A Bunch of Firsts

We have just returned from the Jersey Shore. And 195 pictures later, here is a brief overview.

It was the girls first plane ride with their Daddy(who for a non-flyer, did extremely well even on the return flight landing through horrible storms.)

Both Girls had their first taste of Jersey Pizza, homemade pretzels , slushies on the boardwalk, funnel cakes, Italian ice and many other fine healthy delicacies.

Grace went to her first water park and rode many different slides. She started off slowly in the kiddie pool going down the baby slides and progressed from there to double tube slides and a steep slide into the pool.

Lily rode her first carousel, the howitzer, a train and her first set of baby boats all on Morey's Piers in Wildwood Crest.

Grace rode MANY different roller coasters on the piers, her favorite being the one she rode alone with her cousin(no mommy).

Grace boogy boarded in the Atlantic Ocean, Lily had her first dip in the Atlantic Ocean. They both loved sculpting the sand, and running full throttle into the ocean. It was so hot out that the 70 degree water was extremely refreshing. Lily would keep trying to get deeper and deeper until the waves would knock her over. Grace kept riding wave after wave. Those nights they ate and slept well.

Lily got to meet her Piacesi cousins for the first time. Lisa who is 13 was an excellent babysitter, and gave me many needed breaks from making sure Lily didn't go up and down the stairs, or bunk bed ladders, or even out on the deck from the littler children leaving the doors open. Joe who is 11 did great also. He would play with her and gave her lots of toys.

Both girls had a ton of fun with the Gilray cousins who are 7 and 5. Faith the eldest, was a little mother hen, trying to get Lily to do things (she learned Lily doesn't do anything she doesn't want to.) Campbell would play well with Lily and rode lots of rides with her and was very helpful. Grace stayed in the room with the Gilray's and had lots of late nights and watched movies, read books and played lots of fun things with Faith and Cam.

We were there to celebrate Pop-pop's 70th birthday. We took family pictures, had lots of good food, and a ton of fun. We were able to spend time with Pop-pop, Grandma, Aunt B, Mrs. Gallagher, Ms. Brenda and her two cute kids. Lily called Pop-pop by name, and Grandma too, this was a first since the last time we saw them these words were not in her vocabulary.

Now it is time to sit back and relax for the last three weeks of summer. The girls and I are headed to Auburn to help Aunt Anna get her classroom ready, I will get the two teeth implanted that I have been missing for 4 years, the braces will come off of my bottom teeth, we will work a couple of dance camps, birthday parties and hopefully finish cleaning out the closets to take things to goodwill. Well doesn't sound too relaxing does it....oh well that's life.

In a post note, we feel the date of July 15th approaching. It was Brendan's due date and even though it was over 3 years ago that we lost him, some wounds are never truly healed.