Men In Uniform...

So Thursday night, just a few hours after my Grandma arrived to spend the week with us, our Carbon Monoxide detector started beeping! We've had it for under a year, and have always just ignored it...we never thought it would be an issue, just figured it was better to be safe than sorry. So imagine our surprise when it goes off and indicates a carbon monoxide level of 240ppm...when the normal level is under 30ppm!! Yeah, we were a little concerned...to say the least. So after Joe reset it twice and it continued to go off, we called 911 and they instructed us to leave the house immediately and they would send the fire department over to check it out. Not 5 minutes later, we had 2 firetrucks and 6 firefighters arrive...because the town we live in is small and when there's an emergency, everyone shows up for it!! They sent in 3 guys to inspect the entire house, and our propane tank outside, and we were very relieved to find out that the carbon monoxide levels were normal and there was absolutely no cause for concern. Apparently we need to buy a new carbon monoxide detector! Which we are MORE than happy to do. Fortunately it wasn't an issue...this time. But it definitely made us aware of how important it is to have them.

So moral of the story...get a carbon monoxide detector for your home, especially if you have a gas fireplace, but even if you don't! Because it could save your life. And if by some fluke it malfunctions...like ours did...you get a free visit from some men in uniform;) Ha ha!

Silver Sands Beach

Today the kids and I spent the afternoon at Silver Sands in Milford. I have been wanting to check it out since I heard about it a while back. We usually go to the beach in Fairfield since that's the one I'm most familiar with and grew up going to, but it requires a permit for parking so we usually have to park in the marina and take a 10 minute walk over to the beach. Then I heard that Silver Sands has all free parking, and a sand bar that's exposed during low tide that allows you to walk out to Charles Island...and that was enough to get us there! Turns out, the walk from the parking lot to the beach is also kind of a hike, but shorter than in Fairfield...and it's a really pretty, scenic walk on a boardwalk overlooking the marshlands. So Jack had fun..he called it a bridge, and kept stopping to look over the side at the fish in the water below and anything else he could see. Every so often he'd look back and say "oh my gosh..look how far we went!" It was a long boardwalk!

The beach itself was really nice. We had a beautiful view of Charles Island, and it was low tide, so the sand bar was completely exposed, and the water was really shallow which made it easier for Sophie to play in it...which she did for most of the time we were there! She was so excited to find lots of tiny hermit crabs, and she kept picking them up and bringing them to me. Those and seaweed seemed to be her two favorite finds! Jack was busy the whole time digging in the sand and making sandcastles. He wasn't too interested in playing in the water for more than a few minutes here and there...really just to splash with Sophie a bit. Once I enthusiastically pointed out all the hermit crabs and some little fish to him, he was a bit apprehensive about joining them! But he did his own thing...he's very content to play by himself...he has a bit of an introverted nature (like me!). But he also has no problem making a new friend or joining a group when he wants to. He made friends with an older boy and they made sandcastles together for quite a while, and then they stomped on them when they were done. Later he joined another boy for more sandcastle building. I'm always amazed at how comfortable he is to just go up to another kid and ask to play. But we all had fun and will be going back soon for sure. Maybe next time we'll bring Joe and we can all walk the sand bar to Charles Island!

Hiking With Jack

Earlier in the week, Jack told me he wanted to have dinner out with me...just like I do with Nikki every week. So I asked him if he'd like to go out for lunch at his favorite spot (Leo's) and then do something special with me afterwards...of course he was all for it! So we decided to do it on my birthday, which happens to be today. I can't think of a better way to have spent the afternoon. So we went to Leo's and got our usuals, and then headed over to Southford Falls for some hiking! It was awesome to be there by ourselves, and not have to worry about a certain little tazmanian devil who shall remain nameless! We hiked further down the trail than we usually do when Sophie is with us, and found a great spot overlooking the falls...it was beautiful! Jack threw rocks over the edge. And he pointed out all kinds of interesting things. Then we headed back up the trail to go through the covered bridge and, on our way, we found a patch of wild blackberries. They were so good! I ate them all the time as a kid, but they were Jack's first wild blackberries...he was hooked! Too bad only a few were ripe...we'll have to go back soon to eat more. At the top of the falls, we sat on the rocks alongside the water and dipped our feet in, and just hung out there for a while...I could have stayed there all day! Then we took a walk up to the pond...where the water in the falls originates. We saw a ton of dragonflies, all shining green and blue in the sun..they were so pretty. On our way out, Jack got an ice cream from the Good Humor truck, and then we headed home. We had a great time, and I lost count of how many times Jack said "Mom, I like going out with you." I decided, after something like the 10th time he said this, that we will just have to make this a regular thing!

