnificent wedding day, we were treated to a loving, pitch-perfect ceremony, a (yes, again) beautiful reception and much good fun. It truly capped the entire week (as it should!) and Ben and Courtney were clearly quite the happy couple.

The ridiculously picturesque altar, where the happy groom awaited with the officiant who also happens to be a college buddy. Nice perk for sure to have a friend marry you.

Group photos of the W&L alums, friends and drunkards.

Finally . . . food montage!

BWI aiport seafood. Really not bad, and we really could not wait.

First of many lobster rolls at Gritty McDuff's on the drive up in Freeport, ME

Breakfast at a blueberry pancake mecca - Jordan's - in Bar Harbor

Multiple lobsters (of course!) with and without Grace in attendance. And with and without touristy lobster aprons. Both delicious.

Here's the full album with all the photos for those that are really bored . . .

The Heat Is On!

Whew! As Austin summers go, this had been very mild in June and July with lots more rain than usual and cooler temps. Nothing over 100. Meanwhile the likes of DC, NYC, etc. were getting the hot stuff. Well, no more. August arrived with a heavy blanket of heat, humidity and windlessness that is the usual oppressive stuff we get here. And so it is with great anticipation that we head to Maine soon where it barely tops 80 degrees most days and we get to party on behalf of a helluva guy named Ben who's getting hitched.

But, in the meantime, much to report and you'll note that most of it ends up getting back to cool water where we can relieve ourselves from this heat. First the overdue wrap-up of Papa and Yaya's visit a couple weekends ago. They headed down for a long weekend, leaving behind just-as-hot temperatures in the KC area so we didn't feel too bad. They arrived on Kelly's 32nd birthday and we all enjoyed pizza, beer and wine at the Little Deli in the neighborhood. It's BYOB and we ended up with Pabst for the beer side. I've been buying 12-packs by the $5.99 incessantly ever since. It needs to stop. It also reminded me of this one scene in the movie "Midnight Madness." What is that movie? Good question. For some reason I watched it repeatedly when I was a kid. If you have the means, I highly recommend trying it out. Michael J. Fox (credited only as "Michael Fox" apparently) was in it, "Flounder" from Animal House was in it, and there was a scene on this scavenger hunt in the movie where they go to the Pabst brewery and this sing-song comes in: "Pabst Blue Ribbon...whoa oohhh, ohhh, ohhhhh!!!!" Can't find it on youtube, but "Midnight Madness" is on the top of my queue with "Long Wait" on Netflix (WTF? Why? Who else but me every watched this movie?). WAIT! I found it. Yes! Anyway, the evening was very enjoyable indeed as we also opened presents back at the ranch with margs too. Bunch of drunks. Grace was happy:


Then the grandparents watched Grace for the day while we worked and then Kelly took the Friday off so they could do all kinds of fun stuff. Like trying out some bananas (and Pabst?) and then a happy hour jaunt to the neighborhood pool, which is always great on Friday after work (no crowd, refreshing end to the week). Storyboard!


Then on the weekend we did a couple little excursions. With young one, you always do "little" excursions (whether to "Little Deli" or no...ha ha ... ha...ha?) First to the big winery/restaurant out in Driftwood that is the Italian food answer to the Salt Lick. And later to "Barking Springs" -- the free little area just outside of Barton Springs where, once again, you can beat the heat in some water.

Grace, how would you describe it?

She took a break at the springs.

Then a BBQ Sunday night before heading out Monday. Of course Grace helped out for the food prep:

Good times indeed. So, yeah, I originally said "First...." when discussing what we'd wrap up here right now, but I think we'll stop it there and not go for a "second" tonight. I'm pretty tired and it's almost 10pm. Hey, babe! Toss me another Pabst before bed! Careful with that...too many Pabsts and you'll start seeing things. Like . . .

Hiatus

Sheesh. We apologize to both of our readers for the long wait for a new post. Nothing in particular was keeping us away from the blogosphere. Well I guess two visitor weekends and sweating out child care was part of it. But we are ready to recap the missing 21 days. 21 days later! No wait, 28 is the movie, right? Whatever. Nobody in the household is a zombie, OK? But Kelly did have a birthday . . . on the 21st -- whoa! the numbers are telling us something . . . so we're both now closer to looking like zombies. Kidding. She's as beautiful as the day we met. Speaking of which, here's a photo a friend recently passed along from our youthful college days. I swear that tie is supposed to be a joke. It has to be.

But I know the real draw here. Little Grace! Here's a stunner from early one morning.

I know what you're thinking, and yes, you are correct, she pooped all over it later. Anyway, three weekends ago our ole ("ole" -- not old) pal Megan was in town visiting up the fam in hot, hot July. What a saint. We even hiked on an especially humid day.

But Megan's lasting contribution to the family was cluing (is that spelled right? the blogspot spell checker says so . . . just looks weird) us into Shamus the Sheep's ability to make Grace laugh like a crazy fool. As we captured:

Well done Meg! We've been riding that trick for, well, 21 days now.

Two weekends ago we had an informal gathering of young parents to trade secrets, shoot the bull, and take obligatory cute photos. Such as,

and


Our buddy Jack here is clearly a quick learner. He's already learned to stop short with Grace. Watch it pal!

And it being summer and all we have been taking proper precautions with Gracie to keep her safe from the sun. Including sporting fun hats


and her new shades!


Oh yeah! Looks like she's ready for her first tanning bed. Speaking of bed, it's getting time to hit that bed. Last weekend Papa Bob and Yaya Kathy visited but we'll save that for the next post after we collect their photos. But it won't be 21 days from now. Promise. So, like I said, off to bed.

Eight is Great!

Today's our anniversary; and first as parents. 8 great years and counting. Looks like the forecast for today in steamy Austin won't be nearly as hot and muggy as it was in Independence, MO where we partied and sweated the night away at our reception in oppressive humidity. Whew. I need a hanky just thinking about it.

Anyway, here's a salute to our past 8 years together with all the memorable moments! Well, all those that are digitized and easily dropped into iMovie. You could also title it "Watch Kelly and Jason Age!"