Da Beach

It's Beach day!! And in the end, it was a great day. It was a good idea to postpone and wait, but it was hard to convince the kids of that.

We left my folks house after breakfast and started the 2-hour drive down-state. Yes, Delaware is the 2nd smallest state, but thanks to no interstate, it's still 2 hours to go 90 miles! Oh well. About 1/2 way there, Trevor decided he no longer wanted to go. After various stall tactics, and re-direction ideas, we gave up and told him he was SOL...we were going to the beach. Then the fit started. For a while we ignored it, but that didn't work as his screeches got louder.

Finally, I pulled over into a parking lot, took him out of the car, and told him he was welcome to stand and scream and have a fit for as long as he wanted. I would be waiting in the car. (Yes, he was safe...he was in a grassy fenced area, where he couldn't leave since I blocked him in with the car). He looked at me like I was crazy, and watched me walk to the car. When he realized I wasn't leaving, he decided he was done with the fit and calmed down, came over to me and apologized. And so we continued to drive to the beach...

Once we got there, you would never have guessed this kid didn't want to go to the beach. He, and his brother and parents, had a BLAST!! We met up with my long-time friend Linda, her husband, and family there. We waded, built castles, dug holes, went tubing, ate lunch, had ice cream, and just lounged around for the whole day. Steve spent a TON of time in the surf just enjoying the waves. It really made the whole trip feel like a true vacation!

Trevor covering himself in sand
Eating sandwiches on the beach
Blake as far in the water as he would go!
Trevor trying out tubing, like he saw Daddy and Ron do.
Trevor LOVED tubing!

Both kids slept the entire car ride home, but the of course, they wouldn't go to bed!!!

No Beach....Trains Instead!

Well, this morning dawned damp and rainy, so beach plans have been delayed. It was hard reasoning with the boys (when is it ever easy to reason with 2 kids under 5??), but eventually they were convinced that our alternate plans were just fine.... a old-fashioned steam rail road!!

We hit the road with Mam-gu and Pa-Hugh, and went to the Strasburg Rail Road in PA. We got to go on a 45-minute steam train ride through the GORGEOUS country side (gosh, I miss the hills and landscape of the East!). The boys thought the whole thing was a blast, seeing tons of old engines, carriages, and cabooses, as well as a few other train related paraphernalia! After the ride, we had a bite to eat, and checked out some attractions and the gift shop. They also had on display an 1898 Frick Steam Tractor. (My maiden name was Frick, so WAY cool). All in all a great day.

Mam-gu and Pa-Hugh on the train
Daddy and B pondering something. I now see the family resemblance of father and son (most days I have no idea who my kids look like!)
Trevor and Pa-Hugh enjoying the countryside.
Our beautiful steam engine.
Trevor powering the "cranky car".

Watching the Cagney train... the boys loved this tiny one!
My parents by the Frick Steam Engine!
Trevor and Blake riding in an Amish wagon, while Mam-gu added some ambiance by pretending to be a horse!!


After dinner (which included fabulous FRESH sweet corn...yay!), we decided to visit a few local parks. The kids were playing on the parks at the Elementary school where I went to Kindergarten and my brother went to 3rd grade (in between those years, they closed the school temporarily). I also spent many summer camps in the fields/forest by the school, and the boys even ran the bases on the ball field my brother spent so many years playing on. It was weird to realize all that, and to watch them reliving my childhood play areas.... weird, but cool!

After the park, it was off to Friendly's for ice cream. No trip out east is complete, for me, with out at least ice cream at Friendly's.... lots of fond childhood and high school memories include their ice cream. The boys loved their clown-face sundaes, and were thrilled to find tons of Reese's Pieces candy at the bottom of their sundae.... you'd think they never had ice cream!!

Tomorrow, the beach, take 2!!

Hello from DE!

We made it! We're in Delaware visiting my parents!

Yesterday was full of plane rides, 2 to be exact. Other than a small delay at the beginning the two flights were on-time, and the boys were pretty good. They LOVED watching other planes take-off, and they really liked our take-offs. Waiting to get off the plane....not so enjoyable! But since we were sitting at the back of the plane, we could watch the baggage get unloaded, and the plane get gas...pretty cool! Oh, and on the first trip, the very nice flight attendant arranged for us to visit the cockpit before we got off the plane. What a hit!






Once our second flight landed, it was off to car rental, and the drive-thru dinner on our drive to see Mam-gu and Pa-Hugh! The boys were super excited to get here, and didn't want to go to bed.....even tho it was about 10 pm eastern. I.e. WAY past bed-time. But eventually tiredness won out and sleep they did.

Today included, a walk around the block with Pa-Hugh, a random conversation with an old neighbor, birthday presents for Trevor and I, and a great BBQ with friends. At my request (thanks for accommodating me guys!), my group of friends out here (the Jesters) put together a casual BBQ get together. A large percentage of the group were there including 6 of the 7 kids of the group. They all played together really well, and the rest of us had lots to eat....great pie Tony!!! It was just a nice casual chance to hang-out with some good friends who I've known since college, but don't see very often at all! Thanks guys!!!

Tonight was birthday celebration number 2. Mam-gu made us (T & I) a cake, and we even got to sing and blow out candles. Cake and ice cream are always yummy.....I think Trevor is liking this multiple birthday celebrations too! (Oh, and he loves random birthday gifts-THANKS BETHER!!)


Tomorrow....it's off to the BEACH!!!!

Oh, and pictures come later, as I didn't pack the cord to upload them...oops!

Happy Birthday Trevor!!

My little man is 4!!! I can hardly believe it. Yes, cliched words, but strangely true. I'm not sure where the time has gone, and I can't believe how grown up he is at times. We had a fabulously busy day:

Opening presents before breakfast (just some small teaser gifts)!

