BaBanoes

Combining a visit from BaBa AND canoes. I still have to do part 2 of the visit to Mass--showing pictures from my dad and Babs....but I am waiting for Ortiz to email them to me so I can post. BUT, today was my dad's first day off in almost three days, so I am sure he just rested....

Yesterday morning, Amanda and Maira went to Hannaford, and Callum and I took to the Messalonskee Stream for an hour's paddle while the girl's bought me food. Paddling with just Callum has to be one of my favorite things in all the world (no offense Sally.....). To be with him out on the water...with no distractions....with so much to see and hear and take in....it is truly a gift. And he totally "gets" the canoeing mentality--he respects the boat, the water, the surroundings, etc. I wish we could paddle every single day....We saw two Great Blue Heron's taking off in flight. We saw two turtles dive from their sunny lily pads when they saw us. We picked water flowers. We explored an old beaver dam (and Callum asked if he could get out and go in). We went under two neat bridges (one for Rt 95...so it was a HUGE bridge and Callum loved trying out his 'echo voice' in it). Callum brought with him: A Trek Bicycles water bottle, his new airplane, and his paddle.
Later that afternoon, Callum and Amanda went to swim over at Avis's house while Maira slept and I primed the molding on the garage before we put weather stripping on. Then BaBa came over for a dinner and a visit. We BBQd up some burgers, potatoes, and summer squash. The kids loved seeing BaBa, and he loved seeing them. Looking at these pictures, I feel like BaBa looks younger when he is around Callum and Maira. He just seems to smile differently. Ya know? (I think he likes them....)

Here is Maira, as happy as ever (because it isnt time to go to bed yet). She has really been working on her DADADADADA and GA GA GA GA sounds. A funny voice!!
Everyone has an interesting individual expression. Callum looks like he is the only one who knows what is 'going on,' Maira looks like she just spit up, and BaBa looks like someone threw a snowball at his face....
While Maira was going to sleep, Callum and BaBa read several books together. Although I took this picture, I have no idea what they were doing here. I think they were singing something. And although it would take too long to explain in this blog--if you are interested in a funny story--ask me to elaborate on the "donkey" discussion between BaBa and Callum. It is a hoot.....

July grandparent visit in Mass

I made a mistake when I uploaded the pics...so they appear out of order, and this one with Maira and Upbob showed up first. Most kids (and animals) seem to really like Upbob. A strange mystery of nature...haha.
This will be part I: The visit with Nannie and Upbob. I will do the visit with Poppy and Grammy Goldsmith tomorrow. A good time had by all. We were going down to visit, and also to attend a meet and greet for my cousin Kelly's new baby, Adriella. None of the folks on the Bolger side of the family had met Maira yet, so we thought it would be a great opportunity for people to see that she really does exist.

Nannie and Callum made some chocolate chip pancakes together. Mostly, Callum carried around a bag of animal crackers that he stole from Nannie. They are in his closet now at home.

Nannie and Upbob both got good time with Maira. Maira was a good sport with the long ride--she doesnt travel far as well as her brother did (and does) but it was VERY hot and she did great. She worked on her crawling, and took a good nap on Sunday (which began on the shoulder of Nannie). Callum loves sleeping at my mom's because he gets to sleep with Amanda and I in the sofa foldout bed. He thinks it is a special occasion.
At Aunt Carol's, we were really excited for Maira to meet Nana B--Bob's mother. We love Nana B and dont get to see her that often, so it was a real treat for Maira to get to be held by her! When I see pictures of Maira from "afar," I realize just how big Maira is! Wow!!
Annnnddd....I did the same picture twice. Okay.
Callum was his typical "shy" self at Aunt Carol's, but he did enjoy playing some baseball with my cousin Kevin (Kelly's sister). I cant believe it: I remember when Kevin was born and I used to hold him (and drop him occasionally.....). Now he is playing with MY kids. I am getting old. But Kevin has always been great with little kids, and Callum was no exception. He had fun!!
Our visits to Mass are always too fast. But I guess that is life travelling with little kids, right? We were sorry to miss seeing the Favry family so Callum could play with Jackson. And we couldnt end up meeting the Hopper-Ponticellis for breakfast either, which kind of stunk. We wanted to get AJ, JJ, CS, and ME together for bacon. Oh well. There is always next time!

What to do on the hottest day of the year?

Well, if you are Maira, then you take a nap in your air conditioned room from 830 until almost noon.

And if you are Callum??? Well....

You put your mom's breast pump bottle cooler on your head, mittens on your hands, and dance around to the "Spud" song from Bob the Builder.....

