It’s been another busy summer for us! Alexa has continued to explore and engage in the world around her! We spent lots of time at the beach. We celebrated birthdays with friends and family. We went on vacations. We discovered new places to learn and play. It’s kept us so busy, I haven’t been able to update this site in weeks!
Way back in June, we hit the road for a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. It was a long drive, but proved to be well worth it. We stayed in a beachfront resort that offered a small waterpark. We ate really good food, including a buffet with fresh crab legs (YUM!), frog legs and crawfish (YUCKY!) which I teased Alexa with!! We spent most of the time at the beach. Alexa learned how to ride the waves and we collected dozens of seashells. We visited the aquarium and took a special day trip to Charleston where it was hot, hot, HOT!!! We saw the city by horse and carriage and eventually the heat took its toll on Alexa. She fell asleep mid-ride and didn’t wake up until we were making our way back to the car. Mike and I had a chance to taste some local wine and we checked out some outdoor shopping. It was a great day, although our next visit will have to take place during the winter months!!
In early July, Minna, Ptah, Alexa and I went to Six Flags Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom in Lake George, NY. We got an excellent deal, pay for one day and visit the park 6 times until the end of the season! It was a beautiful day and we spent most of it in the water! Toward the end of the day, Alexa rode some rides in the children's area. Minna accompanied Alexa on a roller coaster and learned quickly that she (Minna) DOES NOT like roller coasters!
Minna, Alexa and I made our second trip to the park on the 28th of July. It was another hot summer day and we spent most of the afternoon in the waterpark. Alexa had lots of fun on the lazy river. She especially liked it when I was sprayed unexpectedly by water spouts on either side of the river!
Ptah!
Me!
Minna, Alexa and I joined some of our favorite friends for a very special event at the Fairfax library in early August. Max, star of one of Alexa’s favorite cartoons, “Max and Ruby” visited the library and the kids sang songs, played “Simon Says,” and listened to some “Max and Ruby” stories before doing some painting and having photos taken with Max.
We helped celebrate Ashleigh’s 3rd birthday on August 7th. Despite some challenges during previous play dates, the kids seemed to enjoy themselves that day and took advantage of the sunshine that allowed them to bounce around in the bounce house! The goody bags were a very welcome surprise at the end of the party and Alexa was beat by the time we got in the car to go home!
The garden that Minna and Alexa started even as there was still snow on the ground has produced an enormous amount of veggies this summer. Not only have we enjoyed eating such fresh food, Alexa has been happy to tend the garden and has discovered weeding to be quite a stress reliever!! Oh wait, I find it to be a stress reliever, she just mimics everything I do these days!!! I even found her weeding during one of our trips to the Great Escape!
We recently returned from a week away from home in Southern Rhode Island. We rented a small home nestled in the woods near horse farms and a wildlife management area. The house was a short drive to the beach and close to Mystic, CT. The week was full of excitement, especially the arrival of Uncle Brian! Alexa enjoyed Uncle Brian's guitar playing and she even learned a new song...it goes something like this..."Shake your booty!" It's become an instant hit!
We spent time in the historic seaside town of Watch Hill, home to one of the oldest flying horses carousels in the country. Alexa was reluctant to ride at first, but she eventually took a ride and seemed to really enjoy it.
On a very hot, very humid Tuesday afternoon, we drove to the Mystic Seaport museum where we met up with the Mahoney Family, Adam, Connie, Sofia and Joseph. Adam’s brother and his family were also there, on vacation from England. We spent the day exploring the historical village and despite the grueling heat, we enjoyed each other’s company and took some great photos. Afterwards, we sought out a place for dinner and Alexa ate a piece of Mystic Pizza! The rest of us suffered through poor service and mediocre food while catching up and watching the children play!
On Wednesday, we celebrated Minna’s birthday on Block Island. We took a ferry to the island and relaxed on a beach until the clouds rolled in and the rain came down. Alexa enjoyed the company of two girls who were visiting the island with their family. The three made “birthday cake” with the sand and even created a “bakery” where the served tea and cake to their patrons! We enjoyed a fancy dinner and yummy wine and, of course, sang “Happy Birthday” to Minna before heading back on the ferry.
