Portland...Maine. Seems like a good fit.

I am writing today from the kitchen of our second airbnb here in Portland, ME.  This location is about a mile and a half outside the city, and I think it is in an area we all agree would be perfect.  Woods with trails, lots of homes with character, and a bike-path right into town.  Most importantly...when Scott finishes his day at the office, it is just a 10 minute drive home or a short bike ride.  The kids and I are slowly exploring the streets to see what we may have missed the last time we were here.  Turns out we missed a glorious donut shop and a very time consuming toy store! The rocky beaches absorbed another few hours with all the treasure you can find under each rock.  Sea glass and crabs to name a few. I had to convince Fiona to leave behind her 50lb. rock collection at the beach, due to the fact that we will be moving here and she can return in a few months with her own bag and fill it to her hearts content...and lug it home with her own muscles.  We have had some other recent adventures closer to home.  A fabulous visit with Uncle Bill and Aunt Melcie at their rental in Marblehead and a day trip into Boston to hang out with Gideon and Pam at the Charles River Park and playgrounds.  Then on our way back to the subway we ducked into the Boston Public Library for an amazing map exhibit!  Next on the horizon for us is a two night stay in Kittery, ME with Hallie and her growing family and Lillie and her growing family!  I think that my four oldest friends will all be together under the same roof with all our children for the first time ever!!!  I am dying to get my hands on Olive and Viola (both 2).  Fiona and Ethan can't wait to play the role of babysitters.  To think...we have know each other since grade-school...some of us since kindergarten!!

Badminton on the lawn.

Leading the children into the woods.

Off they go on their adventures while Scott and I walk laps.

The kids are in those woods somewhere!

My bench view in Boston while the kids were tree climbing.

Gideon, Fiona and Ethan.

In the library at an amazing, interactive map display.

The view out the back window on any given afternoon.

This little family came out to stretch their legs the other morning.

A visit from Gammy and Gampy where we are staying in Portland!

Neat little ropes course off the bike path.

Ummm... yum.

Blueberry donut!  Blueberry.  Donut.

Me.  After blueberry donut.

Some amazing graffiti in Portland.

My two curious creatures.  May they always be so.

Oh Yes...The Vineyard was Lovely!

So, while we were all freezing our butts off watching the Boston Marathon this year, my sister received a call.  She had just won two free nights in a condo on Martha's Vineyard!  Fast forward from a COLD, rainy day in April to this past weekend.  Mom came to Newton to pick me and the kids up and then it was off to Falmouth (a town Scott and I lived in just before we were married) to meet Meagan and Ellie and head a little further south to catch the ferry.  There was no traffic AT ALL!  We sauntered onto the ferry and enjoyed the foggy ride to the island.  What a fabulous weekend we had.  We explored a beautiful farm market, visited an alpaca farm, ran along the "red cliffs" of Aquinah beach, drove a golf cart down a long sand and beach rose lined road to a private beach, walked the streets and shops of Edgartown and other small towns... Man!  We managed to fit so much into the time we had, and NONE of it was rushed.  In the evenings we had time to play "Bananagram" and "Exploding Kittens". The kids had their own room and were given the freedom to stay up as long as necessary to get all chatter and giggling out of their systems.  Meagan and I shared a room with two twin beds, and Gammy had her own room with a queen bed.  SO comfortable.
Martha's Vineyard has so many picturesque places.  I can see why it has inspired artists over the years.

This is the scene on the porch on any given day.  "Uncle Ethan" working with James (6) and Henry (3).

On our picnic in Newton last week.  It was too darn perfect a day to stay inside!

Kids played UNO on the ferry ride over.

Fiona had to wear the "Cone of Shame" because she forgot to pay attention to who's turn it was during a round of "Exploding Kittens"!

One of my favorite parts about the condo...it came with a golf cart!  Kids liked it when I played "Jump the Bump".

Lots of great places to eat delicious healthy sandwiches!

Our new friends the alpacas!!!!!!

Hilarious looking little guys.  Right?

I took a shining to this little one.

These kids!  God I love them!

Mom and I with our benefactor.

These were the "Red Cliffs".  Lots of red clay just oozing out of the earth.

They needed no encouragement in this sculpture garden.

But they got it from my sister.

Shell hunters.

Rock climbers.

Wave racers.

Couldn't miss an opportunity to ride the oldest carousel in the US.