Summer Vacation

In late June, we flew back home for a few weeks of summer vacation in NJ.

Most of our stay was spent at the shore in Grandpa Tom's great, new beach house. 

John, Kate and the kids spent about a week there with us,

and Wendy, Carl and their kids have a summer house just about 15 minutes away,

so we were lucky to get to see all the cousins, aunts, uncles and Grandparents 

very easily while at the beach.

The days were filled with so many of our favorite summertime activities:

visits to the ocean, lessons in jumping the waves and boogie boarding, 

walks around the corner to the ice cream shop

corn hole playing, fireworks watching, back deck dinners,

sleepovers with Cece, grown up dinners out on the town, 

outdoor showers, a day on the boat and simply time spent with the whole family.

Now that we live so far away, 

making memories with siblings and cousins and grandparents 

is even more special to us all,

and we tried to savor every minute of these carefree summer days. 

We were able to sneak into NYC with my parents - 

and introduced the girls to the Central Park Zoo, 

the Museum of Natural History and Bryant Park.

We also enjoyed a few overnights at their home in Sparta - 

where the girls delighted in the Mrs. Lockhart stories my dad tells them at bedtime,

baking with their nanny, scavenger hunts and trips to the Plaza Boardwalk and 

to my old elementary school playground.

Lexi also spent hours playing with my old doll house.

It was a wonderful visit home, 

and we are so grateful to everyone who played a role in that!

Ryleigh hasn't been to the ocean since she was a baby,

and it was love at first sight for her. 

She was a natural in the water 

and begged to go back in and kick in the big waves.

By the end of the trip, 

it was quite hard to get our girls out of the water.

The daily walk to Grandpa's private beach

 The LaRose side of the family

The simple joys

An afternoon at the Pt. Pleasant Boardwalk

Let the beach games begin

 

My friend Stephanie came to take some professional photos,

and afterwards, this crazy crew let off some steam

Emma referred to her cousins as "my friends" the entire time she was with us - 

it was adorable

 Lexi and Boden took an immediate liking to one another

and spent hours jumping the waves and boogie boarding together

 We were treated to a visit by two high school friends 

 Beach patrol

 Showing their all American spirit before we took the biggest girls

to watch the fireworks from the beach

 

Wendy and Carl hosted us all one evening for dinner, cocktails and a walk on the docks

 The next day, Lexi enjoyed a sleepover party with her cousin, aunt and grandparents.

She learned to help Cece play the ukalele, enjoyed a makeover,

spent the night collecting seashells, and felt like the coolest girl around!

Uncle Carl and Cece treated us to a day of tubing and boating,

and we even swam over to a little beach area to go exploring.

It was a gorgeous day spent on the water

 

A day in NYC with mommy, Nanny and Grandpa Mike

 My 97 year old grandmother, Gigi, doesn't drive anymore,

and it has been very hard to coordinate a visit with her the last few trips home.

This time, however, she was up for the traveling, 

and it was beyond wonderful seeing a sweet relationship form 

between her and my daughters. 

Not only do I love Ronnie fiercely, everyone who knows her does.

She is one of the most upbeat and positive ladies you will ever meet,

and now my girls understand that and love her dearly.

 Plus, she let Lexi win in Uno ;)

We returned to the shore for one last night
and enjoyed a great day at the beach
and then a dinner out with Aunt Wendy
One last hurrah before heading home!

Until next time!!