STAYCATION!!! (Part II)

We packed up and headed to the the "Island"... Aquidneck Island that is... for Part II of our Staycation!



In the morning we hit the beach for some fun in the sun!



It was a little chilly and windy again today, but I have to say that the water has warmed up a bit. Of course it did not faze the boys one bit... but after spending a few hours there, Mommy was ready to move on (Yes... Peter was shocked that I wanted to leave the beach). What, you ask, could possibly draw me away from the beach?

This...



The Residence Inn in Middletown... as the Boys would say... A HOTEL!!!

The boys were super excited to be going swimming in a big pool again! Can you tell?



Don't ask why I have their Rash guards on... habit I guess. It did finally click and I removed them.





We had the pool pretty much to our selves 90% of the time. It was awesome! So after a few hours in the pool we headed up to change and get the food for the BBQ!





It was so cool! They had a patio with a grill for the guests! Also had nice tables and chairs! So we asked Grandma and Pop-pop to come over so they could see the boys swim and hang out. Uncle Brad & Courtney joined us a little later too. It really was nice because we had the whole place to ourselves!













After dinner and ice cream the boys wanted to go back in the pool... so after making them wait a little while we headed back for some more pooltime! So, is that "1/2 hr after you eat" rule for real? Will you really get a cramp? Or is it just something parents made up to give them a little break? curious? I'm not joking... if anybody out there knows... please share!

So we actually closed the pool down... closes at 10PM... we were in there until around 10:30! Hey its vacation right! The best part of it was you get this after HOURS of swimming....



It was such a fun day! Till tomorrow...

"STAYCATION!!!" (Part I)

Tonight... Camping... in our backyard... "Nellie" style...



Patiently waiting for some "Campside" grub...



Gavin giving the thumbs up to dad... dinner tastes yummy!



Connor doesn't like s'mores... I KNOW so wrong (How can any child of mine NOT like s'mores???). So they chose ice cream instead. Me? A nice cold STELLA!!!



Sorry, no singing around the campfire here... that's just asking for trouble. Instead... the entertainment shall be... Kung Fu' Panda... on Daddy's Laptop!



Ahhh so comfy cozy...





I will not be joining in tonight's festivities as I chose to stay indoors. Don't care how well those OFF fans work.
So I am off to go enjoy some "ME" time . hmm I wonder if I have any House shows taped.

Nighty nighty

Until tomorrows adventure...

PS... In case you're wondering what camping "Nellie Style" is please see below:
1) Air Beds for all
2) Extension cord to the tent
3) Laptop with Movies
4) And most important... A fan for Daddy!

Quick Trip...

Here are some pictures from our quick, unplanned trip to NJ...

My aunt Carol was kind enough to let us hang at her house on Tuesday with her!!! The kids were so excited to go swimming in the big pool. I don't have many pics because I joined them in the fun!!!





Lunch with "Chef" Andrew...



Wednesday we hung at Nani's house. And to to give them a little "feel for home" we brought down the... DUMPER Trucks!





Being goofy at lunch time...



Playing with their Hess trucks...



and WORMS!!! So gross!



Then after dinner we went to My favorite Ice cream place... Dairy Queen... YUM!!! No DQ's up by us in Rhody... so I think I may have been more excited then the kids... just a little!

"Oh... You wanted a lick?"





We took it to go so we could sit out back and enjoy it.



Thursday we were getting ready to leave and I couldn't find Connor. He should have been down and dressed already. After calling him he comes down still in his PJ's... What? When I asked him why he was not dressed yet he states "Uh MOM I was doing my hair! hmmp...

I was able to snap a picture before he stomped upstairs... but really... he is 5! (I think uncle Brian strikes again)



Peter was laughing telling me to relax... that is till I said "hope he didn't use ALL your Gel..." well never saw Peter fly up the stairs so fast. Hahahah. Now that was funny.

Fourth of July weekend festivities...

We started the July 4th festivities on Friday night with a Pizza and bike decorating party with our friends next door.



Yes it did rain... but that didn't damper our Independence Day spirit!



The lightening... that was really a little too close to us... did make us ponder our intelligence for a split second... I quote... "hmm... maybe we shouldn't be sitting here, under a tree, in metal chairs?!" In our defense we weren't getting wet because of the big tree. And the seats were really comfy... and the pizza and beer tasted really good! Plain and simple... we were in a gambling mood... and lazy! lol!

