Six Months Later: Welcome Back, Point

Six months after Hurricane Sandy.
This past weekend was so gorgeous, and we actually had next to nothing on the calendar.
Point, here we come.

We hit up some rides... played in the arcade... tried out some mini-golf, and ended with sushi from Martell's.

Shootin' some Air Hockey. 

First ride = the Elephants. Irresistible.

Best ride = Motorcycles. Even though they disconnected the buzzers at least two seasons ago.
No worries; Oliver can make his own obnoxious sounds.
t
Motorcycles, April 2013 from Sheryl K. on Vimeo.

Got great views from both the Crazy Bus and Rooftop Mini-Golf. As you can see from the picture below, it was very crowded. Amazingly, the only ride that was not in operation was the train. I heard that the tracks got messed up, as well as the train itself... The boardwalk in front of some of the arcades had clearly been replaced, while quite a few other parts were still the original. One large building (beach side of boardwalk) was being rebuilt still. But the place was a-buzzin'.

There are still many shore towns that are in awful shape. Point Pleasant Beach has worked very hard to rebuild and replace the beachfront locations, knowing that the tourist money that it will bring in this summer is irreplaceable and necessary. Unfortunately, many home-owners and landlords have decided to forgo fixing their homes, and have left them abandoned (about 200 in town, a friend has told me). It is unclear how many renters will return to these areas this summer, how many homes will be available for rent, and how Point will fare in the long-run.

But for this weekend, at least, all seemed back to normal.

Oliver's Class Trip to the Farm

Oliver's spring class trip was to Atlantic Farms this week. We have visited this local farm for years, but it is always more special when you can go with your friends. And feed the animals carrot slices ;) Above, Payton and Oliver do just that.

 The kids were mesmerized by the gigantic hog. This is one BIG PIG. They decided that if they kept shouting  "PIG! PIG! PIG!" that they'd somehow get it to move.
Move it did not.

 And finally, we have some pics taken at a First Holy Communion celebration for our friend, Jeremy (back, in the red shirt). These kids are growing up! They played for three hours in the gorgeous sunshine with the parents kicked back and chatted. It was a very nice party :)

Springtime Events

Guess who is FINALLY old enough to participate in his first team sport? 

That's right! Little man!

Below, he throws in the ball from the sidelines. Daddy is behind him (go coach!)

 Oliver's head coach is wonderful. She is a great communicator and gives the kids name tags for each game... smart, as they only meet once a week and they all kinda look the same in those shirts ;)

 He absolutely loooooves soccer.

 

Other guy is  in the Pee Wee league this year. That means a combination of using the pitching machine and hitting off of a kid-pitch.

Let's hear it for baby girls!

Above, Ellie jumping in the bounce house during her second birthday celebration.

Below, Averie Eileen, held in the loving arms of her daddy, Jonathan. We've been waiting to meet you, little one! She is definitely adorable.

 

 
And finally, here's a quick pic of me and my Zumba girlfriends (well, half of them anyway). We all went out one night the other week and had a grand ol' time... no Spandex allowed, and must come showered is what I wrote on the invite ;) Hoping to do it again soon-- thanks for all of the great birthday wishes!

I Love Mom More Than 1,000,000 Lives

And there you have it, folks. I must be doing something right ;)

You always know it is me if the happy person has HAIR.

Oliver comes home just about every day from school with some kind of painting that says "I love you Mom". It is just adorable. He does quite a bit of writing on his own, making cards and notes for his family members.

Below, I believe it starts from the bottom and reads, "I love Dad" and something about his invisible ghost-friend named Fluffy.

Trenton's awesome Angry Birds card. Used stickers, but created his own setting.

 A project for class entitled "If I Were President". He would ban smoking. And to help his country, he'd travel.

This was the story that he read aloud at B&N night: 

 

 "There was a mouse in the forest. A snake ate it!"
Below, a pic of Ollie. Huge ears.

The brown M&M saying "Hi Gals!"

 Finally, Oliver had written a story about school. T helped him bind it with tape, gave it a title, and viola! Oliver's first book!

 "Going to school. by: Oliver
I went to schooe
And I lernend the ABCs"

He will proudly read it to you if you ask. And if you don't ;)

Belmar Rising

Strikin' a pose on Belmar's new boardwalk. Beautifully Instagrammed ;)

 On Sunday, we met in Belmar to celebrate my birthday with family and have dinner at Mr. Shrimp.  It was the end of Restaurant Week at the Jersey Shore, where the price fixed menus are three courses for $20.13.

 As you can see, most of the boardwalk is completed. They're still asking everyone to stay off of it for now, but I couldn't resist this photo op ;)

The material is different from the old (gray, composite) boardwalk. This one appears to look like wood, but is not. Mom said that she heard it is supposed to be heat-resistant, so that when you're walking barefoot, you can tolerate it. 

We'll see about that this summer.

 

 

Trenton found LOTS of stuff under the boardwalk. He wanted to use the nails to build his new clubhouse this summer. The snail shell still had a snail in it!