Stardate 63631.33 - Reality

During vacation Loren and Aunt Jen and I had the following conversation:

Me: Loren, tomorrow Uncle Andy and Aunt Jen have to go back home to Virginia.

Loren: Why?

Me: Because they have to go back to work.

Jen: Back to reality!

Loren: Reality is a long way from New Jersey.

NYC

Stardate 63628.23 - Highlands Clamfest

We went to our first Highlands Clamfest a couple of weekends ago. Very convenient since it was just right up the street from our beach house.





Loren enjoyed the rides.








She also spent some time pushing Kate in the swing.




Then it started to look like rain, so Loren used her last tickets on the Castle.



And the very last thing we did was to ride on the firetruck!


NYC

Stardate 63615.7 - Loren Ride the Fire Truck

Here is a short video of Loren getting a ride on the fire truck at the Highlands Clamfest.

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Stardate 63615.7 - End of Vacation

Here are the last few photos from our vacation. First, Loren and Kate play together building a robot, according to Loren.



And here Loren gives Kate a piggy-back ride (with a little assistance from Daddy!).


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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.

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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.





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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