Flashack Fortnight Challenge 9.10.......

The challenge this week was my challenge as a matter of fact. (find a photo with writing on the back and scrap it). As I was browsing through my wayback box, I found a Sr. picture of my brother with writing on the back. Do kidlets do that now??? Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised at what he wrote on the back to grandpop. You see, they had a rather turbulent relationship. Surprisingly what he wrote on the back of his photo acknowledges this and apologizes. At a time, when its really all about US, he recognized there was an issue and extended an olive branch.

So, not only in digging in the wayback box - I dug in my STASH. How old can this basic grey be? Doesn't matter. It was masculine then and still rocks today. Its also a lift of a sort, AGAIN from Scrapbook Etc pg 74, designer Robin Werlich. Bazzill, along QK and punched hearts and some Karen Foster doo=dads. I think, and Kaiser bling.

Owen's birthday....

is really this coming up week, but I'm glad to be able to celebrate. I miss my Connor's party on the 3rd. Really my grandbabies need to move closer. It's the big TWO years old... My did it fly by....Anyway its a fire truck party. He loves Elmo putting out fires.
In this case he loved the HOSE, which really WORKS.
Its great to drink from...
shoot unsuspecting people with a blast of water....
AND, watering the plants. It took him a minute to actually get IN the truck. There was just too much happening to really sit. Busy busy boy.....

After EaRl......

the OB people are a hardy lot and headed to the beach. Love these flip flops.
Some heeded the red flag warning....
and others were rockin
and rollin with the sea....
Even the lifeguards were serious....
The sun was out, the breeze coming from the west blew everyone out to sea, but kept the beach from becoming an easy bake oven. And the water temp. didn't get close enough to find out. lol!

Going to "the city".....

Started with driving to the train depot. My DH was sweet and did a u-turn so I could get my book to read during the ride to pass the time. When we switched in Long Branch, he got his wish and sat on the top of a double decker train. It was totally fun!We met up with our tour guide outside of Penn Station, which was a riot of activity. Hopped a subway with the other "cattle" waiting to go. And it was really really HOT below ground. Of course standing room only.
We milled around Union Square and walked through the outside vegie market which was very cool and then headed for a coffee shop where we hung out waiting for Liz, Melissa and Owen. I was so impressed that Liz brought Owen to the City on the train - just the two of them. *bowing to her courage*.
On the way to the coffee shop, found the taxi hangout and couldn't resist. And ain't NYC politically correct with the hybrids. Guess the luggage can go in the car and the people run along side. Winwin- exercising on purpose. bwahahaha!The Mesa Grill was uptown, upscale and so de-lish. We split a bottle of wine, which I chose and went through the whole wine thing which I never did before and honestly was totally clueless but had fun with it because well EVERYONE knew I was clueless. It was an Aussie Chardonnay which was delicious.
SomeONE (and it wasn't me) told the staff we had a couple of birthdays, so upon ordering dessert(s), we shared a lot which was fun and delicous! Anyhoo, it had a birthday candle stuck in a slice of banana, which was totally adorable. I managed to snap a quick pix of O blowing out his candle. He'll be 2 on the 9th, where did the time go. Really. (my other boy was two yesterday). Sigh.

At the Jersey Shore......

is the bird that followed me down the California coastline. He's gained some weight. The waves were rocking and rolling, and sort of rough. I saw grown men being knocked down from the surf. We skirted the waters edge in which I was assured that the water was "warm". A balmy 76. Snort. I'm from Florida - I need a really balmy 89. And here are the little's man, tiny feet making tracks in the sand...
Busily chasing "eshells" for his bucket.
Which s a win-win because mom really needs them for her project.
A rest was required after rounding up all the "eshells" on the beach. Now was time to mix and make cookies and meatballs.
Hours passed hanging out at the beach. It was breezy and even with sun out was NOT overwhelming HOT. Which is a good thing. Guess who fell asleep in the stroller on the walk back to the beachhouse? I really wish it was me. lmao.....