Beach Vacation 2014

We went on our annual beach trip the 2nd week of August this year.

Tom and the kids picked me up from work on Friday and we drove about 8 hours that night.The entire ride was uneventful and we were even able to find a Whataburger (so exciting) for lunch.

The whole week at the beach was a lot of fun. Some of the things we did:

• Tom & I rented bikes for the week (with a trailer on the back of Tom's). We rode to Sea Side a few times - twice for shaved ice and once for lunch.
• Tom and Tim played golf a couple of times
• Family photos (twice) - the first time was rained out, so we just went out to dinner instead
• Played Tripoly and Mexican Train a few nights
• Went down to the beach - haha - Although, that first Sunday, I took the kids down by myself and wouldn't you know it - about 5 minutes after we walked down - it downpoured. Grace was so scared to go down to the beach every day after this. Ugh!! We would take her down anyways and she would eventually warm up to it. Poor Gracie Baby!
• Tommy LOVED swimming in the pool - he was in there ALL the time (other than when we were down at the beach). He started going underwater and jumping into the pool. Grace loved the pool too, she just liked staying on the stairs though.

Comfy on the ride there

Deciding if he wants to go in

Still warming up to the beach.....

The water was perfect this day, so Tommy decided to go in

Lunch in Sea Side

Rode our bikes to get shaved ice

The girls watching Tommy make a "Cake"

Assistant Bakers :)

James wanted in on the action

Sitting in the "big" chair at the restaurant

We had a smooth ride back to PA until we were about 40 minutes from home and had a blow out! We were able to pull into an empty parking lot to change our tire. Thank goodness!

Grace checking it out

We already have a house booked for next year - can't wait!

Walking With Dinosaurs

I love listening to the Elvis Duran Morning Show on my way to work. About a month ago they "surprised" one of the guys on the show by having a dinosaur from this event traveling in the US come at him out of the service elevator. The way they kept talking about how real it looked and how good the show was, that I decided to see if Walking With Dinosaurs was going to be in Pittsburgh.

Luckily it was, so I asked Tommy (who learned a lot about dinosaurs at school in the fall) and Grace if they wanted to go and they said "Yes!!"

We ended up going to the 11:00 show on Saturday, August 2nd. Tommy loved the show and asked us a lot of questions. Grace was afraid at first, but then got excited when some baby dinosaurs came out. I think the favorite of both kids was T-Rex and Diplodocus (the one with the long neck).

This isn't T-Rex, but he was still pretty scary ;)

My favorite

Being little stinkers (Tommy wanted a picture by the Penguins car)

Cutie Pies

The show was about 1 1/2 hours long with a 20 minute intermission. Right after the show, we went over to Church Brew Works for lunch and then headed home.

The Rest of July

The rest of July (after Tom's birthday) was pretty busy..

Rennie & Associates hosted a get together for some clients at the Pirates game on July 20th. This included some beverages and lunch at Rivertowne Brewing before the game.

Kids Day = Face (er..arm) painting

Tom and I had a date night on the 26th - probably the best day of the year (my birthday). Since we always like trying different restaurants, we decided to go to Palazzo 1837. It was nice and I loved that it was an old converted house. The room we were in had a table of 8 and a table of 4. The people at the next table left right after we ordered dinner, so we had the whole room to ourselves.  The casino was calling our name after dinner so we headed over there to give them a little of our money. :)

Happy Birthday to us

Tom The kids sent me flowers for my b-day

On July 29th, Tommy had his last T-ball game of the season. He was excited because it was at the actual Little League field (and they called each players name on the speakers as they came up to bat). They don't keep score that this age - so the game ended in a tie of 12-12.

Warming up

Coach Tom

National Anthem

Tommy looked so cute in the dugout (he's the handsome one smiling at me without his hat on)

Go Team!

After the game, we all went to the park next door to play on the new playground.

Grace & Evelyn swinging

On the 30th, Tom went to TX to meet with clients and the kids and I went on a "date". They chose to eat at Steak N Shake - for the shakes of course. Our next stop was Home Depot to pick out paint samples for our bathroom in the basement. Tommy (being a male) wanted to walk around and look at things after that - haha. We walked around the whole store and then I bribed them with music videos to get them out of there. ;)

The kids had a birthday cake milkshake

One of my little stinkers being silly

Tom's 35th Birthday

We celebrated Tom's birthday a couple times this month.

On his actual birthday (July 10th), we signed the papers to refinance our house and then went to Vallozzi's for dinner and drinks (and of course dessert). When we got home Tom opened his presents - 2 new golf hats & golf balls. I also wanted to get him a speaker thing to plug his phone into, but he needs to pick that out.

His favorite - cheesecake (with a side of chocolate for me)

On Friday, Christine, Eddie and the kids came over for dinner and brought an ice cream dessert. The kids played outside most of the evening and the adults watched the Pirate game - okay - I didn't really watch much.

Saturday, Tom got to play golf in the morning (dang - he sure does get to carry this birthday thing on for a while) and I took the kids to Idlewild.

Riding the teacups - surprise, surprise

Tommy likes to ride by himself...

Where's Grace?

I'd say he had a good birthday weekend! Happy Birthday Tom!

Texas Visitors

The Thursday we got back from Disney World, some of our friends from TX came to stay with us for a couple days.

Chris & Chuck (and Charlie and Isabella) got to our house around 10:00 that night. The kids had fun hugging and playing together for a little bit before we put them to bed around 11:00. Tommy and Charlie were excited to share Tommy's room.

Friday, Tom stayed home for a little while before taking Tommy & Grace to daycare and then heading out to play golf. I made dinner and we played outside (and inside).

Tommy & Charlie playing with legos

Isabella was supervising

Saturday was the active day. We left earlier in the morning and headed to Pittsburgh to go on the Good Ship Lollipop and then ride the incline. We took a few pictures at the top of Mount Washington and then headed over to Primanti's for their yummy sandwiches.

What a beautiful pirate

Aargh!

The kids at the top of Mount Washington

My sweet angel wanted a picture with me.

Chris & Chuck left right after lunch to head to Washington DC. We had a fun, but short visit with them.