After we ate and the boys ran through all the puddles we got down to the business of decorating... well the boys, Sara and Peter did. Hey, it's not easy... balancing a camera in one hand and a "beverage" in the other... how was I suppose to decorate a bike too?



They came out awesome! The boys wanted to test ride them but we held them off due to the rain.



The next morning they were sooo excited for the parade! Daddy made them a yummy breakfast... Cinnamon Raisin French Toast and... Bacon!!!



Then it was off to the neighborhood parade!



Peter was in charge of throwing the candy to the spectators on the sidelines cheering us on...



This year was extra special because we had a police car who lead our parade. Someone in the neighborhood called the Police Dept... who then sent us our very own Police escort! The kids were sooo excited!



At the end of the parade root we have donuts, cookies, coffee and juice for everyone... It's a lot of fun!





Then we were off to a BBQ with friends! Followed by... fireworks at the beach! It was all we could do to keep the boys OUT of the water. They were itching to get their toes wet but I knew it wouldn't stop there...



So it was back up to our chairs and blankets for some s'mores and popcorn to wait for the fireworks to begin.



I didn't see much of them because Gavin did NOT (I repeat... did NOT) like them... at all! As soon as the first one went off he bolted right to us and buried his head into us and wanted to go home. So after waiting a few seconds to see if he would change his mind... which he didn't... I carried him back to the car and put on a movie. He was happy! Connor LOVED them and was so excited about the fact that he was no longer afraid of them. Connor was a very good big brother though... telling Gavin that it was OK... "I used to be afraid them too Gavin... when I was little."

We ended the fun packed weekend with a trip to the beach... the water was cold... and it was bit windy but it didn't faze these guys!

These dump trucks definitely rock! Best $10 spent... EVER! (Thank you Target!)



Hope you had a wonderful July4th!

We LOVE You PopPop!!!

So the Boys are very Happy that PopPop got a Great Checkup with the Doctor! YIpPEE So they wanted to make him a sign....

Kissses...SMMMACK! and Super bigs {{{HUGS}}

Love You!

Not agaaaiiin!!!!!

It's Raining Mommmmmm! That's the "whine" I was awoken to bright (not so much) and early this morning! Sure enough it was really really raining... with very LOUD thunderstorms... GREAT!

So now what? after some thought on how to entertain them today I thought... lets paint! So I dragged their table to the breezeway and took out there big coloring books, the rocks they have been collecting, and the ton... and I mean TON of seashells from last summer! Really... what was I thinking bringing them all home?!?! I should take a picture of them all... Insane! Anyway, they were so excited to be painting out there and I figured we are getting fresh air without getting wet.



Gavin fell asleep while we were watching a movie in the late afternoon... so Mr. Cranky pants didn't want to get up... until when I told him if he got up and ate his dinner we could go do this...





This is their favorite puddle... its always there every rain fall and lasts the longest!







Hump Day... half the week down, here's hoping the rest is nice... but we all know its going to rain... AGAIN!

Stay dry out there!

What a way to the end the month...

...with a sunny day and a graduation!

Congratulations Andrew!

WaHoo! I am so happy for my cousin, he graduates tonight from Culinary School. Big {{{HUGS}}} from us. Also... I am pretty sure this means he has to cook for all our family get togethers now... I am serious! I think thems the rules.

See its a happy day all around. Me and the boys got to go outside and enjoy the nice day again.

The boys wanted to do the Ice treasures which works for me since it occupies them for a long time. (I may have posted this project before but I just freeze a bunch of little items in 3 layers and they have to dig or melt the ice away to get them out.)

Well that is until Gavin... with no patience today... discovered if he throws it on the ground it breaks open easier and much quicker. Pretty smart little guy!

So this didn't last quite as long as I had hoped and we were on to cars, trucks, bike riding and coloring...





Gavin just lined his markers up... and didn't color a DARN thing...

.



We spent the whole day outside... seriously 10:30AM - 5PM! They even wanted to eat dinner outside but they were in serious need of baths... and they were exhausted (no naps these past 2 days). Mommy was also exhausted! So... they got to watch one show before bed and when I went to go get them this is what I found... YIPPEE for Mommy!







Yes... Mommy gets to go to bed early too!



Bye June thanks for a great day!