Montreal, Canada

Montreal is absolutely stunning and I am still in awe with the night life in this city! I wrote about visiting Old Quebec first because it was my favorite! Since we only had a week of vacay we spent more time in Quebec, but on our way back to New York stopped and toured a bit of Montreal. 

Quebec City, Canada

Summer is flying by so fast and yet I still feel the need to do as much as I can before summers end. Thing is it’s okay if we don’t. I want to cherish all the memories I make with my only kid left in our nest but I also feel the need to slow down. 

Pool Days!

We've had heat wave after heat wave and even when we don't have them it's still 87 degrees but feels like 100! Surprisingly I haven't' minded it too much. At this age one would think I've had enough but so far I haven't had any issues with the heat. The only thing I hate is that our house gets too hot upstairs. We don't have central air and spend most of our time downstairs where the a/c units are but this summer we have been spending it at a nearby pool. It' been fun and refreshing and of course we make sure we have our sunscreen on. It's been a pretty cool/cruel summer so far and have tolerated these heated temps. School starts in three weeks and whether I go to the pool alone or with Noah and his friends w'e are going to make the most of what's left of summer! 

Freshman Year In The Books!

 

School ended sooooooo late this year. Much later than last year! June 25th has come and gone and I am glad!! Noah has changed and grown quite a bit since school started last year. He grew three inches taller which makes him 5'7 and weighs a bit more than he did last year. I can't believe his freshman year has come and gone and that we are now summering. Here's hoping for a summer that doesn't go by too fast! 

Pool Time!!

July has been brutally hot lately and it's a heat wave like this where I wish we owned a pool. Well, luckily we know people who have a pool because this past week has been brutally hot. We went to a friends pool at their complex and we also have been swimming at a nearby pool as well. On this day we had the whole pool to ourselves! It was so nice and we had fun. Noah continues to learn to be a strong swimmer but he has a long way to go! Nonetheless we have fun without pressuring him to be the best and as long as he completes his swim merit badge before turning 18 that is fine with us! Cheers to July and all the pool dates ahead!

On The Temple Grounds With No Crowds.

Going to the temple right after the open house has ended is always a good thing. No crowds. No one photobombing your photo. Just peace and quiet. I loved this day and the time Jon took off to spend time with us before Noah left for camp. I love moments like this. Making memories like this. Especially when you believe in something so strongly. I love that the temples are built on this earth for a purpose. A purpose that is that families are forever. That if we continue to do our best to be a good human and live happily among all the chaos and challenges that we will reach our final destination and return to our Father in Heaven. I am grateful that the temple is there for reassurance. To strengthen us and to make us better. Just walking along the temple grounds and going inside the visitors center is enough to feel the goodness that temples and the Lord bring. I love that I have a testimony of the Savior and the temple. I'm in no way the greatest human but I know that I try to be, and that I'm enough. Enough as a mother. Enough as a friend. Enough as a neighbor. Enough as a human. And that's all that matters. It doesn't matter what others think of me or the ways of the world can be. What the world would like us to be. What matters is what I know about myself, and what Jesus thinks of me. And at the end of each day, I can go to bed knowing that it was a better day than the last. And that all the days from here on out can be that way....if we let go of the past and all those that have wronged us in our life if we choose JOY. 

One Year Living In Our "New" Home!

Summer has always been the time to move and since moving to the east nearly 14 years ago have always had a love for hydrangeas. They are like my "welcome home" flower. My zen. My solace. So overtime we have moved into a new place I have always bought hydrangeas to brighten and liven up our home. 

This month marks one year living in our "new" house and I'd be remiss if I didn't blog a little bit about the move especially since I write this for my posterity. We have a nice backyard. The only thing I hate doing is mowing it. Luckily Jon does that. I don't have a green thumb so those garden beds that came with the house are just going to be empty until the next tenants move in. That's right. I don't plant anything! Maybe I should start! We are still renting and I'm fine with that. I will never own a home in Jersey. But we are doing good here and will probably reside here for the next couple of years. Time will tell what's in store for us once Noah gets into high school which is two years from now! But for now we are enjoying our time in this home making it our own and the kids try to make the best of the backyard. In other words... actually going outside to play instead of being stuck inside playing Roblox. Summers are meant to be outdoors unless it's super hot but for the most part take out that slip and slide and just have some fun getting wet! 

Summertime!!!!

School is officially out for summer and we are soooooo happy about that! After a long year of zoom school we are going to make it up to the kids to do whatever their little hearts desire (well, not everything) but you catch my drift. Going to the beach per their request is an easy task and so we drove out to Belmar beach to let the kids run around. Water is still a bit cold to dip in but it looks like we will have scorching temps in the days ahead to go in. We love summer and all that it brings. Here's to the simple pleasures that life brings...especially in the days of summer.

A Simple Summer Moment in 2020....

This summer by far has been a pretty rough one. Sure I've posted many pictures on my Instagram about our adventures and how much fun we've had during the pandemic but there are days when I've been downright down. And the days when we venture outside are by far the happiest. Doing things with my family outdoors has been the best. Especially on the weekends when Jon is off from work. His job hasn't been the easiest and he has been dead tired most days working soooooooo many hours including Saturdays so this past week when he had some time off we took it easy for the first few days and chilled close to home. This man's feet have been seriously overworked to the point where he got gout, but nonetheless those magic little pills that the doctor prescribed did the trick and managed to go outside and play a little frisbee with his offspring. This was a simple moment in the history of 2020. Being in our own town. Our neighboring park. Being old school with a frisbee and family. And this is what makes those simple moments of summer meaningful and memorable.

Simple Summer Moments In Brooklyn.

