Our Avon

My midwives are located in Avon-by-the-Sea. After my appointment this week, we drove out to the beach for the first time since Sandy.

Take a look at the lifeguard station. Completely elevated, removed from the area that was once the boardwalk. At least they were able to save it. From what I can tell in these pictures here, other buildings were completely turned upside down.

The remnants of the boardwalk's structure still remain. I would have to say that they're compromised as well, and will probably need to be removed and have new put in place before horizontal boards can be installed.

If you can believe it, this is where the Avon Pavilion used to stand. A nice outdoor cafe, a walk-up lunch restaurant, and a window-outfitted building where locals used to host yoga parties all used to stand on this part of the boardwalk.

This is looking south. You can see that the drawbridge is in the upright position-- it was like that the entire time we were there.

I used to sit under this pagoda regularly, once Oliver or Trenton fell asleep in the stroller.

 Other startling before and after shots can be found here.

I found this video clip online. Someone took it of the area just as Sandy was beginning to roll in.

There is lots of talk around here about just how safe the beaches will be this summer. Although there are plans to dredge the sand, it is still hard to say what might wash up each morning onto the beach. Millions of nails used to be in those boardwalks... lots of glass in windows... it all has to end up some place.

Favorite Avon memory (Trenton is about one and a half):


Here's hoping that May comes soon, so that we can make a trip out to these beaches-- Bradley, Avon, Ocean Grove, Manasquan, and Belmar-- and decide which one is 'ready' for us this summer.

HappyHibachiBirthday To You!

My little brother is now 32! To celebrate his birthday, we went out for a family dinner at Arirang in Parlin. My cousin David came, too! Above, Len holds up a Sumo-wrestler mug (straw hole in the front... too funny).

 
I do not think taking pictures of the kids as they catch zucchini in their mouths will ever get old.
Above, Ollie. Below, T (see the green streak?)

We somehow ordered fried rice, which added a whole new dimension to the hibachi show. The guy first created a snowman, then turned it into Lady Gaga, and then into a heart shape. He shimmied his spatula under the rice just-so, and created a talking mouth, into which he put eggs. For some reason, I found this hysterical. Should have gotten a video of that, but was too busy laughing.

Best part of the night was when they banged the gong, started the fancy-light show, and came out and sang Happy Birthday. The guy held up Len's arms, sang with his Japanese-accent, and put an ice cream cake down in front of him.

 
Len has threatened to somehow repay me on my birthday.          Hahahahahaahah....

 With full bellies and some leftovers, we capped off the end of a nice weekend.
Below, Jim shows off the bow tie he was wearing. Before this, we took the kids to MU to see a production of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day". They love the book and we enjoyed the play. ("But there were no songs in the book, Mom." -- T)

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Earlier in the day, as I was straightening up the house, I realized that it was pretty darn quiet.

Some boys just love to read.


Find a great spot, and make it your own.
Trenton is very interested in reading graphic novels, while Oliver thoroughly enjoys "Henry and Mudge".

"Eating the rainbow" for lunch.

Trentonisms

A sample of the sort of stuff T creates, and that I remember to save and scan for the blog: 

 That right there is our national anthem.
What is the "donder delight", you ask?
Not sure either.

 He had been spelling awesome as "ausume" for the longest time... I finally wrote it down and put it on the fridge and quizzed him on it twice a day. He was able to get a nice rhythm and memorize it and has not forgotten the correct spelling.
Now we will try "yusefle" ;)

"Wellcome to Cutie's Pufflehose.  Home swett Home!"

Now, I have other pages that I scanned here. I scanned them a month ago, but forgot to publish them. They're holiday related, but just as funny. ;)

Our Valentines

By Trenton

"I Love You" by Oliver

"Mom, ye'r cool, awesome, fantastick, the Best Mom. Love, Trenton"

"I love you Dad because you read me The Hobbit", by Oliver

Naptime

 This is how I found him at 2:30 this afternoon:

How cute is that, now? He's got the hands all prayer-like against his cheek... covers just-so up to his chest...

I call his name, rub his hand, open the window. I put some books away and softly say, "It's time to get Buddy!"

Clearly this was not a nap he wanted to wake up from. 

Can you blame him? Nice warm bed on a cold winter's day.

Snowy Saturday

Last weekend was the FIRST TIME we were able to test out the sledding on the hill behind T's school since we moved into our new house. Trenton and Jim went and had a blast, with only a handful of other people there.

Today, I swear, it was like the whole neighborhood came out to play! 

We stayed to the left, where most of the parents with little kids were... the older kids sled down the steeper part to the right. Both boys LOVED it, despite the cold wind frequently kicking up snow in their faces. Jim was a great sport, going up and down the hill repeatedly with Oliver. Trenton sledded with our neighbor, Daniel. 

Then back home for some 'warm cocoa', as Oliver called it ;)

We know that much of the rest of the Northeast received this weather as a blizzard. It was quite nice to 'dodge a bullet' (as Bloomberg put it) and just be able to enjoy a nice, wet, perfect-sledding snowfall. 

The Kevtillion

Friday night was The Kevtillion-- my friend Kevin's birthday bash. Each year, he rents out the party room at Gossip Bar (in the city), and invites everyone he knows. He always makes it a great theme-- two years ago, when we went, the theme was early-90s ("Dress as though Kev was 13 for his 31st"). This year, we were encouraged to get out our formal wear and give it one... last.... chance.  He was so cute handing out corsages and boutonnieres, leaving "Etiquette notes" around the bar for us to read, and having guests go home with Pashminas and bow ties as party gifts.

Oliver and I baked brownies from scratch to give to him ;) We know he appreciates good baking.

 Good news was that Dan and Michelle were available to hang out and go with us!
Let me tell you, the city is a brutal place during a cold February night, especially when you are walking in heels ;) But once we got to the party, it was wonderful to catch up with these two (and later crash at their place in Jersey City-- thanks!)

 Ah! So guess who won first place for "Most Formal"?
Not me. Some awesome flapper chick.
But I tied for second place! Here is Kevin announcing (from a chair) the winnahs.
(I do believe the vote was rigged, as Kev's mom went around and told people to vote for me, the former prom date.)
He noted that we BOTH could no longer fit into what we wore to prom, due to the fact that we are both in much better shape now, 15 years later... ;)

 Very fun to dress up... last wore this dress to Andrea's wedding!
Kev and his boyfriend, Joel, looked quite dapper. There were many tuxedos and even one guy dressed in a circus ring-master coat!

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 Michelle made some awesome hot chocolate for us... had to take a picture.
And on Saturday morning, after walking around Jersey Gardens a bit, we decided to go back to the Adega Grill. We had such a nice meal there for David's wedding and we were curious what we could get for lunch on our own.
We were not disappointed.
The leftovers from both our meals lasted for three days... Shrimp, pork, sausage, veal... dang you'd think we were meat lovers or something... The rice was saffron and tasted like it; the vegetables were excellent...

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And then after a great weekend together, hanging out like we once did while child-less, we got to come back home to this face:

Awww.

I'm realizing that we don't post enough movies of him reading. 

The text he's reading above is "The Magic School Bus-- Lost In Space". 

So yeah, now you know about the poles...