Hilton Head 2012

We got to go to Hilton Head again with Grandma & Pa.  I think that this vacation I finally acted like a regular person.  I was raised that if you aren't going 100miles per second with your hair on fire then you aren't living and you are just wasting time.  So instead of pushing the family to go and do and push lil'ones to the limits and exhausting ourselves I just didn't.  I relaxed, and we still had a great time.

Our first day there I rolled out of bed and went for a walk with Zachary on the beach.  One of my favorite moments he held my hand and we picked up shells.  Later we rented bikes and took them for a ride on the beach, the boys played in the water and got cold and wet.  On our way back to the room the boys played in the pool and in the splash yard/fountain.  Went back to the room for food and relaxing times for the kids.  Later we went swimming and after dinner we had s'mores around a campfire. 

Tuesday:  We played on the beach with toys and made sand castles and dug holes.  Aunt Kathryn came with her boys.  I made all of the boys shell necklaces that matched Zachary's.  We went swimming in a couple of the pools first the fountain pools then the heated pool.  Yes, loved the heated pool.  We relaxed, played shuffle board, (which the boys quickly made the sticks into weapons) had a Bar B-Q outside on the grill let the boys run around again and watch some showes together.  Over all I say they had a good time.  when I asked Adam what was his favorite part of the vacation he told me "playing with my cousins."  I know that it was a real pain for Kathryn to take Ben out of school and drive all the way down to Hilton Head but I'm so grateful that she did.  Thanks Sista.

Wednesday:  Zach and I got to go on another early morning walk on the beach. Watching the sun rise and holding the hand of my sweet five year old was one of my favorite moments from this trip.  Jo was up all night with what she thought was food poisoning.  Josh took the boys on the beach while I went to get a few things at the store, next thing we know Adam threw up on the beach.  I came home and was on the couch the rest of the day with a stomach virus.  Adam and I bounded over a shared virus.  Josh took Zach and Andrew out on bike rides on the beach just the three of them.  Later he told me that was one of his favorite times on our vacation.  Zachary also got to go make a shark tooth necklace which I know Adam was really looking forward to and was too sick to go, (poor thing).   By the evening Adam seemed to be doing better which I was happy about. 

Thursday: By now everyone was feeling better not a 100% but better.  Adam and I were taking it slow and we went got out to eh beach.  We all went for a bike ride.  By the time we had gotten out there the wind ad really started to pick up for the day so we started off going against the wind as far as the kids would go and then the wind pushed us back to our resort.  Well Adam loved the coming back part that he didn't stop at the hotel and just kept on going with grandpa at his side.  Josh and I saw that and Josh went after him and and took Zach back to the resort.  we waited in one of the cabanas and read books off of my phone and played around.  It was a long time before Josh and crew came back.  he told me that they finally got Adam to turn around and he made it about 200 ft said he was tired and they walked the bikes back.  Always an adventure. 

That afternoon we went to a nature reserve on the island.  We went for a little hike and on our way out we spotted some alligators.  They were just sunning them selves right there on the banks of the streams and just 50ft away was a high school football practice.  Crazy!  Zachary later told me that seeing the Alligators was one of his favorite parts of the trip.  From there we had dinner and went back to the beach for a final farewell. Tthat was I think Andrew's favorite part of the trip.  He had such a blast running into the water and splashing around.  I think that if Josh weren't around to hold him back he would have just kept on running into the water.  He just couldn't get enough of it.  He of course protested when we scooped him up to take him back to the room.  I'm glad that we ended our Hilton Head vacation on such a good moment.  It really makes me want to go back again.

Grandaddy Comes to Town

Since we moved up here to New Jersey 5 years ago my dad has had a case up here in New Brunswick and so he has been coming up here ever so often for business.  He gets the crown for most visited Grandparent.  While he was here we went Pumpkin picking and then we went to Zachary's Soccer game.

Andrew doen't usually go to people other than me but he was fine with Grandaddy taking him out of the car and picking him up.  Adam and Zachary were snuggely with him (even Adam) so i guess that all of these visits to our house have payed off.  It was a really nice weekend and I'm so glad that we got that time with Grandad.  Thanks for making the point to come and see us.  Love you Dad.

Andrew's Buddies

Lately we have been having some regular play dates with a little friend Steel and some impromtue play times with a lil'cutie Sidney.  Andrew really loves having these times with some of his peers.  He starts to show off for Steel when he comes over.  He showes how he can go down the slide and jump on the thrampoline.  They both love Iron Man and Cars.  they love to have a little snack, play with toys (super hero or cars are alway a winner) and if they are lucky the opening to the movie "Cars".  They are boys through and through.

When he is with sidney he turns on the charms.  He is really sweet to ther and what ever she wants he gives to her.  He loves to feed her, give her hugs and kisses.  My other boys weren't like this to little girls. 

I get a real kick out of his change in behavior when he is around his friends.

Pittsburgh Impromtu

I've never been to Pittsburgh until now.  We have been displaced because of the danger that hurricane Sandy posed on our family so we are now with Josh at his AI CHE conference.  I'm pleasantly surprised with this city.  I have been really impressed with the architecture and construction of the buildings.  The infrastructure is immense.  Pittsburgh has over 38 bridges and several tunnels.

We stayed in downtown at the Marriott.  It was a really nice hotel a great place to have adults but not the most family friendly place.  The did have an indoor pool so that was nice.  I really enjoyed the daily maid service.  It was magical to go down to breakfast and come back up to a clean room.  I took joy in that everyday.  besides all of the nice things that were around us it was still hard to be couped up in a small hotel room with three active boys.

We discovered the Pittsburgh Children's Museum.  We bought a family membership and went everyday.  We attended about 5-6 times and still didn't see all of the rooms that were there to see.  It was a wonderful place to take our active and curious kids.  There were several rooms to explore: the attic, bounce room, garage, make shop, nursery, water room, studio, theater, and cafe.  We never made it down to the theater and art studio.  One evening when we were leaving and talking about coming the next day i asked Adam "hey do you want to do the art studio tomorrow?"  he responded "I hate art.  It gets me all dirty."    Pop!  There goes my bubble.

Thursday evening we were at TGIFriday's for dinner and a customer commented that they thought it would be really busy because of the circus being so close.  I inquired and they told me that just above us in the hockey center was the opening night of the circus and that tickets were really cheap.  So, I got to take the Adam and Zach to the circus.  It was my first time to go too and I was on the edge of my seat.  We had a blast.  Adam's favorite part was the clowns and Zach really liked it when the man lit himself on fire and was catapulted across the arena.  I enjoyed the tight rope walkers and the acrobats.  We had so much fun.  I really liked being able to take out just Adam and Zachary. 

Friday was our last day in the swanky city hotel and we moved to more comfortable quarters in the suberbs we did some shoping and get ready to go back home as soon as we had word that we got power restored to our area.  As much fun as our adventure to Pittsburgh was it was ver nice to get back home to our home, beds, pets, and life.