New Hampshire Bound...

We ventured there last year for a quick weekend away. 

This year we ventured back since we loved it so very much! 

Keene, NH:) 

Small town, cute shops, good food, great hotel, and a Lake! 

We stay just off Main Street - so we walk to breakfast or shops as we please without hopping in the car. 

It's never fun getting there - we venture through NJ, NY, and lower CT = Traffic. Ugh. 

but heading back in usually worse - vacation is over! 

Last year we went over the July 4th holiday and this year we went in late August. 

I think sometime between the two would be best.

I'm already looking forward to our trip next year - so relaxing and fun!

We spent most of our days on Spofford Lake... 

shoveling sand, looking for shells (yes there were shells!), swimming, and boat watching. 

The kid had his tube and went wayyy out there with dad! The slope was very gradual and the water warm so it's perfect for kids! (and moms who hate cold water)

He loved watching the boats, jet skis, and skiers going by! 

And look at this white boy - I had him layered in SunScreen head to toe! 

We ate dinner at The Stage twice - such yummy food. and outdoor seating right on Main St. 

He also got some lessons at the hotel pool table! 

I think his favorite purchase of the trip was his new goggles.

While he loves his change holder that says NH with a Moose on it...

He really really loves his goggles! 

So much so - that he found new uses for them once we were home! 

Video below - Enjoy:) 

The Brandywine...

Somehow we discovered this special place along the Brandywine River. 

You're driving along a two lane, rough paved, highway then suddenly, to your right, are parking spots. 

only about 5 spots for small cars. 

and a little stairway leading down an unseen path. 

Husband brought us here. 

We wandered down the stairs with the kid and discovered a complete summer sanctuary.

dropping green trees, pebbles, and river water so clear you can see every rock. 

its a forge, where you can wade through, only up to your knees in most spots. 

looking west, you can see a few teens in a swimming hole, much deeper. 

they're dangling from a rope swing, screaming with fun. 

the three of us wade, pick up rocks, throw pebbles, and realize - 

its abram's first time in a river! 

there are not many swimming hole around there parts - but theres this:) 

These were made with my awful cheap phone, so the quality is shaky... 

but the point was, I actually remembered to take some pics. Me for once! 

Abram rode home naked as a jay bird, his wet clothes piled in the back. 

We plan to come back - often! 

My only wish is that we'd known of it sooner... 

It felt like such good country fun! 

Movie Night

We're in the midst of watching the Toy Story movies. 

Dinner beforehand was eaten 'picnic style' in the living room on an old blanket. 

The kid was so darn excited about a picnic dinner, he ate everything on his plate! 

We spread the sleeping bags and propped up on pillows. 

Husband threw some popcorn on the stove in real oil with real kernels and popped it up on the stovetop, sans microwave. 

The real deal is so much better than the micro stuff, isn't it?

He throws on a bit of earth balance and salt = YumO:) 

Below, the boys are tuned into Toy Story 2.

These movies are so cute. Enjoyable for adults and littles. 

Afterward, the kid was practically in tears because he'd gotten the idea we were going to sleep there, on that very floor, in our sleeping bags after the movie. 

That was not the plan. 

The sleeping bags husband & I use are for 35 degree weather. 

Not 78 like the living room. 

plus, kid gets up crazy early whenever he sleeps right beside us, which is a rare occasion usually reserved for traveling and hotel rooms. 

Perhaps in the fall its an option since he was so psyched over the prospect of such an event... 

But it was a fun night. Picnic dinner. Movie night. Popcorn. 

Toy Story 3 to come via Netflix streaming while we're on our trip to NH!

So excited to get back up to the New England area!

Another day at the beach...

Once more, we returned to put our feet in the sand, but a bit further South.

Bethany Beach, DE.

 Can I just say, I instantly liked it better there than the Jersey Shore. 

Perhaps it was simply that I knew, in my head that we were south of the Mason-Dixon. 

But it also just seemed more family friendly. More us;)

And lucky for us, we were staying the night with this guy! 

And I paid him in locally grown organic broccoli and organic dark chocolate.

I've always loved the barter system. 

Our host had a goodie for the kid - a boogie board! 

And for the first time ever, he enjoyed the water, barely bothering with the sand! 

"LETS DO IT AGAIN!"

"I Wanna do my bug board!" 

"That was Cool!" 

It was great fun to see him enjoying the water, for two whole days. 

We also enjoyed some pool time at John's place, with the kid using his swimmies and swallowing gulps of chlorinated water while laughing. 

We attempted teaching him to hold his nose. He would hold it, let go, and jump in. 

Still working on that obviously. 

And who I am to teach him a thing about swimming when I can't do it myself. 

Reminder to self - check YMCA's list for swim lessons for self Abram. 

The beach wears ya out. 

Especially when you're helping a 3 year old boogie board, for hours, for days.

