An A-Maze-ing Sunday

Today the kids and I went down to Grandma and Pop-pop's for the day. Grandma had read about a giant Corn Maze at Stony Hill Gardens in Chester so we decided to use our afternoon to go and check it out!! Nicholas loved the maze at the botanical gardens last week so we figured he'd really get a kick out of this one!!

The Maze was HUGE!! There were 5 different mazes within the one large maze and since the large one took over 2 hours to do with a map and a guide we opted to do a few of the smaller ones! Nicholas led Grandma and I through the corn maze like a pro!! He navigated the rope maze all on his own and played for a bit on the Noah's Ark playground. Addie stayed behind with Pop-pop and enjoyed the Farmer's market and checking out the animals on the farm.

The color of the pumpkin matches her hair!

Post Maze cool down with a juice box

Entering the maze behind our tour guide!

This is the view of part of the maze from the top of one of the bridges in the mini maze....it was MASSIVE!! (The maze not the bridge!)

Getting ready to climb the bridge

The corn was as high as an Elephant's Eye

Exploring the Ark

The Rope Maze

Our welcome committee upon exiting the maze

The Original Pumpkin Head

She's happy that she doesn't have to navigate the maze!!

Nicholas is intently watching the pre-Maze video (seriously)
The video teaches you no running, no picking the corn, no foul language in the maze.
Nicholas curses like a truck driver, so it was important that we watch the ENTIRE video!

In the Midst of the Maze

We have to go this way!

Thank Goodness we had our fabulous guide or Grandma and I would have never made it out alive!!

The "Last" Beach Day

Well, today was my sort of last day of vacation. Technically I have work tomorrow and Thursday but I won't be doing any teaching. I have meetings for the next two days and then I'm off for a few days. At any rate, we wanted to do something fun as a family for my "last" day of vacation. We went back and forth on what to do and where to go. Until finally,
We decided to head down to the beach!
We enjoyed a nice day on the sand, playing in the surf and hanging out on the boardwalk for a little bit. It was a great way to end vacation!

Our Bucket Heads

A rare shot of Mommy

Enjoying some goldfish

Digging

This was one Coast Guard ship towing another

Suntan Lotion

Daddy and Addie by the shore

Nicholas and Daddy checking out something

Sno Cones

Last Friday I decided to put our manual Sno Cone maker and assorted syrups to good use! We headed outside and had a great big Sno Cone party with the kids in the neighborhood!!
Nicholas and Addison had a great time enjoying their Sno Cones and playing the sprinkler and with all our outside toys and the other kids!!
Definitely a great way to spend one of the last days of Summer!!

New York, New York

My mom and I took the kids into the Bronx today. We headed to the New York Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are running an exhibit called Moore in America and the works of Henry Moore are being exhibited all over the garden. We had no idea how the kids were going to enjoy the garden but we knew there was a kids garden and there were things for the kids to see and touch so we took a chance.

I am so glad we did!!

Nicholas and Addison had a BALL! Nicholas was in love with all of the sculptures and enjoyed seeing and feeling the flowers. I was worried he was going to try and pick them or pull at the leaves but he didn't. He did great and was just engrossed by everything!

We had lunch in the garden and set off exploring. Nicholas picked out a few specific sculptures that he wanted to see so we made sure to see all of those plus some extras. I had one piece that I wanted to see, and that took us ALL DAY to find! (We walked past it twice!) We took lots of pictures. Nicholas climbed a few sculptures that he was not supposed to and Addison loved walking and running through the gardens and grass.

After a fun day in the gardens we headed over to Arthur Avenue and Little Italy in the Bronx for some Italian delicacies- Cookies and Bread! Nicholas and Addison enjoyed their first authentic Italian ices, as did mommy and grandma- not our first! After purchasing our goodies we headed home to share the entire day with pop-pop and daddy!!

We just took Addie out of the stroller and she was exploring the Garden Maze

This is a 9-11 Memorial dedicated to those community members of the Bronx that died on 9-11. It's in the children's garden.

Checking out the Butterfly Chair

They loved this bridge in the Children's Garden

"Illegally" Climbing

This only took 4 tries!

I know Nicholas looks so small but I love this picture!

One of the many sculptures Nicholas HAD to see

Mother and Child
This was my choice...We SEARCHED for this piece!
It was right in front of us, the whole time!

I think this was called Two Ovals with Points
Seriously

Entering the Children's Garden
Those are ribbons hanging on the sides...Nicholas and Addie loved them!

The actual flowers and plants were INCREDIBLE

And some more "Illegal" climbing

Peaches and Parks

We were up and out the door bright and early today!
My friend Sue and I took the kids out to Windy Brow Farm in Fredon Township. The farm was having a peach festival today and we thought it would be fun to take the kids since Pat was working. The kids enjoyed Apple Cider Donuts and a wagon ride. We got tons of peaches to turn into pies and crumbles and just had a nice time out in the sunshine!

After the peaches we decided to take the kids to the park to burn off some of the donut sugar. We tried a park we've never been to before and Nicholas had a ball! Unfortunately, the equipment was a bit big and advanced for Addie but she did have a good time, too!

We hope everyone is enjoying the weekend and taking some time outside!!

Mmmmm donut

Siblings on the Wagon Ride!

Cooling off with some water in the shade of one of the tables

Sue and Addie enjoying the tube slide

This is Nicholas at the top of a GIANT slide at the park!!

Showing off his balance skills

Let's go this way mom...it's the way home!