Fire works

For the Forth of July we went over to Joe's parents house for a BBQ and then we drove down to Newark to watch fireworks.

Brodie, Da and baby Gabi

Waiting for fireworks
He was so patient about waiting for them to start

Da and Brodie

pretending to fall asleep because we had to wait so long

finally the fireworks started, it was a great fireworks show

Virginia

Last week we went to Virginia to visit grandpa at Colonial Downs. Brodie had so much fun playing in the barn, he just loves being around the horses. He also idolizes my dad, he followed grandpa around everywhere. He wanted to do everything that grandpa did, including riding in his car seat with a big silver mug because that's what grandpa does.

Eating breakfast in the barn

He tried to help grandpa clean the stalls

Brodie's favorite job was getting all the feed tubs and lining them up in the shedrow

He helped mix the grain

Brodie would walk up to all the horses and give them hugs and kisses

and he was fascinated with the fans

riding in the car with grandpa's mug

The farm my dad stays at is like a petting zoo. This was their miniature donkey

riding Newly

trying to ride the huge dairy cow that they have with Nancy

Jersey Shore

On Saturday Joe rode a Stake race at Monmouth Park. Brodie and I went with him and we packed a little over night bag, just in case we got to spend the night. Luckily Joe didn't have any workers lined up for Sunday so we got a hotel and went to the beach. It has been so hot here lately that I was happy to be sitting on a beach with a breeze blowing on us. After the races on Saturday we found a restaurant just like Benihanas to eat at.

Joe and Brodie at Sawa

Showing daddy that he can use chop sticks too
He loves the onion soup that they serve

Me and Brodie at the beach

He had to wait for his sun block to dry so he got down to the very edge of the blanket

Digging with daddy

This kid absolutely loves the beach

Joe teaching Brodie how to build a sand Castle

Brodie teaching Joe how to destroy one

Taking a break for some snacks

Even though it was 100 degrees outside, the water was freezing

Brodie did not care, every time a wave came up Joe and I would shiver while Brodie would just smile

Brodie is so fearless, this is Joe catching him as he tried to run past him into the water, this kid is crazy

Father's Day Campout

Since Joe is the king of gadgets, it's hard to find him a present that he doesn't already have. So instead of a gift for Father's day we decided to take him camping. Joe has talked about wanting to go camping for years. His gift was the camping equipment and we were suppose to surprise him with a camping trip, but Joe being Joe found out we were going a week before. Joe's sister Tiff and their family came, and Brit, Gabi and baby Gabi, and Joe's parents. The camp out went great, maybe we will make it an annual trip.

Our new tent

We cooked pork loin, burgers and corn for dinner
Gabi wearing his Panamanian hat

After dinner the girls caught glow bugs in the bug kits that Nana got them

These sticks lit up all kinds of colors, but my flash didn't let it show in the pictures, we also got the kids glow bracelets to help us spot them

Joe and I had different ideas on camping, he was focused on fishing and catching things. While my concern was how to build a portable outdoor TV screen. I guess that's the Arterburn in me

We aimed my projector at it, and it worked great. I think its safe to say that we were the envy of the campground

Watching Ice Age

Brodie had is very own little camp chair

Walking with Dulaney on our morning hike

Tiff and Baden

Since I had to bring an energy converter for the projector, i also decided to bring an electric skillet to make eggs and sausage. Brodie decided it was time to put all his cooking practice to the test

He impatiently let Baden have a turn

and then quickly took back the spatula back and kicked her out of his kitchen

Tree huggers

After breakfast the boys went fishing and we played at the nearby beach

Laney bug

Baden

Brodie had lots of rocks to collect here