NEW BLOG

I hated to have to do this, but I have to change my blog address.  For the life of me, I couldn't find a good way to update this blog on my new phone.  The old app was pretty bad, but I kept hoping blogger would come up with something.  It didn't.  So I'm moving to Wordpress after 6 years.  Anyway, time to print this bad boy out.

http://jackiehillaryandben.wordpress.com

Long Beach Island Vacay 2017

Disclaimer: Not included are pics from the Lighthouse and Bay Village and Aunt Donna's visit.  I hope to upload these soon.  I'm using new electronic devices and I'm not the most tech savvy and I def am feeling very pregnant and easily winded.  Even from typing this because I am not sitting in a comfortable position.  26 weeks down.  13 to go.  I digress.  We also golfed at Flamingo 3x, Island Golf once.  Aunt D said she was a huge fan of Island Golf and I was a skeptic until I watched Benny on the course. We had a lot of ice cream. We sat on the beach for an average of like 7 hours a day.  I could've been out there longer. Ben shared a room with my mom and the girls and Emily shared a room.  Benny was so excited about it he said "I will never forget that this is my room."  And before bed they would have long chats. How cute is that?  The girls and Emily spent a lot of time in the bay and beach water.  Ok, done the disclaimer.

This was last week- the kids were eating lunch nonchalantly discussing their friends.  My taking a picture totally ruined it, but I wanted to capture this moment.  Also, I wanted to capture our mess of a kitchen because, it is being transformed as I type.  Walls painted. new floors, etc.... Much much much needed.

This picture basically sums up our week last week: pool.

Aunt Karen's get together for my mom and Uncle C's birthdays 

Below, I happened upon a bag of chips violently opened with scissors the other morn.  I knew EXACTLY who it was: Hill.  She rolled upstairs with a paper plate full of Tostitos like it was none of anyone's biz.

Other things happened, but I couldn't recall them at this moment if I tried.  But below is Hilly at our beach house for the week on LBI.  We were greeted w a hammock.

And Ben loved this lifeguard chair.

Gabe and crew came for the night Saturday night and it we hit up the beach, pizza, Flamingo golf- our fave- and the kids played with toys.  The next day we hit up the bay.

Sunday Uncle B and crew came down for the day.  We did the bay and beach and hung out at the beach house.  Grandma came that night.  I was sad to see everyone leave but happy Gma was there.  Em joined us for the week too.

I love this pic.

Above is the Surf City 5 & 10 and below is Benny B deep in the land of golf.  This might have been Island Golf.  Watching him excitedly and with such focus take in this course that he so badly wanted was magical.  It made the entire trip worth it.  A lot of things made the trip worth it, though.  It was awesome.

We paid homage to Gran Thursday night: we filled up our leftovers in  a container and fed the seagulls at dusk.  It was magical.  My kids loved it just as much as I did.  Jim and Emily tried to argue that it was cruel and/or we should feed them like we feed the ducks, but that wasn't how Gran did it, and it wasn't how I was about to do it either.  Tradition is tradition.

Below is our beach house.  We stayed on the lower level.  It was so cute.

This seagull we named Popeye.  He had a huge broken wing and was def the boss of the seagulls.  We watched him open someone's beach bag, remove a hoagie and open it.  It was awesome!  He ate as much as he wanted, then let the other seagulls partake.

Aunt Donna came down on Wednesday.  I got a new phone so I need her to resend me the pictures.  We had a really nice day at the beach and then went to get ice cream.  We wish she could've stayed longer. 

Anyway, it was our first summer back to LBI in about 20 years.  We walked by Gran's house and I was a total creeper.  

Safety Camp, Ben Turns 4!

Ben inherited these Ninjago PJs from our friend Kyle, and he was soooo excited to wear them I had to take a pic.

Our counters are IN.  As is the kitchen sink, new appliances.  You have NO IDEA how good it feels and how much better the kitchen smells.  The drains I am learning just were not clean and the smell was driving me crazy.  My pregnant nose is off the rails.

