OOB!

And so we arrived in Old Orchard Beach, Maine for a week of sun, amusement (parks) and waves. It didn't disappoint - we rented a cute little house on the beach that had two very important qualities: a separate bedroom for the kids and a TV in the living room so that we could catch up on Olympics at night.

Old Orchard Beach is a tacky little town with no end of junk food on offer and nary a fresh vegetable to be seen. It also has a huge sandy beach with awesome waves for boogie boarding, which Mark promptly became obsessed with. The kids' favourite part was probably Palace Playland, a huge amusement park right at the pier. Very old school - tickets for rides and even a haunted house that brought back a flood of terror from my one visit 30 years ago.

A random assortment of memories:

On the ferris wheel...

Isaac and me too!

Visiting neighbouring Ogonquit, the closest we got to a latte all week...

Gabrielle on the flying animals, FINALLY! We've been trying to get her on one of these flying rides for years but something about being in America, perhaps, that made her feel STRONG and BRAVE?

And there she is, waving like a pro...

Everyone needs fabulous sunglasses.

Tons of french Canadians on Old Orchard Beach - another interesting cultural trait is that they like to make elaborate sand sculptures. Who knew?

Behind Isaac, a sand baseball cap and a giant Budweiser can.

What would a vacation be without mini-golf? The kids loved it. And they really helped and encouraged each other...

...when they weren't whacking each other with giant noodles.

One ride the kids hated but that we forced them onto was the ferris wheel. Personally, it made me feel queasy, but I smiled through the pain.

Another new skill: tying her own hair elastics! I was in the unenviable position of trying to convince her (ever so gently) that maybe she should remove 8 or so elastics before heading out?

On the last evening - Mark surveying his beach.

And one final walk down the beach - look, I told you we would see a whale!