Exploring Long Island

Yes, we are still alive...

Since I haven't posted anything here for at least the last, oh, three months or so, I figured it was high time I let everyone know that yes, we are still around! And what better way to do that than posting an insane number of photos of all my boys? We took a three-day weekend a couple weeks ago to explore eastern Long Island. We had a very relaxing time away from the big city, and the boys really REALLY enjoyed the beaches!

A swan and her little cygnet on the river next to our hotel enjoyed eating crumbs from the boys' breakfasts.


Don't ever let your five-year-old drive...you might just end up in the water!! No, seriously, we're on a ferry going from the northern fork of L.I. to a quaint little place called Shelter Island.


Joey standing up through the sunroof...


Docking on the other side...little boys had to scramble back to their carseats/boosters at this point!


Much to the chagrin of several little boys, we didn't actually go swimming at a beach until the 2nd day (we had walked on a couple the first day, but that apparently just isn't the same!) This is at Cooper Beach in South Hampton. It is a very nice beach...very clean compared to what we were used to in Texas. However, the water is C.O.L.D.!!! They had a white board at the entrance listing various pertinent information...including the fact that the water temp. was 57 degrees. Brrrrrr!!!!

That didn't stop the J-boys from jumping right in!


Josiah testing the sand...


and finding it to his liking!


He was a very busy boy exploring the beach while Daddy and his brothers jumped around in the waves!


Joey playing tag with the waves...


And he's off! He wanted to get close to the water, but wanted no part of it actually touching him.


A wet, very happy Jordan!





Taking a break for a few minutes...


The bigger boys finally got out of the water long enough to play with Josiah in the sand...





Joey sitting in a hole dug by Joshua...


They really, really wanted to stop playing so that Mommy could gather them together for a photo session. Can't you tell by the expressions on their precious little faces how excited they were? Even Josiah looks like he's mad at me!!


Joshua in his hole...


Joshua decided his hole would be a "baby-trap"...looks like it worked!


Joshua and Jonathan working hard to make the hole even deeper. While it appears that Josiah is diligently helping, he is actually pushing the sand back in.


What's a trip to the beach without being buried in the sand by Daddy?








Josiah loves playing in the sandboxes at the playgrounds at home. I think he thought he was in sandbox heaven here!


Silly Jordan trying to go into the hole head first!


Josiah in the "baby trap" again...right after I took this picture, he put his face down between his hands and proceeded to take a big "bite" of the sand. He promptly regretted that move.


Josiah and Mommy...


Exploring one of his brothers' sand-caked aqua socks...


After leaving the beach, we drove around South Hampton looking at all the ginormous houses. This one is still under construction. We're going to buy it as soon as we have a few million saved up for a down payment. I think we will all fit in it quite nicely. And don't worry about me being able to keep it clean...behind/off to the side of the house (and not visible in the photo) is a separate "tiny" house (like only 2500 sq. ft. or so) for the maids' quarters.


Our last morning in the hotel...


Josiah loves bananas...and can polish one off in less than 2 minutes.


Kix and cartoons...it doesn't get much better than this...if you're a little boy, anyway.


The last day we drove all the way out to the tip of Long Island and visited the Montauk Point lighthouse. The boys loved this!


Our boys are drawn to any sort of rock big enough to climb on...


Even Josiah!





Joshua, Jonathan, Jordan, Joey, and Daddy all climbed up to the top of the tower. Josiah wasn't tall enough, so I stayed behind with him.








Joey at the top!





On the rocky beach outside the lighthouse...


The boys had fun finding rocks to climb on that would be surrounded with water as the waves came in...





Daddy and Josiah...


Jordan and Joseph...


The lighthouse in the background...


Joshua...


Josiah was very excited about the waves!





We enjoyed our "mini vacation" and look forward to going again sometime! And maybe, just maybe, I'll come here again and post about it! :)

Thoughts on Food, Planning, and Other Random Things

I haven't done as well as I had hoped in keeping up with this blog lately! We've been busy around here, and April is looking like it will be even busier! I'm looking forward to it, though...between spring weather really truly arriving, expecting several visitors this month, and doing a little bit of traveling as well, it should be a good kind of "busy!"