Our love for the city continues to grow especially in Dumbo and after being away from her for three weeks we couldn't stay away. Especially during the summer. Oh summer in the city. No matter how sticky our clothes get on our backs while wearing masks in 98 degree weather doesn't seem to bother us anymore. And we don't mind. We don't mind because we know this is how New York is healing. We don't mind because we know it's what saved thousands of people including us. We know it's what's going to continue to keep us safe. She is thriving under the sun trying hard to breath with us. She may never be the same again. Ever. But I know that she is slowly surging just like the New Yorkers that surround her. 

Spending the day in Brooklyn with the kids yesterday was the best. Everything about that day was meant to be. Ice cream cones and root beer floats. Facetiming with Lexie whilst sitting on a bench at Brooklyn Bridge park where she can see the views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. And although it brought a little bit of homesickness to her face she was happy. Happy that we continue to thrive as humans just as New York does. Happy that nothing stops us from coming to the city and doing the things we love. Happy because she sees us filled with joy and seeing Noah being the typical little bro that he is always brings a smile to her face. And she laughs. We are so happy for these simple moments that we had all while keeping our distance and being safe. Summers in Dumbo is all we need to keep these kids smiling. 

Even while wearing a mask....

Jumping Into Summer Like.....

Happy First Day of Summer y'all! It seems like it's going to be a cruel, hot summer but please wear your masks when you go out anywhere. My kids are going to hate wearing them in this sweltering heat but it is crucial to wear them. Unless you are a huge distance away from people then take it off for a bit, but otherwise use common sense. Wear a mask and social distance yourselves as well. I know we all want to gather together with friends for beach parties, and dinner parties but please remember to keep it at a minimum of 10 people. I find that if we follow the CDC guidelines then we should be a-okay! Here's to a fabulous summer with the social distancing, and wearing a mask! Make it a fun and relaxing one folks! 

More fun pics below...

Beach Day With A Heat Wave!

These past couple of days have been pretty brutal with the warm weather we've been having but I have to admit that the past two days have been the most brutal. When we went to the beach this past Tuesday the heat wasn't so bad. It was a tolerable 90 degrees and comfortable enough to sit on the beach for hours without sweating as if you're in a sauna. I desperately wanted to go to the beach again today, and I would have had the kids not been invited to a movie, or if Lexie wasn't babysitting. It's okay because we need the rest, and stay indoors for a change. 

Lavender By The Bay In Long Island.

The other day I was sooooooo happy as I have found my substitute for bluebonnets in a quaint beach town in Long Island called lavender by the bay! Since bluebonnets belong in Texas I am happy to know about a place where the purple smell of lavender lingers all throughout this field in Long Island. I drove three hours to bask in it and had a wonderful time. We love Long Island, and this is another place I could totally live in.

Life Lately In August.

There are times when you just need to escape, and get away from social media, and blogging. As much as I love to blog I find that as my kids grow older, and because it's summer time I'd rather give them my physical attention. The fact that my Mac has been in the shop didn't help my motivation to write either, but I'm back and hope to write more as the kids return back to school in a couple of weeks. 

Victorian Gardens Amusement Park!

Ever since we introduced Chelsea to the Victorian gardens amusement park inside Central park when she was almost 10 we have vowed it to be a tradition for the kids so as long as they don't get too big! And since Chelsea is leaving for girls camp tomorrow for a week we decided to go today!

A Simple Outing In Downtown Allentown!

Summer is definitely showing off lately with sunshine, and blue skies, and with the days being long, bright, and  sunny couldn't bear the thought of staying indoors. I know school just ended, and that some of us may just want to relax, and chill at home,but when you have active kids, and live where I live especially in the summer months all you want to do is spend time outside. That is unless it's 100 degrees! 

Nostalgia On The First Day Of School.

With school starting back again today I was feeling a bit nostalgic so I pulled out the scrapbook from the bins in the basement, and as I was turning the pages I stumbled upon this sweet summer photo of the girls and I at my aunt's pool in Vegas. While living in Utah we'd travel to Vegas every summer to visit. It was tradition, and man do I long for those days. Not only the trips, but for my girls to be little again. Looking at this photo with Chelsea hanging on to my hand brings back soooo many memories, and today I was feeling all the feels as the kids were heading off to school. Especially Chelsea, and Noah. I mean, look at my Chelsea baby! Just hanging on to my hand knowing that she trusts her momma not to fall in the water. Truly bittersweet.

Preparing For Back To School.

We have one more week until school steals these kids away from me for six hours a day! I can't believe the time has come for school to resume, and in all honesty I'm not quite ready for it. Living in the east where winters can last longer would love for summer to last a little longer. Plus I've been enjoying spending my time with these kiddos, but I feel that one major reason why I don't want school to start so soon is that time with Lexie is running out! 

More Summer Please!

Last year when we moved here I was pretty anxious for the kids to start school, but this year I'm just not ready for it. I know it has to happen, but I wish that summer can last until October, and that we can start school then! Clearly we love summer, and exploring. and making the best of our days. There's something about being outside in the warmth of the sun that brings smiles to our faces, and lots of giggles. I have loved our summer so far even when our car is in the shop. We count our blessings for train stations, that will get us to the city, and Enterprise when we want to travel further. 

A Little Letter To Summer From Our Beach Day!

Dear Summer, 

I can't believe we are already in the month of August, and I want you to know that even though it has been raining off and on since summer started that we are not giving up on you to have more days of sunshine! We have only been to the beach twice since school let out, and even though the kids and I are humble about that we can still use a few more beach trips. Especially since we were recently kicked off the beach  due to lightning, and rain. My husband hasn't even gone with us yet, so please please hang in there at least until school starts! We love the beach, and the sunshine, and splashing in the waves looking at hermit crabs, seashells, and eating beach snacks such as watermelon, grapes, and cantaloupe.