Trying to ride a bike

Somehow we have only had the bike out a handful of times this summer.  Gerard pointed out to me that her school is less then a mile from our home and we could probably ride to and from if she wanted to.

Although I agree it is close I just think she is getting a little old for the baby seat on the back of mine. Now that the weather is cooling down (today was in the mid 70's) I am ready to tackle this learning to ride a bike again.  So we met up with some friends at the park because it is a nice paved spot to try. Anna was in tears because Gerard lifted her training wheels slightly.  After a few trips around she was better. I think it is going to take more effort then I first thought.  I really am in no rush to have her ride. I am enjoying this stage.

My baby on her 4 wheeler.

Our Disney Vacation

Earlier this year it was Gerard's parent's 50th wedding anniversary. The plan had been for us to all go to Mexico over Easter. The cost of the airfare was so outrageous that I just could not justify spending that kind of money. It would have been close to 4500.00 for us just in airfare. We then talked about going to Disney. We were surprised that it was so much more reasonable. Last Tuesday we headed to the airport with our bags packed to fly to the most magical place on earth. I remember secretly whispering to Gerard that on this date 5 years earlier he was picking us up from the airport.

Five years! I just can not believe that she has been home with us for 5 years!

 

 

Five years later

 

 

Our first day was spend at the pool at the Wilderness Lodge which by the way is becoming my new favorite place to stay. It was hot! I mean really sticky hot about 105 degrees. Also know as hot!

 

 

This is the first vacation that we have taken with AM and Eddie in about 10 years. We had all decided to go to Maine for the Lobster Festival and it was unseasonably hot (also 105 degrees). This was JM's first trip to Disney so we were happy that they let us tagalong. We covered so much in the 3 days that we were there. Anna got to meet Anna and Elsa (two of her favorite characters). We ate at the Royal Palace with a bunch of the princesses. Also at Ohana. Wow was the food good at Ohana. I highly recommend this spot for dinning. When the fun at Disney came to an end Gerard, Anna and I headed for the west coast of Florida.

 

We stayed at the Tortuga on Anna Maria Island. What a beautiful resort. It was not big but the beach, room, and pool were just the perfect way for us to decompress from our time at Disney. Next year I have booked the Disney cruise again for us but I may decided to for go that and revisit the Tortuga instead. It was so peaceful.

 

This vacation was money well spent. This summer has been busy. Every spare minute Anna and I have gotten we have been busy either camping or going to the beach. I realized that we had left Gerard out of some of the fun. This trip made up for that. In all the trip was short 3 nights at Disney and 2 at the Tortuga but still it was just what we needed to celebrate being a family for 5 short years.

 

Papa, Anna & JM at the airport

 

Grammy and Papa on the plane in their matching tee shirts

 

 

 

On our way to the Magic Kingdom

 

 

Roller coaster with Daddy

 

 

Meeting Cinderella at the Royal Castle with JM

 

 

 

Meeting Elsa

 

 

And Anna of course

 

The tea cups with AM, JM and Daddy

 

Telling Daddy secrets at the beach

 

 

 

Today has been filled with laundry, paying bills and all stuff that is boring but must still be done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Summer recap

I think this summer may go down in history for being our busiest summer yet. We have made it to the beach, bay beach (yes there is a difference), gone camping (shocking I know), and even searched for shark teeth in a river that once was part of the ocean. 

I love being doing different things with Anna. Summer school is now over so we have really been able to spend some quality time together.  Please forgive me for spelling and grammar errors because I am posting this from my phone. In a few short hours my vacation will start. We have big plans for this week and I promise to post at sometime this up coming week. 

My sister let me baby sit over night while she and Bernie went away over night for the first time since the girls were born. I promptly dressed them and took them to the beach to take their pictures.  The triplets also had their first visit to the dentist.  These are poor quality but I got a snap shot of each. Here they are in birth order. 

So our new passion is tent camping.  I know it sounds so funny and honestly it is but we have now camped on 3 separate occasions and had a great time each time. It also helps that we have had great company for all 3 trips. The first trip this summer was at Ringing Rock campground.  We tubed down the Delaware river. A couple of weeks ago we decided to take another small trip to Yogi Year's Jelly stone park in NJ. They had the tallest water inflatable slide that the girls and Hans really enjoyed.  I made it down once and once was enough for me. We have another trip planned for September.  The beach is still one of my favorite spots. 

Below are the pictures from our day of digging for shark teeth. 

One thing that I started do a while back I turn off the radio in the car. Our new past time is having Anna read to me as I drive.  Can you believe she can read.  It just is so exciting.  Her favorite series of books are about a pig and an elephant.  She tells me which are my favorite ones. How can I disagree. 

And just so everyone doesn't think that we are perfect Anna actually got in trouble for being fresh.  In a way it shocked me because she is usually not fresh or sassy. Well this time she was sassy to Gerard.  The punishment was to clean to stay home and clean. I was actually very surprised that I didn't have to push her to comply.  I like to think that she knew she was wrong.  So she was required to vacuum and dust. It started with tears and ended with her feeling like she accomplished something.  She even asked me to take her picture to send to her Daddy while he was at work.  I was so proud of her not the sassy part but that she was given a punishment and she completed it.