The situation

The situation was, that we wanted to go to a beach and the Jersey Shore was calling. We'd never been, did some research and talked Nates parents into coming with us.
All I can say is it's not all about beer, boobs and G.T.L. (Gym Tan Laundry).

Ocean City NJ, is where we found ourselves, surrounded by beaches, boardwalks and some R&R. I wish we would have had longer, but it was just a weekend trip since Nate's schedule wouldn't allow him an earlier departure, but I am thinking we may need to make to trip back again this year.

The boys spent the day building sand castles, tracks for the cars, and we found a way to keep Owen still for two minutes.

Liam also took a shot at boogie boarding the waves. Not bad....

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We took a stroll down the boardwalk and each chose a treat. I chose, 

NOT REALLY GROSS!

Liam wanted a lolly:

We then took a drive to one of their famous lighthouses and climbed the top. I can't remember but I think there was like 200 steps each way.

At the top

The view

Looking up, up, up

I've got your attention now huh? Who's coming with us next time?

As always a special thanks to Nana and Bompa for always wanting to spend time with us!

Hay Bail shoot

Each year there suddenly appear bails of hay in the surrounding fields by our house. I am not sure why they are set out, maybe to dry? But just as quick as they get there, one day they are gone. You have to be quick and the weather has to be good.
This year was my year to capture it! My friend Wendy who is an up and coming photographer and lives across the street, willingly beckoned at my pleas to take some pictures of my boys in this surreal place we live in, surrounded by a theme park, smelling like chocolate, but has the small country feel. I needed to capture it and this was my form of bottling up!

Now I can mark that one off the bucket list! Thanks Wendy!

Tears, hugs and goodbyes

After the last 8 years, I have gotten used to saying goodbye to friends each year. It's hard being in a state of life where it's so transient and you have to make and lose friends each year.
Poor Liam had to say goodbye to some of his best friends this last summer. The twin Zach and Tanner. And I had to say goodbye to Eden their Mom and possible one of my soul mates if you can have that in a friend. We have a lot in common and things that aren't but we also have the same friends but from different parts of our lives. We were meant to meet up and destined to be friends.
Then there is Mike. He makes me feel like I am the super queen of pumpkin chocolate chip bread which he has claimed will, "mess you up!" He and Nate spent many a nights chatting and watching some stupid chick flick like Twilight together (that's right, wives weren't include. A bunch of grown men went to see it together. Something I will never let them live down.)
We miss you B family and hope at some point we meet in the middle for a couple Poulson/Banzhaf rendezvous!

We also said goodbye to another family that we miss terribly! Another friend of mine who spent many a night chatting in our cars talking about anything and everything and would tell you honestly how things are.

I like to call her B but it's Bridget. She is smart, cunning and witty, and it didn't take long for our friendship and Nate and her husband Whitney's to form. Nate isn't the most handy when it comes to home improvement, Whitney is and he was always willing and eager to help with any project, even adding some flooring in my attic. Thanks again Whit!

B is the only person I know who doesn't like Chocolate and I think I'm the only person she knows who hates cooked fruit. So we made the perfect pair, I'd eat her chocolate and she'd eat my cooked fruit.

So that was that and now the three of us play phone tag and when we do talk have kids screaming in the background. We talk about a girls trip and it's going to happen!

Loves to my peeps! XOXO

A spring trip home to Utah

Nate had a vaca week in May so we hopped aboard the plane in Philly and 12 hours later landed in the great SLC, no we didn't get stuck, no there weren't delays, that's just how long it takes to get from the East coast to the West coast.
Liam was THRILLED to be back with family and his cousins from TX who he hadn't seen in a long time! Our days were spent spent playing with a puppy, swimming in the hot springs and a trip down to the lake to see the trailer and a few quick rides on the golf cart!
It always goes by WAY too quick, but is so worth seeing our families!

Here is my side of the family.

Just the Grandkids

My Dad and Brothers, Are you sure we came from the same people? 

Our family!

As much as I like pictures, trying to get one good one of a family this big is near impossible. Especially with two toddlers!

Thanks Natasha.

Then it was off to Nana and Bompa's to play with Bear the puppy uncle Justin and Aunt Kristin were puppy sitting for. He and Owen were having a great time playing until the puppy crossed the boundary. 

After this "attack" Owen was very careful around the puppy.

Then we went to my dads house on the lake for a swim. It wasn't super warm yet in Utah, but this water is from a natural spring that runs at 104 degrees. 

They have to cool the pool down to a freezing 89 degrees. It was like bath water!

Aunt Seyza came along for the swim!

The Golf cart. Need I say more?

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We also got in a day at the zoo.

My adopted fill in sister Erin came along too.

Good thing he wants to be a paleontologist!

Are you surprised to see Owen in the water? Not me!

Happy to be in Utah with his cousins, (well part of them anyways.)

My favorite part: The new baby elephant!

Would you like to know how long a Giraffe's tongue is?

Here is your answer:

And that pretty much sums up our trip to Utah. There weren't a whole lot of pictures from the Poulson half due to the fact that Nana and Bompa went on a fabulous trip to Ireland and Scotland the day after we got there:( Too be honest I would have joined them if I could have!

A day with Thomas,

Back on for a ride at catching up this blog. Lets go back to June. My friend Beth and I took our boys (Owen and Blaze) up to Lancaster to spend a day out with Thomas. It was opening day which was our first mistake and about 100 degrees our second.
The boys didn't care and were enamored with Thomas!

I think it was still a day well spent. Choo Choo!

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