Success!

Bike riding SUCCESS!

 



Apple picking

We were lucky enough last week to be able to go apple picking with a few friends and Hans. We went to Russo's Orchard in Cream Ridge. When I had to travel back and forth to Trenton to have the apostilles done for paperwork I found this little farm. In the summer months we go there to pick raspberries, and blackberries. This time it was for apples. It was neat to see her play in the sand area that she played in as a baby.

Birthday Pictures!

My beautiful baby is growing up.

7th Birthday

Today is Anna's birthday. How did that happen again so soon? I put a 6 year old to bed and now she is 7! Our day yesterday was spent having a party with friends. It was not my first choice and believe it or not I actually didn't want to have a party. As crazy as it sounds I have be battling some social anxiety in the past couple of months. Parties make me nervous, the thought of a party makes me a little nervous. I am hoping this will soon pass. Gerard thought it was funny until he realized I was serious. I have dealt with this in the past so I am sure I will deal with this again.

But on to the fun stuff. In the beginning of the year I asked Anna what she wanted for her birthday...a party with friends or to go to Rocking Horse Ranch for a weekend with us. She picked Rocking Horse Ranch. I was excited and honestly it is way more money then a party but I also thought she would have a ton of fun going. So I looked for a deal and found one. We leave for the ranch in 2 weeks for a long weekend of swimming and horse back riding.

While we were at JM's (Our niece who just turned 3) birthday party Anna quietly called me over looking a little sad. She said "Can I talk to you?" My response was of course. She told me that she was sad that she was not having a birthday party. My heart broke a little. So after talking it over with Gerard we decided on a party at the local gym. I sent out invitations and was thankful that we had a few people respond. Actually 11 of her friends were able to come. She was happy which makes me happy.

It was a horse theme of course. We had cowgirl hats and blow up stick horses. Her cake was decorated like Brave. The funny story behind that is when she asked the baker to decorate it like Brave his response was "The baseball team?" The whole party went off without a hitch. Gerard has warned me that he will be working late so Anna and I are on our own tonight. I am hoping to get a good picture of her today. Her two top teeth are almost completely grown in.

I love the person she is becoming. She has such a kind heart, big imagination and a real sparkle for life. Not a day goes by that I don't question why I was so fortunate to have been giving the gift of motherhood and her as my daughter.

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.