And what's not to love about a lighthouse? We spent one of our first afternoons in Portland exploring Portland Head Light and Two Lights State Park.
Beautiful Portland Head Light.
Fort Williams is next to Portland Head Light. The boys loved running up and down the hill at the fort. We loved that it completely wore them out! 
At Two Lights State Park, we kept an eye out for rabid foxes that had been reported earlier in July. Yikes! Fortunately, the only wildlife we saw was a little dragonfly that landed on Gene's shirt. 
Castine is a quiet little town on the coast of Maine, but in years past, the French, English, Dutch and Americans all fought to gain control of the coastal town. There were several forts in the area, and we visited Fort George, a British fort from the Revolutionary War period. 
The fort is now used as a baseball and soccer field. 
The boys invented a new game to play at forts called "Cannonball!" The premise is simple. Someone yells, "Boom!" and the cannons (boys) ricochet around the field at full speed. Run, fall down laughing and tuckered out, repeat. 
Nana and Pop came with us to visit Fort Madison, which was built in 1811 and occupied by the British during the War of 1812. 
This picture was taken on our last day in Castine. It was clear and sunny in town, but thick fog swirled around the shoreline when Gene and Henry ventured down for one last look at Fort Madison. 
In Castine, we also saw Dyce Head Light
and played with the little canon down by the waterfront. 
Back in Portland, we visited Bug Light with Aunt Amber, Leo and Grampa. My mom stayed home so baby Ella could nap. 
Three cousins looking at the boats in the harbor. 
There is a huge grassy area at Bug Light, so the boys, Amber and I ran races.
Leo preferred looking through the telescope with Grampa. 
And then it was on to our last lighthouse of the trip, Spring Point Light. 
And adjacent Fort Preble, built in 1808. 
Forts and lighthouses? Done!
Lobster boat near The Lobster Shack. 
We stayed with Nana and Pop in Castine for five days and one night we had boiled lobsters. Nana bought them already cooked so we just added corn and potatoes and enjoyed one of the best meals of the trip. 
So excited about the lobster! 
Best beer with lobster? A local Shipyard Summer Ale!
My crazy boys decided they didn't really like lobster this year. What??? They did, however, enjoy the lobster cookies Aunt Amber brought them.
Gene visited The Breeze, a fave seafood shack in Castine, several times during our stay there. Yummy food, but you have to be watchful of the seagulls. Gene lost half his crab roll to an aggressive seagull who snatched it when he walked away for 10 seconds!
We tried The Lobster Dock in Boothbay Harbor. Gene had fried clams and I had a crab roll. The boys were done with seafood by this point in our trip. They probably ate hot dogs. 
Lobster tank. We watched them weigh the lobsters. 
Henry waited patiently for his meal. 
The lady at the table next to us offered to take our picture. Can you tell who was grumpy that night? 
Local blueberry beer with real Maine blueberries floating on top. YUM!!
We ate at a little hole in the wall in South Portland for lunch one day. The boys loved the gears above the booth. 
And Gene and I even had a romantic dinner out at the Pentagoet Inn in Castine one night, thanks to babysitting from the grandparents.
The boys may not have been fans of the seafood on this trip, but Henry adored the bright-red Maine hot dogs and Will fell in love with the peanut butter and fluff sandwiches that were on every kids' menu!
Ice cream from Beal's in Portland, enjoyed on one of those crazy hot days in Maine that makes you think you're back home in Texas. 
State of Maine Cheese Company? We had to make a u-turn to tour this cute little shop (and of course we bought some cheese!).
One of my favorite things was all the local produce. We went to the farmers' market in Castine (we literally stepped outside the rental house and into the market!) and brought back loads of fresh veggies. 
And of course there were a couple of birthday celebrations. My parents made a cake for all of us whose birthdays they missed and since my birthday was during our trip, I cut the cake. We also celebrated again with Nana and Pop on my actual birthday and I blew out imaginary candles. 
Shopping at Trader Joe's. Can't wait til they come to Houston! 
Cheers!
We had highs (100* and hotter than Houston one day!) and lows (fleecy jackets needed some evenings). We visited the city, the country, the beach, and even a desert. It was both jam-packed and relaxing. Many many pictures to come in the next few days!