HOME FROM THE MOTHERLAND........And one Big Birthday!!!
We are back from a whirlwind trip to Jersey in honor of our Birthday Girl!!
None other then the very photogenic Miss Sophie........
Miss "B" turned two on May 30th and we wouldn't have missed the big occasion for anything....
We spent two weeks spoiling and enjoying both the daughter and her "Mini Me"......
I hope you don't get bored looking at all the pictures......I couldn't help posting all the fun we had and we are looking forward to returning real soon to take over where we left off.....
And I'm here to announce that the babies favorite person in the whole world........besides ofcourse Mom and Dad.......is none other then the "Boss"
The Official Birthday Portrait....Don't you just love that Cake hat complete with candle........daughter made it.
My blogging friend Eli from Italy sent this hand painted card that she made just for the birthday girl!!
My favorite picture.....
Sorry but I think she is gorgeous....
Serenading the Grandpa upon arrival.....I think she's going to be musical like her father...
Reason #1 why the Boss is her favorite person......He wears funny Birthday Cake hats and can blow up over 75 balloons at last count.....
Let the Party begin!!
Through the gate to all the fun......and two ponies!!
Every little girl needs a Princess Flag.....
Sophie was right at home on top of Apple the pony....
and she was a real pro when it came to hitting the Pinata....
Daughter had "craft time" for the girls to make fancy party visors...
My blogging friend Eli from Italy sent this hand painted card that she made just for the birthday girl!!
My favorite picture.....Sorry but I think she is gorgeous....
Serenading the Grandpa upon arrival.....I think she's going to be musical like her father...
Reason #1 why the Boss is her favorite person......He wears funny Birthday Cake hats and can blow up over 75 balloons at last count.....Let the Party begin!!
Through the gate to all the fun......and two ponies!!
Every little girl needs a Princess Flag.....
Sophie was right at home on top of Apple the pony....
and she was a real pro when it came to hitting the Pinata....
Daughter had "craft time" for the girls to make fancy party visors... It was so cute to see all the little ladies in their fancy party dresses....but there was one little lady that was a "World Class Nose Picker".....
Miss "B" knew just what to do with the glue stick.....
Perfect Trio....
The Family about to cut the cake....
Lots of presents....
A change in party dress and the release of the balloons....
There they go..........
Notice the red winter "Crocs" on those little feet......
Miss "B" knew just what to do with the glue stick.....
Perfect Trio....Sophie....Pony......Fancy Party Hat
The Family about to cut the cake.... 
Lots of presents....
A change in party dress and the release of the balloons....
There they go..........
Notice the red winter "Crocs" on those little feet......Sophie is the Imelda Marcos of the Toddler set....She loves shoes but especially any kind of Crocs.....these were a gift and she had to put them on as soon as she saw them...
Not to worry......Grandpa can blow up more...
The next day we took a day trip down to Long Beach Island to see the Barnegat Lighthouse
The Boss and the Son in Law hiked it up to the top....here is a view from above....
Ofcourse being Italian we never go anywhere without packing a lunch....
Everyone says me and daughter look exactly alike.....I say she's her father's twin....
Not to worry......Grandpa can blow up more... 
The next day we took a day trip down to Long Beach Island to see the Barnegat Lighthouse
The Boss and the Son in Law hiked it up to the top....here is a view from above....
Ofcourse being Italian we never go anywhere without packing a lunch....
Everyone says me and daughter look exactly alike.....I say she's her father's twin....except for the gray eyebrows....
We drove down the other end of the island for some shopping where the old schooner
We drove down the other end of the island for some shopping where the old schoonerLucy Evelyn used to be........destroyed by fire in 1972 they replaced it with this replica and there's all kinds of neat shops and places to eat....
We all indulged in this wonderful chowder.....
We then hit up the beach where daughter took some great pictures.....she is always at the ready with her Nikon....
Baby enjoyed her first time playing in the sand......
I just love this bag......Yes, that's Princeton's Zip Code....How cute is that?
Sophie wandered a few feet away at "Breezin Up" and her father found her modeling hats in front of the mirror.....
She would pick a hat off the rack.....sit down on the little stool and nod her approval at how the hat looked....
We all left the shop with our LBI gear to remember our trip and Sophie's first time at the beach.
It was Son in Laws first time on the Jersey Shore and I think both father and daughter enjoyed themselves....
