Paradise

I stayed up late last night, too late, working on a project for this little blog. It was a slide show of my favorite beach images from the summer put to the Zac Brown & Jimmy Buffett song, Knee Deep.  The problem is every time I export it out of Iphoto, the quality is so compromised that I can't stand it. Not for pictures I love so much. So you will have to trust me that the photos are good :)

The song sums it up so well for me. This summer, especially, held a lot of tense and stressful times for us - what with uprooting our lives and all. But every time I went to the beach - any beach - I was transformed. As soon as I walk across the boardwalk or through the dunes, something happens to me and it is awesome.

Yesterday was the ultimate beach day. Saquish, oh Saquish. 30 minutes from our house, and 20 minutes of that drive is on a beach. An adventure that makes you feel lucky and blessed as soon as you switch into 4 wheel drive. We pulled onto the sand at the highest of high tides, barely room to drive. But within 45 minutes the tide receded as if to welcome us and then revealed long stretches of soft sandbars and warm tidal pools.  There were no other cars in sight and one lone couple so far away I hardly noticed them at all. We splashed, explored, collected, ran, dug, and lounged. We thought of nothing else but that moment. We soaked in the sun, the blue sky, and the expanse of an ocean horizon.

Paradise.

Although it is hard to see small, the quality is better - if you blow it up big screen, you have to deal with the fuzziness :( Sad for you, but this little video is going to carry me straight through the winter! 

Beach Blanket Bingo

It is hard to deny the draw of the beach. A feast for the senses that both excites and relaxes at the same time. One of the many reasons we moved, instead of hours we now measure our distance to the shore in minutes. 

The first stop - driving onto the beach. It was a literal drive down memory lane for me as we bumped along the shore of Duxbury beach following the car of my childhood friend. We settled into our chairs and as our kids played together we remembered doing the same so many years ago. 

Next stop, the Spit. An awesome beach reached only by boat. Uncle Mark and Auntie Teri treated us to a day straight out of the picture books. As if a boat ride isn't fun enough, there was soft sand, gentle waves lapping the shore and buckets of hermit crabs to be found. 

We can certainly get used to this. 

Summer Fun

That's me and my daredevil Tyler at the boardwalk in NJ. 

I haven't laughed that hard in awhile. 

I love having kids :) 

Zoo Camp

Before I had kids I was steadfast that summer camp in unnecessary. I still think it is a little silly, especially if one parent stays home. There is so much to do in summer, why not enjoy it with the kids?! 

Then we became members of our favorite little local zoo 3 years ago. In the first members brochure I saw it:: ZOO CAMP. Starting at age 5, just one week of mornings, $100 a kid. I decided that day, when they were 2.5 that they would attend. 

So, they did! Along with their cousin Joey they went to Zoo Camp last week. Each day they entered the zoo before opening. They covered different types of animals (reptiles, birds, mammals, etc), toured the zoo, touched animals, played camp games and had snack.

They loved it! All afternoon our conversations were filled with fun facts.
"Mom, did you know that a Toucan tosses his food in the air, catches it, then eats it?"
"Mom, a girl condor has a little stripe on her neck, but not the boy"

It was all I could do to not sign up for the Junior Zoo Keeper camp myself.
Who says we can't live vicariously through our kids?! 

Bonus for Grandma

Grandma was wondering if I ever get shots of the kids faces...of course!! 

Here are some beach portraits just for you Grandma :) 

xoxo

Summer Playground

At first we were all a little disappointed. We signed on for ocean front, and although we were technically ocean front, it wasn't what we expected - sand and waves. Instead it was a winding walk through natural marsh finally ending in a short sandy beach. Beyond the beach was sea grass and at low tide, tidal pools and sand bars as far as the eye could see. At high tide you could walk forever just to get waist deep, as the water gently lapped against the shore. 

To the left of the house was a small beach on the corner of where marsh met ocean. A channel curved snake like through marsh and sand, meeting the ocean with a pretty impressive currant. 

Peppered throughout the landscape were big jetties - long stretches of giant rocks, providing relief from the burning white sand. 

 But what we discovered was that the landscape in front of our house was the perfect summer playground (and provided jaw dropping views, day and night.) 

The kids had an absolute blast. Riding the currant on kick boards, searching for crabs, snails, periwinkles, hermit crabs and more, and jumping across jetties like nimble little sprites. 

The adults floated too, on the natural lazy river, and we plopped our chairs in the oceans edge, watching the tide change the landscape hourly. 

The unexpected turned into unexpected bliss. 

Vacation Recap

Going on vacation with 10 adults isn't always picture perfect, no matter how much you build it up beforehand - and I build it up, I do. 

There are 10 different ideas about everything from the best beach to what time we should have dinner. 

Add in 7 kids, 3 dogs and a case of Vodka and there are bound to be some moments that don't make the memory book. 

But thats ok. Because for every not so perfect moment, there is an awesome one. 

 Great moments arise when you are surrounded by people who have always been there. The shared memories and experiences added up over the decades give way to deep belly laughs and good natured teasing. 

 And now we are laying that foundation for our kids. One day sitting around a campfire they will laugh about these shared experiences (remember when Nonnie got hit by a firework?!) and bask in the easy going feeling that only comes with family.

No matter how many Holidays and Kids Birthday Parties you stack up, it just isn't the same. 

And that's why we go on family vacation. 

