Jersey Shore, big girl undies & more...

Down the Jersey Shore we went in mid-September. Yes, I said "down the shore" not "went to the beach"...I am a living and breathing Jersey Girl at heart still and I'm already training Maddie to use the proper phrase as well! We love the fall down the shore, September and October are our favorite times of the year as all of the crowds are gone, the water is still warm and the weather is usually wonderful! That was the case again this year. Early on though it was a tad chilly during the day (read too cold to put on bathing suits to sit on the beach) but there is PLENTY to still do down the shore than sit on the beach! We went to playgrounds, the Cape May Zoo, Insectropolis, Barnegat Lighthouse, etc..

The week before we left was quite an interesting one... a pleasant surprise was that Maddie started going all day at school in big girl undies! We continued while we were down the shore and ever since! There has been a couple of accidents, but that is to be expected...but all in all she's doing really really well!

Maddie enjoying the Jersey shore! She looks sooo grown up!

That's more like it! Here is Maddie being a kid, playing in the sand with her buckets and shovels.

Poppop, Maddie and Mommom enjoying the last day of vacation (which was the most perfect beach day that you could ever imagine )

One of the places we visited was Insectropolis - a place all about bugs! They had live bugs, pinned bugs, bugs you can touch, as well as a movie for kids about bugs! Maddie really enjoyed it...what kid doesn't like bugs?

Maddie also got to touch several different types of bugs including a millipede, tarantula, and a scorpion that glows in the dark!

I just really liked this picture and thought I'd share it. The entire place has murals painted on all of their walls...all bug related. This was the mural for the bathrooms. Ladybugs to the left, Spidermen to the right! *grin* Maddie enjoyed visiting both sides once with Mommy and once with Daddy as she wanted to go potty a couple of times while we were there.

Maddie enjoying the playground at the shore on one of the more chilly days. Her hair is obviously getting pretty long, and I've still not gotten her hair cut. It is time though to get a trim!
Maddie trying to check out the sights and waving to all of the boats passing by at Barnegat Light Inlet.

Daddy and Maddie enjoying a lollipop break after spending some time climbing on the rocks with "Ole Barney" in the background.