Vermont/Niagara Falls/Canton, OH!!

From Bar Harbor, Maine to Canton, Ohio..with lots of fun stops

June 19-26

We have been doing lots of traveling since leaving Bar Harbor a week ago.  We spent two nights on the road while traveling through Vermont and New Hampshire on our way to Niagara Falls.  We had such fun stops in Vermont at Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory, Cabot's Cheese Factory and Cold Hollow Apple Cider Shop.  Needless to say...we were filled up for MILES AND MILES!!

We made it to Niagara Falls on Monday after resting a day at the campground on Sunday.  We spent the morning exploring Niagara Falls and the surrounding State Park.  It was breathtakingly AWESOME to see...and experience for the first time.

One of the highlights was taking a boat called the Maid of the Mist, which took you very close to both major falls.  Everyone sported these "cool" rain jackets...as you got very wet from just the spray and mist of the falls.  It was a once in a lifetime close up view of the falls.

On the way home we stopped at a famous ice cream store called DeDees.  Curt remembered going there as a boy and Papa Bob reminded us of the name and location.  The boys all had this "small" ice cream cone!!  I am not sure which they will remember more...Niagara Falls or DeDee's Dairy.

Today we visited some friends at Malone University.  When Curt was coaching football at Trinity International University during graduate school he had the honor or working with these guys.  It was so fun to see Joel, Kyle and Eric at Malone.  They are building a great program that honors Christ in philosophy.  Next time we hope that we have more time to visit and see their families.  Go PIONEERS!!

Malone's football team plays their home games at the Hall of Fame field.  Joel was able to get us some time to play on the field before the boys went to the museum.

One of the coolest things about the Hall of Fame museum was seeing all the Seahawks stuff from the Superbowl WIN!!

 The boys got to play "Madden 25" at the Hall of Fame.

The boys are so lucky to have such a great dad!!  Always up for any kind of game!!

Tomorrow we head 350 miles Northwest to Grand Rapids, MI.  We are excited to see Papa Bob and Grandma Great Wilma and Curt's extended family.  We will be there through the weekend.  

Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor Maine

Acadia National Park...Bar Harbor, Maine

June12-19

Acadia National Park might be my favorite National Park of all.  Whenever we start having the "favorite National Park" discussion everyone tries to convince the others why their favorite should be everyone else's.  I just loved the mountains, ocean, lakes, ponds, cliffs, carriage roads, and overall beauty of Maine.  The park is not huge geographically, so we had a chance to do several hikes, spend an afternoon at the beach and  go on two bike rides. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed at National Parks because there is so much to do and see...but I was so thankful to have the week to explore this treasure!! 

I love going on family bike rides.  They are tons and tons of "carriage roads" in Acadia that are used only for biking, walking, horseback riding and carriage rides. They are beautiful places to ride and you don't have to worry about traffic.  I loved the brick bridges and overpasses.  

The ocean was magnificent spraying up after hitting the cliffs.  

We celebrated Jordan's 12th Birthday and Father's Day this week.  Jordan received many nice cards and gifts from his friends and family back home.  SO SWEET!!  The highlight of the day was having a lobster dinner at our campsite...which overlooked the ocean.  

There was a wonderful sandy beach in Acadia.  It was a great place to spend the afternoon relaxing and playing soccer.  The boys made the goal from some driftwood and rope they found on the beach.  Another highlight from the week was watching several World Cup soccer games in the TV room at the campground.

One of the beautiful lakes we rode around...and found this cute guy!

 One of our all time favorite hikes was in Acadia called, The Beehive Trail.  It involved lots of rock climbing and climbing up metal stairs that were set in the rock.  It was so fun that we did it on two different days.  I am pretty sure that our boys have climbed on every rock in Maine!!

We loved Bar Harbor Family Campground...especially the pool that was across from our campsite with this amazing view of the ocean!!  Today we are staring our Southwest progression to Niagara Falls.  We will take our time getting there with a stop in Vermont at the Ben and Jerry's factory.  It is hard to believe that from now on we will either be headed South or West towards home.  If you ever get a chance to come to MAINE...you will not be disappointed...a fabulous state!!

Camden, Maine...Camden Hills State Park

June 8-12

GO USA!!  World Cup Fever has taken over the Mulder household! They even had to decorate their sandcastle with some team cheer.  The campground had a HUGE grass field where they played tons of soccer each evening.  It is funny how little grass we have actually seen for the past 6 months...so it was a real treat.  

