Nielson Beach Trip 2012: Ogunquit Maine

For the last week of June the Nielson side of our family packed up and went to Maine. (Really, Rex and his family packed up a week previously to D-R-I-V-E from Utah to Boston...yes, they are definitely dedicated to this bi-annual week at the beach, but it made 4 days in the car slightly more tolerable that Rex needed to do some research in Portugal so Nat and the kiddies were going to spend a few more weeks with us before trecking back across the country. They are troopers.)

Mary found our fabulous house. This picture doesn't do it justice.
One more bedroom and it would've been 110% perfect.

The house had a full kitchen, a yard for catch and tag, a BBQ (located on a huge rock the babies referred to as "the plank"--making all of us nervous as they commanded each other to "walk" it...), a den/library, hidden bathrooms, and secret passageways. It was great. Everybody had room to play or do their own thing when they needed some alone time (or a nap).

A block away from the house was an entrance to the Marginal Way, a paved walking path that followed the coastline. It was fantastic. Most of us walked on it everyday...even in the rain. 

Sunset on the beach.

You could see some pretty fantastic "beach" houses from the path.
I wanted to window peep but Eric wouldn't let me...

Off the Marginal Way were several rocky beaches where you could hunt for shells, dip your feet, draw in the sand, or climb on the rocks. Perfect for the kiddies. 

Lucy climbing

Hazel getting a ride.

Peter's posing while Henry says something very important. 

Lucy found some shells and a teeny little star fish.
We all had a good look before she gave him returned him to the water. 

That's right...he picked me up and threatened to throw me in.
I wasn't going to be the only one going in that's for sure...

We were there for six days and unfortunately it rained for four of them. Our first day, Saturday, was perfect. The beach wasn't crowded at all and the water was surprisingly warm. It was overcast but it didn't rain at all. This first day everybody was in charge of their own sunscreen and so not surprisingly everyone got sunburned, especially Henry-whose back got the worst of it, Eric-who didn't put any sunscreen on anywhere, and Lucy-who did a pretty good job but looked like she was wearing a cat woman mask around her eyes. We were much better at sunscreen for the rest of the trip. 

I love the beach. I would happily sit or walk or swim for hours. It was fantastic. Thankfully we had one other day clear day to spend at the beach (besides Sunday-which was a beautiful day...how does that always seem to happen?). I was in heaven. 

Doesn't she look happy?!?

I have no idea what Lucy is doing but I love it...

Team work...what they were going to do with it I can't remember. 

No beach trip is complete without henna tattoos a la Mary. The way Henna works is you draw it on (meaning Mary draws it on) and then you leave it for as long as you can. The longer you leave it, the darker it gets--night of my flowers weren't all that dark. But the next morning they were quite darker and by the next day they were super dark.

No worries. It's henna and will wear off in a few weeks. 

Tattoos not pictured are Emily's Peter Pan and clock eating crocodile, Mom's name written across my dad's toes, Mom's needle and thread, Natalie's tree, or Henry's Motorcycle. Eric passed and there's no way Hazel could sit still long enough to let the ink set. 

My foot

Mary's lion

Rex's Turtle
(He's headed to Portugal to do research as a BYU professor so he felt it wouldn't be appropriate to get a anything spicier placed anywhere visible.)

Aly's Giraffe

Lucy's Tinkerbell

On the rainy days we went to Kathie's Quilt Shop, got ice cream, visited Old Orchard Beach, and wandered around Ogunquit checking out their little shops, the bakeries, and candy stores. It was pretty chill and completely enjoyable. 

Here are a few more pictures (in case you haven't seen enough...)

Twirling

Posing once again

I don't know what that is and I'm pretty sure she didn't actually eat it.
At least I hope she didn't eat it...

Mary and Aly--our longtime friend and extra sister.
Most of these pictures are because she was there...thank heavens she came!
She's a dream with the kiddies and so enjoyable to be around. Hope she comes every time.