Labor Day Weekend

We spent Labor Day weekend with Grandpa G, CC, Maggie and Billy at the NJ Shore house. It was beautiful weather and we did lots of activities so it was a great time for all. Ben had so much fun that once we got home, he slept for over 12 solid hours last night and took a 4 hour nap this afternoon to recover!

Here, Andrew and Ben are getting ready for a boat ride to see the Barnegat Lighthouse.

On the boat. Ben barely protested this time when we put the life jacket on him and really enjoyed the ride. He is obsessed with seafaring lingo and was actively pointing out all of the buoys, boats, bridges, the lighthouse and all of the symbols on the signs.

He loved playing with the buoy!

The swift sea air can make one drowsy, Ben included. Here, he takes a little snooze in his Daddy's arms during our trip. How cute is he in the last photo, curled up into the fetal position while sucking on his fingers?

Our destination!

We went to Jenkinson's Boardwalk and unlike the 4th of July weekend, when Ben was terrified of the rides, he actually enjoyed them this time and wanted to keep riding the truck-themed ones!

Here we are on the Crazy Bus ride.


Here's Ben on his favorite ride, the Big Rig truck ride! First with Grandpa G and then all by himself!

The pony ride, again all alone! He also went on a firetruck ride by himself but my photos did not come out. I can't believe this is the same boy who screamed on every ride just two months ago!


Nate chilled in the stroller for our entire trip. What a charmer he is, now that he's close to 6 months old. He'll smile at everyone!

Yum! Ben always loves a good treat!

Nate had his first experience with the sandbox this weekend, now that he is interested in observing the world around him and is also able to sit up. He loved feeling the sand in his fingers and playing with the sand toys.

OK, more fun photos of Nate while I was home alone with him one afternoon while the rest of the group went on the boat. He had a great time playing on the floor and being watched by Charlotte and Frances, the French Bulldogs.

One other afternoon on the boat to watch Andrew and Billy ride the tube. I tried this a few times in the past and am not outdoorsy enough to brave it again!

Maggie and Billy and then Ben and I on the boat.

Andrew at play on the tube. He loves that thing!

Billy had a great time, too!

Finally, some miscellaneous pictures of Andrew, Grandpa G and CC playing with the kids in the sandbox one evening.

At the Playground

We found a cute park near our house that contains tons of Little Tikes equipment - perfect for toddlers! Ben loves it and it is always uncrowded so I took the boys there one late afternoon to get them out of the house for a little while.

Here is Ben playing. He loves these Crazy Coupe cars!

Ben loves wagons, too!

Nate and I sat on the picnic bench and watched the action...

Safety Town

Thanks to the recommedation by a friend, I recently joined a local Meetup playgroup and love it. There are activities on the calendar several times a week in the area and you can choose which ones you would like to go to. I've met lots of nice moms and this group has such fun, unique ideas. Today we visited Safety Town at Mason Mill's Park in Huntingdon Valley. It is a beautiful park with picnic areas, a sprinkler and several playgrounds. However, what makes it unique is that a portion of it - Safety Town- is a fenced in area that is set up like a mini town with buildings, parking spots and working traffic lights. The kids can run around or ride tricycles. Ben and Barb's little guy Nicholas had a blast with the other kids. Here are some photos of this adorable little village. The best part is that all of the shops and storefronts are real places so it's like being in a miniature PA town.

Ben at the Willow Grove Fire Department. He's checking out the trucks in the garages!

Exploring the lights and the city with Nicholas:

Ah, here are the two boys in front of Abington Memorial Hospital, where they both were born! (Nate, too, but he didn't make the photo since it took enough energy to keep these two toddlers in line to get a decent shot).

This one is for Daddy...the Home Depot! This little city also had Sam's Club, local delis and shops and Prudential, among others.

I loved this place, Mom, can we come back soon?

Family Meals

All babies always make it a point to be especially fussy during mealtime. Murphy's Law. I remember with Benjamin that we did not have a peaceful family dinner until he was able to eat finger foods at the table with us. This kept him occupied (and quiet) and we were once again able to eat without holding a fussy child or listening to a whining or crying baby. I was thinking about how this will not be too much longer for Nate since he'll be doing the finger food thing in another month or two. And then I remembered our secret weapon when Ben was his age.... mesh feeders! So, today at lunch I propped Nate in the high chair, filled his meshy feeder with a cube of pureed bananas and voila, he was occupied the entire lunchtime so that Ben and I could eat. Whoever invented these things should get an award...

Laughing

Nate is so silly sometimes. All it takes is some tickling on his tummy and he bursts out laughing!

Sitting Up

All of a sudden, Nate is getting very close to being able to sit up on his own. He still needs support most of the time but can now sit there playing for about a minute or two without falling over. Some of our "big boy" toys such as trucks, balls and Little People have really peaked his interest lately and have encouraged him to want to sit up and play. Soon Nate will be sitting up for longer periods and playing with his brother!

Oh no, here I go again! (as he is about to fall over...)