East Coast

Earlier this month we were back in the States visiting friends & family on the east coast. It's always a grueling trip trying to quickly adjust to the new time zone and trying to squeeze in visits for everyone we want to see. Sadly, we rarely succeed on the latter. We flew out on my birthday which had two huge benefits - the first was that I gained five extra birth day hours and the second was that there was a Carvel Ice Cream cake waiting for me at the other end. Yum! Our seats were also upgraded which was a nice surprise.

The first couple of days (long ones, as they started at 4-5am-ulgh!) and the last couple of days we spent with Grandma & Grandpa J. We did lots of shopping - stocking up on our 'can't get in the UK items' - and visited the nearby pool and playground. Plus, Grandpa took the kids out on their first fishing expedition.

Luckily the lake was just out back so when the kids got bored after 5 minutes without a catch, they were able to turn around and come home.

Aunt Brenda hosted the whole family for a BBQ. The kids loved playing with all of their cousins and it was a treat for J & I to not have to swim with the kids. C jumped off a diving board for the first time.

Around the table, the men swapped stories and had a scotch tasting while K charmed his aunts with his adorableness.

Inside C gave a 'Jelly Song' performance and then we watched the Olympics Closing Ceremony.

After our week in Lake Ontario, we were back with Grandma & Grandpa for a couple more days. Grandma let C pick her prize tomato...almost as big as C's head! And wouldn't you know it took two tumbles on the ground the moment C turned to walk with it (see the cracks?). The gasps from Grandma and I could be heard clear across the state. But it still tasted wonderful.

We also had a lovely, but short visit from Aunt Ondy and cousin Emily.

On our last day in NJ, Grandma took the kids to the playground where C finally mastered the climbing she had been working on all week. Is this a proud face or what?

There was lots of family time, outdoor time, swim time and play time the sum of which was a super-fun week. It was wonderful spending time with J's family and they all adore the kids. Hopefully we'll be hosting a few of them in London in the next year or two. I've been told that "arrangements have been made".