We Are The Champions, My Friend

Last night was the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium. It's a professional bike race of 60 laps looping around town. A pack of us made our way to see the festivities...kids on bikes and adults on feet. As Rachel put it, we only had 1 injury (Ry's foot got caught in his pedal) and 1 breakdown (a chain came off her son's bike) before we even got there.


In between the amateur and professional criteriums, they have a race for kids. They go with their age groups and are cheered on by the huge crowd that comes to see the professionals.

Unfortunately, we didn't even think about meeting the kids at the end of the race. So as we're standing at the starting line, cheering them on proudly and watching them grow smaller in the distance, it all hit me at once and I started racing down the street like a maniac to catch them.

It went something like this:







Needless to say, even with the announcer laughing at all the parents running after their kids, we caught up at the end and they were very proud of themselves. Congratulations to Owen and Josh who were also part of Ry's intensely competitive heat.

Back To Reality

Sigh, I think this is my final shore posting. We made it back from the Jerz and have spent the afternoon dusting sand off all our worldly posessions.

Here are some leftover pictures. I also have some funny videos but I can't get them to upload...if I get it to work you'll be the first to know.

In the meantime, I may as well go mix a drink and stretch this vacation one more day. Cheers!

P.S. Yes, that last picture is Cole pushing Ry down into the sand. The Moose lives!!

Just Call Him Froggie

I took Ry to the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor. They had two zookeepers from the Philadelphia Zoo come out to give the kids a lesson on amphibians.

At the beginning of the show, the lady zookeeper had everyone go around the circle to say their names and an animal that's associated with their first letter. She said, "My name is Danielle. 'D' is for dolphin."

The kids all played along until it got to Ry's turn.

Zookeeper Danielle: What's your name?
Ry: Froggie.
Zookeeper Danielle: Oh, I get it. Does your name start with an F?
Froggie: No, I'm a frog.
Zookeeper Danielle, now desparately scanning the crowd for help from the parent: You're a frog?
Froggie: Yes, my name is Froggie.

And there you have it.

Where's Waldo

Call The Zoo...

...there's a Moose loose on the beach!!

Cape May

We love going to Cape May and always take a day to visit when we're at the shore. Phil and I like looking at the old Victorian houses and dreaming about retirement...the boys like riding over the bridges to get there and eating at Hot Dog Tommy's.

A new addition at the hot dog stand...Frozen Coke! I was fascinated by the advertisement and had to stop immediately to buy one. Turns out it's a Slurpee...I guess Hot Dog Tommy is a marketing genius.

Fun And Games

Miniature Golf...Amusement Park Pier...
The fun begins and chaos ensues.

Rollin' Down The Sand Dunes

The adventures were plentiful today. Not only did Ry experience the terrifying tourist trap known as the public beach Port-A-Potty...but on the way back he also decided to scale the sand dune.

This Shore Is Fun

Before we mix our first pina colada of the night, we thought we'd share some of our vacation pictures. Here are the boys on the beach...Cole is tearing up the surf in his usual no fear fashion. After watching him literally knock people down to get to the water, we've decided that Uncle David's nickname "Moose" is wildly appropriate.

Cuz Luv

Phil has 17 first cousins...and now that they're all having babies the boys have plenty of company. At last count Ry and Cole have 6 first cousins and 20 second cousins (this includes the triplets, oy vae)...but that may not be truly accurate due to the fact that I just added everyone up myself. You all know what happens once you get past 10 and run out of fingers.

They got to hang with the crew at a family party over the weekend...based off the picture of Ry I'd say a good time was had by all!

No Hurt

Ry had a little incident yesterday...let's just say that he wrangled with some concrete and his face lost!

Phil, R.N. busted out the laminated Wong-Baker Pain Rating Scale that he happens to carry around with him at all times. This morning Ry pointed to #6..."Hurts Even More."

I'm happy to report that before bed he officially downgraded himself to #0..."No Hurt." Hip hip!

Lotzah Matzah