Little house in New Jersey

Mark and I sometimes joke that our girls are growing up more like girls in the 1950s than the 2000s. We've been a (mostly) TV-free house since 2008. They aren't allowed a lot of computer time, read a ton of books and play outside a lot. Of course, we're only joking since there is still a long list of modern conveniences from which they benefit.

However, yesterday, we went to our next-door neighbor's house and made apple cider. Outside. With an old press that you have to crank manually.

It was awesome!

The cider was fresh and sweet and the kids loved turning the crank and watching the apples get squished into cider.

In fairness, the grinder - which turns the whole apples into a sort of pulp - was electric. Regardless, the kids had a great time tossing apples into it and watching them get turned into mush.



Loaf tosses one in. Looks like she's going to be a little short.



Peanut's turn and she sinks it!



Loading up the press with mushed up apples for another batch

So here's what I learned:
- It takes one bushel of apples (about 42 pounds) to make 2.5-3 gallons of cider.
- Like pie, the best cider is made from a variety of sweet and tart apples.
- Making cider is a messy, sticky job.
- An electric apple grinder will shoot chunks of apple an impressive distance.
- Hot apple cider with rum is yummy (OK, I already knew that one, but it's even better with fresh cider).
- Making apple cider in your neighbor's backyard will make you feel like Laura Ingalls, even if the driveway is full of SUVs and shiny German sedans.

What I did on my summer vacation

I just had an AWESOME week off. I needed this week. My one and only goal was to spend as much quality time with the girls as possible. All I can say is mission accomplished!

We started the week with Peanut's SEVENTH birthday. Seven. Whoa. I just can't believe it. She is growing up so fast. Even though she has a summer birthday - perfect for an outdoor pool or swimming party - Peanut wanted . . . wait for it . . . an ice skating party. Fortunately, the local ice rink is open all year round and guess what? Ice skating parties are DIRT CHEAP in the summer.

So ice skating it was - she and 15 of her closest friends. They had a great time and despite several of the girls being first-time skaters, they all gave it a try and by the end of the session, a goodly number were moving around the rink on their own. Peanut was in her glory, which made it even better.

Mid-week, we headed (as the locals say) "down the shore." On the way, Loaf had to pee (revealing this news less than 60 seconds after passing one of the only rest areas on the Garden State Parkway). I feel it's not officially a vacation until someone has to pee on the side of the road, so over we pulled and dropped trough right there on the grass along the express lanes of the GSP. Fist pump!

Once at the beach, we had an absolutely amazing time.

We dug in the sand, we splashed in the waves, we chased seagulls, ate ice cream and strolled the boardwalk. It really doesn't get any better as far as I'm concerned and there is nothing - NOTHING - as sweet as the sound of your own children squealing and laughing as they frolic in the waves. I wish I could have two straight weeks of it. Just fantastic!



She was completely fearless. She would have dove in and started bobbing beyond the breakers had I let her.



It's not a beach day without ice cream!



My beach babies

This was definitely my favorite part of the week. I wrapped those girls around me like a giant beach towel and soaked up every giggle. I doted on them - ice cream before dinner? Sure! I ran with them in the waves and laid on a beach blanket with their salty heads against me, not even minding the sand they trekked with them. This was my summer redemption - my chance to make up for all the moments I've missed over the last few weeks when I've been locked away at the office. I loved it.

On Friday, we took an entirely different trip and spent the day in New York, picnicking in Central Park and visiting the Museum of Natural History where, on our third trip, we FINALLY got to see the famous blue whale suspended from the ceiling (the previous two trips, the room was closed). The girls love the park and could spend all day climbing all over the giant rocks in the park.

We spent the weekend close to home, but stayed busy riding bikes and going to the movies to see Despicable Me, which gets six thumbs (Peanut's, Loaf's and mine) up. And we filled in the rest of our time reading stories, playing Uno, swimming at friend's pond, catching butterflies and just being silly and relaxed.

So not the most exciting vacation in the history of the world, but it was EXACTLY what the doctor ordered. I'm already experiencing serious PVD (post-vacation depression). ::sigh

Back to reality . . .

