OCNJ 2011

Our weekend trip to seem Me-Mom and Be-Bop was so much fun! Duke wasn't crazy about the cold water but he loved the sand and loved playing in the back yard with his cousins. We took long walks in the morning on the boardwalk and got coffee and we played catch phrase at night. Duke was not a fan of keeping his clothes on and once we changed his diaper he deemed that an opportunity to get up and make a run for it. So he is half nude in alot of my pictures.

All the kiddies. Duke is not at the cooperative age for group shots.

Nude sun bathing. He is channeling his cousin Zach from MO in this picture.

Chris and Bridget posing for a picture.

This is as good as it got with Duke in the shot. He was not happy about the group photo sitting in the water.

Duke and Daddy coming back from playing in the ocean. Daddy isn't too happy that he lost his sunglasses in a wave.

My sweet boy playing in the sand. I love the little shoulders.

"Hi Mom-mom"

Little Loucky is getting so big! He is taking his littler cousins for a ride on the "dingy".

Got to ride on the boat!

Pants are optional in beach tennis.

The Great Bunny Rescue

It was our first night at the shore and this is how the great bunny rescue began. Uncle Brian and the boys were setting up the crab trap at mom-mom and pop-pop's house. Someone (Brian or Matt) looked into the water and notice a bunny swimming. When we realized that bunnies don't normally swim, Kim decided she had to save the bunny. She wanted to kayak out to get it but was afraid she was going to tip the kayak. Brian said he would steer for her to make it easier.

Here they go kayaking to try to catch the bunny, who at this point was swimming fast and frantic to find a spot it could easily get out of the bay.

On their way back, Kim is smiling, they rescued the bunny.

The bunny was so exhausted from its swim that it just did not move.

We are on our way to take the bunny to a safe place to get his energy back so it can get back home.

Safe and sound. I have a feeling some kids and brave adults are going to get an extra big basket this Easter. Who knows.

Philadelphia Zoo

Mom-mom and Duke at the zoo.

Kim and her boys.

My family.

The monkey exhibit.

Last Thursday mom-mom Horgan took us to the zoo. Duke's first trip to a big zoo! We went to visit Duke's new day care first thing in the morning for Duke to see the other kids getting dropped off by their parents and for me to spend some time with him there and see how he does. We weren't their more than 10 minutes before I smelled a "BM" (that's day care talk for a poopy). I was a little embarrassed but figured they deal with this all day. I didn't bring his diaper bag in and it was pouring outside so I just dealt with it for a little while longer. Duke did pretty good but he did make sure I was right there most of the time so we'll see how he does when I have to leave. I just don't think I can handle walking away from his crying face.

Turkey.

The Butt rock.

Duke was so excited to see a huge "track-torr" at the zoo.

It rained all morning but by the time we got to the zoo the weather was beautiful. It was not crowded either, which makes for a nice time. After the zoo we headed to the shore to visit me-mom and be-bop. I will put together a separate post for the shore trip.

Happy Birthday to Megan, Kim and Loucky!

Today is my sister, Megan's, birthday! She is in Washington D.C. with Marc so she did not get the cupcakes I delivered to her house this morning ;-). Oh Megs, you know if I lived closer you'd be getting a special treat for your big day. One of the many cons of not living close to your family.

Today is also my sister-in-law, Kim's, Birthday! We were at OCNJ together with our families so I did get to see her on her birthday. I think she is still celebrating right now at the shore with a little more peace and a little more quiet!

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was my brother-in-law, Loucky's birthday. We celebrated at the shore with cake and some catch phrase. Very fun and very competitive.

Happy Birthday, B!

Happy Birthday to Aunt B! We hope she had a great 27th birthday! She does so much for little Duke and we appreciate her very much! Duke is just making sure the cupcakes taste ok.

Weekend Visitors

Fun at the park! Speeding down the slide!

Ann and Dad (a.k.a. Grammy and Pappy) came to visit this weekend. We had a nice relaxing visit and celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on Saturday. Duke LOVES having visitors at the house, especially his pappy. We went to the park and played with toys and had lots of fun.

Grammy's making a shower gift.

Pappy catching some zzz's while duke is napping.

Daddy and Duke. Love the matching hairlines!

Officer Jack

Today Jack found out that he was accepted into the Police Academy. I am very proud. I am also very VERY anxious and scared. Do I believe he will be a great cop, yes. Do I think people are crazy and all on drugs, yes. Maybe I will finally lose the last 10 baby lbs with all the worry. Anyway, the academy starts October 3rd and it lasts until about March. I think he will do great and I am looking forward to the next part of our lives. I hope the next 8 months are not as stressful as I am thinking they will be with Duke starting day care and Jack shooting a gun and not working but I am usually up for a challenge. I will keep you all posted on his progress.

At least he looks good in a uniform.

The last 24 hours

I have been eating these. Why do I make them when I am going to eat 80% of them.

More Mountain Fun

Sunset at the mountains.

The lifeguard on duty.

"cheeeeeeese"

Buds

Tube surfing

Yummy s'mores

Cool

A character (three characters)

When can we go back!!??

Mountain Weekend in July!

We had our summer weekend in the mountains mid July. A beautiful weekend in July this year. Weather was near perfect and it was perfectly relaxing and fun. Fun family and good kids. The days were spent sitting at the dock, swimming and feeding the ducks. The busy day made for big appetites in the evening grilling out and making s'mores. All the kids were so tired from the nonstop swimming, riding the wave runners and kayaking.

Most of these pics, my SIL, Kim took. She takes some good pictures so I snagged them.

Kayaking with Dad.

On the wave runner with mom.

Avah, Matt and Chris played nonstop in the water.