Thursday, July 31, 2014

There and Back Again

So, the Summer of 2014 was a little different from our usual summer trips to NJ. My dad and stepmom had moved out to the DC area in 2013, so we had 2 sets of Grandparents to visit! We were also able to see my brother and his family and my stepsister and her family. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but so glad everyone was able to fit us in!

We stopped by the Washington DC temple on our way down to visit Grandpa and Grandma Carla. Tyler and I visited during our Honeymoon and at Melanie's wedding, but this is the first time the kids visited. First stop? Visitors' Center!
 I love this image of Christ with his arms stretched out to everyone! The kids were still cooperative.
 DC in July is muggy. The kids were feeling it when we stepped outside, but it was beautiful.
 Cole was less-impressed by the quiet atmosphere of the Visitors' Center. I finally took him for a walk and we wandered the temple grounds. The flowers were going gangbusters and so was Cole!

Onward! We spent the evening with Grandpa and Grandma C and the next day took the kids to The Mall. Until Tyler and I got married, I thought that "The Mall" was a really big shopping center in DC. Maybe the original one. Turned out, The Mall is the location of the major monuments and landmarks in DC. Hee hee!
We started out at the Museum of Natural History. THE KIDS LOVED IT!!! Honestly, their favorite part!
 Henry was stoked to find a Penguin on display! He adores penguins,
 After lunch we dragged the kiddos through the heat all the way to the Lincoln Memorial.
 Jack studied the Civil War in 3rd Grade, so he was very touched by this stop. We read the speeches engraved on the walls and both got a little choked up.
 Amelia wasn't feeling the choked up.
 Aw, family cuteness! They were done after that, but we still dragged the kiddos through the Vietnam Memorial and on the the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial. Then we sent the husbands off for the cars! 

The next day, we were able to meet up with my stepsister and her family further south. So fun to picnic and let the kids play together. We were able to meet John and Leslie in Germany a few years ago, so it was fun to meet up again with all our kids. 
Yay family!

Sunday, we pulled out of Virginia and headed to Delaware to visit my brother and his family. Due to scheduling conflicts (ie, scheduling with my brother rather than my sister-in-law--I should know better!!) we were only able to see them for lunch and church. It was so GOOD to see them and spend some time together, though!
 By the end of church (who ends 1-4 pm church with the Sacrament meeting!?!) the kids were DONE.
D.O.N.E.
We drove back to NJ that afternoon to finish out our trip. It was a whirlwind, but we're so glad we were able to see so many people we love!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Stop! Grammy time!


Well, really, it was really Grammy AND Pop AND Aunt/Uncle/Cousin time, but that isn't as fun a post title, is it? There were lots of family dinners,
swimming in Grammy's pool,
               
 dodging rain showers, visiting Tyler's cousins close-by, reuniting with old friends at Church, 
junk food galore, 
4th of July with cousins, 
(including a patriotic play narrated by Sheridan, "Thousands of years ago George Washington took his army across the Delaware River in a boat. a few years later they reached the other side.")
fireworks at the beach to celebrate Independence Day,
stories and snuggles,time in the playhouse,


 a trip to the zoo, walks in the neighborhood, 
and park trips, 

Grammy also directed a Play on the Porch. Who doesn't love some nursery rhymes? 
Really, what Vigue grand-kid doesn't love performing?
A trip to Grammy and Pop's house means a trip to the Ocean City Boardwalk, 
where flip flops reign supreme.
Like every other child we've known, Amelia LOVED the boats. 
Cole loved them, too....so much that we had to remove him after 10 seconds in because he was trying to get into the water.
 All 4 older kids enjoyed a submarine trip. 
 Cole enjoyed his first time on the carousel. What's not to love?
 Sheridan declared the wild animal carousel her favorite ride.

Henry preferred the Log Flume. 
 Just thought I'd leave you with a picture of the curly-haired almost-twin cousins. They are about 2 months apart, but boy are they two peas in a pod. Trouble and More Trouble. 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Life's a Beach



One of our favorite things to do in the summer is to go to the Jersey Shore (which you probably know if you've read this blog regularly). The fine sand, the mild water, the calm breeze, and the obnoxious rats-with-wings-seagulls are the hallmarks of summer. Add in some family and it is Heaven on Earth.
 Grammy is the hostess with the mostest!
 Cole's first dip in the ocean...
 he HATED it!! He actually hated the sand, the ocean, the noise...
 Amelia loved COUSIN TIME! Heck, she loved everything about the beach!
 Curly-headed cousin lunch time!
 We finally found the one thing Cole loved at the beach--the baby pool filled with water (and sand to his liking). This worked until the last few beach days...when he decided he LOVED the water and the sand and wanted to throw himself into the ocean. over. and over. again.). We had to change his nickname to "Deathwish" since he kept trying to hurl himself to a watery grave, shunning any parental steadying or hands. This kid is a little reckless...
The 3 oldest spend ALL of their time out in the waves...
 unless they were forced into a family picture. Sometimes they'd come in when they were hungry.
unless they needed their sand fix. 
 Hooray for beach time! (especially beach time with cousins!)

2 mermaids and a chick
Grammy with some of her little treasures, before a Famous Grammy Treasure Hunt.
Treasure, ho!