"Maine"ly Amazing

OK, so if you read my last post you know that I had no internet for our 5 days in Maine, so now I am faced with the task of trying to edit over 700 pictures into a post of reasonable size. 

What makes this task unimaginably difficult is that every where that we went in Maine was so unbelievably beautiful that it is hard to delete even one photo.   I truly don't think there are enough superlatives to describe this state adequately, so I hope that my pictures will speak for themselves.

Perkins Cove in Ogunquit

Hannah's Titanic move!

We stopped along Maine's rocky coast in Cape Elizabeth at our first lobster pound.  While we waited for our food, the kids had a chance to stretch their legs.

her first taste of Maine lobster

Ok ... how exactly am I supposed to do this ...

Uh ... gross

ewwww ... it splattered ON me!!!

yes ... it was all worth it:!!!

As we traveled north up the coast, we had to stop at LL Bean along the way!

Once we arrived at Acadia, much to everyone's delight, I made the kids get out of the car around every bend because each view was more spectacular than the last.

We hiked a short way along the Ocean Path until Charlie's tumble sent us back to the car for some SpongeBob bandaids!

All the kids yelled at me for taking this picture instead of rushing to inspect the boo-boo

Our next stop was at Otter Rocks -- a scenic spot along the water with paths to walk along, but my kids (along with many other people) decided to climb all over the dangerous rock formations.  I was torn between worrying about them falling to their deaths and/or taking pictures -- thank God for zoom lenses!

Not only did they climb all over the steep rocks, but they did it while running!  When I told Charlie to slow down, he said, "I'm a billy goat"!  I told him, "You are a little boy -- slow down"!  Luckily, there were no accidents and we continued on to the Jordan Pond House where we picked some wild blueberries and enjoyed their famous popovers!

Then, because my heart hadn't been in my throat enough, we drove up Cadillac Mountain where there were more rocks to climb on -- and these rocks were 1500 feet in the sky!

see if  you can get a little closer to the edge ...

Look Mom, we are on the PATH!!!!

The next day we went on Diver-Ed's "Dive in" theater boat tour.  Without a doubt, this was the highlight of Maine for the kids.

Once we were all aboard, the boat went out into Frenchman's Bay where it anchored.  Diver Ed suited up into his scuba gear, complete with an underwater camera & microphone, and then all the kids got to push him into the water.

While he was underwater collecting creatures to bring back with him, we could watch everything on the TV screen at the front of the boat while his wife, Captain Evil, narrated. 

The kids all greeted Diver Ed when he returned,

and laughed as he blew up his suit.

Then Diver Ed goofed around with the kids while teaching them about all the sea life that he brought up with him.  He was silly, which the kids loved, but he really taught them a lot, which the parents loved!

a sea cucumber "peeing" on Ethan!

Of course, the best part was when they got to touch and hold everything that Diver Ed had just caught before it was all thrown back into the water.

Diver Ed dared him to kiss the slimy sea cucumber!  Really, he would have done it withou the dare!

Uh ... not so sure about this!

Really ... what is wrong with my children??

It was hard to top Diver Ed, but we continued our tour around Mt. Desert Island to the Bass Head lighthouse, and then to the most scenic picnic spot ever for lunch.

Yes, more rocks to climb on, but these were at sea level!

Hannah doing her own Diver Ed mission!

We began our last day in Maine with a stop at another lobster pound for lunch,

followed by some yummy ice cream,

and then a trip to the icy cold Atlantic ocean waters of Sand Beach in Acadia,

where there were MORE rocks to climb on!

Ethan was the only one crazy enough to get in the 55 degree water.

On our way back to the cabin, we stopped to walk across the "bar" in Bar Harbor.  The small bar which connects the town of Bar Harbor to Bar Island is only accessible for 90 minutes before and after the low tide, otherwise it is completely covered with water.  Walking along the sandy floor provided lots of opportunities for finding cool treasures that otherwise would be underwater.

I do think that this family will return to Maine again as soon as possible!