home sweet home

Last summer I was so sad to leave Chadds Ford, PA. I fell in love with the landscape, the farmland, the history, and the gardens. I actually cried a little because I thought I might never get to go back. Then this summer we came to NJ and learned we were only 2 hours away. Jessica, Erin and I decided it was worth the drive to go to Winterthur Gardens while the azaleas were in bloom. Remember last year when I got this shot of Ellie? And the gardens were recently featured on the Martha Stewart Show.


Erin's new baby Dana. I can't imagine a better place to take newborn pictures. Good job Jess. She looked so sweet on her crocheted blanket made by her mama.




Dana's big brother, Levi


Kelty and Jess.


This way to the Enchanted Childrens Garden. Ellie remembered what path to take.


Gross, Cody.


When you step inside this fairy ring, mist shoots out of the toadstools.




The 2 year olds ran around in a little pack, jibbering to eachother. We had to chase them down more than once as they dissapeared under trees and shrubs.


I just love this kid.


This is what I dreamed of doing. Laying in the sun in this exact field while my kids run free full of energy and imagination.

brusters

After our day at the gardens, we had dinner at Zupes and ice cream at Brusters. These were two places we frequented last summer. As I edited these photos I realized that Ellie is actually too tall for the free kiddie cone.




Yes, Ellie has had a hair cut since this picture.









Last summer...

"no my sooter!"

This new scooter Justin won for making his 18th sale. Cody has since inherited it and it comes with us everywhere. In bed, the elevator, the car, the boardwalk, and as far into the sand as possible. And heaven help us if any of us, especially Ellie, ever touches his "sooter!" He's never really had trantrums before but his obession with this new scooter has brought out a new side to Cody I have never seen.

P.S. His little outfit above was Justin's way back in 1981.

at the races

Today we headed down the road to Monmouth Park Racetrack. It first operated in the late 1800's and the building and stadium are huge. I can just imagine how this place once looked in its heyday. We stayed for about an hour, watched 3 races and watched Matt lose money. I think we'll come back in August for the big race of the year. One horse fell during the race and we overheard they euthanized it right then and there. This racing biz is just a whole other world we know nothing about, it was strange.

a good saturday includes:

a test drive at the city wide garage sale,


good conversation
(maybe about the bike and scooter they scored for $2),


male bonding,


and ends with the least amount of clothes on as possible.

madsen bikes

If I win this bike I will die happy. Click the link above to see all the fuss.

food meets art

Here are a few drawings we have on our bare walls. The theme of Ellie's drawings seems to be food. It takes a lot of grocery shopping trips to get your pantry and refridgerator re-stocked. Two pictures show a plate of cookies because we are making treats more per Justin's request. He says he needs treats when he gets home at night. Other than the treats we eat pretty fresh and light - I love cooking in our big kitchen with 9 (count them, 9) large windows!

this week

nj marathon

This weekend Justin accomplished a goal he has had for almost 10 years - to run a marathon. He did so well and made it look easy! I know because I road my bike by him the last 13 miles. He did 20 min better the last half than the first half which is pretty amazing considering his longest run ever was 18 miles and that was over 2 months ago. He really hasn't run very much or long for over a month so to finish in 3:40 and feel as good as he did is pretty dang good I think. It was wierd for me to be at a race and not be participating but Justin is always the one to pull the kids around and cheer me on so it was fun to so the same for him.

The race started about 2 blocks down the boardwalk from our apartments. I took this picture looking towards the finish about halfway to where the last of the runners were lined up. I think there were 10,000 runners. Some of them were doing a 1/2 marathon and some a marathon relay.

Packed in like sardines. Justin said for the first 2 miles he had to walk a ton just because there was no room to run.

Ha ha - Just asked me if I was going to blackmail him with a picture of him in this kids size small jacket I got for free the day before. Heck ya I will!

A quick check for running garments. All clear!






I did about 5 video interviews with him during the race. Only at mile 25.5 did he finally decided that selling was easier.


The day before the race there was a kids race expo with frisbee catching dogs, a fun bus, a funny music man, crafts and a kids race. Ellie was so excited but pretty concerned because she wanted to win the race.


As you can see, she didn't win, but was very excited about the medal she won (leftover medals from last years race). Now we have her and Justin's medals hanging together on our wall. Good job my cute little family!

cheap entertainment

One thing I like about our summers away from home is that I think I bit differently when it comes to buying things. I know that there won't be any room to take anything new back home, so we are a little more creative with toys and such. We go to garage sales to find bikes or toys, or just make it. Something I never even think to do at home.



Translation at the end:
"I have the paper for you to color...is that what you do at the store?"
(Later I found out that meant she had a paper for me to sign my name as if I had used a credit card).
"It's right here, in my pocket...click it! No click it, so I can watch the movie" Love her expression at the end - she does this a lot but I've never captured it on camera.

When it's warm we move the whole thing onto the deck.

I give her all our empty cereal boxes and cans. I guess we did learn something useful at Earth Day!

Another cheap way to entertain the kids, let them watercolor right on the table!
These are our new friends Harley and Aleighsha (sp). Harley has been so much fun to have over to play almost every other day. The girls love to run all over the apartment while Cody chases them and roars.


The kids room. Sometimes they sleep together, unless Cody won't stop getting out of bed, then he goes in the playpen. Last year I went a little nutso decorating their room. I kept the pillows and white bedspread but simplified the rest. Wierd but I like these summer rooms almost as much as their room back home, just in a different way. I love all white rooms with a titch of blue.