Bungalow Staycation 2013

At the end of the summer, Adam and I timed our vacation to be off from work in between the nanny leaving and our new au pair starting (which was better in theory, since the nanny bailed a week early).  Since we weren't ready to take on a big trip with three kids 3 and under and had already used our vacation budget to redo the kitchen, we planned a stay-catation at the bungalow.  We intended to be there the whole week with Omi (like I had done last year while Pauline was on vacation), but uncooperative weather, getting-sick babies, and Oliver suddenly refusing to sleep in his own bed put a damper on things.  Adam, not used to lazy, quiet days at the SSC midweek was also getting a bit stir-crazy.  We ended up sticking around until Wednesday and then heading home.   Devon's daycare was closed, so he was with us on Monday & Tuesday.  Oliver was happy having his friend around and the two of them play very nicely together.  We had borrowed the Lightening McQueen car, which easily the highlight of the staycation for Oliver!

Bungalow Delights

We had a blast at the bungalow this summer!  I'm so glad we put the money into the kitchen update.  The babies were happiest being ferried around in their Radio Flyer Wagon from Omi and Oliver was in heaven playing in the sand, on the playground, in the swings, running around in the clubhouse -- the SSC is definitely his happy place.   Here are some snippets from our cousin fun, in no particular order:

Sportsfest weekend, all the BOND/PAL cousins were on hand to play.  (Devon & Nathan missing from my photos).  Uncle Brian and  his friends camped out that weekend and Oliver has been excited about camping ever since (perhaps a campout birthday next year?).  This continues to be our favorite weekend of the summer.  

PAL Cousins: Believe it or not, Preston is just 3 weeks older than Alex & Lukas!

A Day with Nathan

Since the weather on Saturday wasn't great, Oliver & I went up to the club solo the last time.  The babies are awful in the car, and it wasn't worth the hassle of having them in the car 4 hours for a trip that wasn't a full two days.  Omi slept over the bungalow with us on Saturday, which was a special treat.  On Sunday, my cousin Billy & Julie brought Nathan over for the day.  The boys had so much fun playing together, especially at the playground by the pool.  Hopefully, we'll be able to have Nathan over again before the summer is over.

4th of July in NJ

After much back & forth, we ended up going to my Uncle Bill's 4th of July party and are SO glad that we did!  The party had been scaled back (due to the heavy rains), so the party was more low-key than past years.  The whole family had an absolute blast in the tree swing, the babies loved the pool, and Adam & I considered the day a success once we each had gotten to play a game of volleyball.  While Oliver was bummed that none of his fellow BOND cousins were there to play with, he was not sad that he didn't have to share the Lightening McQueen car!

Red, white, & blue kiddos!

Twin's First Birthday Party

We hosted the babies birthday party at the bungalow and really lucked out with the weather. The party was everything I hoped it would be.  We were low-key with just family attending - everyone brought something which made a big difference.  Set-up wasn't too stressful and there were many hands to clean up.  After lunch, cake, and presents, everyone suited up and we headed down to the pool.

A Perfect SSC Sunday

After the birthday party, we headed up to the bungalow.  On Sunday morning, my mom came up and joined us.  For Oliver & Devon, it felt like an eternity waiting for Omi to show up with the munchkins at 10am!  We'd already had an entire day's worth of adventures trying to keeping them entertained while we waited!  

Mother's Day weekend in Jersey

A bit late on this post....  We were in Jersey for Mother's Day weekend.  We celebrated my dad's 65th birthday on Friday night (no photos, surprisingly), Nicole's birthday on Saturday, and hung out at the club on Sunday.  For various reasons, we decided to stay in a hotel for this visit and we really loved it - Nicole's employee rate for a suite and a comp'd adjoining room certainly sweetened the deal!  The highlights of the hotel experience for Oliver were getting to ride on the luggage cart and playing (not swimming, mind you) at the pool.  I have to say, the luggage cart was a favorite of mine as well --   so much easier than lugging bags, pack & plays, etc up and down the stairs!  I was also a very big fan of Mother's Day brunch!  

