Good Woman

Maria is able to hold Cooper down those steps to the lakefront with one hand, and also carry her Stella in her other hand. What a woman!

Sand Beach

Can we just say again how PERFECT the weather was this past weekend? Not too hot up at the lake, and so nice at night hanging out on the deck. The sun felt so good! Maria got some exercise by taking Cooper for a walk all 4+ miles around the lake in the jogging stroller. Lori, Van, Traci, and Lynn got 18 holes of golf in on Sunday morning. Paddle boarding and jet skiing and boating and sunning and tanning - what a truly great weekend!

We decided to take the boat over to Sand Beach on Monday. We could grab lunch and Cooper would be able to play in the water with a million different kids. Cooper wants to run in immediately.
An eagle was out and diving for fish during the afternoon.
Loves being in deeper water with Mommy!
Hanging with Randi!

Batter Up

Gina and Anne are the first to officially begin Cooper's baseball training. We have a tee, bat, ball, and orange cones for the bases. Is 18 months too early? Not sure, but he seemed to have enjoyed himself!

Explaining how the ball goes on the tee.
He is almost ready for his Yankees try-out!

Pool Party

Eileen and Gina ran up to IGA for a couple of last minute grocery needs, and on their list was a little blow-up pool so Cooper could play on the deck. The water from the hose was FREEZING COLD, but the kid didn't care. He splashed and giggled and loved every minute of it.

Random Lake People

Brown Eyed Boy X

Van Van Van

Van's Birthday! Love the tradition of spending the holiday weekend with a whole mess of people to celebrate Van. It is always so much fun, and this year did not disappoint!

Van is 29. Again. (and again and again)

Van decided to take the paddle board out for a spin.
Doing well. Doing well.
How do I turn around????

Whew, made it back! (nice guns vannie)

Lynn meant to fall off. Really, she did. Yup.

Diva In Training.
Booze cruise?
Randi has the right idea!
Partying is an exhausting endeavor.
Cooper eating. Has anyone not seen him eating?
The happy couple.
Triple'tastic.
Gina taking a snooze....
Is she dreaming that she is holding her beer?

Can't talk about the weekend without taking a moment for a shout-out for the chefs! Lori, did any meat stay on the bone? Perfect with liquid heroin! And Glenn made shrimp-eaters out of seafood-haters, so that is quite a freakin' feat! So many more culinary masterpieces were enjoyed. We are a lucky lucky group.

A few themes that carried us through the weekend were remembered not because we retained anything, but due to Van's brilliant idea to take a pad/pen out to the fire on Friday night.

Here are the highlights:

- Do you EVER know what you're talking about?

- Hues Corporation (who would name a group 'hues corporation')

- Take off your pants!!!!

- What happened to the marshmallow? I don't see it, but can smell it!

- P.M. & Ns

- Start here and feel all the way up

- HIGHLAND DOMINOS

- Nature's television

- Peaches Maria

- "MMMHWLOSOQLEAIANWO" (maria w/5 mallows in her mouth)

* HAPPY BIRTHDAY *

* VANNIE *

Noisy Trucks

Our friend Jo (WE LOVE YOU JO) works at Macmillan, and sent us so many books for Cooper! He loves them - thick pages, clear pictures, and very interactive. We were able to leave several up at the lake, and others we kept here in the city. Cooper knows exactly where his books are stored in both dwellings, and goes after them often. We are so happy he is so interested in them at this very young age.

'Noisy Trucks' has a cement mixer, tractor, firetruck, and dumptruck.

After Lori, he then enlisted Sarah to read to him.

Don't you see we are trying to READ here?

Impromptu Jersey

With Maria finishing her work for the day around 1pm, Lori in Dallas for the night, and nothing planned that night in the city - Maria and Cooper headed down the Parkway last Wednesday to get in some family time for a few hours.

First stop? Maria's grandparent's house. Beautiful weather, so the three hung out in the front yard/porch watching Cooper keep himself very busy: cars to point at, kids on bikes riding by, trees, ants, rocks, etc etc. He was never at a loss of things to explore. Next? Met up with Maria's parents, and now the expanded group of 6 grabbed dinner. Cooper enjoyed the pasta and the sauce and the bread and everything else in front of him. Mangia boy!

Third on the agenda? BOARDWALK. Perfect night with the weather being so mild, and we also didn't have to deal with the weekend BENNYs or the Thursday's Fireworks crowd. A bit busier than normal since it was the week before the 4th of July, but all good.

Cooper is way to young to understand the rides. I mean, the kid would much rather have free reign walking around and exploring the area. Nevertheless, he had to get on a few rides!

What would a night at the Boardwalk be without getting ice cream at Kohr's? Easily the best place in Point Pleasant, and many would argue that it is the best frozen custard on the entire Jersey Shore.

It was quite possibly the quickest trip to the Boardwalk ever. Lots of fun though! Cooper liked the car ride, merry-go-round, and when all six of us rode the train around the area. He waved at everyone as we passed like he knew them. Good times.

View from Manasquan Inlet. See ya later Jersey!

Cranky Pants

Wow. Mean face, huh?

Cooper was NOT a happy camper when it was time to get out of the bathtub up at the lake.

He wanted to splash and roll around and put his face in the water and giggle and laugh and continue his good time.

But NO......

Cooper's moms told him time was up, and he needed to towel up and get ready for bed.

So not fair, because the kid wanted to play!

Worry not. The kid was happy again in the morning.