Long Beach Island, N.J.

Madison, Nana, Derek, Patrick and I drove through the night Monday to LBI. Road trips are always an adventure in our family. Lots of laughs. Madison repeats everything including Nana's morning cough. We had a good time. We went to the Barnegat Lighthouse. Madison and I enjoyed it from the ground this year while the boys climbed big Barney. They said it looked like we were on a deserted island from the top.

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Aunt Kris spent the night with us on Tuesday. Madison loved the lights and people at fantasy island. Next year she will be able to enjoy the rides. Madison decided to hop in bed with Nana and Aunt Kris. She woke Nana up sharing her milk, sorry Nana. We finally were able to sleep once the "Nana's" figured out just how to push the BIG red power button on the TV!!!!!!!!! Actually, Derek and Patrick couldn't take it any longer and got out of bed to help them.

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We stayed at the Seashell hotel in Beach Haven. The location was great. The pool was right off the beach. Madison loved the powerful waves. The boy's lounged in the hammocks on the beach. The pool was more like a giant hot tub. It was so warm but we swam a lot. Madison loved all the kids in the pool with her. We had breakfast at the Chicken or the Egg. first time I was their sober. The food was actually good. Patrick had the original buffalo wings in his omelet. I finally had him convinced to try the hottest "ludicrous" wing but we ran out of time and didn't make it back there.

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Wednesday night, we went to cousins Justin and Kate's house on the lagoon for dinner. It was great to see them. We missed Chrissy and his clan, hopefully next year. The ride home was long. I missed 684 so we went 95N home which wouldn't have been bad had I not gone 93 to save time. There was traffic until we passed the JFK library exit. Senator Ted Kennedy was on route to lie in state at the library. All in all we had loads of laughs during our travels. I do not think that the "friendly's" really exists. They were all crazy and wanted to kill us I am convinced!!!!!!!!!!!!

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It was great to see the family and the island. I forgot how much fun I had there as a child. I can't wait another 10 years to return. Next year Dave and I will have to go. I want Madi to have similar childhood memories.

Flip-Flop's

She has worn them everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

York's Animal Kingdom

Madi and I are vacationing this week. Dave was able to take a few days off to hang with us. Monday , we went to the zoo in York, Maine. Typical Feener fashion, too good to be true. A front row parking space and by the time Dave put the car in park, whoosh, instant downpour. Dave wanted to wait it out int he parking lot but I became impatient so we took a ride to Ogunquit and picked up some sandwiches. By the time we arrived back at the zoo the rain had passed and we were able to get an even better spot. Thank god because I never would have heard the end of it.

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We lunched in the back of the car and then our adventure began. We had a great time. Madison really enjoyed the animals. She loved this one baby goat. Too bad every time we went to feed him he got trampled by the big guys.

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After the zoo we had to have some retail therapy at the Kittery outlets. Madison made her first fashion stand. She loves flip flops , so while Dave looked at boots we checked out the flip-flops. She spied these Flip-flops (crazy croc's she insists are flip-flops) that have horns that light up. She actually grabbed her size, sat down took off her sandals and claimed these as her new flip-flops. If you could have seen Dave's face, LMAO!!!!!!!!! I said hey you tell her no. Needless to say she was wearing them over her jammies that night. She was so excited by them she couldn't sleep and just wanted her "flip-flops". We finally had to bring her in bed with us to get some sleep because we were leaving for L.B.I. 3:30 the next morning. I will post a picture of her and her shoes later.

Busy Bee's

The summer is just flying by, we need more time. Gotta love New England, rain for almost two months and then bam it's sunny and hot. Hey, I'll take it. I was starting to think that the Grinch gave up on Christmas and went after summer. Dave has been busting his hump around the house every chance he can and while I do my best to entertain Chub's.

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Check out her lovely nose. She was being goofy with Nana pulling her blanket over head and tripped over her toy face first into the wooded rocker, Nice!!!!

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Despite the recent monsoons, Dave was finally able to finish the pool. It was done just in time for the triple H's. Madison has enjoyed it thus far. This last picture was her way of saying I need a swim.

Mama's Holiday

Yesterday, I had my floating Holiday. It was nice, just me and Madi for the day. We chilled in the morning then ran some errands. The weather was perfect so we went outside for a swim in Madi's pool. Hopefully, the real pool will finally be ready this weekend. It was a nice lazy day. I am just about out of swim diapers and Madison had already done her daily duties so I said what the heck and took off her soggy diaper. Yes, she pooped her draws and bent over to pick up the fall out. YUCK!!!!!!!!! I washed her up and still let her go diaper less. Dumb, I know thankfully I was lucky.

Daddy came home and worked on the house. He finished a whole section. I can't wait until the house is all sided. I will post pictures when this project is done. Madi had gone back in her pool so she ended up hanging out in just a diaper while I did the dishes and got her bath ready. As I was rinsing the last pan I got a strong poo odor. Let's just say, the third times a charm. Madison decided to help me with this one. I turn around and there she is with no diaper and dirty hands. I yelled for Dave and we ran around the house to find the damage and the diaper. My little helper took it off in the living room and was kind enough to toss it in the trash. When I couldn't find it anywhere I looked in the trash and there it was. She just dropped some along the way. Like my earlier post.......... something new every day.