Fun on a Saturday

Well, Fall has certainly reached coastal NJ. The nights are cool, the days are sunny and everyone is bursting with happiness around here.

The modern farmer

Swings!

Mom and Aunt Roz at the birthday diner. Did they plan outfits beforehand? Only they know.

Andrew relaxing, sorta, at dinner

Magic Part 3

We had such a wonderful day running, remembering Dad, and giggling with the boys. Mom treated us to brunch and I was so proud of how Zach and Ben behaved. No throwing, no yelling, no drawing attention to themselves. My wonderful little men!

He looks like a teenager!

Ben had a blast on his first toddle down the boardwalk.

Just as fast as his little legs could carry him!

And up up on the sailing ship/playground on the beach. His giggle is so wonderful whne he gets himself to the top of these type of structures.

Magic Part 2

I don't know that there's anything better than chasing seagulls with a toddler. He kept telling them to "come birdies" and it kept not working.

Magic Part 1

Somedays I wake up and know that God has really blessed me. Family, children, a warm place to rest our heads, and love to spare.

We spent a wonderful morning with my mom and the kids on the boardwalk. There's nothing like fall cool weather on the beach to bring out the rose in your cheeks. I think these are some of the best pictures I've taken of Zach, especially because he loved the wind, the foam, the birds, and everything about a deserted beach in October.

Last of the vacation pics

A little late with these. These pics are of a great little place in the middle of an industrial park in Cherry Hill, NJ, the Garden State Discover Museum. It is a reasonably sized set of playrooms essentially. The kids had a blast. The ran all over hither and yon giggling hysterically.

Playing with a life size Lite Brite

On a boat! Pretending to fish

Making everyone lunch

Ben is steering the boat!

Adventures of a Staycation

Due to a confluence of factors, Andrew and I decided that a "stay-cation" would suit the family this year. After the year we've had, neither one of us had the energy to investigate kid-safe house rentals somewhere and then drive there. So, we stayed here!

We've been having a great time. We went to Turtle Back Zoo (sorry, no pics, I forgot the memory card) on Tues day after Ben's clean bill of health from theburn doctors. We saw monkeys, llamas and emus, plus a whole variety of farm animals. And, much to Zach's delight, we rode on a small train out to the reservoir!

Wednesday found us a t the Camden aquarium. It was much better than I expected! Plus, it was practically empty when we were there, which was even better.

Looking at the stingrays

In the African river section. The birds were flying overhead (thus Ben's grin) and there were hippos !

Doesn't he look like a little boy? Where did my baby go?

Oh, there he is. In the new chicken coop.

Hot water!

Well, as many of you know, Ben spent a couple of days in the burn unit at St. Barnabas in Livingston this weekend. He pulled a cup of hot water down on himself. He's going to be fine, but the scald is going to take a little while to heal. He shouldn't have any scarring, nor, near as I can tell, any memory of the situation. The same can not be said for me and Andrew!!!

Ben is home and doing well. Plenty of milk, Tylenol, hugs and long naps are going to help him heal.

The boys and the watermelon! We grew it ourselves.

Enjoying his bottle with Grandmere

You can see the very tip top of his bandage under his shirt.

Double-fisting the watermelon. Yum!