On Sunday, we hung at the bungalow.  The kitchen hadn't been completely renovated, so I couldn't open the bungalow for the season this weekend, as we had hoped.  My mom's cousins were there - family we don't see very often, so I saw lots of second (third, second-twice-removed?) cousins, some of which I see less than once a year.  The best part... lots of people that wanted to hold the babies!

Easter Weekend in New Jersey

This year, we headed up to Jersey to spend the long weekend with family.  On Good Friday, we hung out at Kristy & Ray's.  My mom was watching Devon, because his daycare was closed and Nicole had to work.  Since Bentley had missed out on cousin fun last time we were up, Robin coordinated to have him sleep over at Grandma's Thursday night so he could join in.  

Meeting Santa at the SSC

Last weekend we headed up to the SSC to meet Santa.  It ended up being a stressful day for Adam and I even though there were plenty of people willing to hold babies -- no one likes to hold a screaming baby.  Opa and Tante Nicole were on hand to help out and Oliver had fun playing with cousin Devon.  Santa did not disappoint!

Hangin' at the Bungalow

Pauline has been on a two week vacation and I relocated with the boys to the bungalow for 11 days to spend time with my family, who were graciously stepping in to lend a hand.  We all really enjoyed the extended stay and having the club pretty much to ourselves.  At the same time, it was a bit sad to realize that the hustle and bustle of the SSC that existed when I was growing up spending summers there is gone.  We pretty much had the place to ourself all midweek.

POTD - cousin fun at the SSC

Scott, Jenn, and Remi joined us for a weekend at the club.  The weather was absolutely phenomenal and the cousins had a blast playing together.  We will definitely have to make this an annual visit.

Another Fabulous Sportsfest Weekend

The first weekend in August was Sportsfest - My favorite weekend of the summer!  Pauline & I drove up with the boys on Friday afternoon and got us situated for the weekend.  We even managed to squeeze in a trip to the pool for Pauline to lay in the sun and Oliver to play in the sand, before Oliver & I ran a bunch of errands. Adam & Nicole/Devon joined us later in the evening.  We enjoyed a low key day on Saturday and then on Sunday our family was around to hang out at the pool, visit with old friends, and have dinner together. 

Photos from Friday (not bad for my cellphone)

Lots and lots of photos after the page break

Birthday Weekend!

Months and months ago I planned that we would come up to the club for the first time as a family of five the last weekend in July (little did I know that we would be coming up much sooner).  The weekend plans were set and both my mom and aunt took Saturday off from work for our family day.  While more cooperative weather would have been appreciated by all (it POURED for most of the day), everyone made the best of it and we really enjoyed one another's company and a delicious meal (huddled under the E-Z Up tent that they set up on our porch).  Oliver had a blast seeing all of his relatives and playing with cousin Bentley, and we finally got to meet Baby Preston, who was born a few weeks before the twins. 

Escaping the City

After the monster heatwave, I was going stir crazy and had to get out of the house.  We hadn't planned on going up to the club until late July (thinking we would need at least a month to adjust to our new schedule/life), but I was ready to give it a go after just two weeks home.  The night feedings in the bungalow weren't fun, but really weren't any worse than they would have been at home.  It was German Heritage Day on Sunday and there was lots going on. 

Opening the Bungalow

A few weeks ago, we went up to Jersey to open up the bungalow for the season.  It's amazing to think back how far our bungalow improvements have come since we got started - and we still have a LONG way to go.  This summer, Phase 2, we're getting a dec built.  We also need a new kitchen table and possibly a couch in the living area, as well as some furniture in the guest bedroom.  For now, we aren't going to do much in the kid room - might as well wait until they are old enough for real beds, or bunks.  My mom got Oliver & Devon cots (similar to what daycares use) and the twins will be in a pack & play. 