We're Baaaaaccckkk!

We are back in NJ after 2 weeks away. Phew, unpacking isn't as much fun as packing. But as I sort through clothes and shake out the sand, Im gathering my thoughts. A lot has happened and is happening still - so stay tuned for a week back on the blog.

And the pictures? Oh, I've got pictures!!!

Vacationing

Did I forget to mention we are on vacation?! 

The first half is at Noni & Captains house. 5 days filled with swimming and biking on their dead-end street.  I think the kids are in heaven. Ella has already made friends with every kid under 10 on the street (there are lots of them!). Where did she get that from?!! 

Then next week we are off to the beach. That's where I will be in heaven...

Family Reunion

 I forgot to add this to our summer list, but I can guarantee it will be on all of our future lists!

It was nothing fancy...a dusty park, BBQ, a bounce house and a big group Softball Game. 

But it was so special. 

Listening to stories from years gone by...memories that bind this group together. 

And watching the little cousins play together, making new memories and tightening those bonds. 

I think I finally have everyone's names, but Im still working on the connections! 

Ella's favorite part of the day, "I got to play with my big cousins all by myself - with no Mommy or Daddy watching!!" 

Summer is Here!!!

Happy First Day of Summer!! This is perhaps the best day of the year and a great excuse to have a celebratory ice cream cone. Also a great day to make a list of "Summer Must Do's" so here is ours::

 Beach, Beach, Beach::Pool, Pool, Pool:: Farmers Markets:: Fairs:: Amusement Park:: Ice Cream Truck:: S'mores:: Bonfire:: Fireworks:: Circus:: Pony Rides:: Fresh Corn, Fresh Berries, Fresh Tomatoes:: Playing with the water hose:: Water Guns & Water Balloons:: Bike Rides:: Boat Rides:: Backyard Camp Out:: Hike:: Zoo:: Fishing::Catch Fireflies ::Rainy Day Movie:: Mini Golf:: Pick our Own Berries

Im excited! Im a little amazed at how many of our Summer List adventures we have already done, but Im open for repeats! 

I LOVE Summer!! 

Beachin' It

 I'll be honest, I could do without the 1.5 hour drive down to the shore. And lugging all the stuff while cheerily repeating, "come on guys, almost there!" onto the beach is quite hellish. Don't even get me started on trekking back to the car with sandy, tired kids.

 But the middle part? The part where everyone is happy, the sun is shining, and the surf provides the perfect background music? 

Well, it is simply BLISS.

 They entertain themselves. They don't fight, in fact they enjoy each other. As a bonus, the baby took a killer nap, right there on the beach. 

 So, I had no other choice but to turn around and head straight back down the following day. 

 Besides once you have a taste of the beach (in Colby's case, he literally TASTES the beach), you just need more. 

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Great Idea from SouleMama

Bike Brigade

First steps and first words are highlights of parenting...but as the kids get bigger, so do the parenting thrills. This one is all about 2 wheels baby!! 

 The determination, the focus, and the looks on their faces when they finally get it -awesome! 

So, now of course we are obsessed. They want to ride bikes the moment they climb from their beds in the morning, all day, and "just a quick ride before bed, please?" 

Tyler has inherited Drew's bike, complete with a brand new bell, and he couldn't be happier. 

Now all we need is Colby & I to be riding along, instead of trailing behind in their dust :)

Farm Hands

 It has become somewhat of a seasonal ritual...in Spring and then again in the Fall we take a drive to this farm. Well, let's use the word "farm" loosely. It is a park turned into a farm with the simple addition of multiple pens filled with Mama animals and their babies.

 2 week old pig piles, 3 day old goats, kittens, ponies...really every farm animal you can think of just waiting for us to pet them, lay on them, even pick them up. 

 Last Fall Colby was a little bundle wrapped in a stroller, totally unaware of where we were or why. Not this Spring. He was straining to get out of the stroller, squealing, and grabbing every animal in site. 

It's official...it's in our blood...we all love animals! 

 I had to drag Ella out of every pen in order to keep up with our guide. She fell in love over and over, her nurturing spirit just oozing out all over those squawky chickens and nubby lambs. 

The tour ends with the always popular milking of the cow. I think the kids are pretty confused by this. You have to admit the placement of the udders and the udders in general lend the kids to think "pee" rather than milk.  And combine that with seeing me nurse Colby....I can only imagine what is in their little heads. 

That aside, a day with animals is about as good as it gets for us :)

All's Fair

 We like the Fair, it doesn't matter which one or where. 

 This year all 3 of the big kids (and our neighbor/idol) wanted to be on every ride. They bumped on boats, did wheelies on motorcycles, slid down the giant slide and we hugged on the ferris wheel. 

 My face hurt at the end of the day from the perma-grin I had watching my kids laugh, giggle and squeal their way around the fair. 

 It was worth the thousands of dollars we spent :) 

(Nana, that is a joke!!) 

Hello Summer!

The calendar may say that Summer really begins at the end of this month...but there is plenty that is telling me it has already begun. 

 We kicked it off big time this weekend. There was swimming, BBQ, Popsicles, baseball and bikes...if that doesn't say summer, I don't know what does. 

We came together in the backyard for Dad's Birthday, but as usual we seemed to celebrate so much more.  

 Each other, the summer, this awesome life and the moments we spend together. 

So, hello again to our favorite season! And yes, a to do list is on the way :)