Ocean City, New Jersey 2014

Watch out, Ocean City, Maryland! We are starting to get used to Ocean City, New Jersey! We had a great time last year and repeated that again this year. We love going to the beach in September! It's less crowded, less hot, and less expensive, which all adds up to more fun! We even rented the exact same beach house as last year. We got to hang out with Justin's parents for the first few days, including some pool time, some beach time, and some playground time. Next, my dad came for a few days, and then we chilled with just each other for a few days.

We spent plenty of time on the beach, where all of my boys demonstrated absolutely no fear of the ocean. The shovels I bought for them last year continue to be a great investment. They could just dig and dig for hours. One day, Alexander dug himself a hole right up close to the ocean, buried himself, and just lounged there for almost an hour, relaxing. Upon arriving at the beach, we discussed which ocean we were looking at, where we would land if we sailed across it, and what sand is made of. Thus, I decided it was an educational trip and should be counted as school days. (Kidding!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We managed to plan better this year, so we were able to get to the boardwalk rides when they were actually open. Again, the kids had no fear. Jack, Kai, and Noah were all right on the height marks for the next "level" of rides, so each of them were riding rides they were just barely tall enough for. I could not believe the rides that especially Noah, my baby was able to get on. They were all in heaven.

 

 

 

We also spent plenty of time at the local playgrounds, wandering the boardwalk, playing miniature golf, and playing games at the beach house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll miss you until next year, Atlantic Ocean!!

*Disclaimer: The photos are a mix of those taken by me, Justin, and my dad. 

Catching Up: August

We decided to start our school year extra early this year. August is just too hot for much outdoor play, so I'd rather be inside schooling, and save our days off for good weather. Here are my handsome students:

 I also took Alexander and Jack on a big boy camping trip with some of our extended family. It was a great success. I missed the little ones, but it was nice to be able to give my full attention to the big boys, and it afforded me the opportunity to allow them to do some things that they wouldn't have been able to do if my attention had been split. We went tubing down the river, thus conquering the bad memory of the previous time we attempted doing so when Alexander was about four years old, and fell in the river, got momentarily pulled under, and freaked himself and me out. They also got to slide down a natural waterslide, go on a few short hikes, ride bikes, throw rocks in the river, play soccer, roast marshmallows, and sleep in a tent! (All of the camping photos were taken by my dad.)

 

Christmas 2013

I have no complaints about our 2013 Christmas! It was another good one! Noah woke up first, but was fairly easily contained in the playroom until his brothers (and mom) woke up. The kids happily tore through their presents. Alexander's favorite was his Nerf style bow and arrow. Jack's favorite was his new Beyblade dome. Kai's favorite gift was an Angry Bird activity pack of stickers, coloring pages, tattoos, and more. I would have to  guess that Noah's favorite gift was his little tricycle. he scoots around the house on it every day. We had present frenzy number two a few hours later when PopPop arrived. We were also happy to have some good friends visit in the afternoon. We are taking a nice long winter break from schooling, so the kids have had plenty of time to enjoy their new gifts and, of course, far too much screen time. We'll be back to the grind in a day or two. Happy New Year!

 

 

More Beach Photos

Because my dad takes better pictures than I do, and caught some moments that I didn't...

Our Summer Vacation: Part One, The Journey

For the past few summers, we've had a Summer To Do List, filled with fun and meaningful activities that we try to accomplish over the summer. This summer, we had one main goal, with about a bazillion little "to dos." RELOCATE. New job, new house, new city, new state, new health insurance, new doctors, new dentists, new friends, new license plates, new drivers licenses, new grocery store, new everything. Okay, so we didn't change our names...

We told the kids it would be an adventure. The details are already getting fuzzy. We made the decision to relocate on May 29th. Noah was six weeks old. Three days later we had our first meeting with our realtor, who would help us sell our house. Some of my MOMS Club friends managed to throw together an extremely touching going away party for me (thanks, T!) and a couple even got me the sweetest, most meaningful little gift that I treasure (thanks, K and S!). Justin and I (mostly Justin) scurried around prepping the house for sale, doing repairs, putting stuff in storage, and staging. Just two and a half weeks after making the decision, the kids and I left for Pennsylvania, with me crying all the way out of our Frederick neighborhood.

In order to use the space of the van wisely, Alexander and Jack rode with my dad, who was helpful enough to be escorting us up to the hotel where we would be living temporarily, for up to three months while we waited for our house in MD to sell. I had Noah and Kai with me, along with most of the selected belongings that we had chosen to bring to the hotel. Justin was going to stay in MD for an extra day to finish staging the house without the hurricane we call our sons ruining it at every step of the way.

I think we were probably three quarters of the way there when I got separated from my dad. I went through a yellow light I didn't think I could stop for, and he got stuck behind. My van was driving really weird, oddly sluggish. It kept getting weirder and weirder. Eventually it got to the point where I was on the highway, flooring it, and only going about 40 mph. The people around me were not amused. I was not amused, either. There were jersey walls and construction all around. I had very little idea where I was and I had my two little babies to think of. I was way too nervous to just stop on the highway, even though I was very nervous that the van would just STOP, and there I'd be in the middle of the road.

I managed to make it to the exit that I needed to take to get to the hotel, but I was scared to keep driving. I pulled into an empty parking lot. I couldn't even see the street signs. I debated getting the kids out and walking down to look at the street signs, but I don't think I even had the stroller with me and there were no sidewalks. I didn't feel safe. I honestly did not know what to do with myself. I called the hotel to ask them to let my dad into the room if he got there first. Then I called Justin for advice, but he didn't pick up, busy painting and fixing up the house as he was. There were so many issues with calling a tow truck (not knowing where I was, not knowing how I'd get myself and the kids to the hotel), that I wasn't sure that was the best choice. Eventually, I decided to see if the little rest the van had gotten while I thought about things had done it any good. I had figured out with the help of my GPS that I was only about a half mile from the hotel (I could have walked there, but again: no stroller, no sidewalks, two babies). I tried out the van in the parking lot and it did seem a bit less sluggish, so I decided to give it a go. I managed to get to the hotel, check in, and take the kids up to the room.

Where I discovered that we had no bedrooms doors. And a scary loft that I thought my kids might throw themselves over. And that my dad wasn't there yet. I couldn't really even unload the car because of Kai and Noah. I finally talked to Justin and he told me to just chill. Just sit and wait for my dad. So I did. He got there about a half an hour later, having gotten lost and stopped to ask for directions I think twice. He was nice enough to unload the car for me, and stay overnight with us until Justin got there. He even went and picked up some groceries so we could actually eat. 

The next day Justin arrived in the afternoon and we got the van dropped off at a nearby mechanic. The day after that, he started his new job. And there we all were, living in a hotel in Pennsylvania, KIND OF starting our new lives.

Christmas 2011 Pictures

We had a great Christmas this year! It was super relaxing, with my dad arriving in the afternoon and a delicious dinner at Aunt Eileen's house later. We celebrated with Justin's parents later in the week. Justin took off work the entire week after Christmas and it was fabulous to have him around for so long!