Vacations

This summer we were fortunate enough to be able to take a few vacations with Jackie. Last summer we were busy just adjusting to working and having a baby, but we managed to take a long weekend to enjoy Bethany Beach in July, 2010:


I can't even wrap my mind around how big she's grown. I truly do not remember her being that small. She was barely sitting up by herself and while she enjoyed wading in the baby pool, she was very cautious. We didn't know special swimming diapers existed, so she "swam" with a regular diaper. We were wondering why she was suddenly 20 pounds heavier- duh!!

This year we spent a night on Long Island with Grandma, an entire week at the beach with Grammy and Pops and also spent the night at Aunt Kate's and Uncle Tom's for a family reunion.

Here is Jim hanging out on Aunt Kate's porch at the reunion with Jackie and her handsome cousin, Griffin in early August.




Here is Jackie in early July posing with her Mama and Dada before spending the night partying with Grandma at the smelliest Holiday Inn on the planet (Sorry, Mom!!) She did really well on the long car trip with Grandma entertaining her in the backseat. I don't want to forget how much fun she had eating her macaroni and cheese at that questionable bar/restaurant in the hotel- She was delighted at the animal head mounted on the wall (must be those Shoemaker genes!). She also had a great time driving through New York City. Hopefully, any fascination she has with that city will fade and she will want to live forever in Delaware with her dear parents.


Here is Jackie at the beach in July 2011- rocking a bathing suit selected by her Dada. She enjoyed the sand, so long as it was dry and played happily with her toys. Things ended badly one day, though, when the kids nearby were playing with a ball which she so desperately wanted.

Jackie watched cousin Griffin hang out in adult beach chairs and decided she would follow suit from that point forward.

And here is Jackie hanging out in between Dada and Pops at the beach. I have no doubt that Grammy and Pops were exhausted after this week! Below is Jackie toting around the cheese grater that we ended up hiding in a high cabinet, much to her dismay.

Sorry about the wonky picture placement- still figuring that part out. Anyway, Jackie ended up with some crazy illness that week as luck would have it, but this little diva is a trooper- we didn't even realize she wasn't feeling well until she was already on the mend.