The girls had their first day of school today. Madeline is heading off to forth and Ellie second.  Thanks to grandma J. the girls had new outfits to wear, that’ll lift any girls spirits! 

Madeline was very happy, she even said “I am so excited for school, I love it!” She even had a fever the night before and begged me to let her go! Ellie on the other hand was very nervous. I was hoping that at the end of school she would say how great it was. But she didn’t Maybe in a few days?  

I brought Petey on his lead to pick up the girls. He loved the attention! One lady even said that he was the most beautiful dog she has ever seen! I have to agree:)

We took a day trip to Virginia to see the Virginia Jacobs. It was James 3rd birthday and Petey’s fist road trip. Petey did really well! He slept the whole way! When we stoped half way we got him out so he could run around and go to the toilet. We have been working on his “pee on command”. The girls loved showing him off to their cousins, and he loved meeting new people.

We had a super day! Andrea made some amazing sugar cookies with real vanilla bean frosting-SO good! She also prepared all of James favorite foods that we got to munch on. James was loaded with presants and was very excited. And Jackson handled the lack of attention very well!

We got to see the progress on Andrew and Shilos home. I guess we all know that it will look amazing when its done!

Anyway, thanks for a wonderful time Jacobs!

We adopted Petey from a rescue shelter.  His liter originally had 13 puppies he and his two brothers, Pacho and Charlie are the only  survivors. We are not sure of the whole story-just that Petey was lucky-now we are lucky.  The vet. suspects that he is a mix between lab and terrer (not sure which species?). Now, about his name. Our first dog we named Spanky after one of the Little Rascals. Petey’s foster mom gave him his name and he looks like “Petey”, Spanky’s dog from little rascals! We found this to be rather serendipitous!

Today, being his first day in our home. He is adjusting well. His foster family gave him a great start, at 8 weeks old he already knows the command “sit” and is well on his way to be toilet, and crate trained. He is socializing very well, but also loves his nap time. 

Ellie and I were playing with him in the kitchen and he was playing with his life size stuffed dog when he quickly rolled onto his back and fell asleep!

With a little more than two weeks left before school starts, we were itching to do a few more fun things.  What a better way to enjoy our summer than right here in our own back yard! The girls and I took some friends and headed to the Jersey Shore on thursday in Sandy Hook. Friday night Madeline had a slumber party so on Saturday we decided to travel further down the Jersey Shore in to the beautiful town of Cape May.  Cape May is notorious for its Victorian homes and small town charm. For being a tourist town it is still capable of holding on to these wonderful traits. We arrived at our campsite around 4pm, after setting up tent we drove over the harbor into Cape May, parked, and walked around. We found a seafood restaurant right on the beach. Just as we sat down at our outside table Madeline and I spotted a dolphin or small whale out in the ocean!  After dinner we walked along the beach then heading back into town. We saw a large colonial yellow Hotel “Congress Hall” that President Benjamin Harrison used as his summer white house. Of to the side of town is a little park with a gazebo, they had an orchastra playing live music. Madeline said that this was the “cutest, biggest, small town”! 

Back in our tent as we try to nestle our tired little selves into bed we realize how much we are not used to camping out! The kids, mostly Madeline is whining about how they have to sleep on the ground and why they don’t get to sleep on the blow-up.  Finally all is quiet except for the sounds of rain falling on the tent. We wake up to rain and find wet puddles all throughout the tent. Our clean clothes are wet, our bedding is wet, we are wet! After putting on our dampest clothes we head on over to Uncle Bill’s Pancake house for an amazing breakfast! Madeline and Ellie have hot-chocolate in hopes to warm them up. 

After breakfast the sun starts to peak out. We drive down to the shore where the light house is and walk along the beach. We head back to the camp site and pack up. After the van is loaded Christian and the girls swim in the lake for a bit then we head over to the campgrounds pool to swim.

We head back into town and pay $15 to ride a bicycle car around town for an hour. If there is anyway to redeem your kids from camping out on the hard earth in a rain storm, this is the way to do it! The girls kept saying that this was there best vacation ever! They loved riding the bike through town and they loved the beautiful colors and architecture of the victorian homes. 

Ate lunch at an amazing little BBQ joint. walked along the beach some more then headed home.

We’ve declared Cape May as the Jersey Jacobs new and favorite vacation spot. AND we realize that it is a trip that we could do i

Christian was helping out a friend with their home renovations so I decided to take the girls up to our state fair. The drive was through a pretty countryside. Within the first hour of being there, one of my flip-flops broke, so I had to walk around the nasty fair grounds with out shoes. Ew! Luckily I found some cheap replacements for only 2$!  We mostly walked around looking at farm animals, watching tractor races and drinking fresh lemonade. We did manage to ride one ride, we would of done more but just the one ride , ferris-wheel was nearly 12$ for just the three of us! Madeline said she was tired so we headed home, few days later we found out that Madeline had pneumia! What a trooper. 

So I’ve decided that State Fairs are over rated and over priced. Would I do it again? yes, if it was free. But the girls said “besides the walking”.. they had fun.

Yesterday was Ellie’s birthday.  We originally planned a pool party, but got rained out, so the kids came to get faces painted, play games, decorate a pail and watch spongebob projected on a sheet.  We had a great time!  Mimi did a great job!  Susan and Tracy came to help out.  

Madeline -  “America,” and “American Fiddle Dance”

Ellie – “Bye Bye Blues”

Madeline – “Josie and the Pussycats”

Madeline – French Medley: “Ah, Vous Dirai-Je Maman,” “Chantez, Chantez”

Madeline and Ellie – “Little Fishermaiden”