Sail Away

 The rain was coming down strong and steady, so to the internet I went in search of an inside haven.

I found it at the Hull Lifesaving Museum. We drove until the road met the sea and pulled into the tiny parking lot. A renovated house, there wasn't much to look at until we reached the Children's Loft tucked way up in the attic. With the rain gently tapping on the roof and the lights casting a warm glow, it was perfect.

The kids sailed, fought off pirates, and pulled up lobster traps. Then we all climbed the ladder to the Widows Peak and spotted the lighthouses guiding the boats home.

Im not sure we will ever drive to the end of the earth for this museum again, but for that day it was worth it :)

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Rodeo....

As we were leaving the little local rodeo, we spotted this fake Bull across the parking lot. The kids were unsure about how it worked, so Mike volunteered to show em the ropes! We literally laughed until we cried.

 Mike :: "Ok kids, let Daddy show you how to ride a bull!'

 Ella :: "Ha! Ha! Daddy's stuck!"

 ...5 minutes later...

 Drew :: "Hey Dad, I think you are backwards."

 Me :: "Go easy on him kids!"

Mike :: "Yee Haw!!"

Welcome Summer 2012

Fresh from our first full day at the beach, we pulled into one of our favorite ice cream joints to cool off. I watched this man emerge from the ice cream store and hand his wife her frappe through the car window.  I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I jumped out with my camera and asked to take his picture.

"Why do you want to take my picture?"

"Because you look like the picture of Summer and you just made my day"

A few minutes later my brood and I were gathered on the front porch chattering about our day splashing in the waves and finding jelly fish. My new friend in the seersucker jacket returned with a fresh loaf of bread from the neighboring bakery.

"A gift for you" he said.

"Why are you giving me a gift?!"

"Because you and your children just made my day."

...and thus our Summer began.