Adam, aka "The Exterminator"

A moth entered our home.  Adam set off to rescue us and to get rid of the moth.  It was a riot:

Beach Babies

We decided it was finally time to pack up way too much gear and head to a typical New England beach (read "rocky beach").  The A-team has been showing an interest in playing with sand and stones as of late, so we thought this would be the perfect day for them.

It started out sort of slowly:

But once they woke up and realized the fun to be found, there was no stopping them:

Well, there was one thing that stopped Adam:

Would have stopped me too!

I Haverstraw, You Haverstraw

We all went to Haverstraw to visit a beautiful new park.  The citizens loved it!

It was a very windy day, but it was lots of fun.

Promising Picassos?

Adam and Ashley received an art easel for their birthday.  Although MLM isn't yet brave enough to supply them with paint, she confidently gave them chalk.  Here's the result:

Cruise Nights

It was Cruise Night at Bear Mountain State Park and we couldn't resist.  Although it was happening at the same time as bedtime, MLM and MLD threw caution to the wind and stuffed A+A into backpacks.  The focus of the night was on older cars, but plenty of people complimented us on the citizen's sleek mode of transportation.

The photos we took don't really do it justice.  We saw a Soviet Lada, a Budweiser beer truck (complete with a tap, a 1960's era NYC police car, Ferraris, Lotuses, a Nissan GTR, Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros, a Karmenn Ghia, and some specialty kit cars.  It was incredible.  The loudspeakers blared music from the 1950's and 60's.

Ashley bopped along to the music, preferring Elvis and the Beatles.  At least that's when she danced the most it seemed.

Adam cried when we told him he could not sit in the '93 burgundy Corvette and take it for a spin.  Honestly.  He pointed to that car -- of all the cars there -- and clearly wanted to go for a ride.  

All in all, it was a fun night!

I See London, I See France...

... I see MLM's underpants!

Not exactly.  But according to gardening wisdom found on the Internet, the best way to support melons growing on a trellis is to use pantyhose.  Kid you not.  So since I hardly wear dresses anyway, it seemed like a good idea to finally put all of my pantyhose to daily use.  And it makes for one funny blog post, even if it's not related to the A-Team.

We'll see if this works.  If it does, then you'll see a post of the citizens eating cantaloupe. Although recently we've experienced some gardening setbacks:  some sort of rabbit/squirrel/chipmunk/munching creature recently decimated both of my broccoli plants and demolished a large portion of my brussel sprouts.  Hopefully this same critter doesn't enjoy cantaloupe or watermelon. Wish me luck!

Ice Cream Cones

One of the best things about being on a summer vacation is sitting outdoors, eating ice cream, slurping milkshakes and not worrying where it drips:

Kennedy Dells Hike

We went to the Kennedy Dells County Park for a hike to see a waterfall.  MLD took the photo below.  It was a short jaunt so we didn't take the packs.  As you can see from the photo, Adam wishes we had taken them along:

Pudding Pix

Pudding and toddlers make for a great photo opportunity.

Listen carefully for Adam's request in the video.  It melted my heart.

Out for a Drive

It was raining so we visited the local mall.  After we rode on the escalator for fun, the kids had a blast climbing on the cars:

Second Birthday: Take 3

Final birthday post, this time in live action sequences:

Second Birthday: Take 2

Today we're sharing photos of the birthday cake and of the kids eating ice cream and cake:

Happy Birthday to you!

Blow out the candles

Make a wish!

Getting down to business.  There's ice cream cake to be eaten.

Mommy's smiling because I didn't get any green icing on her.  Yet.

This Carvel stuff is good.  I'm going to eat it all and not make a mess.

So easy when someone feeds you.  So easy!

It's even better when I eat it myself.

Mommy let us have ice cream AND cupcakes.  Wow.

I know.  My eyes are glazed over from the sugar high.

I keep eating and eating and this cupcake isn't getting any smaller.  Oh my gosh!

Even Mommy can't resist trying some of the frosting.

Photo with Baba Lida.

Second Birthday!

Today was Adam and Ashley's second birthday.  The weather cooperated; warm enough to play in the water with our cousins, but not too hot.  

birthday girl

birthday boy

our cousins

The trio watches the big kids splashdown

Stay tuned -- we'll have more posts this week from their birthday.  Short video clips one day and cake photos the next!

Bounce House

Ashley and Adam's cousins have lots of cool toys.  And let me tell you -- they had a good loooong nap after lunch.  I loved it too!