Last days of July...

So we headed back to Virginia and back to Nonna and Pop-pop's house.  Nonna was making a new tablecloth for her table and Isabella wanted to learn how so Nonna let her help.

Katie, Gianna and Mark came down to visit.  They came over for a play date one day and we played in the pool outside and then did some crafts together.

We all headed to Frying Pan Park one afternoon (sans Mark) for a little farm fun.  It was a hot day, but it was fun to see the animals.

Isabella was even brave enough to milk the cow.  It had udder cream on it so she thought it felt really weird.  She didn't go in for a second try.

Isabella's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Isabella's 3rd birthday on her actual birthday, July 16th, with a cupcake.  I can't allow the actual day to go by without some celebration.  She enjoyed the celebration and actually got her candle blown out by herself.  

Then we headed up to Binghamton the next day and had a second birthday celebration with Grandpa Ray, Nonna and Pop-pop, Uncle Doug, Aunt Katie, Gianna and Mark.  Then we headed over the De Angelo family Reunion.  This cake was from Carlo's Bakery (The Cake Boss).  It was delicious!

Jack and Grandpa Ray

Then the De Angelo Family Reunion:

We took a paddle boat out, just Isabella, Nick and me.  It was fun.

Isabella's third 3rd birthday celebration was intended to be her only birthday celebration and came one week after her actual birthday.  We celebrated at Aunt Kate's house with her cousins, Noah, Grace, Maddie, and Nathan.  Her cousins David and Henry also came with Aunt Cristina.  We also celebrated Noah's 11th birthday.  Here is Jack with one of the princess crowns.

It as a birthday extravaganza and we hope in the future to keep her birthday parties down to just one per year! 

Last days in Jersey...

Our last week in Jersey City was jam packed.  We squeezed in another visit with the Keane's in Manhattan (and our cousins), the kids and I did a little sightseeing, and Isabella and I started a craft time during Jack's naptime.

We headed to the Empire State Building

The view of our apartment from the top of the ESB.

Stopping outside Madison Square Garden...we also visited the Shrine of Padre Pio

I decided we needed to start doing something during nap time so we bought a few art supplies and started a craft time.  It was really fun and Isabella was super in to it.  We made far more crafts that day than I had planned.

Watercolors

A sunshine made of handprints

A wand made from craft sticks

Later that week we headed over to Manhattan and went to a playground in Central Park with Meghan, Riley and Piper.  Aunt Katie, Gianna, and Mark also came and we had a big fun play date.  

Gianna liked playing with the chalk and getting it wet.

Isabella and Riley loved this tire swing.

Isabella loved our doorman Bernardo.  He was there during the day.  This was when we said goodbye.

The ice cream truck was always up the street from the apartment.  This was our last visit.
Isabella got chocolate...what a mistake!

We also had the pleasure of listening to some bands that would set up down by our apartment in Newport.  Isabella broke in to dance at the sound of the music.

We had a great time in Jersey but our time was up.  We headed back to Virginia to see Nonna and Pop-pop.

More NJ Happenings

Isabella has been really enjoying our playground right by the apartment. She makes "best friends" so easily and just loves playing with all the other kids.


We spent some time playing on the playground with daddy.Nonna and Pop-pop came to visit us up here in NJ for the 4th of July. We had a great time exploring Hoboken and watching the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks from the waterfront here.
Isabella and Mr. Hoboken (that's what she calls him anyway). We went over to Hoboken to explore the area on Saturday.
We walked by Carlo's Bakery, the bakery from The Cake Boss, but we didn't go in since there was a really long line, but we have gone down there several times since. Delicious!

On the 4th we went to church in the morning at St. Anthony's of Padua, a beautiful Polish church. They had this beautiful alter display and a side alter with this gorgeous crucifix.


After church, we went to the park to play.


Nonna made a tart and Isabella helped her put the berries on.

Then that evening we went down to the waterfront to watch the fireworks.

Monday we went to Nate and Heather's for a BBQ in their new house.
Later that week we drove down to Katie and Doug's house in Robbinsville, NJ and had a play date.Then on Saturday Doug, Katie, and Jenn came to visit. Isabella loved showing Gianna around Jersey City and Hoboken.


We went out to eat at The Taco Truck for lunch and Jack enjoyed chewing on this lime.
Really! He liked it.
Then on Sunday we went to church again and then went to the "I love St. Anthony" festival put on by the same church. Isabella had a great time. Daddy won her a little bear at a festival game and we loved the delicious Polish food! Fantastic.
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