Mainly present.

It's official: I LOVE MAINE.

Pat and Kay with Will

The entire time I have known Clay, mid-August has meant pre-season football/XC/field hockey camps, faculty meetings, and lesson planning.

This year looks a lot different.

AWESOME signs in Kennebunkport

This year, mid-August means precious time with Clay's parents, driving and walking tours of the Maine seacoast, and fun adventures with Will.

As you all know, this reality is bittersweet for me. This week, I found myself checking the GPS website and Facebook a lot, and admittedly every update and post made me feel a little bit like I was missing out. As if my body and mind were permanently programmed to follow a school schedule, my thoughts drifted to class rosters, summer reading assignments, and professional development articles. It felt strange texting my school friends and wishing them luck on the first day of school--and then crawling into bed and finishing Julie and Julia. I am normally exhausted and stressed--but also exhilarated and pumped--at this time of year. I am a teacher. August means game time, right?

The "Wedding Cake House" near Kennebunkport

But then I once again realized that I was missing the whole point.

For the rest of our lives, as educators and parents, August is going to mean the start of school. Every August for the past 25 years (25 YEARS), August has meant the start of school. Hopefully next year we will have jobs and August will once again mean meeting students and planning classes. This might just be (and I can't believe I am saying this), the only August for a long, long time when school isn't starting for us.

We've been given a year to totally switch things up.

I have the rest of my life to think about the start of a school year.

This August, I am going to think about my son taking his first steps, what books I am going to read this year, and how grateful I am to reset my mind's schedule and find freedom in transitions.

Antiques on Nine, an exquisite shop owned by our friend Susan's sister!

Lucky for me, there are plenty of beautiful, refreshing, and inspiring sights in Maine to capture my attention.

Ben and Jerry's in an adorable New England mansion on the water? Of course.

These people take their ice cream VERY seriously.

Loved the horse-drawn carriage (where are we??)

This is a single-family home overlooking the peninsula in Kennebunkport.

Dude, these people know how to live in style!

The gardens in Maine are fabulous.

There are lobsters EVERYWHERE up here.

This is one of my favorite signs :-)

Just in case life isn't sweet enough already, check out this candy store in Ogunquit.

What else do I love about Maine? Perhaps the fact that our next door neighbors threw a wedding in their backyard. Clay + Sara = wedding crashers :-)

A few more sweet pics from today:

We love you all!