Jersey Shore 2011

Here are the kids on the last day...in the far background (top right) you can see a little boy in a navy blue shirt...that is Clark...best we could do! LOL also in the top left you can see a parasailer...kinda neat


This is one section of rides on the boardwalk for the kids. They had so much fun!

We went on bike rides EVERY single mornning (well except one). It was nice. I rented a bike for me (with Heston attached) and one for Kate.

Ceasars Palace, Atlantic City, NJ (one night me, Travis and Deb went into Atlantic City to eat at Ceasars Palace and play the penny slots)

Here we are on the beach

Here is Grace and Kate-notice the matching shirts. Totally not planned and totally bought at separate times without prior knowledge...kinda funny--Trav bought Grace's the week before we got there and out of necessity I ran and bought Kate one, the same one, when I got home with it, we discovered that we had picked out the same shirt--I guess it's in the genes!

Here is Heston playing in the waves. The first day he got out on the boogie board and wiped out...after that he only wanted to play in the shallow water!

Here is a lifeguard boat

Here is a view of the boardwalk from our house Kinda hard to see everything but its cool

Here is WONDERLAND...the big ride/game area on the boardwalk

Here is Clark!

Here are the kids on the boardwalk

Here is the big ferris wheel. This is the one in Wonderland-we passed it everyday on our bike rides

Here is the view of the ocean from our house. It seems far away, but really it is maybe 100 yards

Here is Heston and Cannon

Here are the kids again

Kate splashing in the ocean
-she was NOT scared at all of the waves. She loved them , we had to keep a close eye on her because she would get further and further out having fun

Here was the first night-a little surprise 60th birthday for mom-complete with an ice cream cake-yum!


Well, I don't want to bore you with any details, so feel free to stop reading here, but I do want to write a little more so that in a month from now, I can remember some things from our trip.

I really missed having Josh and Jon with us. They took a trip to Texas that overlapped our trip to New Jersey. I think I missed them so much because I knew Josh would have especially had a lot of fun. Next time we go, he is definately going too. (Jon's not much of a beach person, but if I have my way, he'll go next time too!)

Day 1: Friday 7/29--drive...stay at hotel

Heston is wondering about this "bacation" thing. I kept telling him we were going on vacation and he did not know how to comprehend that. When I told him we were going to stop and spend the night at a hotel he was not happy. He asked about going to the mountains (like the year before) we explained we were going to the beach/ocean--again, he had no clue -he declared once he learned we were not going to Disney --"I want to see the map" we gave him the Garmen--he had fun looking at it

Day 2: drive most of the day, arrive at the beach house about 5:15--quick surprise party for mom, go to store (food ordered over internet and picked up = easy and not time consuming) then dinner at the house and a walk on the boardwalk--popcorn: at Johnsons Caramel = so good

Day 3: rent bikes, go on bike ride, get ready for beach, beach and play, dinner-ordered tacos and boardwalk--rides in Wonderland

Day 4: bike rides, beach, ready for dinner in Atlantic City--kids stay home with GrandSherry and Granddad

Day 5: bike ride, beach, dinner on boardwalk--pizza

Day 6: a little cloudy this morning--misting in the am--no bike ride :( late breakfast/early lunch out then mini golf--time on boardwalk--then to the beach for a few hours...dinner in (Trav and Deb out to dinner with friends) --water balloon fight with kids-Me and mom to boardwalk to shop--

Day 7: Bike ride, breakfast on boardwalk, beach...all day...then dinner-then boardwalk for rides and shopping!--start packing to go home--return bikes :(

Day 8: check out at 9:15--head for home...so tired...kids sleep most of the day-check into hotel eat dinner and take kids swimming in hotel pool

Day 9: COME HOME, unpack and get ready for school to start and head back to work

It was a great trip, so much fun--I have a ton more pictures (even some I still have to get from Travis and Deb) but hope this gives you an overview and gives me something to come back and remember!

All about...kids!

Josh 1st day of 6th Grade--Middle School



Kids Easter 2011



Kate and her piano teacher at her May 2011 recital

Kate-last day of Kindergarten

Josh-5th grade graduation May 2011

Kate 1st day of 1st grade

Josh -Young Southern Writers Award Ceremony

Heston Easter 2011

Heston Soccer 2011

Heston soccer
Sorry some of the pictures are sideways...but I cannot figure out how to change them.

I wanted to post the happenings leading up to the New Jersey Shore trip since it has been so long since I've posted photos and since there is a ton of pictures from the trip.

Heston was a pro at soccer. This was his first time/year playing and he really liked it. He was the leader of the team and the coach told me to "play him up an age group" next year so he can have a little more competition. He is signed up for fall baseball which will start in a few weeks. He is doing great!

Katelyn is still taking piano. At her lesson last week, she learned a whole song perfectly and her teacher said that no one she has ever taught that song to has learned it in one lesson. She is doing great and loving it. She is excited about 1st grade and this summer has really learned how to swim well. She is completely independent and can dive to get things in the deep end without any help. I am proud of her. She is also signed up for her first year of softball, she is a little hesitant but is willing to try. I hope she finds a sport she is passionate about to help keep her active and exercising. (Jean: the book with a "K" you got her, holds her "wedding dress designs") She is very creative and has a real imagination. One day this summer she told Grandsherry about a dress she" saw in her head" and basically walked her through how to make it. They did-she got a dress made out of formal dinner napkins.

Josh has started 6th grade and the youth group at church. He is doing well and is excited. He has a locker (with combination) and was so proud he could open it on the 1st day when others were struggling. He helps the girls around him with their lockers too-Jon gives him a hard time with that one. So far he hasn't complained about anything middle school has thrown at him.

Jon is working a lot of over-time, and will soon start working out of town. It has its pros and cons. He is well and looking forward to FOOTBALL season.

I am fine. I am ready for cooler weather as my a/c in the Tahoe is out and the transmission in the Explorer is out too, so we are having to prioritize what gets fixed first! Jon drives his little black truck full time now.

All is well with the us and we are trying to get back into a schedule (which is full) with the start of school. I will do a separate post in a few days with more pictures