Summer's last hurrah

June 2009

Peanut: Mom, remember last summer when we went to the beach, how fun that was?

Me: I do. It was very fun.

Peanut: Can we do that again this summer?

Me: Absolutely. We'll go again this summer. I promise.

September 2009

My words to my daughter have been weighing heavily on me these last few weeks because as summer '09 drew to a close, I still had not fulfilled them.

June was more or less a washout, with rain every weekend.

July had a few good weekends, but we were only free one of them. I recall that weekend in mid-July, sitting around the breakfast table on a Saturday debating whether or not to jump in the car for a quick day trip to the beach. I ultimately decided against it, opting to take them to a local outdoor swimming hole instead.

August was also chock full - a wedding, a triathlon, a road trip to Indiana and then Peanut's birthday party - and as the month drew to a close I found myself deeply regretting my promise, thankful that she did not bring it up, hopeful that she had forgotten.

September arrived and unlike previous years, it seemed the weather instantly cooled. Nothing awful, but there was a definite chill in the air, requiring a sweater during the day and an extra blanket on the bed at night.

But this past weekend was gorgeous - the kind of September weather that makes living in the Northeast so amazing. The skies were a cloudless, bright blue and the air was mild with temps in the 70s.

"This is it," I thought. "Our last chance to hit the shore."

So Sunday around 10 a.m. we piled in the car and drove just over an hour to Sandy Hook - the Jersey Shore's most northern beach. We spread out on a blanket and munched on barbecue chicken wraps, grapes and cookies. We dug in the sand. We collected shells and we even splashed (a bit) in the waves.

It was breezy, but beautiful. And I felt at ease having finally fulfilled my promise. Just. Under. The. Wire.







Happy fall '09 everyone!

No skating today (because it's 60something degrees - WOO HOO!)

We had a little taste of spring here in NJ this weekend and it was glorious.

On Saturday, we took the girls to a park and didn't have to wear jackets. It was too hot! (Global warming rocks.) Though apparently everyone in the state feels the same way because the park was so crowded there was a traffic jam and you could barely walk through it without bumping into someone.

Sunday was a little more overcast and cooler, but still wonderful. Mark played soccer, I went for a nice outdoor run and then we hit the local playground. Tomorrow, we're back to a much more seasonable 47-degrees, which is OK. Despite my earlier comment, I'd really prefer the Earth stay within it's normal temperature range if for no other reason than because I think polar bears are awesome and I'd like them to be around for the long haul.

***
Oh, and while we're talking about the weekend, I would just like to officially welcome back Daylight Savings Time with a huuuuggggeee hug and kiss.

:::smooooochhh::

Peanut actually slept in today until 6:30 a.m. I know that sounds RIDICULOUSLY early to a good number of you out there - those of you without kids, or with older kids, or anyone who has been lucky enough to be blessed with children who are late sleepers. But Peanut is an early riser. Really early.

When DST ended last fall, she was getting up around 4 a.m. We did manage to push her back a bit, but pretty much every day this winter she's been up around 5 or 5:30 a.m. I think there was that one day that she slept in until 6 a.m. and I actually went in to make sure she was breathing.

So now we're back on a sane schedule. At least until the fall.

So that was our weekend. Did you do anything fun? How is your household handing the changing the of the clocks?

A perfect day "down the shore"

Sunny skies. Foaming surf. Water rushes in. Squeals of joy.

"Hold me, Mommy! Hold my hand! Tighter! Don't let go!

The surf pulls back and feet disappear in the wet sand below. Pebbles rush away and then forward again. Laughter.



The smell of sunscreen and salt. A cool breeze blowing off the vast water. Cold drinks and fresh fruit.

Toes digging in sand. The delight of finding a gleaming white shell, followed by an iridescent blackish-blue one.





Buckets and shovels dig holes big and small. Mounds of sand pile up. Castles made and destroyed, then remade again.



Rest. Relaxation. Peace.



Fun. Dreams. Excitement. A perfect summer day. Memories that last a lifetime.