Girls Day Out

Sophie and I spent the afternoon together, just the two of us...which is RARE! Joe and Jack had decided that they wanted to go see Wall-E again, and since he's feeling pretty good post-vasectomy (yup, we are officially out of the baby making business!) they headed out for their Boys Day...leaving Sophie and I to have a Girls Day! We didn't do anything terribly exciting, but it was fun to be able to focus on only her. We had to run a quick errand, but made up for it by getting some yummy mango-raspberry popsicles...which I THINK she enjoyed....



Then we headed over to the playground, and not surprisingly we didn't play on any of the playground equipment...because she is always MUCH more interested in exploring. So we walked over to the pond to see the geese, picked some wildflowers, found some bugs to watch, tossed rocks down a storm drain, tried (unsuccessfully) to climb a tree, and then repeated all of the above again and again. While she explored, I got a chance to take some pretty nature photography, one of my favorite things to do. And revel in the fact that I have a child who loves the natural world as much as I do. I can just see it as she gets older and we have more of these Girls Days...we'll be out hiking in the woods instead of shopping in the mall. Which is more than okay with me!










Looks like we weren't the only ones having a good time today...;) ha ha ha!

can't wait for these to ripen!


I have the same picture of Jack at this age...he was OBSESSED with throwing rocks down drains!

Although, she does have a fancy girlie side, too....check her out in her pretty dress (which she picked out all by herself this morning) and sunglasses (she insisted on wearing them this way!). Obviously the perfect outfit for bug catching and mowing the lawn...:)

Bugs!

While we played outside today...in the sweltering heat and humidity, mind you...we saw a blue and green dragonfly that kept landing on the rock wall in our driveway and just hanging out. It was so pretty I had to run to grab the camera so I could get a picture of it. That inspired both kids to search for more bugs...and we were not disappointed! I never really pay much attention to the bug population in our yard, but once we started looking we found bugs everywhere! Beetles, dragonflies, moths, bumblebees, ants, an inchworm...all very interesting to watch, and Sophie was especially interested in them...she loves bugs! Each time we found a new bug, Jack would say, "Quick, Mom, take a picture!!"...so I did! And you all get the pleasure of lots of bug pictures below! The kids actually played, too...tennis, bikes, bouncy balls, rocket launcher, sandbox. I have no idea how they can run around so much when it's so hot and muggy. I was sweating just standing still. They ended their outdoor time with a race down the hill. Then it was in to home sweet air conditioned home!

Happy 30th, Nikki!

We spent the afternoon helping Nikki ring in her 30's with style! Her boyfriend, Al, threw her a surprise party and about 40 of her closest friends and family all came together to celebrate. We're not sure if she was REALLY surprised...she arrived all decked out, heels and all...for what she thought was dinner with Al! But she sure looked like she was having a great time...and we had a great time, too! Happy Birthday, Nikki...we love you! Even though you're old now :) Wait...I'll be 32 next week...nix that, ha ha!

"Surprise!!!"



Helping Sophie "sign" the guest book. PS Nik...all of those scribbles really mean "Happy birthday to the bestest Auntie in the whole world!" :)

Sorry Nik, but I HAD to post this...you sassy thang!


Joe and Jay "straight ballin'"...as they say in the 'hood.

Make a wish!

Joe, Jay, Jason & Danielle


Mmmmm, cake!

A little fooseball action...Jack and Al were kickin' some serious butt!

Happy (wet) 4th of July!

I look forward to the 4th of July all year long...it's hands down one of my favorite days of the year. Not because of the patriotism of the day...although I am patriotic. And not because of the picinics...although I do love a good picinic. It's because I love...LOVE...laying on a dark beach, surrounded by friends, smelling the salty ocean air, feeling the cool breeze off the water...and watching fireworks light up the sky. LOVE IT!

So, after an indoor picinic at Nana's...because it had the audactiy to RAIN on the 4th of July...we headed to the beach. Fortunately by that time, the rain had stopped and, while it was cloudy, it was dry for the time being. But we brought our umbrella with us...just in case. We arrived with Tony and Michelle, so the four of us and the four kids got all geared up and started out on our 10 minute walk to the beach to stake out a good spot...Jack, Amelia, & Hartley in the wagon (Tony got a good workout!), Sophie in the Beco carrier (I also got a good workout!), and Michelle and Joe acting as pack mules carrying all of our stuff! After setting up camp, the kids got right to work digging in the sand and building sand castles.

