The Island...an Introduction!

After we left Washington D.C., we drove to Seabrook New Hampshire where we met our friend's and neighbors, The Macleod's...

~Dawson, Dave, Lauren, Erin, & Cameron~

We met the Macleod's eight years ago, right after we moved here.  They live around the corner from us.  They have three kids, whom are all the exact same ages as our kids.  Our husbands and youngest daughter's even share the same name!  They are some of our  dearest friends.  Ever since I met Erin, she has talked about her favorite place in the world...a private island off of the coast of Maine that has been in her family for generations.  It belonged to her Grandmother and Grandfather (Gene Tunney).  She spent her summers there as a little girl, and it has become her children's favorite place as well!  So, we've heard all about it but never dreamed we'd get to go.  A couple of months ago, Erin called and invited our family to go to the island with them.  We were beyond thrilled!!!  So, plans were made and July could not come fast enough!  There were 17 of us on the island...The Macleods, Us, The Lallensack's (the Macleod's best friends from Boston)...

~Brian, Everette, Carla, Alex, & Brooke~

... Dave Macleod's mother Nancy (a.k.a. Grancy), and Alex's best friend Jane...

~Jane & Grancy~

It was grand!  We left Seabrook on Tuesday morning (July 12th) and headed to Damriscotta, Maine.  From there, the kids and hubby's headed to the Island...

While the ladies...

~Carla, Erin, Grancy, & Halli~

...headed to get enough groceries to last 17 people 6 days!  We got to the island just in time to make dinner and check things out.  It is the most amazing place I've ever been.  It is breath taking, peaceful, serene, exciting, cool, beautiful, etc. etc. etc.  (I could go on and on!)  We feel so lucky & grateful to have been invited...it truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity (and totally worth Taylor missing girls camp for!)  Even President John F. Kennedy spent a weekend at the island, during his term as president, as a guest of the family.  They still have the phone that was installed for him during his stay there...

Carter absolutely loved it!  :)

And this flag was flown on the island while he was there... 

It was pretty cool!

One third of the island is grassy, this is where the main house is...

 and it's just as pretty inside...

  There's also a playhouse...

...where all the boys stayed, and a captain's cabin where Grancy stayed.  The rest of us stayed in the main house.  It was fabulous!  Two thirds of the island is forest which has "awesome climbing trees" according to Lauren...

And there are three private, sandy beaches...

~Lauren Macleod & Lauren~

...where the kids played for hours!  I'm telling ya, it was a dream come true!  I can't wait to tell you more about it!  :)