At the very end of Cape Ann, in Massachusetts, sits the little town of Rockport. It is absolutely lovely. To this day it still retains it’s status as a fishing village where boats go in and out of the wharf daily, especially in the summer. There is a section of Rockport that is devoted to artists of all kinds, called Bearskin Neck. People come from all over the country to visit this little community of art and ocean. We prefer slightly off season so we get all the benefits but none of the crowds. Recently we took the boys for a weekend to Rockport. Now that they are getting bigger and have so many interest of their own, we don’t often have them for the weekends anymore. We were all very excited to spend this time together and if I’ve learned anything over the past nine years about the boys it’s that they love to swim and they love to climb and toss rocks. They also like to eat, so what better place to spend some memory making time with them than the little town of Rockport. It was perfect in every way, including the weather. A bit on the cool side but yummy and bright.
We picked the boys up early on Saturday morning and after a quick breakfast we headed to Rockport which is only 30 minutes from our house. Our destination was the Rockport Suites and Inn, just outside of the down town area. We chose this little Inn for the location and for the fact that they had a pool and a fire-pit with outdoor seating. Another thing the boys love is a good fire. It was to our benefit that they also had a breakfast buffet that came with the room. Upon arrival the boys got their suits on and headed to the pool area before I even got a bag unpacked.
When everyone had enough of swimming and doing the hot tub, we all came back and changed. We wanted to get down to the town and Bearskin Neck before it got to dark and to chilly. It was a perfect sunny night…so off to we to the wharf.
This is a little cottage along the ramp road. It was a pretty evening and the sun was just starting to drop. I thought the lantern on the gate was so cute. It’s a Rockport thing. Next stop, Bearskin Neck.
First stop was at the boat ramp, where all day boats go in and out. The Motif was was the background for our photos. Whenever we are together the boys like to take photos. Liam took the photo of us with Jaxson and Jaxson took the photo of us with Liam. They are both getting pretty good now and I love that they still enjoy shooting.
Some of the little art stores along the way…in between there are ally’s that go out to the wharf and ocean.
By now the light was starting to drop and the golden glow was evident. The boys were having a great time finding and tossing rocks. it just always feel so right to see them enjoying being outside and having fun. Fresh air is a great for little minds. Picking the perfect rock for tossing is a creative task…
When we were done with the wharf side of Bearskin neck we crossed over to the ocean side. On this side, they found lots of boulders to climb on and of course, more rocks to toss.
The ocean side is my favorite. You can see for miles and the rocks have a different tone and color to them. It was interesting to see that when some of the granite was washed away that there were bricks buried inside. I know there is a story somewhere there. Liam took the photo of the bricks.
All done with the rocks. We stopped at a few shops on our way to dinner. Jaxson’s favorite shop was a children’s store with lots of toys and books but Jaxson being Jaxson, loved the hat the best.
My favorite photo of the trip, hands down, is this one of the boys. It just tells the story of my life and love for where I am right now. In New England, on the beach, in a little fishing village with Jim and the boys. The night was beautiful, the sun was shinning and the boys were happy, not only with the day but with each other. Life was good on this day. Time to head back to the Inn and sit by the fire. Perhaps there are some good sticks for tossing in the flames.
Early Saturday morning Jenna joined us for breakfast than her and the boys went on their way. Jim and I were fortunate enough to have an hour or so to ourselves so we went back down to the docks where I was able to take some more shots of the boats from a different perspective. It was a wonderful weekend with the boys. It’s nice to not have to hurry them and to get them just to ourselves, even as they grow. For me, it’s just another memory in my memory bank and I hope someday when they are grown they will also remember the fun times we had. I’m sure the ocean will always be a part of who they are and to me, the ocean means being outside in nature, appreciating all that is natural and mysterious . I horemember. Perhaps they will also remember the snuggles, hugs and love that go on every trip we take with them.
““Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers, water bugs, tadpoles, frogs, mud turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb. Brooks to wade, water lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of education.” ~ Luther Burbank
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I thank all of you who visit and leave a comment and I answer every comment that you leave. You all make my world a little brighter…
