I love Maine for many reasons. It’s the nicest place I’ve ever lived.

We have an ocean and mountains and lakes and woods and lighthouses. We have real seasons. I love to see the first snows of winter, see the new buds on the trees in spring, visit the hot sandy beach in summer, and photograph the beautiful foliage in autumn.

We have excellent hiking trails and beautiful islands around which to kayak.

I also love the proximity to Boston, New York and Montreal.

New Englanders are smarter than the people in other regions of the country. That’s a relief, for sure!

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Brent: What is so great about Family Night?

Hayley: I think it’s so great because we can all get together and have a time to be together and, like, spend time with each other.
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Skye: If you could change your full name to anything, what would you change it to?

Brent: I wouldn’t.
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It was my turn to prepare the refreshments for Family Night this week. Kirsten helped me with the idea (and every other aspect). Our first go we filled the cups too full and they overflowed and collapsed the cups while baking. Our second attempt was far more successful. Cheap, simple and delicious.

Just fill ordinary ice cream wafer cups half full with ordinary cake batter. Bake. Frost. Decorate.

Kirsten basically did everything. She knows where all the stuff is and how to operate her gizmos. I tried to do it, but she wouldn’t let me.

Kirsten helping

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This morning, before meeting Kirsten for lunch at the hospital, we went to the Children’s Museum of Maine. We arrived thirty minutes before opening so we killed time drinking hot chocolate at Starbucks.

Enjoy.

Our precious Hayley

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I’m not a pet guy, simply because they are too expensive, dirty and time consuming.

If I were to get a pet it would be a Boxer dog. An ideal pet would be a Boxer dog that neither barked, ate, shed, shat, became ill, required attention nor grooming.

Perhaps I should stick to human kids. If raised properly they eventually take care of themselves. What pet can do that trick?

My youngest brother, Michael, and Kim, his super awesome girlfriend, know how to travel. They spend months working on a train in Alaska or teaching English in China. They travel by bus and airplane and motorbike. Their adventures are legendary. You can read about them at Kim’s blog. I’d love to travel with them. But not to Asia. I’d rather to go Europe.

When I was in the US Air Force I got to travel to Korea, Saudi Arabia, England, Italy, Germany and France. I completely fell in love with France during the month I stayed there. I was in Vitrolles, a small town in the south of France near the Mediterranean Sea. It was amazing! The food was rich and the women beautiful. I’d like to go back. In fact, I’d move there if I could.

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The last two weekends I’ve been far enough away to get a hotel and close enough that Kir and the girls were willing to come visit for a night (or two). They enjoyed swimming in the hotel pool and watching television (two things they don’t get to do at home).

One of the Fridays was very slow at the church so the girls came in so I could practice.

Enjoy.

Hayley and Kirsten

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Kirsten Uhler

We did it! We made it to lucky number thirteen. I really hate to celebrate an institution for which I have so much disdain. However, any excuse to celebrate you and us is good enough for me.

I love you, Babe. You make my world go ’round. You’re sexy and smart and funny. You’re the best mom on the planet and a damn good lover.

You complete me. I look forward to the next year together, and I cherish the hours, minutes and seconds.

Cheers.

I love that everyone has such unique character traits and behaviors. The following pictures reveal some of Brent’s and the the girls’ endearing qualities.

What can I say about Brent? He’s such a clown. He likes to make me laugh, and it always works. I love that about him.

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