Going to the beach (a man-made lake...but it will have to do out here in the midwest!)



Finally, getting the big present from daddy's car!

Getting more presents from Kate and Grandma!

Candles and cupcakes


Silly faces!!



My baby four years ago:

Happy Birthday to my little man!

Trevor's Birthday Cake Tribute

Since Trevor's first birthday, Steve has been hand making all of his cakes. Completely home making, all decorations and frosting etc. It's all him. Every party, all the mom's of the kids at the party "oooh" and "ahh" and turn to me, and say "How did you do it?", and every time I point to Steve.... it's all him.

It all started because Steve has great memories of his mom making him home made cakes in various shapes as a kid. All kinds of cakes for him (rocket ships).....and just once he would have liked a store bought cake. By the time Steve's brother Tim (kid #3) came around, all he got was store bought cakes....and just once he would have loved home-made cake!! See parents, you can never win!!

Anyway....Steve decided to try it out for Trevor's first birthday, and a tradition has been born. At first Steve picked the theme....

Year 1: A Lego Block. An easy way to start, and a toy that Trevor was already very into. He still loves them!



Year 2: A bulldozer cake for Trevor (oh and Kate and I got to share it with him!). T was big into trucks, so the bulldozer was chosen.
The blade of the 'dozer is a cookie, formed around a oatmeal container to give it that curl shape. It's held on with toothpicks and twisty licorice. The tracks were made with string licorice (finding black is hard!).


Year 3: Marty from Madagascar. By now, Trevor had a major opinion on what the cake and party theme woulD be. He loved the movie Madagascar, always wanted to visit Marty at the zoo (yes, all zebra's are named Marty, didn't you know?). So a Marty cake and Madagascar party it was!
Marty's teeth are made from mint life-savers cut into quarters, and his eyes are blue jelly beans with little dots drawn on. I was downright IMPRESSED with this cake.... I think it's Steve's best. He has other favorites.....one he made for Blake (so you'll have to wait until December!).

This year's cake, will not be made until Trevor's party which is next weekend (after our trip) so stay tuned for it. Can you guess what the theme will be??

Jenga

I never would have pegged it as a kids game....but they had a BLAST today. Ironically, they prefer losing, as that means the great big tower crashes down on them. They don't want to lose right away, but it's a lot better to lose at this game than to lose at Candy Land!!

4th of July

Whew! What a weekend.... 2 parades, 2 sets of fireworks, 2 VERY tired little boys! We had a good time.

Trevor started off the festivities at camp making a hat and flag, and having his face painted.

Friday we went to the parade right here in our own town. Grandma and Aunt Kate joined us, but I forgot the camera. I'll add some of Grandma's photos later....she always has a camera on her, hence why she's called "the Paparazzi" by Trevor! The kids had a blast, filling their bags with candy, seeing all the fire trucks complete with sirens, and all the old tractors-very cool.

Later that night, Grandma and Aunt Kate joined us in the backyard for the local fireworks. Also quite exciting. While waiting for them to start, the boys played with glow sticks (a great cheap toy!), and caught lightening bugs in jars....reminding me fondly of my own childhood. The village fireworks were great, but 2 of the neighbors had their own to set off and they added a great second finale. After company went home and the kids to bed, Steve and I sat around the fire pit enjoying that and the neighbor's hard work!


Saturday we decided to head to the next town over's parade to watch with friends. Same firetrucks, tow trucks, and crazy cars made an appearance, but the boys were just as enthralled as the first time around. Not as much candy to be had, but that's fine...we've got more than enough to last us until Halloween!! Again, no photos!!

Saturday night we drove down to a work colleague of Steve's in the south suburbs (like 1.5 hours from here....still in Chicago-land!). Nice backyard barbecue, some sparklers, and more fireworks!!


Today....just a lazy Sunday at home... I watched the Cubs win (2 out of 3 baby...take that Cards fans!!), and I caught the end of Wimbeldon and saw Nadal beat Federer (finally!), and I saw some Olympic trials....geez I'm a couch potato!!! No pictures of that necessary!!

Hope you had a fun and happy 4th!!!

Random Photos

As I sit here downloading photos from the camera, I realize I have TONS of photos on there, never downloaded and posted as intended... OOPS!! Photos like:

Trevor on the SkyRide at Summer Fest last Monday.

The boys wearing their (FREE) race car helmets, also at Summer Fest. Once they put them on, I pushed the double jogger like a crazy lady (oh wait, I usually do that anyway....whew, now they're safe!)


Playing in Grandma's hammock (5/19)


Talking to Mam-gu (my mom) on the phone. (the goggles were a recent acquisition, and he wore them constantly for about 3 days!). (6/2)


Fishing in the flood in Grandma's backyard. Trevor later caught a tree! (6/20)


Strawberry picking (6/24)

I think that covers most of the oldies but goodies.... enjoy!

Parades

Conversation on the way home from our 2nd night of fireworks, after our 2nd day of parades.

Trevor(in a very authoritative tone): If they don't throw candy it's not a parade; if they do throw candy it's a parade.
Daddy: So what is it if it's not a parade?
Trevor (kinda sadly): It's just driving plain.

Ahhhh.... almost 4 year old genius at work. It's been a busy weekend, more tomorrow on all our holiday happenings! Happy 4th!

Bye Bye

We're changing into swim trunks to go out into the kiddie pool in the backyard. Blake is stepping into his trunks, and says, "Bye Bye Pe.n!s." (sorry for the code...gotta keep weirdos away!) Then looks at me, and says "It's hiding Mommy!". He runs down the stairs and out to the pool, yelling "bye bye.... it's hiding".

Just too funny not to post!