Memories from LBI - Aug Vacation in NJ

What a great time we had with the Yates clan at Long Beach Island!

The weather was beautiful and the company outstanding! The 7 days there flew by after a long awaited vacation to the beautiful Jersey shore.

It was a week of firsts for Bella & Dean from Jellyfish (that didn't sting) to crabs, waves, shells & sand castles! It was fun to see their reactions to new textures, faces & places we'd never seen or been before. Bella was a delight to travel with & Dean was as good as can be expected for a 1 1/2 year old who is used to his routine and familiar surroundings. They were showered with love & affection from Granny & Gramps, their Aunts & Uncles and cousins younger and older.

The week flew by and before we knew it we were once again boarding the plane. Although it is always good to get home & settle back in the memories are many. We look forward to the next time we are all together relaxing in the sand.

Was she ever that small?

I remember Bella being a silly baby, joking even before she knew words. Now Dean is starting to "joke around" just as his sister did...having the 14 month sillies. They continue to be so different as boys and girls are. Dean's laid back, non moody manner is refreshing compared to Bella, but he is wearing us out climbing and getting into things she never would at this age. I pulled up some photos of Bella at the same age Dean is now, nearly 15 months and think, "Was she ever that small"?

All about the cake

This morning Bella asked if she could marry me and daddy when she gets older. Of course I said yes, not being able to imagine her in love with anyone else. She also decided she wants a Dora cake for her wedding, & a Fairy Cake for her birthday. It is all about the cake.

The things she says keep us in smiles. Does every parent think their child is as funny as we do? All I know is I wish I could remember every precious line that usually starts with, "Mom, I have a good idea" accompanied with her signature Bella hand gestures from excitement. I can't believe she will be four in a few months. It seems like yesterday we were decorating her Bee cake for her first birthday, and now she is teaching her brother how to brush his teeth, because "Big girls use flouride Dean and I am a big girl."