Fruit Picking

On August 13, we took advantage of a beautiful day to pick lots of fruit. First we had to take a picture of the kids. I'm the only person who's allowed to do Jenna's hair, so we needed documentation.

Our first stop was Eastmont Orchards to pick peaches and nectarines (they also have apples in the fall). We needed a big wheelbarrow to haul all that fruit.

Of course, all the kids had to try nectarines right away. They were delicious - the best I've ever had.

Then we headed down the street to pick some berries. They had blackberries and raspberries.

Adam was a pro at blackberry picking from our trip earlier in the summer. He enjoyed the bucket around his neck - two hands to get all those berries.

Japan in New Jersey

On August 12, we headed to Edgewater, New Jersey. There's a Japanese grocery store, Mitsuwa, there. Everyone went crazy shopping for their favorite Japanese treats. As a bonus, there is a Japanese food court with views out to New York City. The kids were very excited to eat spicy noodles. Lottie still hasn't mastered chopsticks, but she managed to get the noodles in her mouth.

Some of our food (midway through eating). Yum!

Beach

Time to catch up on our trip to New Jersey! On August 10, we took the kids to the beach. In New Jersey, you have to pay to get on the beach. We are lucky to be able to use the New Jersey National Guard beach at Sea Girt for free. We love our military benefits. It was overcast, but warm enough to splash around and make some sand castles.

Point Pleasant

Our of our first stops in New Jersey was to Point Pleasant. We stopped at Jenkinson's Aquarium. Adam wanted to see everything - no stopping to take pictures.

They (okay, Jenna and Lottie) really liked the touch pool. Jenna touched the crab... Notice Adam in the background.

And Lottie touched the crab.... Adam was asked if he wanted to touch the crab, and he yelled out, "No thank you!" and ran away.

Then it was time for lunch and a walk on the boardwalk.

Our last stop was to check out the rides. The fish were exciting.

The boats were exciting for Adam and Jenna. But the best ride of all was the roller coaster - Jenna's first one. She's a speed demon just like Adam and Lottie.

Long Branch

Once we got to New Jersey, we made a beeline for the beach. The kids enjoyed the nice playground at Seven Presidents (a beach that, yes, seven presidents have visited).

Lottie loved on the dolphin.

Then we stopped for Italian ice at the Lighthouse. Yum!

Plane Trip

Adam and Lottie were really looking forward to the plane trip. They were excited to see the giant astronaut cow in the lobby of the airport.

It was even more exciting to be invited into the cockpit.

Adam even got to wear the pilot's hat.

Happy lucky babies.

Old McDonald

Old McDonald had a farm, EIEIO.

With a moo moo cow

And a doggie cow

Cow cow cow

Cow cow cow cow cow.

EIEO!

- Lottie

Houston Visit

On our way to New Jersey, we stopped at Amy and Sebastian's house for the night (we flew out of Houston). We were excited to meet Baby Eliska. We even got to take her for a walk.

Adam practiced being a big brother (again).

Lottie was excited to "hold" Eliska too.

Temple Train Museum

On July 29, we visited the Temple Train Museum. I hadn't heard of this museum before this summer, and I'm kicking myself for not discovering it sooner. It is located right off one of the main train junctions, so you can train spot. Plus they have a bunch of old trains to climb on and around.

These wheels are twice as big as Adam and Lottie.

Huge train.

"Driving."

We also self-toured an antique Pullman (which we weren't supposed to, oops). Adam and Lottie brushed their teeth in the bath compart-ment.

We never got to tour the inside of the train museum, but they did have a wonderful playground. Adam and Lottie enjoyed all the different swings and the cool pads.

Adam called the cool pads his "shower."

Meet a Princess

On July 27, we went to Chik-Fil-A to meet a princess. Belle was there to promote the musical version of Beauty and the Beast that they had at the local theater. It was fun to meet Belle (with our sweet neighbor Ashley, Adam, and Lotttie). It was even more fun to see the musical - Adam and Lottie sat through the entire show and loved it. They are ready to go see a real Broadway show!