Stardate 63609.91 - Keansburg Amusement Park

Vacation pictures continue. Here are some posed shots at Cheryl's parents' place before everyone started returning home.





Once people started returning home we still had several days of vacation left, so we took one day and went to Keansburg Amusement Park. Loren loved the rides!!









And Kate enjoyed watching Loren, and being pushed around. But mostly she wanted to be held. It was a hot day, and we ended up spending a lot more time there than I thought we would.

NYC

Stardate 63561.17 - Andy Performs (and more!)

While we were all in NJ for vacation, Aunt Elaine and Uncle Dave invited everyone over to their place for sausages on the grill Saturday night (July 11th). There were over 20 of us, including the children. Luckily, they have a large patio with plenty of seating and a large lawn on the river for the kids to run around on.







The next day we were at Cheryl's parents' place and the kids slipped next door to play on the neighbor kids' playground.


That night (Sunday the 12th) Andy performed at a local open-mike night. Cheryl took Kate but as he took the stage after 9 PM I stayed home with Loren so she could have her normal bedtime. I think Cheryl's grandmother ended up turning off her hearing aids, but in general she seemed to like it.





The next day (Monday) was a great beach day, and we enjoyed flying a kite that our friends Chris and Lisa had left for us when they visited over the Fourth of July.





NYC

Stardate 63542.18 - Family Arrives

Last Wednesday (July 8) Steve, Rachel, Ethan, and Ellie arrived in NJ. That afternoon we went over to Cheryl's parents' place (where they were staying the week) for a cousin pool party.


Kate slept through the start of it.





The next day Andy and Jen arrived (they stayed with us). Here Loren shows us how much she loves Kate.


Everyone but me an Kate walked out for a little sunset view.





Highlands, NJ

Stardate 63532.33 - Highlands-Atlantic Highlands Trail

There is a pretty new trail between Highlands and Atlantic Highlands suitable for walking, jogging, or biking, with some secluded beaches and views out over the bay. We picked up a jogging stroller via Craigslist and Cheryl gave it a try with Loren on the trail.





At the end, in Atlantic Highlands, there is a playground where Cheryl let Loren have some fun.





Highlands, NJ

Stardate 63532.3 - Beach Vacation

Things have been so busy on vacation that we haven't even had a chance to post anything! So here are some pictures of the beach house we're renting and where we've been spending the past week.

Here Loren eats breakfast in the dining room (thanks to Aunt Marie for the sturdy chairs!).


Here is the living room with the famous (and large) green couch (thanks to my father-in-law Bill for helping me move it to the beach house).


Here is the small back yard by the driveway and part of the patio out back.


Here is the side yard.


Here Loren is playing hopscotch in the driveway. The house has off-street parking for 3, which is nice because we've heard that in the summer the streets get packed with cars and people have trouble parking by their homes (although we haven't really seen that yet).


Here is Kate enjoying a lunch of prunes.


Loren exiting the kitchen.


We have a lot of pictures we've taken, but I'm trying to quickly get something up on the blog this morning before the girls wake up, so I'll save them for subsequent posts.

Highlands, NJ