First Six Flags trip of the season

  We scored an awesome deal on Six Flags season tickets last fall and today was the first Saturday we could go.  The weather was amazing and the park wasn't too crowded.

 Porter passed out while we were waiting for Paul and the kids to ride the Log Flume.  It was the longest wait of the day (probably about 30 min).

I was a little surprised they wanted to ride it considering the drop at the end.  But they LOVED it!

Afterwards we rode the Skyway while Paul walked with a sleeping Porter across the park.

While we were waiting for Paul & Porter I told the kids I wanted to take a picture of them and they were all whiny and didn't want to do it.  So I said, let's take a picture of you acting like you like each other and then we can do one where you act like you don't like each other.

 Not surprisingly they were all for it.

 My favorite ride this trip was the scrambler.  I tried to take a picture of us before the ride started and that's the face Tanner made.  Oy vey.

I love that Lana and Tanner and now old enough they can ride the kiddie rides by themselves!  Before I know it they'll be riding the gigantic roller coasters with Paul.  Kids grow up too fast...

Joint Base Air Show

 There is a joint military base right behind our house and they were hosting an air show this year (first time in a few years).  The showcase group was the Thunderbirds.  We saw the Blue Angels a few years ago at Keesler AFB in Mississippi and they were just awesome!

 I didn't get many pictures because I had to hold Porter the entire time.  He was not a huge fan of the loud planes (but didn't cry as long as I was holding my hands over his ears).  They had some pretty neat performers.  And due to the smaller crowd we had awesome seats.

 The Thunderbirds were pretty neat as well.  Not as cool as the Blue Angels though, but it was still an awesome sight to behold. 

The rain came right at the end of the show and as we were haulin' it to the car it started to pour.  A little wet, but glad we got to see the whole thing!

First father/son campout

 Fun was had by all (or so I was told).  And Tanner couldn't stop talking about for the next week and wanted to know when we could go camping again.  I'm not a huge camper, I love me a comfortable bed, air conditioning and a hot shower.  But it took me back to when we would go camping on the beach or up Kokee with my Tutu and Papa.  I'm almost considering doing the camping thing.  Almost.

Lana's art show

 A selected number of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders were chosen to have some of their art work displayed at our local library and Lana just happened to be one of them!  So awesome!  She has always loved art, drawing and anything crafty.  She was so proud and excited to show off her skills (and we are so proud of her in return!).  She had 3 art pieces hanging up.  Her butterfly.

 The Chinese dragon

And her vase of flowers.  Good job Lana!

At the park

 There is a small park down the street from our house that we frequent often.  More often than not one of the kids has to go pee or remembers they forgot to grab their water bottle (like I told them 30 seconds before walking out the door) before we've been there overly long.

Lana has also gotten into the "selfie" phase (side note, I just spelled phase as faze - I need a vacation).  She is constantly asking to see my phone so she can take a picture of herself, usually with Porter.

 Porter loves the park.  Right now he loves to walk around and point at things.  I will ask him, "what is that?" He usually replies by holding his hands up and shrugging his shoulders, like saying "I dunno".

 We went Yard Sale-ing AKA junkin' (there's your redneck word for the day) and found this push tricycle.  It's perfect for Porter because his short little legs can't quite reach the ground or pedal completely on his own.  And he loves it.  As per his expression in the above picture he is very serious about his riding.  Nothing is getting in the way of this boy and his bike.

Paul and I celebrate 12 years of marriage bliss this year!  After we took the kids to the park we left them with a babysitter and headed to downtown Tom's River for their annual food fest.  It was of course nothing like the Taste of Chicago I went to with Suzie and Steve (too many years ago to remember) but it was great to walk around and eat different types of food.  We settled on Gyros for dinner and split a salted churro dipped in dulce du leche for desert. Best thing I've eaten in a long time!