Aug 2012 - Part 2: New Jersey

Time for a road trip to Jersey!

Maybe it's time to clean those windows...

Hoboken!

It was a really hot day, but we had a great time in Hoboken.  We enjoyed a great park for the kids to play in and a picnic lunch with a great view.

 Liberty Science Center - Jersey City

 Our plans for the Jersey Shore got rained out, so we decided to go to the Liberty Science Center and had a great time. 

 

Sullivan almost broke the record for hanging from this bar.  The staff was really impressed.

 

We all enjoyed a great IMAX movie.

Sullivan's favorite area was the communication section.  She got to try virtual graffiti (of course, she's writing "Slytherin Rules!), write in Cuneiform, and crack secret codes.

Pretty nice view!

Learning about some creatures that live in the Hudson River.

 The kids are such good travelers - as long those electronics are working!

She's been the height of stylishness this trip! (Those glasses are fake, by the way)

 What a bed hog!

We love visiting the Whites. As usual, both kids and grown-ups had a wonderful time. Can't wait to come back soon.

Aug 12 - Part 1

What do you think August means?  That's right - more pool pictures!

 

This is my favorite picture from summer, and to me this is what summer is all about:  sitting by the pool reading a trashy novel while your husband entertains your kid.  Heaven!

Summer isn't all fun and games.  Sullivan has had alter-server duty almost every week this summer.  She really hates doing it, but she's such a good girl that she does it anyway.

We thought it would be fun to stick Tim with all the kids.  I wonder what he and Patrick are talking about.

Then we thought it would be a good idea to let my brother's kids drink a lot of Coke and then send them home.  Cheers, Jim and Jeanne!

July 2012

July included A LOT of time at the pool, so here's a brief summary of the hundreds of pictures we took. The Hipstamatic app on my phone was clearly this summer's favorite toy.

 Fourth of July firework in the park.

Summer is my favorite season!  Tonight (7/7) our friends turned their backyard into an outdoor theater. The girls (and moms) set up sleeping bags or beach chairs, got comfy and enjoyed Pirates of the Caribbean.  Thanks to the fabulous Draheim Theater!

 

This summer I returned to my alma mater to finish up the graduate certificate I've been working on for the past 2 years.  I wasn't really looking forward to leaving the family for a few days, but I actually enjoyed my little trip. It was great to see JMU again, and I'm really glad to be done with school for a while.

Val and Jon's annual Jimmy Buffett party:

Most of the time, it's just Sullivan and I at the pool.  But on the weekends Daddy gets to join in the fun.  Here are some pics from a family day at the pool.

 On 7/19, Sullivan passed the "Deep End Test" at the pool.  Of course, we celebrated with ice cream.

 

Here she is practicing her diving:

On 7/20 Sullivan had a tooth pulled.  This is in preparation for our upcoming orthodontics.  This was the first time Sullivan ever had to have Novocaine and I was worried about how she would handle it.  She was a real trooper - no fussing, no drama, no complaining!

Sullivan attended 3 of the College for Kids this summer.  The first two were both Harry Potter related.  The third one was dance.  Sullivan hasn't attended dance class in several years, so I was excited that she picked this camp. It was mostly ballet, but they explored a lot of different kinds of music.  The parents got to attend a little recital on the last day of camp. I think she's really rockin' the dance wear with the Chucks!

More pool pictures!  I am enjoying this lazy, sun-filled summer so much!  These pics are Sullivan with her buddy Emma Flint.  Emma's mom is my friend Shannon, and we like to spend our days sitting by the pool, watching the kids and planning excuses to get out of cooking dinner.

Still working on her diving:

My brother Jim and his family went a way for a few days, so we were dog-sitting their tiny little girl Molly.  The Dude wasn't too sure about sharing his mommy's lap with another dog, but everyone got along fine (for the most part!).

 That little tongue is fast!

 Molly in the Barbie house