Chickies in America

I managed to sneak 2 days away from the office and we loaded up the truck with enough stuff to last a month and we drove down to Wildwood Crest. Although the hotel was not the world’s best we had a great time and really enjoyed the Water park on the pier, and then 2 days in the backing sun (did I hear something about Englishmen and mad dogs in the midday sun). It was sold to me as a few days to relax on the beach but strangely enough the chorus of Daddy! Daddy! never ended but we had a great time body surfing, jumping waves and building sand castles:

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Our little boy is growing up and now he has lost his front teeth…

Even though it has now been two years you are still part of our thoughts and prayers. Going home in June brought back all the memories and it still seems strange to walk through the lounge and not see you there. The rug is still moving by itself and every time I pulled it straight it I thought of you trying to come up with ways to  keep the thing in place.  Mom now has the painting of the old Celebrity up in the kitchen and we all sat there and put names to the people in the picture – how young you all looked.

You Remain for ever in our thoughts and hearts.

For his third 3rd Birthday party we all headed over to the private lake at Mimi’s house. A lovely sunny day, not too hot or humid but just great for all the kids to play in the lake, on the beach and then gather up to sing happy Birthday to Brandon. Click on the slide show to see bigger pictures.

It’s my little Sister’s 40th Birthday – makes me feel old – so here we are flying to England for 10 days of frolicking in the English sun (aka dodging the rain showers). After the obligatory trip to Thomas land we had lots of fun at Funky Monkey ( 3 separate trips), a day at Tamworth castle, shopping for Lego, and exploring Sutton Park.

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Nana has just completed her new kitchen and bathroom and here come Aidan and Brandon to test it out..

“Brandon! Come down off there! You’ll fall and Hurt yourself”

“ Mommy, I can get down”

Famous last words – Brandon trying to get away from another little boy falls off the life guard chair at the lake and lands awkwardly on his arm. All the mothers gather round and offer their prognosis but after a little crying he seems okay and then promptly falls asleep in the car.

Later, after a trip to the doctor, he has it strapped up and an appointment for an x-ray the next morning.  Then the bad news, the wrist has a fracture and he’ll need a cast. But wait, we are flying to England in 3 weeks! Will it be off in time? The doctor says that if it looks good and all the planets line up, it could be removed the day we leave…

The robot arm as it became known was to become Brandon’s favorite weapon and it did not slow him down at all.

June 10th, the Children’s Hospital – the x-rays look good and its time for the cast to come off. The cutting machine is very scary and he’s not happy but finally its done and after a few minutes the realization dawns that he has his arm back and everything is set for out trip to England the next day.

With a wrist in a cast, Brandon cannot go to the beach, the lake or the pool so Memorial days is spent riding bikes and playing at the park

The sun was out in full force for an early May trip to Cape May. After a late start (someone had to play football first thing) and after much stress, as usual, getting out of the door we finally make it down to Cape May zoo just after lunch time. A very nice, warm spring day greeted us as we explored around a terrific little zoo:

After a nice dinner in Cape May we went for a stroll along the shore:

Between rain showers the boys jumped on the hay wagons and trundled around Johnson’s Farm in search of Easter Eggs.

Having collected all the Eggs we could find we headed back to the farm house but ran in to the Easter Bunny before finding a Tractor that was much more fun.

And finally outside to cause havoc and mayhem in the play area – what a fun day!