NJ Weekend!

This doesn't really apply to our trip to NJ, but it was taken between our Palmyra and NJ trips (the 4 1/2 days that we were home), so I'm including it.  We were going through some tubs in the basement and found some old toys.  Eve was so excited that she didn't know what to think! 

Can you find the baby in the mass of toys?!



Ok, so for our final trip in July, we drove out to New Jersey for a weekend.  I had a half day training class on Friday morning (July 22nd), so we decided we'd all go and make a vacation out of it!

During my internship with AT&T in the summer of 2008, I worked in NJ and lived with my aunt and uncle - it was so nice that they lived 10 miles from my office!  So we decided to kill to birds with one stone - I could get my training class done AND we could spend some time with family!



I love NJ!  I loved it when I was living there and I loved our quick trip back.  When I first moved out there, I thought the whole state would be like the city of Newark.  It is not.  There's a reason it's the "Garden State"!  As the above sign shows, my Aunt Jana and Uncle Reid live in Chester (est. 1736!) - it's small, quaint, and lovely. 

We had big plans for the weekend - an afternoon at the shore after my training class and a day in the city (NYC) on Saturday since Andrew had never been there.  But it was so hot and we were so worn out from all our previous travels, that we all agreed to just have a nice, relaxing weekend!

So we spent a lot of time in the pool:



Eve couldn't get enough!  That is the life - floating in the water while getting your bottle.  I didn't mind either :)



On Saturday, we ventured out a bit.  We went for a hike at a nearby state park - Hacklebarney, I believe?  The path was mostly shaded, so we stayed relatively less hot. 



Eve wanted to be out of the stroller, but no way were any of us going to carry her the whole time!  She did get out for a bit of it (and also took a nap for part).



Look at how beautiful it is!



These are my three cousins: Kate (in the orange), Ben, and Jane (in blue).  They are so much fun and I had a blast living with them three years ago.  Jane was actually born while I was there!  Look how big she is now!



Aunt Jana with her girls!



Dipping our toes to keep cool!



The kids brought their fishing gear so Uncle Reid is showing them how!



Eve and I watched.  We're not big fisherwomen.



The whole New Jersey clan!



That afternoon, we did some more swimming, more playing outside, and more eating!



We even went out for ice cream and walked around Chester a bit.

Our cute domestic, hand-fed baby!  (Being hand-fed ice cream...)



I cannot over state how much fun Eve had at their house.  She LOVED playing with the cousins.  They were so good with her and were so nice to share their toys.  Jane kept calling her a boy; "he's tired; he's happy; he's crying...."  That girl needs to grow more hair!  Someone called her a boy at the grocery store today too.....anyway, I digress....

Eve officially began crawling at their house!  Videos to come, I'm sure.....



We went to my old ward in Ledgewood on Sunday, then had a quick bite for lunch and headed back home.  Again, even though it was a quick trip, we had such a great time! 

We were pretty tired out from all our traveling and driving, so Eve took a turn on the way home....

Thanks for helping out, Eve!