***
"So Frequently we mistakenly believe that our children need more things, when in reality their silent pleadings are simply for more of our time."
***President Thomas S. Monson (Ensign May 1994)
Just before we moved from Maine, Vance and few of the scouts hiked to the top of Mount Blue. His friends took some great pictures, so I thought I'd share them.
It's a tough hike. I think they were all paying for it the next day. Here's one of the leaders on his way down.
This is Vance at the top.
He was very impressed with the views and how pretty it was up there.
Love this one--such a beautiful scene and a great picture of Vance and his friends.
The boys took a little break before they headed down.
This is Vance's favorite picture. He calls it the "Lone Warrior".
When Chad was home in June we also went to the
Maine Wildlife Park. We've been there before with Debbie and really enjoyed it then, too. The park is full of animals from around Maine that have been injured or were sick. Here's just a few of our favorite animals we saw.
The moose, of course, the big bull moose was off in the back hiding, though.
These little guys are everywhere, but what makes them so fun is their fat little cheeks. They'll gather up the corn, or feed until their little cheeks look like they'll explode! They were so cute! This one hardly cared that any one was around him. He was just too busy!
The bears. We fed them dog food and they ate every last little piece we threw.
I love the turtles. They were super cute in their little pond.
This eagle is beautiful. It makes me sad that he can't fly.
This little porcupine was the cutest! He's albino and he was just laying there on this log, legs dangling down, napping---not a care in the world!
I love this picture of the kids at the fish hatchery. You had to shade your eyes to see inside and they would look, run to the next door, look some more. Chad and I strolled along behind at our own pace. It was fun to watch them.
I don't know how well you can see them, but all those brown spots in the water are fish. It was really cool to feed them. You'd throw the feed and the water would just explode with fish.
McKaylie and Noah--humoring mom!
It was a fun day. We missed Myshel, though. She chose to stay at home.
While Chad was home we went to Freeport, Maine and walked around the outlet stores there. We had the most fun in the L.L. Bean stores (yes, there's more than one--there's a whole village really)
McKaylie and Noah enjoying the fish tank
The Lodge area was nice, too. (Vance was grumpy all day--go figure
) 
A big bear and a little crazy bear
Taking a break in the camping section--it's a big store
Had to get a picture with "the boot"
Yes, more pictures of snow.
It seems to be the only thing going on around here lately. I'm not sure how much snow we got yet, but it was enough that our snow drifts became mountains.
Vance took about 3 feet off the top before we started too.
It was hard work!
This picture is taken from the street looking at our house. Yikes, that's a lot of snow! I'm hoping we're done with big storms for the winter. . . . . I can dream, right!?
30 below with the wind chill factor might be normal out west---but not here! Apparently I've become a wimp over the last few years because I was hating that cold snap we got and it only lasted a few days! I sure was missing those block heaters for my vehicles, too!
Vance gave me a hard time about how I was bundled up, so he took a picture to send to his dad! So I thought I'd share it. (I wouldn't stay outside long enough for him to take it out there---It was COLD!!)
Snow, snow and more snow . . . that seems to be about all we get around here lately! (We're getting more this week--BTW) We're 6 inches over our normal snowfall for this time of year and we've gotten all of it in the last 3 weeks!
The snow gets so deep that the dogs make little paths to get around the yard. So now my backyard looks like a little maze.
Vance was nice enough after the last big storm to shovel their maze so they could keep their paths. That's Vance laying in the snow.
You can just see Vanilla's ears over the snow--hee hee
Pretty soon they'll just be able to walk over the fence and leave the yard!
We got about 15 inches of snow here on Wednesday. I keep telling myself that I need to enjoy this winter, because it will be my last here in Maine, but this much snow all at once makes it harder to do.
Vance was praying for snow because he wanted a snow day. After shoveling all this snow + what the snow plow dumped in our driveway, he decided that school wasn't so bad.
Mckaylie and Noah said they were helping shovel, but I'm not so sure that's what they were really doing.
The kids had to take the dogs out front in the fresh snow.
They could barely move, but they seem to be loving it!
Waiting for the school bus the next day.
(That snow piles impressive, but the fact that Vance knocked a good 1-2 feet off of it, is a little more impressive)
We got about 12 inches of snow Sunday/Monday.
We've had worse storms here, but the wind was
crazy!!!
We have some drifts several feet deep and some areas are barely covered---that's not so typical of snowstorms here.
The kids are
LOVING the snow! They were even out during the blizzard.
Glad I didn't lose any of them! ha ha
It's my favorite time of the year!!!
The kids picked out their pumpkins and now my porch is looking a little more "autumny". I love the cooler weather. I love the leaves starting to change color and I love the kids being back in school!
This is Vance at the top. 
He was very impressed with the views and how pretty it was up there. 
Love this one--such a beautiful scene and a great picture of Vance and his friends.
The boys took a little break before they headed down. 
This is Vance's favorite picture. He calls it the "Lone Warrior".