Hannie and Payton came to play- I can't remember which day this day.  But here are Hilly and Hannah playing shopkins.

And in the 3rd floor playroom...

We broke out the sprinkler and after awhile they opted to sun themselves in the driveway with the sprinkler running so it flowed  beneath them.  Brilliance!

They laid there chatting and laughing for well over an hour. 

Before our oven was hooked up (the plumber came the day after the counters went in)- we still had to get creative with foods.  At bible school, the kids made pizza with tortillas, so my girls wanted to try this at home.  Honestly, it looked disgusting.

Benny, tapping into his testosterone reserves.

Jack made Ben this birthday card:

She loved this quote from her yearbook and repurposed it for Ben's bday card.  He received it and burst into tears.

Last day of Bible school- we watched the kids do their songs and then had a potluck in the church basement.

Jack and P singing and dancing to their songs.

Benny hung w me, but raced to the front to join in singing his fave songs. Hilly, needless to say, was standing up at the stage the entire time.

In the church basement.

Perfect cartwheel location.

Corncob love

Aunt Betty, Aunt Katie and the kids came to Wilmington that afternoon.  All morning I was fielding the question "Do you think they are in Delware yet??????" question.

Jack and Pops bonding.

Nick and Ben bonding.  Ben's love for his boy cousins knows no bounds.  He stood by Nick waiting for Nick to notice him.  Nick saw him and immediately showed him so much love.  It was really sweet because I know Nick really wanted to watch the TV show that was on, but he really made time for Ben.  At 11 years old, that's awesome.

Hilly and Finley watching shows.

Jack

A little later, Griff and Ben watching together.

I mean......

My gal amidst the chaos.

Dance party after the fashion show Finley put together.  Griff had his shirt off, so obvi Ben wanted his off too.

The next day, Hilly was had a ballet birthday party for a girl from her pre-K.  None of her besties were going to be there, so I was interested in seeing how this would go down.  She had a ball. It was a great party.  Kennedy's mom owns the ballet studio so they basically had a ballet lesson to Disney songs, a tutu making craft, etc.

The cake

All the kids gathered around while this older girl took turns popping all the balloons. All the kids would gather around yelling "Pop IT! Pop IT!" and then when it would pop they would cheer and scream.  It was hysterical. 

That night.  In the tub.  Some serious exhaustion.

The sunlight hitting my girl's face.

She looks so much like her 2nd cousin Abbey here.

Bikes in the driveway

Bun bun

Where are we here?

Oh, we were getting the oil changed after dropping Hill of for day 1 of Safety Town.  Haha

That night we had a play date at Betsy's and Ben's bestie from school would be there so everyone was pumped.

Tuesday we had Mimi's funeral and then Kid's for lunch.  Only Jackie and Ben went and they were perfect angels.

That night, Ben running the bases at tball

Ben and Drew.  Def friends forever.

Wed night play date at my house.  It was so much fun.

The next day: BEN'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The day started w a mandatory bike ride while Hill was at safety town.  Em hung w us for the day.

Then we picked up Hill and hit up Rehoboth, Ben's special request.

We spent 4 hours on the beach. It was such a special day.

Grotto's pizza

Funland- the main event

And our tradition- ice cream on the beach

And, lastly, Safety Town graduation

That night we attempted an Iron Pigs baseball game but it was rained out so we ended up just having dinner at the stadium, which actually still was a nice time.  We are easily pleased.

Anyway, sweet Benny, Happy 4th Birthday!  To say that you have brought a light to our lives is an understatement.  I LOVE watching your interests develop.  I love watching you figure out what kind of boy you are going to be.  I love watching you navigate the world.  You show true tenderness toward your friends and your family.  You lose your temper, but you are quick to apologize when you are good and ready.  I could listen to your lisp day and night and gaze into those big brown eyes forever.  I can't wait to see what this year will bring for you!  Xoxo, Mama