Inaugural Boat Ride

The boat starts!  We made it back from the Poconos in time to take Buddy the Boat out for an inaugural spin on Sunday.  The kids LOVED it and kept yelling "faster, daddy!" while I clung to the railings and imagined my precious children bouncing off the bow every time we hit a wave.  Yeah, I need to get my sea legs.  But seriously, I'm not sure Gabe has ever been happier.  The kid's a born water baby.

Memorial Day Weekend

A weekend away at our neighbor's Poconos Cabin?  Yeah, don't mind if we do...

The whole crowd at a local brew pub.  Note Gabe's effective anti-paparazzi technique.

Sweet sweet nectar of the Gods.  You know those few times in life when the diner breakfast is perfection?  Yeah, this place nailed it.

Does it surprise anyone that Gabe was having none of this?

Awwww...Ellie and Amy.  

A quick stop at the pretzel factory, where the kids got to try their hands at shaping pretzels.

Everything is better with ice cream.

My kids wouldn't go near the sparklers...Gabe said it was "too fire-y."  We may need to work on that before the 4th of July.

The posse eating dinner, or you know, not.

Sometimes it's all just a little too much fun...

And you've gotta crash.

A Short Tragedy in Two Pictures

Boogie Down

Sometimes, this happens in the car on the way back from New Jersey...

Mother's Day

We have a tradition of picnics on beautiful days to celebrate Mother's Day.  Someday it's going to be torrential rain and I'm not going to know what to do with myself.  This year, we hit up Lyndhurst with Uncle Todd and Bess.  Besides a gorgeous, peaceful location, Lyndhurst also has bathrooms:  a major plus at this point in pregnancy.  Oh my glamorous life.

Me and 2.66 kids

Ellie continues to out-Miley Miley.

Dad and Gabe.

After the picnic we went to the marina to visit Buddy, the boat.  We can only visit, since she currently won't start...but those are details best glossed over.

All tuckered out.

Thanks to Todd and Bess for joining us for such a beautiful day.  And thanks to Brian, who did all the work so I could just relax and enjoy our family.  He rocked it.

Say Cheese!

Oy.  Brian's been out and about running errands with Elle for a couple of hours, and just sent me this picture.  The base of the food pyramid is all cheese balls, right?

Two Years

Two years.  Two years can change a lot of things.  Kids grow.  A family of four can become five.  (This is still blowing my mind.)

We're coming up on our two-year anniversary in our new town.  And today I took the kids down to the river to check out the new playground.  I remember going down there two years ago - when I didn't know anyone here and was desperate to fill an afternoon, or even an hour.  I sat and looked at the city skyline in the distance and wanted to cry.  I was so close, but so far away.  I felt isolated and trapped.  Today I lifted Gabe up for a better view and thought, God we live in an amazing place.  And the city's so close!  Two years.  And nothing has changed more than me.

Boat!

We bought a boat!  Isn't it awesome?

No....not that boat....this one!

It's actually a boat-share, with two other families.  This is either the best or worst idea we've ever had.  I'll be sure to keep you posted!

In the meanwhile, you'll find us down at the Boat Club, eating fried clams, feeding the ducks, and wondering how on earth we suddenly have a BOAT.  (Note:  this is what happens when boys get excited about new toys...Seriously, they don't grow up.  I still don't have a couch.)

Gabe on the Street

I'm beating a dead horse at this point, but, MAN, I really do love living on our street.

Gabe, leading the pack...

Getting a hug from one of the sweet older girls.

Sleeping Beauty

Ah....the elusive, fleeting afternoon nap.  Such a welcome old friend.