Crane Beach

We decided to enjoy our first weekend in the new apartment having some adventures around town and relaxing. Saturday morning was chill, just hanging around, bacon and eggs, a bit of TV. In the afternoon we hit Crane beach, which is beautiful always even if it lacks the happy seedy feel of arcade/pizza beaches.



Pip loved the beach, as always. But Vivie was another story. She wasn't fond of the sand or the cool beach breeze or the frigid (65 degrees!) water. The sun was too bright. Her hair was in her eyes but she didn't want a pony tail. Within about 15 minutes she was begging to go home. Uh-oh. Some how we managed to distract her and keep her mostly happy for the whole afternoon.

Here she is wiping the offensive sand off her feet with a baby wipe.


Meanwhile, Phil was enjoying an exfoliating spa treatment from Pip. His scalp is quite refreshed now.


Later, much to the amusement of the other folks at the beach, Pip and Phil attempted to play catch with a small rugby ball. Well, Phil tried to play catch. Pip just used the game as an excuse to throw himself on the ground repeatedly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDStxzNi_ho

For Vivie, and probably Pip as well, the highlight was the frozen treats from the stand before we left.

Hanging at the pool

Only two days into the new place and it's time to check out the awesome pool!

We even invited some friends to join us and had a blast. I have to say, the entrance ramp was a hit with the kids. Everybody swam their hearts out, but -- not a surprise -- Pip was the last to leave the pool and practically had to be dragged home.




After a quick dinner, Pip voluntarily retired to his room ... saying he wanted to go to bed. I don't think this has happened with him for at least 2 years. I went into bed with them, theoretically to read a book, but soon I found myself asleep with Pip in his bed, and Vivie next to us, passed out in her bed. Whoops! I guess we were all tired!!

First Night

Well the new digs feel like we're on vacation. They are small but cozy and well-laid out. There's a pool, theater, gym, and even an elevator! It's a great space and I think we'll be happy here until we find our next house.

Here are Pip and Vivie, asleep happily on their first night. Poor Vivie didn't even have her mattress set up, but she was so tired from the day, she didn't mind sleeping on the floor one bit.

Move on out

The day after the block party all the fun was over. Well, maybe Pip was still having some fun!


We worked our butts off. Phil was a soldier ... don't think he stopped to sit all day. We picked up our Penske truck at 9am and dropped it back off at 11pm. We moved all our daily things into the new apartment and packed the final items into the POD.


Over the next few days we returned to pack up miscellaneous items and had a cleaner come in to ensure we hand it over in good shape. Bye! Onto the next adventure.

The Street

Here they are ... the last pics of the street.

Us on the steps:


And all our friends from the street!

Water balloons

It wasn't long until the water balloons were unveiled. Jen and Annie also organized a paired throwing contest. Phil handicapped himself by holding Vivie, but he was partnered with David who proved to be a great throw. They ended up winning!




After the small balloons were dispatched, Pip found a secondary stash of huge ones. Here I am being attacked!


Just when we thought they were through, Sang brought out another batch of balloons and started batting practice. Very wet fun! These days, I find myself all-in for anything fun. So here I went again!

Egg races

A few more pics from the block party. Here's Mom, who came up to help us with the move and proved we couldn't have done it without her.



Sang blew up his inflatable boat for the littler kids to play in. Here Vivie gets her toes wet in style.


Annie and Jen organized egg races and spiced it up this year so we didn't know if our egg was boiled or raw. Yikes! How come I was the only adult foolish enough to sign up for this one?


Pip was excellent at this game, choosing care over speed. After a few rounds up and back he and I were the last ones standing. So we went head to head ... check out his blocking tactic when I went to pass!

The final block party

Well, it's sadly official. This Saturday was our last block party while still living on the street. We were so grateful and surprised to hear that our neighbors were throwing the party for us. We didn't organize a single thing. We just showed up and marveled at all the memories we made on this street over the last 4 years with so many great people.

It was indded a full four years. We had Pip and Vivian in that house and learned how to be parents. We had neighbors who supported and helped us, who we could call on for favors big and small. We will certainly miss this street.

Ok, enough sappy (but true) stuff. Here are some pics from the party:

Vivian discovered she loves lo mein!


THe Keefe's brought out their cornhole beanbag game, which was a hit again this year. Here Vivie and Pip demonstrate their take on the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkzVa36cWrs

LEGOS

Pip's journey into boyhood has officially begun. The young lad got his first two sets of Legos. We've given him a tupperware to house them. He'll sit undistracted for 15 minutes at a time making spaceships for is Star Wars fighters. He better love me when he gets big.

Lake fun, part 3

Don't miss this video of Pip getting his Irish groove on. Young Brennan on the Moor was brave and undaunted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTzjCIB_vtE


No one can deny that kids love to be swung about. Here's Vivie doing what she calls the "water bounce"


And Pip being swirled through the water.


More of the lego stare:


Vivie and Gus.

Lake fun, part 2

Vivie played and retreated in waves over the weekend. She had a bit of a fever the day after we came home so maybe she was feeling a little under the weather. Or maybe it was just the pull of the cozy house and it's DVD player. Who knows! We did manage to get her outside, enjoying the water here and there. He we caught a classic smile.


Pip lives basically all of his life in imagination land. He's always pretending, role playing, acting out the stories in his head. Together we built a lake garden in the sand. Complete with guard ducks, a moat to keep the dragons out, raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry plants, a duracel tower, and palm trees. I might have been more proud of our garden than he was!


Bunk-jumping. I am pretty sure who was the ring leader. And we can blame Phil for taking pictures rather than intervening. Soon everyone was involved ... but no one was hurt.


A huge threshold was reached this weekend. PIP DISCOVERED LEGOS. There's something universal about the Lego stare. All boys get it when then get their little hands on them. Here you see it on Pip, for the first time:

Lake fun

What a weekend of fun at Dan Hole Pond. This being my second year visiting there, I knew the drill a little more. Didn't even bother bringing makeup or a hair drier. Took lake baths. Became one with the sand. A bit of serenity was achieved.

Pip and Liam spent approximately 85% of their time shooting water guns at each other, helpless adults, and the rocks.


While it was hot and humid, occasionally the lake breeze could make you feel chilly when you left the water. Pip enjoyed warming in his green elephant towel. He was not keen on posing for pictures. So I got this funny one of just the elephant and Daddy.


My cutie.


More squirting.