New Jersey 2010

Our trip to New Jersey this year was so fun and relaxing. We stayed with Uncle Steve and Aunt Helen for the first couple of nights. They live only about 5 miles from Ocean City so we spent some time there on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Emilia got to go on the same carousel as last year each night that we went to the boardwalk. She LOVED it this year and couldn't wait to ride once she saw it each night! We spent the rest of the days with Aunt Vicki, Uncle Murray, and the boys in Avalon and had wonderfully relaxing days and a fun night out in Wildwood on Tuesday.


Brian and I even got a chance to get up to Philadelphia while Emilia spent the day with Grami and Aunt Vicki! We officially made pigs of ourselves and had cheesesteaks from both Pat's and Geno's. Our humble consensus is that Pat's is better (although we've decided we'd eat either again).




Just like any good vacation we had dessert every night. Emilia really showed the ice cream who was boss!



When we first got to the beach Emilia wasn't so sure about the sand. She was alright as long as she was on the blanket, and she enjoyed scooping with her shovel. After a little bit of coaxing we got her to stand in the sand then eventually sit. Once she started burying my feet she was fine. After she got comfortable we couldn't keep her out of the sand and it was hard to get her cleaned off to get in the car (which needs to see the shop vac badly, by the way)!





The ocean was a different story. She loved it from the minute she saw it again this year. She kept calling it the "pool". It was hard to keep her safe, because she wanted to run in and out of the waves like the big kids! She got knocked down a couple of times, and her face got splashed or went under the water, but she got right back up and did it all over again!






The best part of the ocean was when Aunt Vicki brought down the tube. Emilia immediately got in and started riding the waves. We may have a future surfer on our hands!



The waves were obviously very relaxing...here she is in her zen state sitting in the surf!










We stopped by Aunt Jacky's house for dinner before we went home and got a chance to visit with Aunt Toni for a bit. It was so nice to see everyone again this year!!

Weekend camping trip

We decided to go on an impromptu camping trip this weekend. Saturday morning we made reservations at the Harper's Ferry KOA, hooked up the camper, and took off. The campground was awesome with a couple of pools, a big bounce pillow, an ice cream social, and a pancake breakfast. Emilia is starting to enjoy these trips more and more, and she's such a good girl around the camp site. She even has her very own camp chair. The most interesting thing at the site this time was the rocks on the ground!


After dinner and ice cream Emilia took a dip in the pool. The weather was absolutely perfect while we were there. It wasn't too hot, but it was comfortable enough to spend some time in the water.

She tried to empty the pool one bottle at a time.

After swimming we went back to the site and put on jammies. Emilia had a snack and some milk while daddy got the fire going.


We knew it was time for Emilia to hit the hay when she went to the camper door knocking to be let in. Brian and I were both outside!! I brought her in and put her in the pack n play, and she was out before I was able to close the door. She played so hard and was so tired! Luckily, she sleeps as well in the camper as she does in her crib at home. She slept straight through until 7:30 am!

We had a little time before check-out the following morning so we took a walk around after pancakes and saw some of the sights (mostly the campers that we'd like to get someday).

Piper Marceau Nistler

Megan and Paul welcomed their adorable little girl on Thursday, July 22. She was a healthy 8 lb. 12 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. She's got the cutest little round face and everyone is doing well.





While Megan and Paul were busy at the hospital we got to spend the day with big brother Levi. He came over in the morning and spent the day with us until it was time to go to the hospital to meet his new baby sister. Emilia and he played with all of her toys, her outside playset, and even got to spend some time in our backyard pool. They had such a great time!!!

A trip to the zoo!

Grami came down this weekend and Emilia made her first visit to the National Zoo. It was definitely a hot and sunny day so most of the animals that we saw were the African animals who enjoy the heat. Many of the other animals were cooling their paws and claws in their indoor habitats and were hard to spot. We did get a great opportunity to see some though and Emilia had a great time.

The first animal we saw was the sloth bear. Emilia got close to the glass, and the bear kept pacing back and forth putting his nose right up the spot where she was standing. She even offered him a goldfish from her snack trap!

The next animals that were out were the gazelles. Emilia couldn't get past the fact that they were eating.
There were 3 elephants playing in their outdoor habitat when we strolled by. Emilia really enjoyed watching them and was a little sad to say goodbye.

The orangutans put on quite a show-even though you can't really see them in this picture (there is one in the back hiding behind the tree on the right). They were so active that they were hard to catch on camera. We watched them for a long time before leaving the Ape House.


We also got to see the zebras, some horses, and the spotted leopard before we headed to lunch at Ben's Chili Bowl-a DC institution. The chili half smoke was awesome, and we all shared chili cheese fries and listened to our arteries clog!

Wonderful Summer Day!

We all spent the day at the outdoor pool today (which is like a small waterpark)! It was a perfect day...not a cloud in the sky. It was sunny and warm but not extremely hot. Emilia REALLY enjoyed herself, especially on the slide. There are lots of slides at the pool, but two go into the toddler area where the water is only about 10 inches deep. It's perfect for toddlers to do all by themselves. Daddy helped her a little but she went down independently quite a few times. She got splashed and her face went under a couple of times but she only thought that was more fun!




There was another "beach area" that gradually slopes into the pool and has lots of fountains and bubblers. She played here for the better part of the day splashing herself and practicing floating in the water. She's getting very brave and used to putting her face in the water. She was even practicing floating in the wading pool where she could barely touch with her hands. The pool also has a lazy river that we went around 3 times!



All of the playing and swimming made little miss so hungry so we took a break and had some snacks. She thoroughly enjoyed lounging on the chair next to daddy and munching on her veggie straws.

Here she is playing in the fountains and practicing her floating.