But, we had such fun with great friends and sunny days;) 

Side note: I had moisture on the lens of the crappy camera for all but about two pictures so pardon the blur! 

making memories

Apparently the theme one week at daycare was camping. 

The kid rattled on about camping, tents, campfires, sticks, and singin' songs. 

I contemplated a camping trip here and there but wow has it been Hot! 

And who goes camping without building a campfire? 

Not Us. 

But who builds a campfire when its 102 degrees outside? 

Again, not us. 

The next best thing, a candle fire on the back deck! 

Any better ideas? 

We didn't have any obviously... 

He wad giddy with excitement to start the candle fire and roast his marshmallow. 

His first smore experience was quite exciting!

These smore sticks we're using - dollar target bins thank you! 

His marshmallow suffered many fires, and burns, and smoke as well. 

I was the official, blower'outer. 

Abram swung his marshallow over for me to give a good POOF and I somehow avoided being torched.

After viewing these pictures that night, we promptly power washed the back of the house the next day. 

Funny how you don't notice things when you walk by them every day! 

The kid dug into his smore and later had another, and then more i do believe... 

After his first one, he promptly stated it was now time to "sing songs round the fire"... 

So we broke out into Kum Bah Ya. 

Not kidding.

Husband was less than thrilled with this idea but did the daddy thing and sang along like it was his ole favorite;) 

Hopefully we didn't disturb our neighbors. 

We only sang it 9 times. 

The dogs mourned from inside that they missed the fire lite fun, and even more sad they didn't get a smore. 

but the kid was all chocolatey gooey smiles and mallowy sticky hands... 

And it was just a yummy sorta night for making a good ole memory or two:) 

The Jersey Shore - Family Style

Husband was back and forth all week. 

"Should we go? The weather... I'm not sure..." 

"We shouldn't. Its going to rain... maybe. But I'm not sure..." 

"Okay, we're not going. Maybe next weekend." 

So, Saturday - typically my morning - my stay in bed be lazy morning - as I leisurely try to sleep in, husband is in and out of the room, slammin, stompin, changin, brushin, stirrin, lights agoin' - Sigh.

"REALLY?" I yelled. I growled a bit and slammed my head back into the pillow. 

"Hey... (I ignore), Hey... Hey... I thought we'd go," He says. 

"Go?!? What!?! We decided we weren't going! You said - "

"Yea - but I just checked the weather - its going to be nice! We should go! I mean, if you don't want to thats fine. Really. But we could. We should. If you want to." 

"Okay, fine."

I had looked forward to taking the kid but oh the pleasure of my morning - POOF! Gone. It's a sad thing as a mom, isn't it? 

I managed to zap my crabby mood with a huge cup of coffee. 

And it was then passed onto husband who can't tolerate traffic. 

Ever driven to the shore on a Saturday morning in New Jersey? 

Fun Times. Highly recommend it. 

Sitting in miles of traffic = Quality Family Time. 

(ie - husband banging the steering wheel, ranting about bad drivers. the kid watching a dvd and asking what's wrong daddy (oh nothing son, fake smile) and I'm hungry - where's the beach? over and over. and Mom, trying to ignore it all and read a magazine). 

But we finally ended up at our destination, leaving our bad moods behind.

Brigantine Beach, NJ.

The moment our feet hit the sand, we were all smiles and fun - thankfully. 

15 minutes later, a massive wave crashed into shore, covering all our freshly laid towels and beach blankets and dry clothes. SMILE:) 

We actually did laugh it off, relocate our stuff, and get right back out there... 

Though he still has major hesitations about the waves and water, he loves the sand.

and flying his kite with Daddy... 

then all on his own too:) 

After hours of play, we dined on fish and chips and had a much more relaxing trip home. The kid snoozed. Husband didn't battle traffic. We actually got to have real conversation. 

Perhaps we'll do it again? 

America's Birthday!

The focus this week at the kid's school was America's Birthday!

The kid made this awesome hat for their America's birthday parade too:) 

He was VERY into it, can't ya tell?

This year, we actually had company for July 4th! My Mama;) Also had a visit with my Aunt and Cousin to start off the weekend! 

The long weekend entailed lots of shopping, lots of morning coffee and even more chatting, talking, and catchup time... oh, and fireworks too! 

We venture out to Parkesburg, PA for the fireworks show. Its an easy in and out, the fireworks are great, and you get an up close and personal seat to the action.

He adored the display this year, just look at his face!

Our neighbors joined us for the fun and the boys munched on snacks while playing with their fave - glow sticks;)

Abram loved having his Mamaw around for the weekend too. 

He got lots of book reading, loving on, and good playtime in. 

He also got a lot of his requests on their Target shopping trip such as the game below - Mitt ball! 

The weekend went way too quickly as they always do, but even faster when  I have great company! 

I'm hoping for a TN trip sometime in my near future....