You go out at 9:24 in the morning because you want to have a campfire and roast marsmallows.... (when I built the fire and he ate his one and only marshmallow--raw and untoasted--he said, with a sweaty brow, 'daddy, this fire makes it even hotter out.....'
....you check on the baby birds, who seriously grow faster than ANY living thing I've ever seen (I know I am repeating myself....). Also, by the way, when Amanda and I went out back at about 730 tonight, the birds were gone. The mom and the two babies. Gone. I just went out again (at about quarter past 10) and they were still gone....
....and, because it isnt hot enough out yet, you do 'instruction (Callumish for CONSTRUCTION) in the big dirt pile where firewood used to be and where your dad is trying to re-grow some grass....but hey....details, right? Ever since Callum has been hardcore into Bob the Builder, his imagination is really soaring, and he does a lot of "work" with his diggers and shovels and stuff. He narrates all of it, constantly quoting from the show while he works. It is hilarious.
Note the ultra-cool and breathable rubber boots in the picture above....he HAD to wear them...
Did I mention all of these things were done before ten this morning? What a day in the life of Callum Stuart....

Little doves....

First, our very own little dove, Ms Maira.

Look at that fat little neck. She is so ticklish there; that is where I go every time! Her laugh is so rare, yet so precious.....

Callum would always laugh at everything...Maira is so different. A very very happy little girl, but not as demonstrative. Like a typical woman, you have to work extra hard to get a reaction out of her....We've been checking in on our mumma bird and her two eggs, and last week Amanda hurried me outside because it appeared one of the eggs had fallen out of the nest. I went out to check, and indeed a piece of egg had fallen out...because the eggs had hatched and the mom removed the egg to make room for the babies! Here she is on the day the eggs hatched. You can make out a little fuzz of one of them right below the bottom of her breast....
It is really neat for Callum to see all this bird stuff happening. Each afternoon we go out to check on them to make sure they are okay...he is learning a lot about birds, eggs, nests, how NOT to touch any of it, etc. He's a compassionate little guy and wants to make sure the babies and mumma are okay. You can click on these pics to blow up the size....do that and you can see the two little fuzzy guys....

This bottom one I took two days ago. It is AMAZING how fast these birds grow! I have never seen any living thing grow like these two doves! Seriously.
Interestingly enough, we didnt name the two birds--mostly because, given the chance, Callum will name EVERYTHING 'Thomas.' But we feel like we are part of their whole experience thus far. And they really have gotten huge. This afternoon we went out to check on them, and we are starting to notice the mom taking off (no pun intended) more often...whether she is getting food, etc. But the babies are getting a little more courageous (coming out of the small nest, sitting on the firewood, etc) and fearful (they didnt mind me before, but now they ruffle their plumage at me and come at me like they are gonna peck me or something if I go near them). There is a layer of bird crap about a half inch deep all over my rock maple and birch. But that is okay I guess.

I wonder how long they will stick around....and I wonder where they will go....?? Do they keep in touch with their mom??? Each other? Will they just abandon the nest one day? Is that where "empty nest" expressions come from? It will be sad when they go...although I DO need to stack the rest of our firewood!

Volvsmythe

Our Volvo 740 broke down on the way to Rangeley last week, so on this past Saturday morning, Uncle Jon came by to fix it; originally he thought it was the fuel pump that went, but it ended up being the fuel pressure regulator (but I dont even know her....). So Callum, Jon, and I took a ride to the infamous "Peter's" in Augusta to get a part from one of the 1600 Volvos Peter has in his Volvo Graveyard. We stopped at Hillman's on the way, naturally.

Jon drove over his 1968 Volvo P1800 on Saturday. A cool car; Volvo's answer to the 'sports car,' as I understand it. It is not made anymore. There arent that many of them around actually....before Jon's I had never seen one. Callum loved Uncle Jon's "race car," and wanted to sit in it. THen, he wanted to help Uncle Jon work on the 740....


Helping Uncle Jon check the fuel pump. Nice muscle shirt Callum! Also, someone needs a haircut....
Oh, and let's not forget little Maira Elizabeth, who is developing such a hammish personality of her own each day! She LOVES to eat her cereal and veggies!
Blow up this picture to see her two little teeth, even!!

Rangeley State Park

A great trip! It started off a little bumpy though, as we were SUPPOSED to leave on Monday to meet the Parks-Stamms up there....but, about 20 minutes from our house, we broke down. The fuel pump in the 740 died. The bright spot was how Callum got to ride in the big wrecker that came to bring our car back home. He loved that. But, late that night, we packed the OTHER car, and promptly left the next morning so we could have as much time with our friends as we could. We ended up staying Tues and Wed night.....

These pictures are in no particular chronological order....I just thought I would try to give some hilights. One of the constants of this camping trip were BOOKS. For as much as Callum loved being outside, doing all the campy, wilderness things, he LOVED sitting in the tent (or lying in his sleeping bag in the tent) reading by himself OR with Polly. He also loved sitting in the camp chair reading and having us read to him. I was reading PETE THE CAT to the kids while Ben, Betsey, and Brownlow looked on....

