Yes - I’m talking about Spring today - not only because I wish it were Spring (it is way too hot here in NJ), but because I was a slacker a few months ago and didn’t post very much.  Life was hectic this spring.  We were in the midst of the nightmare leak that seemed like it would never end, school ended, the leak was finally found and repaired, the work to fix the leak damage began….you know…..life just took over.  It happens.  The house is now painted and looking fabulous and we are just awaiting our new carpeting.  We originally planned to wait until next year for carpet, however, all of the furniture is empty and half of it is already moved.  I certainly don’t want to have to do that all again.  You really have no idea how much crap you have until you have to pack it up and move it! 

So back to Spring…….we did a bunch of random, but totally fun things.

We went to a Touch a Truck event.  This is were companies and public safety organizations bring their vehicles and allow the kids to explore them.  If your child is into vehicles, this is a must do event.  Check your l0cal resources to see if it is done in your area and if not, it could be a great fund raiser for a school or church.

Uh-Oh - The Destroyer is Operating Heavy Machinery!

CheezWaster Takes the Wheel

Talk About a Big Truck!

Thanks to our annual Christmas gift of a Great Wolf gift certificate, we had a blast riding the water slides and playing on the nets.

The Slides at Great Wolf Poconos

Off to a Good Start

Going Down

Biting It One Tree Stump Before the End

At Least Someone Made it to the End

We took the boys on their first trip to New York City.  Thanks to a stellar deal from Groupon, we attended the Wizarding World Comicon Event, which was much smaller and less eventful than the Comicons you see on TV, but nonetheless fun.

Darth Vader is not my son's father

We then headed into Time Square where we (foolishly) took the kids into the massive ToysRUs to ride the ferris wheel.  Kids in a giant toy store = bad idea.  Just saying.  $44.98 later, we went to the M&M store, where I was also taken for everything I had.  $12.99 for a pound of M&Ms?  Really?  I don’t care what colors they are.  They  better talk to me like the ones on TV for that kind of money!

The Blue M&M

See the Grumpy Blue M&M?  He has to do this crappy job since no one is buying M&Ms…..because they are RIDICULOUSLY priced! Do you hear that M&M Mars???

We hit the Newark Museum, which we (sadly) found out wasn’t all that thrilling for young kids.  There were a few highlights for young children like the Planetarium, Nature Section and the Fire Museum, where the kids could dress up like firefighters and play in a real fire truck cockpit (thank goodness for this otherwise I don’t think the whining would have ever stopped!).

Newark Fire Museum

And last but not least, we took the kids on their first fishing trip.  Well, it wasn’t really a trip, per se.  Near my parents’ home in PA, there is a great state park, Frances Slocum State Park.  We took them fishing at one of the lakes in the park with the poles that Uncle Dave, the weekend fisherman, gave them for Xmas. 

Baiting the Hook

The Expert Outdoors Man

Despite major efforts from the husband and The Great Outdoorsman (aka my dad), I was the only one that caught a fish (HA!)….and I did it twice.  Behold - my trophy fish (and I’m not even in the picture). And in case you care - the 2nd trophy fish was also a crappy sunny.

My Trophy Fish

So, now you know some of what we’ve been up to.  Once the carpet is in and I can get my house back to normal, I hope to be a bit more mindful of the site.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.  It is good to have dedicated friends/readers!