* * * E V A N * N O A H * S H A U N * * *: August 2011

Boardwalk Rides

Here are the kids mid-July, which is why Noah has his pacifier. Although tonight (present time) his teeth were bothering him and he started pulling on his shirt again looking for it! Also, Noah's wearing his flip-flops in these pictures. We lost one of those long ago. He's now wearing Evan's old Mickie Mouse crocs that my mom can't stand and these way cute little gray canvas sneakers - the only piece of clothing that I think I ever bought for Noah.

The boys pose with the mascot for OC's soccer team... The Nor'easters I believe. He was passing out coupons for tickets to the game that night... right across the street from the rides.

First Evan and Mike played miniature golf. Evan has played a bunch of times this summer and is actually is getting pretty good. He only cheats sometimes.

Sadly, we should have had Noah sooner than we did. Noah loves the kiddie rides on the boardwalk and Evan just decided the baby rides are boring. He prefers the roller coasters, log flumes, and scary ghost rides. Stuff that Noah can't go on. So if anyone is considering having a sibling for their firstborn, I suggest starting early so they can ride the boardwalk rides together.

Evan looks bored. This ride is very different from the ghost ship in Wildwood that he went on. It's $12 to go on (we had a coupon for a free ride). You walk through the ship and people jump out and grab you. It's not recommended for kids under 10 year old, but guess who insisted on going on? He was definitely scared walking through, but he wanted to go on it again afterward - with Daddy this time. Unfortunately Mike and I didn't want to shell out the money for a second ride.

Then we climb up to the train the circles the park from above. Mike and PopPop wave from below.

I'm sitting in the back with Noah. hello, face!

NoNo! You're so cute!

Noah goes on a baby roller coaster.

PopPop discovers the "Ass House"

Grandmom and Evan go through the maze.

Evan and Mike hit the log flume.

Then Evan and I went on.

Then Mike and Evan went on again. Oh ya - and Mommy's "not cool" anymore. Daddy's cool. Evan doesn't even let me to put him to bed anymore! He just wants Daddy. When I asked him why I'm so uncool he said because I "wear girl clothes". What?! Little punk. At least I have a few more good years being the apple of Noah's eye until I'm kicked to the curb for Daddy. All because I wear girl clothes.

Noah loves the log flume too.

Pop and Evan drive the bumper cars.

Evan and I ride the roller coaster. The Big Boy Roller Coaster. See how cool I am, Evan? I'm Super Cool.

That's Evan on the rickety bridge.

And Evan going down the slide. Poor guy scraped up his back sliding down - his back went over a seam!

But he's okay now.

Look how big he is! Last year he was so skinny that he could still fit into his 2T pants. This year he filled out and bipassed 5T altogether. We have to get all new pants and shirts. What comes after 5T? We will find out. Also, since I'm sick of making 2 dinners - one for Evan and one for the rest of the family, I've just been having Evan eat whatever we're eating. Last month he would have none of it, but very recently he's actually been grudgingly eating dinner. Maybe he was just getting tired of chicken nuggets, pizza, tuna fish, pb & J, and chips with guacamole & salsa. I try to give him at least 2 servings of fruit a day and he treats it like torture. Sorry Ev, a growing boy needs good food! Other than those nasty little processed chicken pieces. Please take notes from your little brother. See how well he eats? And see how he adores his mommy? Remember that was you?

What Evan looked like back when he wanted his mommy pre-ghost ship. On his Halloween Haunted Hayride.

Olivia's Horseshow

We are so proud of our Livvy!

Half of the audience was Olivia's family and friends!

Evan takes an artistic shot of Becky's leg.

Evan got to ride after the show!

Evan and Noah hang out with Amelia

We're hanging out at my parents' house because Hurricane Irene is a-brewing outside. Mike, my dad, Uncle Larry and Uncle Dan just got back from the bar and Aunt Ella my mom and I just finished an intense round of Uno (Aunt Ella's power was out so she came over here). We Cronins left our home clean and organized because I had Olivia over as a mother's helper on Thursday. All of our outdoor stuff is in the garage - including the swings from the playset. So now I have some time to update the blog!

This is from the day Olivia had her horse show early in the month. Becky and Amelia came over in the morning and we left around lunchtime to see our Livvy ride (I'll post that later). Here's Amelia studying YOU with those enormous eyes. She's chewing on her Sophie.

Becky and I are hoping she'll have red hair like the wee Irish lass she is. Judging from the color of her little eyebrows we think maybe. So pretty.

The boys love this little girl so much.

I know how every parent thinks they're kids are the most beautiful kids on the planet. Sometimes the rest of the world can feel differently. All kids are beautiful - it's just that we parents are so completely biased. With that in mind, I know you've read this blog before and rolled your eyes at times with all the 'look how great my kids are blah blah'. I'm fully aware that I'm an obsessed mom with a blog dedicated to her kids. I try not to be too weird and gushy, but I know I am. But seriously.... Look at these 3 kids! LOOK! I know that I joke that Amelia will have to marry one of my boys, but really I don't care. I just want the three of them to have a lifelong friendship together. They are all so perfect and funny and smart (eye roll) and I can't wait to see them all running in the yard together, building forts in the woods like we used to do, then hanging out together as teenagers, then as adults perhaps... who knows... grandkids? hehe Evan and Noah will have to choose between Amelia, Sydney and Marti's girls Maggie and Charlotte. Sorry. I'll stop.

Noah pats Amelia's head! Awwww. He LOVES babies. I'll have to post a picture of him hugging his Baby Jeremy - a funny Cabbage Patch doll with a tuft of hair on his head from Grandmom. He snuggles the baby around his neck or against his ear while saying "aw aw" and then he lovingly chucks Baby Jeremy across the room. Which is why we would never leave Noah alone with a real baby.

And then Evan pats her little head. Awww! Evan is very gentle with babies who aren't his brother.

/

Noah then started patting Amelia's eyes. He was obsessed with trying to touch her eyes. Amelia pretty much told him to quit it.

Night Out

One National Night Out we hung out with the aunties, uncles and cousins for some rides, free food and fireworks while our Mike was away on business. Noah fell asleep on the way there. He slept in his stroller with my mom and the aunties so I got some one on one time with Evan which is rare these days. Rare for both of my boys. There was this huge bouncy thing where 2 kids can race. It's identical on each side. They each go through a bouncy obstacle course, climb up bouncy stairs and slide down a huge bouncy slide. Evan did it and won! We played games, chatted it up with Santa Clause in his summer clothes, and sat in an army jeep, danced at the dj pavilion (with Noah who was up at this point).

We were in mid dance - Noah was grooving to the music with the strobe lights flashing when the fireworks started. The music instantly stopped and Noah jumped. I picked him up and he was shaking! I've never seen him afraid of anything. I brought him back to our chairs and he snuggled against me the entire time. He didn't cry, but he absolutely refused to look at the firework display. Once he briefly glanced over and then turned immediately away, facing Aunt Genie who was rubbing his little arm. So our little guy is actually afraid of something... Our poor baby!

After the fireworks, Noah was Noah again.