We are home!  And the trip on Sunday was excellent, by the way.  We weren’t too sure at first how things would turn out; between the forecast and the fact that when we stepped out of the van in Lubbock to a TREMENDOUS wind…so strong that it actually scared the boys…we figured we might be stuck in West Texas all day.  However, the wind died down, and minus bumpy plane rides, all went well.

I was incredibly impressed with the kids, to and from NM.  I expected wily, crazy boys in the air, but they were delighted with the whole flying thing, and never once gave us trouble.  In due part to a Travel Aqua Doodle, an Etch-a-Sketch, and a portable DVD player, but so much of the time they were content to stare out the window to see the world below.  And a good portion of the time they charmed the socks off the other passengers.  Completely different from what I envisioned!

The only hitch?  (There always has to be a hitch).  Mom and dad had a missing bag in Lubbock, AND in New Hampshire.  We haven’t yet received the latest bag but have high hopes to get it today.  The Murrays and the Schumperts never fail to have missing luggage once arrived at our final destination, but so far it has always been returned.  Hopefully that return trend will continue.

On driving into Maine from New Hampshire, Erick actually admitted that after spending a week in NM, he was ready to spend time at the ocean.  (YAY!)  Not that he doesn’t usually enjoy the ocean, but growing up around something you tend to lose appreciation for it.  Meanwhile, I could spend the remainder of my life on the coast and be happy as a clam.  I’m holding him to it!  As soon as we have a free weekend, I’m ready for a day trip!  Now it’s just deciding between Belfast, Camden, Portland, Bath, etc and etc.  Too many choices.

Part of the reason for the need to see Big Water?  Saturday evening in Clovis we experienced a nasty sandstorm. Dirt was sky high, blocking out half the blue.  Birdies were clinging to the telephone wires-I actually watched one slide right down the wire, and no help for it.  They would duck into our backyard for cover.  I’m so glad that for the most part, dirt in Maine stays moist and rooted to the ground under trees and grass.

Even though we are thrilled to be home, it was hard to leave. It’s difficult to live so far from family.  The week was filled with wonderful little moments, and I’m going to list them just to have them firm in my memory:

• Hours of play in the backyard for the boys.  Throwing rocks, digging in the very dirt that I grew up digging in.  So strange to see your own children playing in the same spot that you did!
• Seeing Aunt Susan and Uncle David.  It’s been wayyyy to long and they are so wonderful. Same goes for Uncle Glenn, who is probably one of the most unselfish and generous people I have ever met.
• Having time to sit and chat with both of my grandma’s. The telephone is great, but not as good as face to face!
• Watching the boys interact with their Great-grandpa. They were instantly at ease with all of the family that they either hadn’t seen in 2 years or (in Jack’s case, never met!)
• First time flying a kite for Ry and Jack.  THANK YOU Aunt Susan for such a a wonderful idea!
• First visit to the zoo!  We have a small zoo in Clovis, but I was incredibly surprised that it had expanded and was in great shape.  They even had a giraffe!  Our absolute favorites, though, were the funny spider monkeys and the twin-baby lemurs that never stopped wrestling and rollicking and having a generally wonderful time playing.  My grandpa deemed them Ryan and Jack.
• Having Ryan exclaim “It’s Taco Box time!” whenever we pulled in for a bite.  Good ol’ Taco Box is always our first stop when we come into town.  Cool that my son now loves it, too.
• Spending more time with Joy than I have in, literally, 10 years.  Sitting at the Java Hut until 10pm, having wonderful conversation over hot chocolate and cookies.  Meeting her amazing husband Jason, and drooling over her precious 3 week old, Jackson.  The boys were also fascinated with the baby.  Especially Jack!

Well, I could go on and on.  Here are just a few pictures of the good ol’ southwest…then Happy Tuesday to You!  I have a plethora of laundry to do!

Picnic at Hillcrest

Traditional meal at Pizza Hut in Portales

We bought both boys Cowboy hats.  Now we just need good pictures.

Don’t let me fly away, Uncle David!

I’m doing it by myself!

Fun at the playground

Ah, what a blessed weekend.  Erick and I took off after church and made it to Rockland around 1:30.  While he gallavanted off to his conference, I snuggled under the down comfortor and watched HGTV for hours.  What a treat!  We have two fuzzy channels at home; PBS and CBS.  I was in home-decorator heaven.

Later in the evening we went on the great restaurant hunt, and completely lucked out when we walked into the Park Street Grille.  Although it has everything you could want, it had a bit of a southwest flavor which I obviously enjoyed because of my NM roots.  We wolfed down the chips and salsa and I chose the chimichanga over haddock (gasp!) Although I rarely turn down a fish dinner on the coast, the chimi was calling my name.  And it did NOT disappoint, which was actually surprising, because it’s hard to find authentic southwest in the northeast.

We enjoyed our evening back at the Resort (it’s so fun to say resort instead of Motel 6), and then slept like babies.  Babies that sleep through the night, that is.  At 6 am on the dot a big thump from the next room woke me up, and when I saw a little sliver of light from the window I hopped out of bed and peeked through the shades to see a big orange sun sitting on the water.  Beautiful!  Pink sky, blue water, orange sun.  Sunrise on the coast!  Can it get any better?

I took my time getting ready (had to get in some more Candace Olsen and Design on a Dime) and left around 8:30.  I pulled into the Willow Bake Shoppe on the way to Camden and ordered a Hazelnut coffee (Rock City brand of course) and a Chocolate Raspberry croissant, then continued on to Camden.  (I could so do this every morning!)  Parked on the bay by the library and lingered over my breakfast, then hit the shops. Bought a few art supplies, dreamed quite a bit, picked up my favorite mud pie chocolates from Maine Gathering.  I bought 4 of them, quite intending to make them last throughout the week.  That plan fell apart a few hours later when they started to melt in the car! (We are not quite used to sitting in warm cars here yet).  I unfortunately had to gobble them down.  Didn’t hurt my heart too badly. Oh, wandered through Josephines-I’m in love with the store although I can’t afford a thing!  Anyway, finished my Camden excursion with a slice of quiche and pomegranate juice from the Camden Deli, then shot off to downtown Rockland and lingered for a couple of hours there. Hit the Lucky Dog Gallery (awesome) and the Black Parrot and The Store (also wonderful) then wrapped up with Bookland which is a super independent bookstore.

Pulled into the Samoset and read a book for about 30 minutes until Erick finished and we drove home to see our babies who, while we absolutely relished our freedom, could not wait to wrap our arms around again.

Came home to hugs and kisses, the news that my best friend had her baby (Welcome, Jackson!), and oh…barring any disaster the inspector might find, we are well on our way to a new house. Had to counter back and forth a bit, but we are very pleased with the last number.  How’s that as an end to the perfect weekend ?

Ok. I have to admit I’m a little green-eyed, seeing as though my friends due South are experiencing the full glory of spring, while our forecast is calling for…more snow tonight. In order to remind myself why I live so far north, I spent the better part of the boys’ naptime browsing our summer pictures. Sanity is restored! THIS is why I live here, and never, ever want to leave.