Shortly after 9pm, moments before the fireworks began, we felt the first raindrops...just a few here and there. Then they came a little more frequently. And I guess the pyrotechnic guys out on the barge got the hint and decided to get the show on the road! As soon as the first of the fireworks went up, I forgot all about the rain...MOMENTARILY. Because that's when the downpour began! Let me just tell you how happy I was that we brought that umbrella "just in case"! We ended up with 7 (7!!!) people under our one umbrella...granted 5 of those people were pretty little...it was Joe and I, Jack, Sophie, Kaitlyn, Jonathon, and Ashley! It was actually kinda fun...since we had an umbrella and all! All huddled together under an umbrella, out toes getting wet from the rain, and enjoying some great fireworks...the kids were in awe of them. Jack kept exclaiming "Oh my GOSH!", and Sophie sat as still as can be (which usually only happens when she's sleeping!) and pointed at the sky saying "wow". Then, about half way through the fireworks, the rain stopped completely and we got to really enjoy the rest of the show...because by then we were so over the "fun" of huddling under an umbrella! As usual, it was a great show...and well worth getting a little wet to enjoy it. The only bad part of the whole evening was knowing I have to wait a whole year to do it again.

Homeschool Park Day

The homeschool group we belong to does a weekly park day, and today the kids and I went to our very first one. We got to meet lots of really great people and we all had a ton of fun. The kids, who ranged in age from 1 to 11, all got along really well. The bigger ones...Jack included...had a water fight by filling up plastic water bottles at the water fountain and chasing after each other...they were all soaked in no time! It was hilarious! The playground was completely fenced in, so Sophie just had fun being free to go and do as she pleased...and she loved playing with all of the kids. We had a great day...and we will definitely be going again next week!

Sophie's First Movie

Yesterday, Sophie had her very first movie theater experience! We took the kids to see the new Disney/Pixar movie, Wall-E. She's been watching the trailers with Joe and Jack for a while now and LOVES Wall-E, so even though we would ordinarily NEVER think to bring her someplace where she has to SIT STILL for 2 hours (because she never stops going going going!), we thought she'd do okay. And she really did! Granted, she didn't really sit for most of the movie....she preferred to be standing or walking back and forth between Joe and I, occasionally sitting with either of us or in her very own seat for brief moments. But she did watch most of the movie, getting all excited and pointing at the screen whenever she saw either Wall-E or the girl robot, Eve. She also loved the popcorn and Raisinettes...surprise surprise! The movie was really good...Jack gave it an exuberant applause when it ended! And they both got to stop at the toy store afterwards to buy a Wall-E (for Jack) and Eve (for Sophie)...which they both played with the whole way home!

Crayola Factory

On Wednesday morning...our last day of vacation...we made sure to hit The Waffle House one last time before saying goodbye to Lancaster County. Because we LOVE Waffle House and it will be a looong time before we get to one again. Goodbye "scattered, smothered, and covered" bliss! And we were finally on our way to our final destination by noon...yes, we're slow movers in the morning! The one thing we had planned for vacation (because, really, we don't plan...we just go and find fun things to do with a very general idea of what those things will be) was the Crayola Factory up in Easton, PA. We had it planned for our very last day because it was a GREAT way to break up our long trip home...and, really, what could be cooler than the Crayola Factory?? It took us a little more than 2 hours to get there, and then we stayed there until they kicked us out!

They had SO many fun things to do that in hindsight we should have gotten there a lot earlier so we could have really spent more time doing everything. But we still had a great time, and the kids made lots of fun projects. They both colored pictures with those color wonder markers (you know, those ones that only color on special paper and nothing else), made construction paper hats and decorated them, sculpted with Model Magic (which is VERY cool and we bought packs in every color!), made crayon rubbings on different textured plates, and Jack and I made some art with melted crayon wax...so cool! The both played in the little kid play area, and did sidewalk chalk on the indoor sidewalk. Joe and Jack also checked out the lecture that shows how both crayons and markers are made, and Jack got free samples of both, including a discontinued crayon...Mulberry (so if anyone has any old mulberry crayons, they're now collector's items, ha ha!).

