Jersey Round Up

It's really hard to blog on vacation when there's so much going on! I have to admit that I don't have the patience for blogs that have a thousand photos on them and seem to go on and on. However, since I have not done anything much and the New Jersey portion of our trip is done, I am going to annoy myself and probably everyone else with a long post and many photos. Feel free to browse quickly.

I am backtracking a little bit, just to get everything covered. Here we have Aidan shucking some corn on the cob at my Mom's house before everyone else arrived.

Aidan had to have some dental work done and my sister in law found us the most wonderful pediatric dentist, Dr. Wendell Holdbrook, along with his fun and excellent staff. We ended up spending several hours with them one day and they were just the best. You can tell that they only work with kids. Aidan was not scared and did not get upset at all.

Then Sarah and Elle arrived and we literally spent 3 hours in bumper to bumper traffic from Philly back to Mom's (which usually takes 30 minutes). Luckily, we had lots to talk about and Elle to keep us amused. Later, we had to indulge in some frozen custard, a Jersey tradition.

Bonnie came in the next day and got picked up by my sister in law Patty while the rest of us headed down to Ocean City and checked into the house we'd rented.

This is out of order, but my niece Kristinn, her husband Tim and kids Gabe and Sofia came down later in the week to join us. Tim, Rich and I are working on something in the kitchen. Well, I was probably just watching.

Aidan was a little fish and loved the water, even when it was freezing cold.

My mom with Elle, her great granddaughter.

Sarah and Elle
Sarah and Bonnie with cousin Billy, my brother's youngest.

Aidan and cousin Becca. They are close to the same age and were two peas in a pod.
Elle loved the playground.

Sofia and Tim at the park.
The very cool house we rented in Ocean City. Lots of room and lots of character!

Bonnie, Sarah, Tim, Sofia and Kristinn

Gabe, Aidan and Sofia
Elle loved Tim. She missed her daddy and started saying "Daddeeee" and "Mommeeee" while she was with us. She was so interested in everything the kids were doing and wanted to be in on everything!

Kristinn and Sarah

Elle loved riding on the bike with her mommy.

Rich and Mom relaxing and reading in the house. We had lots of room to spread out and everyone could do their own thing without getting into anyone else's way. The weather was not great for our week at the shore but we managed to go to the beach a few times anyway, went for some walks, talked and laughed, read books, and took the kids to see the movie "UP" one day when it was pouring down rain. We also had some mean games of Scrabble, Cranium, and Telephone Pictionary. If you have never played the latter, I will give you the instructions and you will laugh your @$% off.

We did enjoy sitting out in the yard on one of the warmer days. Our next door neighbor kept us entertained by blaring rock and roll out his window every afternoon. We thought maybe we should have a street dance.

Sarah and Bonnie
Sofia
The kids befriended a neighborhood cat and followed him around. He was very patient and let them pet him, even turning over to have his tummy rubbed.

Out for hoagies at a deli in Ocean City. YUM.

Cousins
Bonnie and Rich as we celebrated Rich and Kristinn's birthdays. Yes, Rich and I are both now 55, which entitles us to the Senior Discount at the Eagle store on Mondays and free access to all the Community Center's equipment and programs. Yippppeee!

Happy Birthday, Kristinn!

Gabe and Aidan climbing trees. They were big buddies and had a good time together.

Boys buried in the sand

Kristinn, Tim and Sofia

Elle, Aidan and Gabe enjoying the water one last time.

Our last morning in Ocean City

Jane, Bonnie, Mom, Sarah, Kristinn
Mom with some of her grandkids and great grandkids. We had a small group this year--missed everyone else! Too soon our week was over and we had to say goodbye. We all went out to breakfast together, then went our separate ways. Rich and I took Bonnie straight to the airport and she didn't even get to stop by Granny's house or see anyone else. That's what happens when you are teaching summer school and have to get back! Sunday we took Sarah, Elle and Aidan to the airport and helped them get checked in. I was sad to see everyone go. It feels very weird to be without Aidan since we had him for about five weeks. We loved having him and hope he will be able to come back again another time.

Sunday was Rich's bday and Father's Day so Mom and I took him out to dinner and then we just got things ready for the rest of our vacation. I had a doctor's appointment on Monday; we picked up a rental car that afternoon and left on a road trip to see some more of the country. We are in Virginia tonight but I will start posting about this part of the trip tomorrow!