Mother Nature made sure to end the night on this special note…
Thursday was a perfect day for the beach. We spent the afternoon at the local, Misquamicut Beach. Uncle Brian surfed some waves on the raft. We enjoyed a Rhode Island favorite, Del’s Frozen Lemonade. We built some sand castles and did (just a little) swimming. The jellyfish kept me from getting in the water, but the others didn’t seem to be bothered. Later in the afternoon, our friends Kathy, Lil and Brady-Lyn joined us and stayed for the remainder of our trip. That evening, unfortunately, Alexa became feverish and this persisted for the next 24 hours! I guess the week was finally catching up with her!
Although Alexa was feverish all night, it appeared that she was feeling better on Friday morning and we had made the decision to go to the Mystic Aquarium. Ptah drove Uncle Brian to Boston to catch a plane back to CA. We said good-bye to him and then headed to the aquarium. To my surprise, several of the attractions were outdoors…it was HOT outdoors. Alexa fed the stingrays and saw the beluga whales before heading inside to see the jellyfish, sea horses and other sea life. We caught a show in the auditorium about sea lions and then walked around the remaining outdoor attractions. Unfortunately, by midday, Alexa’s fever was returning and so we headed home early while the other’s had dinner in Watch Hill.
Brady-Lyn & Alexa
I had found out about the NJ Children’s Museum while looking for venues for Alexa’s 2nd birthday party. A year and a half later, on Aug. 28th, Alexa and I finally went to check it out. Located in Paramus, NJ the museum consists of many rooms with themed activities. Everything from a Medieval Castle to a doctor’s office. There is a fire truck and an ambulance, a news room, the Wild West and a Construction room. Alexa was in Heaven! It was hard for her to spend more than a few minutes in one place! Along with Gramma and Aunt Eileen, we spent several hours in the museum and we can’t wait to go back again!
With summer coming to a close, Alexa, Daddy and I decided to embrace to brutally hot, NJ weather and take a ride to Keansburg for a day of rides and water park fun. The Keansburg amusement park is the oldest in NJ. Over 100 years ago it opened and today it has an old-fashioned feel that is unlike any other “boardwalk” in Jersey. We started the afternoon on some of the park’s older rides and before long it was too hot to handle! We walked across the street to the Runaway Rapids water park and Alexa and Daddy hit the waterslides before I could even get my suit on! For the next two hours we kept cool and after some lunch and a quick stop by the local beach (where we viewed Staten Island and Brooklyn), we drove back home.
Alexa shares a joy of city planning along with her Dad. A recent visit to Horseshoe Lake in Roxbury allowed for the creation of a seaside resort (of sorts!). Like father,like daughter!
Labor Day weekend, we took a (windy) ferry ride on Lake Champlain and then went to NJ, where Alexa spent an entire day with Minna playing at Brady-Lyn’s house in Fair Lawn. On Labor Day, Alexa, Minna, Mike and I drove to Stirling Forest to attend the NY State Renaissance Faire! It was a great day to eat good food Steak on a Stake and Turkey legs!), watch a jousting competition and simply people watch!
Alexa has been so proud of her growing independence, which now includes brushing her teeth and getting dressed all by herself! These days, Alexa insists on doing most things by herself!
Showing off her pearly whites!
Alexa’s writing skills have been growing as well. She can write her entire name, Mom, Dad, Chip and Minna. She recognizes most letters in the alphabet and she runs her finger along words when we read together. She continues to enjoy coloring and painting. Spirit is still her favorite movie. We even have the soundtrack for the car now. Alexa sings every song, she knows most of the lyrics and she sings confidently and beautifully! Max and Ruby is the current favorite television show. Alexa loves to mimic Max, using single words to get her point across. For example, she might say “hungry!” rather than using a full sentence or suggesting what she might want to eat!
With her buddy, Ri!
Another busy summer full of fun brings us to another Fall. We are looking forward to some big changes this Fall! Hopefully, they will bring with them fun and wonderful memories!
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