Vacation - part deux! We spent September, so far anyway, down the shore enjoying the joys of LBI including swimming, jumping waves, beach combing, painting, bike riding, reading books, playing outside and digging in the sand with family. The weather got quite cooler than had been predicted and with a decent wind made it down right chilly on some days. But we didn't lack for things to do.
September is the start of my favorite time of the year. My favorite months are from September through November. We're still at the shore and now that it's past Labor Day the entire island has a much more relaxed feel. Most everyone left on Monday, and now it's even more peaceful.
Here are some photos from vacation...enjoy!
The bathing beach - Barnegat Bay
Madeline and Gavin go between trying to stay warm and finding crabs and snails in the bay.
Molly and Maddie try their hand a boogie boarding - they did pretty good! Of course, there were no waves to speak of *grin*
We had quite a few nice but very cool and windy days...too windy and cold for the beach, but we were still able to come up with things to do, including riding our bikes...and checking out the boats on the bay.
We also spent a day exhausting everyone at Storybook Land!
Of course we did get to have some fun at the "Big Girl beach" too!
Ever try to get 6 kids ranging in ages of 11yrs old to 1 yr old to look and smile at the camera at the same time? Well, hopefully Kevin got some better shots!
Now, who could go down the shore and not play at least one round of mini-golf? This was Maddie's first game. For the record, I did beat Ron by 2 strokes! Yes, I put it in the blog for posterity so there! As we were reading out the scores Maddie got all upset because I hadn't called out her "number" and she didn't think she got one...poor thing just didn't hear me. Then she was excited because she got the highest (no, we didn't actually count every stroke...she took the max on each hole except 1 where she got it in in 3!)
Playgrounds are a great way to spend time with your cousins...both in the backyard and around town.
We took our first ever visit to Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant on another of those very windy and cold days...
And we also visited the Lighthouse just as we do every time we're on LBI...
Maddie and Daddy in 2009
Maddie and Daddy in 2006
All in all a good vacation...when is my next one? Hrm...
Here we are a happy family all dressed up and ready to enjoy the day! Maddie loved her dress and has since worn it every day when we're home.
There was much feasting and festivities including music and dancing.
We even cheered on our Champions in the joust!
Maddie was concerned when one of our champions was struck with a lance.
But it all worked out in the end. Look Nana! A photo of Mommy!
Please don't ask me what she's doing here. It was the pose she would get into every time I wanted to take a picture. Apparently she thinks it's a princess pose.
Maddie's turn onstage with Mother Goose's sing-a-long. She was very excited to be up there.