It was also pretty eye-opening to see how much Oliver has grown - we noticed a difference from the start vs. the end of the season last year, and the change was even more pronounced now.  Last year, Oliver was afraid of gravel and I couldn't really help much, as I needed to be within 2ft of him at all times.  This year, even though I probably shouldn't have been, I was able to rake leaves and just had to keep him in my line of vision.  He was more than content playing with rocks and sticks. Of course, he was happiest driving the old Jeep and tractor that were in the club pavillion - which he visited 4 times over the course of the day.  My mom & her friend Ellen came up in the afternoon and had fun with Oliver too!  He was in heaven and was talking about being at the bungalow for over a week afterwards.  Hopefully, new twins won't keep us from the club this summer. 

End of our first bungalow season

Yesterday we packed up what needed from the bungalow and called it an end to the first season. What a great summer we had!!!! 

Oliver has changed so much since we started the frequent trips to get the place in liveable condition. Back when Papa and Colin were helping Adam take down some trees in early May, Oliver was afraid of gravel and I could barely get any raking done since I needed to keep an eye on him.  On Saturday, he was my little helper cleaning up the remenents of Hurricane Irene.  He played around me while I raked and really enjoyed running through my leaf pile (what kid doesn't love that activity?)

Pseudo-Staycation

We had college friends (that I have known for 15 years - we all lived in the same freshmen dorm) come and stay with us forthe better part of the week.  I would call the week a "staycation", but since they had to fly to see us, that isn't quite accurate.  They have an almost 3 year old, M-Papaya, who turns 3 in October.  We spent a long weekend at the SSC and then we were in Philly for a few days.  They left on Thursday and we spent some time getting things done around the house and being lazy. 

MP was terrific around Oliver.  He got lots of opportunities to learn how to share - especially when it came to his most prized possession - the Kettler tricycle.  Oliver now says "thank-you" every time you give him food and has gotten very good at saying please.  I swear, this lil' girl has the best manners I have seen out of ANY kid, period.  We definitely need to be spending more time with these friends!!!
Here are the photos from our bungalow-time.  Our friends got a true sense of what bungalow living was all about.  My dad, and Barney, were over for dinner with us on Saturday night, and my Mom came up with Devon and hung out with us on Sunday.  Family, family, family!

Breakfast on the front "porch"

Swimming Fun

Sunday weather has not been cooperative for pool days.  This past weekend, it was too cold to swim on Saturday afternoon once Oliver woke up from his nap and it POURED all day Sunday.  I think this was the third Sunday of swimming plans ruined.  Fingers crossed the weather is more cooperative this weekend, since we have friends coming up from Tampa to spend the weekend at the club with us and pseudo-staycation with us in Philly.  It can't be a true staycation, since they had to fly up to visit us.

These photos are from Oliver's first swim at the SSC, Fourth of July weekend. Instead of saying "weeee"  Oliver would say "EEeeee" which is super-cute.  Arguably more fun for him, was running alongside the pool with Opa & Mor-mor running after him.  Back & forth, back & forth -- he looked like the Pied Piper with them following after him. 

Belated Sportsfest Photos

For my birthday weekend, we were at the SSC for their annual Sportsfest.  My whole family was in attendance on Sunday and after a day of being at the pool and watching team handball, we had a family BBQ, (a la white trash, since we don't have a deck yet).  Fun was had by all and I look forward to future family cookouts, once Phase II of the bungalow is completed (next year).

Finally Enjoying the Bungalow

Last weekend was the first weekend that we really got to enjoy the bungalow.  Most of the big projects have been handled (electrician coming this weekend) and the smaller projects can be tackled at a more leisurely pace.  Nicole & Devon slept over on Saturday and on Sunday my mom spent the day with us as as well.   My mom's cousin has the bungalow next door, and his 10yr old daughter also had a blast with the babies -- babysitter in training!

Nicole & I remember all too well having to get up & out of the bungalow (with younger cousins trailing behind), so we wouldn't wake up the parents.  And its no different now - we had the boys out of the house shortly after 8am, so Adam could sleep. 

"Hey Oliver!  Where are we going so early?"

easily the best slide he's ever been on

Even Devon takes a turn

I can't say enough how nice it was having extra hands to keep track of the boys! Next weekend we will try our luck at the pool. 

 

grill master

Our first real dinner in the bungalow!

bathtime in a tub

the boys are ready for bed & the long ride home