I've spent much time over the past week or so making my once-a-month grocery shopping lists. I shop at least 2 stores, Costco and Stop & Shop, and sometimes add another if they have a good sale on something. Two things are making my planning much more challenging this month!

First of all, while we've always been fairly healthy eaters, I've felt very strongly the past few months that I should make a proactive effort to cut artificial colors, flavors, and certain additives and preservatives out of our diet completely. I've toyed around with this before, but not long-term. With Joshua's ADHD and sensory issues, and the older boys' asthma, I believe it will make a real difference in health and temperament to finally make these changes for good. I made my plans and started making menus, lists, etc., then the 2nd thing happened!

Jeremy decided (and I completely agree with him!) that it would be prudent to have on hand at least a month's worth of shelf-stable food and water, in case of an emergency. He wants to have items on hand that would require a minimum of preparation, if any at all, in case power is out or whatever. So a nice chunk of our grocery budget for March and April is going towards this project. Unfortunately, many of the items I can find that are shelf-stable and require little preparation (think canned goods) also contain artificial stuff and of course, preservatives. I'm still trying to figure out how to mesh those two things together...food storage and healthy eating!

I am also building up a supply of healthy items that require more preparation, such as grains, beans, and pasta, and stocking up the freezer with meats, veggies, etc. Of course, my freezer is usually pretty well stocked! I'm also trying to put into practice ways that I can rotate through everything so that nothing goes bad. Obviously my canned goods will last a long time, and since we don't currently eat many canned foods, I'll probably hold off trying to rotate them into our menu for a while. But I'm guilty of not keeping a good inventory of my chest freezer, and just using stuff off the top while the frozen mystery roasts languish in freezer burn at the bottom. No more! I'll let you know as I figure this all out! :)

In other news, the boys are all doing well! We're enjoying the spring weather and our almost-daily walks in Riverside Park. The bulbs (crocuses, daffodils, and others I don't recognize) are all blooming in the flowerbeds. I can't wait for the trees to get their leaves again and for everything to green up! Yay, spring!! :)

More Park Pictures

Here are the promised pictures from the park downtown. This is one of the boys' favorite parks. We don't go often as it isn't exactly convenient to get there, but as the weather gets nicer and we're out more, I'm sure we'll get down there again!

This is a ring of steering wheels and pedals that the children can get on and pedal to go in a circle. The boys love this! You would think the idea of working that hard and not actually getting anywhere would be off-putting, but no, they could do this for hours. Oh, wait...it appears it's Daddy who is actually doing the work, here!


At one point there were 3 other children and 2 other parents at this ride. And, of course, all of our boys! One of the other parents turned to me and made a comment about how there were so many more kids than parents here...why weren't the other kids' parents there watching their children? Then I had to tell him that the other children were, in fact, ALL MINE! lol! :)

Here's Joey running as fast as he can around the playground...


Jonathan and Jordan think I can't see them on this mesh bridge...


Josiah, waiting patiently, hoping he will be allowed to get out of the stroller and play!


Here are the older 4 jumping around on the mesh part, while Daddy pushes on them from underneath trying to knock them over!


Great leaping Jonathans, Batman!


This park is right next to the World Financial Center. To the left of these buildings is Ground Zero, where construction is starting on the Freedom Tower.


Josiah is thrilled to be able to crawl around!


Jonathan and Josiah checking out the view. In the background is the Hudson River, and New Jersey on the other side.


Next, it was off to the sand area!


Josiah experiencing sand for the first time. He wasn't sure what to make of it!





I think he's enjoying this new experience!


Everybody happily playing in the sand together...





Back in the stroller...isn't he a cutie-pie?!!


A sleepy Joey sitting in the stroller waiting for the subway.


They're not supposed to play in the subway stations, but of course it's hard for little boys to resist sliding down the handrails on the stairs!


We enjoyed our day at the park...hope you enjoy the pictures!! :)