Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Rain boots and random happenings

Every time it rains or looks like its going to rain, Axel wants to wear his boots, just in case. I let him wear them to the grocery store and then to the park. He didn't mind that they slowed him down a bit!

 I decided to take him on a walk down the Bronx River Trail and look for puddles. We found quite a few! Now he asks to do that every day.


 I don't really take selfies all that much, but somehow he learned about it and kept taking selfies with me with his spiderman phone.






I had a stake meeting in the Bronx, so Axel and Jeff dropped me off and found a park to play baseball at.


 Our town's Independence Day Fireworks Celebration was on July 11th, so we got ice cream and then walked to that. We always have the best fireworks because our town's benefactor is the guy who started the National Enquirer. They always are doing fancy stuff. It is awesome. Axel got a little scared of some super loud fireworks, but he recovered, and ended up having a good time. That and seeing the dead bunny on the way home. Highlight of his day.



 We did a little shoe shopping, and he put these two on, looked down, and said "Oh! These don't match!" It was soooo cute!


We got invited to a birthday party that was at a gymnastics-type center. Axel was a bit shy, but he had fun!

 I sent this picture to Jeff (clearly of a rash on Axel's neck), and all day he thought it was me. When he got home from work, he asked me to show him my neck so he could check it! I am a bit mortified that he thought this was my neck...  But I got a good laugh out of it. He said that he was troubled all day by how weird the rolls on "my" neck looked. 

 "I'm hiding! Come find me!"

Axel got a whistle from the birthday party, but couldn't make it whistle. So he devised his own way.


Our garden is starting to be edible. Axel loves the golden grape tomatoes.

 This morning's harvest. Parsley, basil, cucumbers, and 1 measly cherry tomato. Come on tomatoes! Hurry up so I can eat you!

We bought water guns! We had an epic water fight! The only one not soaked from head to toe was Jeff. His water gun was more powerful than mine!


4th of July Weekend

Jeff had the day before the 4th off, so we drove out to the IKEA in New Jersey to get Axel's new bed. We also decided to visit a waterfall that is not too far away from that. Oh my gosh, it was so gross. It is a new national park, so the pretty part isn't open to the public yet because the mayor hasn't done the ribbon cutting ceremony yet. Someone had kicked down a fence, so a bunch of people went inside anyway, but I am a rule follower so we stayed out. We tried to do a little walk recommended by the guide book the friendly park rangers gave us, but I was pretty sure we were either going to get hepatitis from broken glass, or get stabbed by someone... I don't care that it was an important industrial town that was founded by Alexander Hamilton, and that the Black Yankees played at the stadium there (we drove by and it was completely dilapidated); it was so run down and disgusting. Maybe they'll get it fixed up and I'll have to eat my words. In the meantime, stay away from Paterson, NJ.

We didn't take pictures of the gross stuff. This was the building where they harnessed the hydroelectric power.

 And the falls themselves are very beautiful. The bridge was part of the still-closed-off area, so we didn't go up there. I'm sure the view is great though.


The next day, on the 4th of July, a Saturday, we decided to go and do a couple of hikes. The first one was called Stone Church in Dover, NY. I had checked the weather near us, and it said it was clear so we went ahead with our plans. But it started pouring while we drove up there... Luckily I had put Axel in water-proof clothing. 

From the back I think his outfit looks like something a short Asian woman would wear!






 The whole time he kept asking "Where are the salamanders?" We didn't see any, but someday kid.





 Stone Church is actually a cave that is kind of shaped like a cathedral, and that rock next to the boys is called the Altar. There is that cool waterfall in the back of the cave. It was a cool hike to do, even though it was pretty slippery. Axel is a good hiker so he was fine.





 Then we got some FANTASTIC barbeque at this awesome place, and then skipped across the border to a waterfall in Kent, CT.





 Then we came home and did what everyone else does... Put together our grill! Ha ha. Everyone puts their grill together at the last minute on the biggest BBQ day of the year, right? But now we have one and it is awesome.

 I made this. I have skills.

 We went to the zoo a couple days later with our friends. This is the only picture I managed to take. Axel with his friend Kate.

New Bed

Axel got a new bed! He was so excited about it! He has slept great every night (except waking us up really early...)

 Of course I had to document the funny positions we have found him in. One I didn't get a picture of was when he fell asleep playing with finger puppets in his bed. Whoops. After that I took pictures of all the funny ones.





This kid cracks me up so much! Love that boy!

Monday, July 13, 2015

Grandma Jones' Visit

Axel flew back to New York with his Grandma Jones. We were so happy to see him!

I have no idea to get a picture off of Instagram, so here is a screenshot from my phone of the moment we picked him up!

 Our garden had EXPLODED when we got back!

 Grandma Jones, Axel, and I went to the Bronx Zoo.

And got sushi. This kid as some mad chopsticks skills.

 Helping Grandma blow out her birthday candles!


 We got Sheri a hand-made mask from Venice!

 Looks good, yes?

 We went to Coney Island, and stopped by the Aquarium too!



 We had to have Grimaldi's, of course. Sheri got anchovies on her pizza. Yuck!


 Incidentally, it was the Mermaid Parade that day. I hadn't thought to check... So there were lots of people dressed up, and the parade route made it hard to get around, but we survived!

 Hanging out on the pier.

Dancing on the pier!


 Riding the train with Daddy!

I took Axel on this boat ride, thinking it just went back and forth...

I was wrong... But we had fun! He loved it!


 And then he was out.

 Sunday was Father's Day, and we went to the Morgan's for dinner. He hadn't taken a nap before church, so he conked out on the couch during dinner.

 On Monday, Sheri, Axel, and I rode the train into the city and went to the Statue of Liberty!




 Inside the Ellis Island's Great Hall.

 Riding the ferry back! That is the iconic Ellis Island Museum on the left.

Sheri watched Axel that night so we could go on a date. Happy 8th Year Anniversary, Jeff!

 The next day we played at the park at Kensico Dam.


 We walked up to the top of the Dam, which I had never done before.

 Then we visited Daddy at work so that Grandma could get a tour.

 Grandma dressed Axel up like Spiderman.

 The next day we played at a different park.

 And we went to Sushi again, because it is just that good.

 We had some time before Sheri needed to be at the airport, so we went miniature golfing.

 I told Axel to stay off the green when it is not his turn. He found a loophole.

 Then we got Walter's Hot Dogs in Mamaroneck.



I can't remember what day this was... Axel being silly!


 Thank you to Grandma Jones for bringing Axel back to us, and we're glad you got to stay with us for your birthday!