Anniversary Get Away

Eric and I celebrated our first year of wedded bliss with a mini trip to Portland, Maine.  Of course, we took the Maddie Bear along too because a vacation just would not be a vacation without a Madeline and Olaf following along.  Obviously.

We could have easily driven to Portland, but I thought it would be more fun and adventurous to take the train, and it was.

We spent most of the ride up looking out the window for Sasquatches, moose, and Olaf's bear friends.  Unfortunately, we did not see any of those things.  Bummer.

"Look, Olaf, it's your bear friends."  

  We spent the afternoon exploring Portland's Old Port and Waterfront districts.

I dont' know why the Berlin Wall is there...but hey.

It's good to have goals.

Expressions of everlasting love...awe.

I ate the best seafood chowder ever at Gilbert's Chowder House, Madeline whined about walking/the sun/lobsters/holding hands, and Eric reminded me that soon he would have three whiny girls to love instead of just two.  Luckily, we got to check into the hotel early, because after so much excitement, Madeline needed an afternoon nap.

After some much needed rest, and a bag of M&Ms, Madeline was in much better spirits, so we continued to explore.  We walked along the Eastern Promenade to get a good view of the harbor.  It was a beautiful day...sunny but breezy.

Poor Madeline has an unholy fear of lobsters.  I guess you can't blame her.  They are pretty ugly.  She doesn't like to see them or even think about them.  When she pretends to make us food in the kitchen, she won't let us order even pretend lobster.

So, it's a good thing that Maine is the Lobster Kingdom of the United States.  They snuck up on her everywhere.  Lobster statues, lobster paintings, lobster t-shirts, lobster stuffed animals, lobster hats, lobster dinners...the list is really endless.

Meanwhile, we fed her lobster mac n' cheese for dinner without making it clear that she was eating lobster.  We're mean parents, but she ate it without complaint.

We also didn't tell her that there was a giant lobster standing behind her.  When she realized where she was standing, she ran away yelling, "I don't want to SEE it!"  

By the time we made it back to the hotel, she was a bit overtired, so getting to bed was a battle.  Still, something had to give eventually, and the three of us finally slept like peaceful lobsters on the bottom of the sea.

Madeline saw this photograph and asked me to, "Take my picture with the kitty."

On day two, we took the Down East Duck Tour.  Madeline had spied the amphibious vehicle the day before and expressed an urgent need to go on it.

Eric and I realized we should have taken the tour on our first day because the city was a lot bigger than we realized.  There was a lot more to see and do.

Meanwhile, Madeline loved peeking over the edge of the vehicle to see everything on the streets below.  She wasn't too crazy about driving into the water.  She curled up in my lap and tried to go to sleep for most of that part of the tour, but Eric and I enjoyed seeing the harbor up close.

We spent the rest of the afternoon window shopping, eating lunch, and wandering some more before hopping back on the train toward Boston.

Madeline and Olaf were clean tuckered out...they slept the entire ride home.

Portland was a great little city.  Eric decided he'd like to go back some day when I'm not pregnant so we can drink and eat our way through the place.  Don't mind if I do.  

Thanks for a nice getaway, and a wonderful first year of marriage, Eric. Love.