Last time I wrote about all the fun and festivities of the actual FOURTH of July...but the FIFTH of July was just as wonderful and special--we spent it out at Tom and Katie's camp on Big Indian Lake in St Albans. One of my favorite parts of the whole experience (and there are SO many things to love about going out to their camp) is the ride there! To get to St Albans, you head up 95 north for about 20 minutes or so before getting off in Pittsfield, which is a really cute old "Maine" town...from there, you just continue to pass through charming towns and villages and then beautiful country (and there are TONS of snowmobile and ATV trails up there). Callum told me that his 'favorite store' is Big Indian Market, this quaint little mom and pop convenience store that sells sandwiches, pizza, drinks, and everything else in between. He loves getting novelty ice cream bars, etc there...

Callum and Maira had a great time (as they always do) playing with Jake and Meg's old toys: Hello Kitty stuff, Playmobil pirate ship, etc. This time, they spent a while with Meg playing Dora the Explorer CandyLand AND this other game called MAKE IT OR BREAK IT, where you are given blocks (and patterns) and you are timed as you try to put the blocks in the correct architectural patterns. Callum always loves that game. Meg is such a great sport and such a wonderful friend who is just adored by Callum and Maira. 

Tom and I hanging out on the dock at the lake. You dont have to tell us how amazing we look in our straw hats, cuz we already know....hehe...

Maira and Meg going for their first kayak paddle of the day. Teddy, the family's Maltese, usually loves to join in on a kayak ride...in fact, in a few other pictures, he is right there up front. Take special note of Maira's 'snack cup.' She always has to have a snack (crackers, goldfish, raisins, etc). Callum was always like this as a kid too...

My grandfather was a legendary fisherman. My dad is. The gene skipped over me (I love it...I just suck at it). And now it is back, alive and strong, with Callum. Jake spent a great deal of time with Callum, showing him how to rig his line, etc etc. Callum was all ears, hanging on every word his good buddy Jake taught him. Jake, like Meg, is such a great role model for our kids. Callum was using a rubber worm lure, and stood and cast for close to an hour. He didnt catch a thing, but, most importantly, he did not give up. He changed his position on the dock, he checked his lure, he always was careful about where he cast, and he just did an all around great job. He also taught Maira how to cast, and I got a cute video of that.

Dinner was fantastic (I always have to mention food, right?) and consisted of some of the most amazing chuck steak I have ever eaten (Tom and his friend split half a cow or something like that...and this was prime steer meat from a local cow or something). We made a salad from the lettuce, oregano, and lemon balm from our garden. Amanda baked a scrumptious blueberry pie. And Meg, a fine baker in her own right, made a delicious red white and blue fourth of July cake! A great day!