The state park had a gorgeous beach, with a sprawling green hill that led down to the crystal clear lake. The bottom could have been sandier....but hey, it is Maine. Maira loves the water...this was her second time swimming. We also made sure to have some fun walking around the beach, getting warm in the sun (it was WINDY by the water....)
On our last morning, we ate at (what used to be) our favorite Rangeley eating spot: Mooseley Bagels. How the mighty have fallen. What a craphole. But, at any rate, we walked out back onto the dock, where Callum marvelled at the boats AND a bull frog we saw on the shore....
THe kids had a lot of trouble sleeping while at camp. I think it was because we were outside, there was stuff going on, and it was BRIGHT out until almost 9 at night. Once the kids were asleep, they slept great....but Callum and Maira both didnt fall asleep...finally....til about 9. THAT was rough. Camping is a lot of work. ESPECIALLY when mom and dad dont get a lot of down time. Callum has always been a great long car ride kid....Maira likes to be out of her car seat, I think. She did well, being bound up in her seat a lot over a few days....but by the time we were heading home, she wad DONE being in her car seat. So we stopped a bunch to give her breaks. Here we are at Smalls Falls, which is a gorgeous waterfall at the intersection of the Sandy River (one of my favorite canoe trails) and another stream whose name eludes me....but Smalls Falls is famous in Maine for its beautiful pools, ledges, and crazy people (like good friend Dave and his sons) who jump off 30 foot ledges into the deep cold pools of water....
Even Maira got her feet wet in the cool Sandy River.....
Our campsite (number 8) while we were setting up. Our tent--The King Pine Ridge Dome from LL Crap--is a great tent that kept us dry during the rain on Tuesday night. A very roomy space, with room for our blowup queen mattress (for Callum, Me, and Amanda) and the pack and play for Maira Beth. I have been to MANY campgrounds in my life, and I have to say that, site for site (and restrooms and facilities) this is one of the most beautifully maintained I have seen. Oh, and there was a bear outside our tent on Wed. night. Sniffing us out.
Callum and Polly, enjoying a pre-dinner happy hour by relaxing in the tent, getting their reading on....
And a post-dinner activity of roasting marshmallows for S'Mores. I can honestly say I have never had a full S'More. I dont have the skill. And Callum doesnt have the patience....he just wanted to eat the marshmallows raw (are they raw, then?) We all enjoyed some of Ben's homemade graham crackers though!!
Reading one of Callum's favorite books (and I think now Polly's as well) PETE THE CAT. A very funny, repetitive, beautifully illustrated book....also loved by Johnny Crockett. This book is interesting because Callum has the whole thing virtually memorized. (Like my canoe shirt??)
Oh. My. Gosh. I know she is my daughter. And I am partial. But how can you not love this little baby? She is awesome. And chunky. It was funny: -8% body fat Callum lasted in the water for 4 minutes before his lips started shivering....Maira, with her...um.....mass.....was as warm and comfy as could be....
I will try to post more. We had beautiful weather and a great time with great friends. I made my famous homemade popcorn on the Coleman Stove. We swam a bunch. We hiked a portion of an ITS trail in Oquassac that we hiked last year with Lynne, George, and BaBa...it leads to a neat wooden bridge over the Rangeley River...it brought back great memories of last year's trip. We walked around the campground a lot (Callum LOVES campers and popups and stuff). We hung out at the playground on the swings. We listened to Loons. I read Garrison Keillor (and Amanda, PD James) by her roaring Coleman lantern at night. We had a crappy fire with the wet birch the campground sold us. Ben and I discussed our mutual love for Suzanne Nance of Maine Public Radio. We are a camping family. Definitely. But I might want to wait til the kids can stay up a little later before going on. Or not......

Captain Callum

Maira Beth

First, another picture from last Sunday's half marathon. RIGHT after I finished, Callum was SO pumped to run with me....he was all excited by all the runners crossing the finish line. So, although I was marinating in gatorade and Cliff Shot blocks, we "ran" over to the snack table to have some grapes and water and cookies. Look at this kid's stride; I think that speaks volume about his passion and excitement!!


Our little baby girl had her first BIG milestone today: A tooth!!!! Yeay Maira. It sure has been a long time coming....she has been very unhyappy for some time now! In addition to a new bottom tooth, Maira is also getting VERY skilled at sitting up alone. And, just recently, she has started making all kinds of consonant laden sounds (da da da, ya ya ya, ba ba ba, etc). This is the first step towards making words, even. Look at that smile!
A sure fire way to get a smile or laugh is to kiss her RIGHT in that rolly (and often wet with drool) fat under her chin and on her neck. That is our thing.....ALSO, I posted this picture because (as I am sure Poppy and Nannie will agree) this looks JUST like baby pictures of mine....am I right guys?
She is VERY ready to crawl. But look at her left hand. Why does she always do this? She folds it under, and when you try to "correct" it, she just falls on her chest. A Physical Therapist Amanda knows from a baby group checked out Maira. I guess Maira is double jointed there or something. Cool. I hope it doesnt keep her from crawling and getting into the Air Force Academy (Callum is already going to the Naval one)
Drunk?