After we did everything at the Crayola Factory, we headed upstairs to check out the National Canal Museum, which was also included in our admission. It was actaully very interesting, and Jack had a TON of fun learning how to navigate a ship through different waterways...while Sophie just had fun splashing! Then they both had fun playing in the children's part of the museum, which had a replication of a ship and a farm and old schoolhouse, as well as exhibits for them to experiment with levers and pulleys, and gravity, and other cool science-y stuff! We totally could have stayed there much longer, but we practically got kicked out since we were the last ones up there...oh well. Now we know for next time...don't be so lazy in the morning! Even so, it was a GREAT way to end our vacation. We're so looking forward to next year!

coloring with Color Wonder markers

You can watch them make crayons and markers here

Decorating their hats

It's okay to write on the wall at the Crayola Factory! These are Crayola markers that write on windows!

Sophie coloring at the Crayon Carousel

Jack being silly and modeling his newly made hat...Sophie refused to keep hers on for the picture

See?? :)

Sculpting with Model Magic. Anyone out there who watches Jon & Kate Plus Eight will remember that they also took a trip to the Crayola Factory, and one of the sextuplets ATE the Model Magic...so guess what the first thing Sophie did when she got her Model Magic?? Yup...ate some! Ha ha!

You can color on it with markers, and add decorations to it, too!

Jack using melted crayon wax

Sidewalk Chalk

Navigating his ship through canals at the National Canal Museum


Joe and Jack navigating ships together

Sophie was so excited to find a chicken coop...she loves chickens!

No, really, she LOVES chickens!

Experimenting with inclines. Notice Joe acting as "pack mule"...our rule when we're out is you're either in charge of chasing after Sophie or you're the pack mule...guess what my job was? "Pack Mule" is usually the coveted position!! Joe got lucky that day :)

Experimenting with levers and pulleys

Railroad room

Cherry Picking

Just like the last 2 years that we came here, we made sure to fit in some cherry picking at a local orchard. Every year our trip seems to coincide with the peak of cherry picking season, which usually falls during the last 2 weeks of June. This year, Sophie was finally old enough to do her own picking and Jack was a seasoned pro! At first, most of Sophie's picking was really foraging...she was picking up any cherry she saw on the ground and eating it. We tried desperately to keep her from doing it since many of the ones on the ground were bad, but quickly realized it was in vain. So she ate a bunch, and somehow knew how to avoid the pit and actually spit out the bad ones....so we just let her do her thing! Later on, she climbed up a ladder with Joe and picked some of the higher-up cherries....which she loved doing so much that she didn't want to get back down! Jack did most of his picking all on his own, knowing exactly which ones were ripe enough to pick. He used the ladder, too, to get some of the really good ones high up in the tree. In the end, we had 2 buckets full of cherries...which will make for good eating on the long trip home! Hopefully, we have some left by the time we get there!











the BEAUTIFUL view from the cherry orchard, in between the cherry trees and the cornfield.

enjoying the view!

Sophie and Jack walking through the corn field behind the cherry trees

The Amish Village

Since we're in Amish Country, we thought it would be interesting to learn more about them. So we spent some time at a replication of an Amish village..appropriately named The Amish Village! The house and barn are both original Amish buildings, and we went on a tour of both and learned some really interesting things about their way of life. Then we were free to tour the rest of the grounds on our own, so we checked out the animals in the pastures, the water wheel, the farm equipment, the schoolhouse, the blacksmith shop, and the Smoke shop (which was really a little general store where we bougt some goodies). The kids also really enjoyed sitting in a real Amish buggy, which we see all over town being pulled by horses. Before we left, Joe and Jack stopped in the gift shop and Jack insisted on buying Sophie a little stuffed pig, even though he himself didn't get anything of his own...so sweet! Of course, Sophie loved it! And we all had a really great time.



visiting the animals...they both loved this donkey!

