2014 – Belfast, ME

• Mark and Loraine still in Maryland?  Good.  Let’s go to Maine

• All the adults get bedrooms and the kids sleep in bunks in the hallway.   Bathroom time is at a premium

• The amenities are amazing – swimming pool, pool table, ping pong table, swing set, badminton net, tire swing, sand box, lawn games, loaded doll house, slide form the kids deck to the ground, and video games

• Sarah & Will’s arrival is a joyous (and noisy) one as Sarah shows off her engagement ring! The venue and date for the wedding were set within the hour

• Ghost in the Graveyard with Austin is the highlight for the under 20 set

• Trips to Bar Harbor and the nearby town to eat various forms of lobster with awesome views

• Kayaking to an island, Sarah and Will braved the chilly waters to swim there

• Wes takes an unsuspecting, fully clothed Mark swimming in the pool

• Dad falls in the bathroom which results in some extensive bruising, limited shoulder mobility and a trip to the local ER just to be sure that’s all

2007 – Bethel, ME

• The soft voice (not!) that Karen used that first morning to get Laura to raise her arms for “So-o-o-o big!”   The upstairs rooms are not soundproof

• Frank+Anna and Mark+Loraine share the upstairs bathroom.   -  forcing Loraine to throw up a little more quietly than usual.

• Mother and Karen show off when Laura is happy when they hold her.

• Swatting flies while sitting by the pool

• Mom and Dad playing their grandkids in foosball

• Navigating the treacherous Androscoggin River in kayaks and canoes

• Having lovely, warm weather for golfing, horseback riding and swimming in or traipsing through the arctic river water nearby

• Entertaining guests from Ireland and Woburn (AJ)

• Enjoying the hot tub and gas fire pit on the deck

• Never finding the church despite asking several times for directions

• Exploring Bethel – with all the entertainment and charm of Arkport