Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to me!  Being a mom to these three is a dream!  It may not be easy, and it may be SO busy, but loving these three is the easiest thing I could do!  I wouldn't change a thing about OUR life!

 Annual Mother's Day, kid free swim, at the Miller casa.  Love doing life with these neighbor moms!  Having their support and friendships makes this mom life even more amazing.

Summer Camps

These kids were SO busy the first few weeks of summer with baseball, softball, basketball and football camps.  They had a blast playing the sports they love with some of their teammates and friends.  This is what summer is all about.  And the best part is that I'm home to cart them around to all these camps!  Loving every minute of our first summer home together!

First camp of the summer was Solid Rock basketball . . .

Then Oklahoma Christian baseball and softball camps.  This was Mason's first year for baseball camp and he loved it!

Jackson squeezed in an evening football camp. You technically had to be in 3rd grade to attend the camp, Jackson is going into 2nd so he was definitely on the smaller side :)  This kid has no fear and goes into every situation with so much confidence. 

Portland Maine - Memorial Weekend Get Away

After an incredibily busy spring, Tyler and I were so ready for our annual Memorial weekend adult getaway.  We checked off my top US bucket list destination, Maine.  Maine seriously had it all, amazing food, fun bars, endless outdoor activities, beautiful scenery, super nice people . . . and the list goes on.  It was the PERFECT trip, with such great friends.   Can't wait to go back with the kids!

We flew into Boston and hit up a few of the Boston must sees before heading to Portland.  Boston Common was our first stop.

There were 37,000 American flags in Boston Common honoring every Mass. soldier who has given their life for our freedom.  Such an amazing sight!

 Acorn Street was up next.  This cobblestone road is the most photographed street in the US.

 We stopped in Kennebunkport as we drove up the coast to Portland.  Kennebunkport is such a quaint and cute coastal town, and is best known as the summer home to the Bush family.

 First oysters and local beer of the trip!

 Once we arrived in Portland, we headed to Highroller Lobster to sink our teeth into some amazingly fresh lobster.  Best late night snack I've ever had and great first eats in Portland!

 First full day in Portland was kicked off with a lobster catching tour.  So much fun and gave me an appreciation for highly priced lobster.  It ain't easy catching a keeper lobster.  I will no longer complain about the cost!

Got to have the right gear to be a pro lobster catcher!

 The seagulls loved swarming the boat to catch a bite of leftover bait!  And if you are "lucky" enough to be christened by a seagull you got a free t-shirt.  Monica was a lucky winner!

 Every caught lobster has to be measured to see if it is big and old enough to be a keeper.  It typically takes seven years for a lobster to be the right size.

 Throw this one back, not big enough!

 Filling the bait bag, all hands on deck

 After a morning of lobster catching, we worked up an appetite for Portland's famous Holy Donuts.  These donuts are made out of potato and were surprisingly amazing!

 Next up, we borrowed bikes from our amazing hotel, The Press, and brewery hopped all over the city, while non-stop munching on delicious food at each stop!  The most fun afternoon!  We hit up 5 breweries and a winery.  One of the best things about Portland is everything is so close and easily biked.  We hit up Lone Pine, Rising Tide, Oxbow, Maine Mead Works, Shipyard and Blue Lobster Wine Company.

 The hand wrapped sushi at Lone Pine was to die for.  The most fresh sushi I have ever tasted!

 Rising Tide brewery was top of my list!

 After an afternoon of biking and boozing we were ready for a nice dinner!  Portland was named top foodie city in the US for 2019.

This lobster pasta was to die for at Street and Company!

What better way to end a fun filled day than with dancing into the wee hours on Fore Street!  Such a quiet street by day, turned live music and dancing by night!

late night typewriter session back at the hotel . . .

The next morning we took our bikes on the Casco Bay Ferry to Peaks Island.  We loaded up with cars and hundreds of people.

We took the 4 mile ride around the island to work off our dinner and drinks from the night before!

I would become a bike rider if I had this view daily!

We found this baby seal on our ride.  His momma left him on shore to rest.

The bikes were such a huge hit.  After returning from Peaks Island, we biked 7 miles to Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth.  Portland Head Lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse in the US.   SO beautiful and picture perfect Maine.  This picture is everything I imagined to see in Maine!

After a full day of bike riding it was time to enjoy a cocktail at one of the amazing Portland bars.  These all came highly recommended so we had to go, Novare Res Bier Cafe, Portland Hunt and Alpine Club, Blyth and Borrows and Vena's Fizz House.

Our last morning had an early wake up call.  Our alarms were set for 4:30 am and we were out the door by 5:00 am to make the 3 hour drive to Acadia National Park.  We had our minds set to do it ALL.  It rained our entire drive to Acadia and was still very cloudy/foggy when we arrived.

First stop, Sand beach . . . it was beautiful.  I can only imagine the crowds of people on a hot summer day!

Thunder hole was the next stop.  As the waves crashed into Thunder hole a loud booming Thunder could be heard.

Next up, hiking the Beehive trail.  It was a short hike, but 100% vertical.  We read the warnings, watched a few YouTube videos and then were off with lots of nerves to conquer the hike!  There was lots of climbing, iron rungs, narrow paths, big drop offs.  My legs were shaking and I may have shed a few tears but we did it!

They key was not to look down!

It was extremely foggy while we hiked.  Huge plus was that we couldn't see the ground and possible fall, downfall is we didn't get to enjoy the beautiful views.  Honestly, I'm not sure I would have completed the hike if it wasn't foggy and I could see the huge drop-offs!  This is what the view looks like on a clear day!

DONE!  Finally could smile knowing we were safely back at the bottom!

 Beautiful view of Bar Harbour!

Can't wait to bring the kids back to Maine!  I know they will love it as much as Tyler and I!  Trip of a lifetime!