Sunday, August 28, 2011

Ocean City - Jersey Shore

We picked a crazy week to vacation in Ocean City, New Jersey!  On Tuesday, we experienced the 5.8 magnitude earthquake which was just bizarre!  On Thursday, we were evacuated in anticipation of Hurricane Irene.  Although our beach time was cut short by a couple of days, we are happy and thankful to have arrived home safely.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to our family and friends on the East Coast as Irene continues to move through the region.

Here's the crew traveling via surrey (complete with fringe on top) - Zander, Daddy and Mommy in the front row, and Cousin Paige, Grandma Marie, and Nana Pat in the back row.  We had a ball pedaling the Boardwalk in this fun mode of transportation!
Zander continues to LOVE digging in the sand:
Daddy's Aunt Gail and Uncle Lee came to visit early during our stay - here are Daddy, Zander and Gail getting ready to take a leisurely walk along the beach:
The walking crew (Zander riding on Daddy's back):
We were also very excited to have Mommy's friend Mary and her family visit us on Sunday.  Here Daddy and Zander are posing with Mary and husband Tim, and their three adorable boys: Luke, Gabriel, and Jacob.  It was so fun to seem them all!
Zander also had tons of fun hanging out with Paige during the trip:
...and Paige even got to hang out with Dooly!
Wow, all that running and fresh air can wear you out!
Zander really loved running up and down the Boardwalk:
 Nana Pat, Cousin Paige, and Grandma Marie:
 Wheee!
 Waving to Mommy as Zander waited for his first-ever solo ride: a small 'car-go-round':
 Some gorgeous wheels!
 Hello! The ride is really fun when it's not moving!
Unfortunately, after the ride started, Zander became less and less happy with each lap, eventually screaming and crying for the ride to end.  Poor Pumpkin!
 Paige, Nana Pat, and Grandma Marie took on the Flying Swings:
 Wheeee!!
Zander picked out a fun Froggy kite at the Boardwalk - here he and Mommy are testing it out - beautiful!
On Wednesday, we took a short road trip to Atlantic City to check out the boardwalk and have a relaxing dinner.  Here we are visiting the huge Monopoly Board:
We had an absolutely delicious meal at Buddakan - Zander really enjoyed both the cuisine and ambience:
 More hanging out with Paige:
Daddy's Uncle Cork and his family also came to visit later in the week which was really fun:
We had a great time at the Jersey Shore and enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with both family and friends.  Next time, however, we'll need to coordinate better with Mother Nature!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

The Clown Car

The funniest series of Zander pictures so far this summer was taken back in early May, at an annual summer party celebrating Korean children - it was a delightful event.  Here's how it started - Zander was enjoying a quiet ride in the blue car, when 'Pink' came to join him:
Here they are riding together - very cute!
Next, 'Yellow' came to check out the action:
And then 'Blue' appeared in the back seat:
'Green': "Can I have a ride?"
Woo hoo!  Party of four!
Zander's driving skills being put to the test:
Pink: "Maybe there is more room for me on the other side..."
Pink: "No, it's not much better over here:"
Pink: "Perfect - I'll just ride up front":
Can you still see Zander?  Notice Blue, in the back, eyeing the sunroof:
Blue: "A much better view!"
Zander greeting his sunroof passenger...
Zander eventually got bumped from the driver's seat:
...and decided it was time to try out the yellow car!
We had so much fun watching the whole car adventure unfold - such a beautiful and lively group of children!  We also enjoyed a delicious Korean-themed lunch at the party, and Zander had a good time running around and jumping in one of the jumpy-houses. 

It was a lovely celebration and we so enjoyed meeting new families and reconnecting with those we've met before.  We were especially excited to see Zander's foster sister again - such a special connection for us all.  So many families with amazing stories of such wonderful children - we are so happy to be among them!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Summer Fun

Whoa, summer is flying by!  Zander has been enjoying a very active summer with a good mix of activities.  Soccer anyone?
Early in the season, Zander helped Daddy till the garden - it was hard work, but lots of fun:
Whew!  Taking a break:
Nana Pat and Mommy planting the garden - a mix of both seeds and plants:
Zander loves to help in the garden - here he is checking progress with Nana and Luke:
Daddy harvesting - hot peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, beans, zucchini, herbs, and lettuce:
Zander continues to love playing with water - whether it be watering the plants, playing with his water table, or swimming:
Enjoying the water table with Zoe and Gabrielle:
Starting a water fight!  Having a blast getting soaked...
A hilarious game of 'follow the leader' - Zander's hair shows off his hopping ability:
Swimming!
Hanging with Daddy on the glider:
Some additional pics from our neighborhood Fourth of July parade - blowing on his patriotic pinwheel:
Aunt Heather, Dave (and Baby Amanda) and Uncle Bob:
Brady decked out:
At the starting line:
Aunt Heather waving the flag:
A refreshing frozen reward following the parade:
Zander was excited to spend some additional time with Nana Pat when Daddy was in France:
At the Lego Castle display at the Children's Museum:
Walking down a steep slope!
Driving the big bus:
Doing some shopping - yummy fresh produce:
Giving Nana some driving tips:
Zander loved participating in his first 5k with Mommy and Nana - the Heartbeat 5000.  We all got geared up in our Medtronic best to support the cause:
Nana posing in front of St. Anthony Falls:
Having some fun before the race:
After the race we had fun checking out the Mill City Farmer's Market, and then going to the top of the Guthrie Theater building to get a unique view of the Stone Arch Bridge:
The last weekend that Daddy was in Cannes, Mommy and Zander managed to get a bird in the house!  Here is the little guy - big thanks to our friend Dave for helping us set the bird free:
Back a few months - enjoying the jumpy house at Zander's school's 'Spring Fling':
 Listening to the Teddy Bear Band at the Fling with friend Kaiden:
We've had so much fun with Zander already this summer, he's learning and growing so quickly.  One of the things we continue to adore about him is his silly giggle:
Enjoy the rest of your summer!!