Trip to NJ

This past long weekend I made my annual visit to NJ to visit Pop and Nana with the kids and to also spend some time catching up with some other family and friends. We had a wonderful visit and perfect weather so we spent a lot of time outdoors. Pop and Nana always love their long visit with the grandkids and are completely worn out by the end of the trip - lol!

Here is everyone playing outside in the yard. The boys got new baseballs and (extra wide) bats so they spent a good portion of the weekend playing with their new sports equipment. They both love baseball and will probably enjoy being on the tee-ball team over the next few years, if I were to make a prediction, based on their interest.

We've been trying to teach the boys to bat properly, which is difficult with a two-year-old and also with a four-year-old lefty! So, we are still working on this skill but are getting better every day :).

Ben steps up to bat...
Nate is on deck...

Miss Abby enjoying her view from the bleachers...("I'm watching baseball, so where's my hot dog and ice cream?" our little chow hound is likely thinking!)

Hmmm...the Yankees fan in the Mets batting helmet. What is wrong with that picture?

Yes, the Charmer is also the Jock. Watch out in a few years, girls! :)

Bath time for Abby. We figured she needed a few photos in Nana's kitchen sink, just as the boys both had taken. What I didn't anticipate was that although around the same weight, the boys were only 5-6 months old when their pictures were taken and were not yet crawling or pulling up, like Miss Abby. We had a few narrow saves at an escape attempt!

Mmmm...bubbles! Tasty :)

I think I'll just crawl right on out of this sink....or at least try!

We decided to go to the Bronx Zoo yesterday. We had wanted to do something with the kids one of the days and the prefect weather yesterday convinced us that it needed to be something outside. We hadn't been to the Bronz Zoo in over 2 years so it was nice to revisit it. The kids had a great time!

Pop and Nana with the grandkids (who won't smile for a photo!).

At the lion's den. Nate leaned over and told me that the lion was "be-u-ti-ful."

Peacocks were everywhere!

The giraffes...

The brown bears, another favorite of the boys.

The sea lions were another favorite. We remember that Ben called them "dinos" the last time we were here, when he was Nate's age!

The polar bears were another memorable exhibit for the boys but they just couldn't believe that there was no snow there for them!

The flamingos were also coined "be-u-ti-ful" by Nate since they are pink....pink like Miss Abby. I guess I know which color she wears a lot of around here :).

So smiley....and now with teeth (if you look closely!).

Walking with Pop, a favorite pastime!

Hi, it's me again and I'm still smiley (as always).

Nate was very serious about the exhibits and stayed longer than anyone else to analyze the animals!

Now this was fun. We turned a corner and discovered one of Nate's favorite books...in life-size form! Alphabet by Matthew Van Fleet takes you from A to Z, meeting all types of animals and being able to feel their fur, scales, scratchy tongues, etc. on every page. The life-size version was no different, and A to H were featured. Nate loved this!

Abby is starting to zone out and get ready for her afternoon nap.

Aaaaand.....we're out...and so is the two-year-old brother. They got more looks and smiles than any of the exhibits as we walked around the zoo :).

We're up again...just still trying to wake up in this photo but all rested up for the rest of our time at the zoo. Thanks, Pop and Nana, for taking us!