We have spent the past 5 days in a DARLING coastal village in Maine, Camden.  This was the view from Mt. Battie, which was in the campground.  Curt took the boys up to the top at 4AM to see the sunrise.  They got some great pictures and even better memories.  We also spent time in town and loved the cute village shops.  I went into the cutest yarn shop and was inspired to start knitting.  It has been about 20 years since I have knitted.  The cutest old lady worked with me for an hour to get me started.  The boys said that I am just like an "old granny" now because I have a small lap dog and I knit.(HAHA!)  

Today will be the last day that we head any further North...as we are almost in Canada.  We will spend the next week at Acadia National Park.  We are so excited to see their beautiful park.  Happy Summer to all our friends in Spokane!!

North Shore Boston

Salisbury Beach State Park---June 3-8

North Shore, Boston

We are back in the swing of things in the trailer.  We had a couple days adjustment...you just cannot live in Cape Cod forever!!(sadly)  We stayed at a beautiful state park north of Boston.  We had a little rain, but mostly nice beach days!!

We visited one of Curt's childhood homes in Hamilton,MA.  It was fun for him to tell us all about the area and where he used to fish, play hockey and visit his friends.  We even got to visit his friend Mike.  The picture below is of his Bessie Buker Middle school...fun to relive old memories!

We spent one FULL day in the city of Boston.  We spent several hours at the Boston Science Center.  Benjamin and I designed a "flier" that was able to balance on the pedestal, fly down the string and carry an Ewok toy.  We have a future engineer on our hands...I think.  He had the tallest successful flier of the day at 22 cm. and he got to name his contraption and have his score displayed on the TV.  SO PROUD!!

We ventured by foot into the city in the afternoon following the Freedom Trail and visiting several of Boston's historic locations.  This is Faneuil Hall, the site of many of our country's early government meetings.

Inside Faneuil Hall...very beautiful and ornate building.

Quincy Market, is a huge indoor/outdoor market place.  We were entertained by several street performers..including this knife juggler.

We loved the gardens in the Boston Commons.  It is well known for these Swan Boat rides.   

Uncle Mark was in town for a conference, so we met up with him in the late afternoon for a walk to the Commons and some dinner.  It was great to see him...we just wish he had brought Aunt Amy, Jana and Luke in his suitcase with him.

We are heading further north today to Maine!!  We will post pictures once we fill in out state map!!
Happy last week of school to all my teacher friends!!

A week on "The Cape!"

 Cape Cod, Massachusetts...Hyannis

May 25-June 3

We spent the most LOVELY, RELAXING and WONDERFUL week at my dear friend Bridget's house on Cape Cod.  We moved out of the trailer and into their beautiful summer home.  It could not have been more perfect timing to spend a week in the comfort of a peaceful home with amazing views of the water.  Bridget and I were page roommates for a semester during our junior year of high school.  We had not seen each other for about 15 years and so much has changed in our lives.  Mainly we have both married and have added 7 children to the mix.  She has 4 beautiful girls, including a new little one, just 2 months old.  The girls were so sweet to play with the boys and welcome them to their home.  Sadly, we forgot to take a picture of the whole crew...but maybe when they come to visit us in the Northwest.(hint...hint!)

The first two days here...all we did was relax at their house and look at this beautiful view of the water and watch the ships sail past.  We also enjoyed the modern conveniences of a dishwasher, different floors to the house, and a washing machine!  Oh, the things I took for granted at home. :)

The boys had a great time fishing/casting from the jetty.  They didn't catch anything except for playing with a horseshoe crab on the beach.  But they felt like real "ocean fishermen."

Here is sweet Bridget...she has been such a blessing in my life the past 24 years!  I only wish we lived closer.  

After spending the weekend with Bridget and her family they had to head back to work and school.  So we went on a day trip to the Cape Cod National Seashore.  It had beautiful beaches and huge waves.  I think the biggest waves we have ever seen...thankfully the boys were not surfing.

This is a stunningly beautiful part of the country and we felt so blessed to have time with good friends!  Thank you Bridget and Mark for graciously welcoming us into your home.  We are headed tomorrow to the North Shore of Boston to Salisbury Beach.  We are excited to see more of the city and one of the cities that Curt lived in as a child.