Jack watching the water wheel work


Sophie in a buggy!

the farm equipment

the Schoolhouse

Inside the Schoolhouse

the Blacksmith shop

Jack enjoying his lollipop in the buggy

Day 4...Train Rides and Mini Golf

We spent our first full day in Pennsylvania revisiting some of the places we went last year. Our first stop was to the Strasburg Railroad, for a train ride through Amish farmland. The views were beautiful....just farmland for as far as you can see with white barns scattered throughout. We even saw some of the Amish out working in the fields with their horse-pulled farm equipment. Jack and Sophie were excited to also see lots of cows...Sophie moo-ed every time she saw one. The last 2 years that we came here, we came for the Day Out With Thomas festival that they hold here very year. So the train station was always PACKED and busy. But this year we missed Thomas, so the station was very low-key and we got to really enjoy it without battling the crowds. We also took a ride on one of their miniature trains...this time without having to wait in a looooong line! And Jack and Sophie both chose something special from the gift shop to bring home....Jack chose an electric train set and Sophie chose a Dora train book with sounds.

After our train ride, we headed to the Olive Garden for dinner and then to Jack's favorite...mini golf! This was definitely an adventure...but not the golf course...keeping tabs on Sophie! The golf course has lots of streams and waterfalls along the courses, so Sophie was constantly...CONSTANTLY....trying to throw the balls in as well as herself! We had a few close calls where she would have jumped right in without some quick thinking on our part. When she wasn't busy trying to jump into the water, she was busy running around on other courses when people were trying to play, and picking flowers from the gardens, and climbing on rocks, scooping up handfuls of mulch....it was exhausting trying to keep up with her and keep her out of trouble! So Joe ended up taking her out to the parking area to let her run around in the grassy areas and inside the gazebo while Jack and I finished the course together. I offered to let him finish out the course with Jack, but he insisted on being on Sophie-Duty, saying "You do this everyday...just have fun"...because he rocks like that!

After mini golf, we made one last trip before heading back to the hotel...to Sonic for ice cream and vanilla cokes! One of my favorite things about vacation is getting to eat at places we don't have back home...and that I wouldn't eat at if we did have at home (because I'm a health freak!!). My two favorites are Sonic (reminiscent of my college days in Oklahoma), and Waffle House (reminiscent of my and Joe's many road trips down south in our pre-kid days!)...can you say "scattered, smothered, and covered"??? Mmmmmm! It goes completely against my health freak nature...but oh boy is it good! And I'll be enjoying it to the fullest for the next 2 days!












The sign says, "Employees & Ducks only beyond this point!" ha ha ha!

Day 3...On The Road Again

After a day resting and then partying, we once again hit the road...this time to Strasbug, PA for the family vacation part of our trip. And again, what should have taken a litle more than 4 hours took 8!!! Traveling with little kids sure slows things down. Between the pee pee stops, and lunch, and spending some time at the rest stops to let them run around outside...it really adds up. And we didn't even have any traffic! But we still made it, and this time with happier kids...8 hours sure beats 12!


I actually got excited to see gas prices below $4.00!!!

Day 2...The Wedding

So what do you do the day after a 12 hour car trip? Well, we spent it laying around our hotel room...lounging in our pj's, playing Legos, coloring, watching TV, sending Joe on a food run :)...because we didn't want to do ANYTHING that involved riding in a car...and we were TIRED! And if there's ever an excuse to do nothing, we had it! We felt kinda lame for spending our first time ever in Richmond, VA in a hotel room...but whatever...it rocked! And because we spent the entire day lounging, we were SO ready for some serious partying come early evening!

Our reason for traveling all this way was to be here for our friend Jen and Keith's wedding! Joe and Jen actually grew up together...their moms have been best friends since they were kids! The ceremony was short but very sweet! It was held in a beautiful old church and was full of emotion...it was clear to see how much in love Jen and Keith are and we felt honored to be there for this special day in their lives! Afterwards, we celebrated at the Hanover Arts Center. The kids had their own party room, full of fun crafts and kiddie snacks and each child had a beach pail with their name on it full of fun things for them to play with. Jack stayed and played in there for quite a while with the other kids, but Sophie wasn't having it! So she spent most of the time out in the main room with us, while Jack made trips back and forth. During the cocktail hour, we enjoyed visiting with people we haven't seen in a long time while eating lots of great food and listening to music. After Jen and Keith made their big entrance, the party really got started! Joe and I were busy taking turns chasing after Sophie, but Jack was cutting it up on the dance floor with Nana and his cousins! Even showed off some of his break-dancing moves! And Joe and I did finally get to enjoy a dance together later in the evening after Sophie fell asleep...although it was a 3 person slow dance...with Sophie in the middle! The whole night was so much fun...and well worth the 12 hour trip from Connecticut. Really!

Congratulations Jen and Keith...we wish you a lifetime of love and happiness with each other! So when are you guys gonna have some kids? ;)