Another cold blog post for you during the heat that is sneaking back up on us this week to help cool you back down! Being a Maine family photographer sometimes means the winter months are S L O W. Everyone really wants images of their family enjoying beautiful weather, on the beach, at sunset in the middle of July. This is fantastic! However, sometimes it’s nice to show what life is like when things are a little less crazy without all the beach trips, the hiking, the surfing, the shopping… This post brings to you some snuggling, some acrobatics, some snacking and lunching, the best use of a piece of (broken) luggage -EVER, and a trip to a certain special ice cream shop. Let’s begin:
Dogs are always excited when new people come to their house. So, appropriately, the dog must be entertained for a bit so he can show off his awesome dog skills.
Very quietly, Alan snuggles up on the couch with B and they read the best princess stories together. Complete with princess crown. ((All the heart eyes))
After a quiet reading session, it is most appropriate to jump right in to some kitchen acrobatics (check out these skills!) and to wrestle with mom on the floor. Suzie will steal all the snuggles, in whatever fashion they come in.
Kids are always so proud of their bedrooms and at some point in the day, I am usually coaxed into admiring their little spaces and to bask in the glory of their toys. It usually entails playing some imaginary phone calls to a princess and then told about what tragic illness their babydoll has acquired in the last 5 minutes… and now the Doctor is in the house! What is even sweeter is that this is Suzie’s doctor set that she had when SHE was a child. B has put it to great use. This dolly will be back in good health in no time.
Then, if you are a fortunate child such as B, you then convince your daddy that you NEED him to play the part of the prince so he can say hello to all the woodland animals. (I was waiting for Alan to break into song, like maybe Sleeping Beauty would, and break the sterotypes that Princes can’t sing (aka convince) the woodland animals into cleaning the house.) Isn’t this so sweet!?
There is a piece of luggage in B’s room. It had been busted up by some careless TSA agent at some point and repurposed into a toy bin. The top has been removed, a rope has been attached and THEN….. the luggage that has been holding a slew of stuffed animals is suddenly emptied (by severe brute force) and B inserts herself into the luggage so that she can be buckled in by mom and prepped for her most epic ride that is about to happen-
Alan carries B out into the living area and proceeds to pull her along by a rope and then SPINS her around and around and around and around and…. (whoa. I got dizzy!) This was by far the best use of a broken piece of luggage I have ever seen. This is a long-running event that has been taking place in the “S” household for a few years. I was hoping it would be my turn next but it appeared that Alan was a bit tuckered out after B’s turn so I didn’t press the matter.
Then it was naptime… for Suzie. B tucked her mom into the makeshift bed on the floor snuggled up and gave her a smooch goodnight.
She tucked her mom in one more time and walked off with the proudest look on her face. Every child’s dream. Put your parent to bed and then take care of business. Whatever business that may be.
It was then time for some replenishment – chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese. Lunch of champions!
So, it was freezing outside. Like really cold. That’s how my brain remembers that day. We bundled up a took a short stroll to the end of the road so that they could check the mail and B can see if there are any bills to pay.
No bills. That means now we can go play! Alan dragged B around in her sled and made a little path down the side of the house for her sled to go down… and after a few trips, it was smooth sailing sledding! I love how Digby chased after her. It’s a big and important task for a little dog to be make sure to keep their hoomans safe!
So here comes Suzie’s favorite part of her weekend. She packs B into the car. She tells her they’re going on a little field-trip. Something special is waiting for them! What. Could. It. Be. ????
After a 30-minute drive up the road, we arrive in downtown Westbrook at Suzie’s most beloved shop. They’re on a first name basis with the owner and can have a regular, non-awkward conversation with them. They’re regular patrons here. Suzie plans her days when she is on the road so that somehow she might actually be able to sneak into town on her way home before they close. It’s a lifestyle…
What’s behind the counter???
ICE CREAM is behind the counter. That’s what! Suzie looks sooooo disappointed here. She totally hates this place. haha
I can say that I had never been to the Catbird Creamery in Westbrook, Maine, however, I had heard people talk about this place and how much they loved it. They make all their own ice cream right there. It’s a limited and very unique menu of flavors. They also make their toppings. Like a legit mom-and-pop kind of shop with super fun flavors that put my habitual-ice-cream-flavor-self into a world of worry – but it was soooooo good. When we arrived they were already out of a few flavors so it helped narrow down my options so I didn’t stare at the wall the whole time.
They shared an ice cream in the sweetest way a cute little family can possibly share an ice cream (it was A LOT of ice cream for one person, so it was safe to share! I couldn’t even finish mine (because I can not go into an ice cream shop and NOT get ice cream, even if I was working!)
B played with some wooden blocks that were set up on a table explicitly for the little people and then it was time to head off. After ice cream, it’s always a good idea to hitch a ride on dad’s shoulders!
A big shout out and THANK YOU to the “S” family for letting me into their home for the day so that I could document a little Slice of their Life – as they were on that one little day – and also for sharing their favorite ice cream spot!
And now the heat is getting to me… time to hop in the car and grab a treat!
Here is their slideshow: