New Jersey

*Forewarning: This post is picture laden and LONG =)*

Our summer has un-officially come to an end with our trip to New Jersey. Last Saturday we made way back to our old stomping grounds and planned to vacay, instead, we ended up visiting galore, which was fun and stressful, in and of itself.

We spent most of the week on Chris' dads boat, which was the most amazing way to end the day!! Boat rides on the bay never get old and it's the life! Let's just say I love coastal living ♥

Sailboats!

Logan enjoying his nightly boatride!

I mean really, how could anyone not love this view?

We went and visited with family, who we miss sooo much, especially after seeing how all the babies play so well together!

Logan with his cousins, Leigha, Ally, & Natalie
Logan with his cousin Audrina

Look at the love!

Logan with his friend, Joseph

His cousins taking him for a walk. Yes, Logan is in a pink toy and only because it was a free grandma find! Ha!

We took Logan to Jenkinson's Boardwalk & Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant, NJ, with our friend Mel & her daughter, Jaclyn. It was hairy for a minute there because Logan got sunblock in his eyes, it was hot, and one of Logan's teeth decided it wanted to pick that day to start poking through and causing pain! After a dose of water in the eyes, some Baby Orajel on the gums, and a cool down at the aquarium things were happy again!

Fishie ride!

Jaclyn & Logan were inseparable too! He wouldn't let anyone else hold him or go to anyone else!!

Watching penguins!

Mel & I

All done, with Jenks that is!

We mixed the week with some dips in the pool, jet skiing, crabbing, and eating ice cream. I had ice cream 4 out of the 8 days we were there!! Jeffreeze's was the BEST ice cream I had! Stewart's Root Beer ice cream came in second!

Here I am learning how to jet ski!!

The crabs we caught!

And here's the man who's I got to spend one incredible week with. He makes the world a brighter place, makes my dreams a reality, and he's always supportive of me. I couldn't ask for a better man and I wouldn't. (Get ready for my gush moment!!) He completes me. ♥

It was a great trip and I absolutely loved seeing and spending time with everyone. Granted there were some who we didn't get to spend time with, but I think Chris and I have come up with a plan so that next time that doesn't happen. I loved watching my son interact with his family. He poked a new tooth while we were away, he turned 17 months old, and he said "Grandpop". All of these memories I wouldn't trade for anything, ever! I do have to say, though, I'm happy to be home! Yes, home, in TN. I didn't realize how much I would miss it. Maybe it was because I missed my bed or because I missed my laid back routine, but either way, I missed my home in TN and I'm so glad to be home. =)

XO

July 4th!

As with each holiday, I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th! I love the 4th of July. It's our nations birthday and we get to celebrate it with great food, music, drinks, fireworks, sun, and the greatest family and friends! This year Chris and I celebrated the 4th of July in New Orleans with my family! My grandparents made an awesome BBQ dinner with the most AMAZING homemade potato salad EVER! We went to the Riverwalk to watch the Dueling Barges in New Orleans and then of course spent an hour and a half trying to get out of the parking lot! The fireworks did not phase Logan again, which I was so happy about because they didn't phase him last year! He just watched in awe as the rest of us did!

The Steamboat Natchez (They were sold out but tickets to watch the fireworks were $119 each for adults and $89 each for kids!)

Happy 4th of July!

Imagine two of these going off....That's what they were doing! It was gorgeous!

♥

We Can Be Spelunkers For Just One Day

Hope everyone had a great weekend! We had an awesome but exhausting weekend starting with an impromtu trip to Kentucky to do some spelunking, or cave exploration! (Chris said the word spelunking a thousand times on Saturday!)  We went to Diamond Caverns Cave in Kentucky and it was interesting and fun to be underground and looking at all nature's own creations. This cave had, supposedly (because I didn't count) over 300 steps and was 1/4 mile each way. There were some pretty deep and steep steps and a bit scary when you're carrying a 25 pound, squirmy toddler!

A stalagtite (it's just a formation that is still stuck to the top)

This was a formation that used to be on the top of the cave but because it was so top heavy it fell and that happened about 3,000 years ago.

I think we should start a JR. Spelunkers Club!

The massiveness of a cave is indescribable and my photos, although memorable, don't do it any justice.

Mommy and her little spelunker =)

 

Me with the most excited spelunkers of them all!

This was interesting. As we were going up these steep steps to leave the cave the tour guide told us to look down and to our right to see the original entrance to the cave!! It has NO STAIRS and it was scary DEEP that I could only wonder how people survived entering and exiting!

We had such a great time even if we did spend more time driving than anything but it was worth it. It made my sister's weekend (she's staying with us), Chris was super stoked, and Logan thought he had this big underground playground to run around in (supervised, of course). Not only did we get to see these wonderous caverns we also got a little history lesson (which I LOVE). My only wish the whole tour was that our tour guide was a little more experienced. He'd only been working there for 15 days, but, hey, people have to start somewhere! Great time I totally recommend it for anyone.