Before leaving we found some time and a good wind to fly some kites...
Then during the week me and daughter shared some bonding time at a Quilt Class in Hoboken.
It was true......we both finished our quilts in record time with a few minutes to spare..
They really came cute and were so simple to make......
After the class we met up with none other then everyone's favorite
Then I came home to a big surprise.....See these beautiful flowers.....
Ofcourse we didn't get home until Tuesday......They were still beautiful but starting to wilt a tad.....But where did they come from.....Daughter is the only one that ever sends me flowers...
"Thinking of You"
We all indulged in this wonderful chowder.....
We then hit up the beach where daughter took some great pictures.....she is always at the ready with her Nikon....
Baby enjoyed her first time playing in the sand...... 
I just love this bag......Yes, that's Princeton's Zip Code....How cute is that?
Sophie wandered a few feet away at "Breezin Up" and her father found her modeling hats in front of the mirror.....
She would pick a hat off the rack.....sit down on the little stool and nod her approval at how the hat looked....
We all left the shop with our LBI gear to remember our trip and Sophie's first time at the beach.
It was Son in Laws first time on the Jersey Shore and I think both father and daughter enjoyed themselves.... 
Before leaving we found some time and a good wind to fly some kites...
Then during the week me and daughter shared some bonding time at a Quilt Class in Hoboken.Nothing says "Bonding Time" like doing it in Hoboken....
They advertised that you could make a baby quilt in 2 hours and we wondered how?
It was true......we both finished our quilts in record time with a few minutes to spare..
They really came cute and were so simple to make......
After the class we met up with none other then everyone's favoriteShore(house)Chic Blogger......Miss Laura..
Laura lives in Hoboken...along with her house at the Jersey Shore and she met us for a late dinner at the Elysian Cafe....We had a wonderful dinner and really enjoyed meeting Laura.....
Then I came home to a big surprise.....See these beautiful flowers.....When I walked into the house on Tuesday night after a very long day of bad travel.....
our hour and a half flight ended up being a 10 hour day due to Delta major delays...
These were sitting on my kitchen table.....
Delivered on Saturday my wonderful neighbor saw them sitting on my front porch and brought them inside out of the heat......She turned on our air conditioning and gave them fresh water....
Ofcourse we didn't get home until Tuesday......They were still beautiful but starting to wilt a tad.....But where did they come from.....Daughter is the only one that ever sends me flowers...It's not my birhtday????
So I opened the card and what did I find......
"Thinking of You"Sue Combs....
everyone knows Susie Q from her wonderful blog Rabbit Run Cottage.....
You know Sue..........the one that has the hots for Brian Dennehy....
What a wonderful surprise from such a special friend....
Thank You Sue......I can't tell you how special I felt when I read your card.....
and dear Necie.....the next door neighbor suggested I call the florist and tell them what happened and they so kindly delivered fresh flowers on Wednesday and I'm still enjoying them!!!
So that's it.....we had a wonderful trip and we can't wait to do it all over again....
And it's nice to be back blogging!!
Comments
Happy Belated Birthday to Sophie!
Now on to your bag. I panicked at first. I thought that was a prison number you were secretly hiding from us. I was happy to know it's a zip code. heeheehee
Miss Sophie is a doll! I love her hat collection!
Love the photos...thanks for sharing.
Cheri
Wonderful pics of a great family!
Ellen
Welcome back home. It's boring here...LOL
Kristin
Welcome back! Glad you had such a nice time! Weren't you there recently? Time to move back maybe LOL!
Manuela
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed our dinner...THANK YOU...it felt as if we had known each other forever and were just "catchin' up." I hope to see you again when you're back in Garden State. I've been without a computer at home (nasty, ugly, icky cootie virus) but I can't wait to show the world your pillows! Oh MY. Love them. And your quilts look even BETTER when it's not pouring rain out (which, p.s., it's been doing prety much every day since. Ugh.)
So glad you had a nice visit.
Looking forward to meeting you on one of your trips.
I've met Laura also --she's a very sweet and fun girl!
Susie Q was so sweet to send you flowers! What a nice surprise!
Your ohotos are all amazing! The ones with the balloons...wow.
The Boss in the hat with Sophie and the balloons, how sweet is that?
LOVE the zip bag!
Now I am totally craving chowder and it is after one am!
You have been able to meet so many new blog friends! What a treat for you all.
I am so glad they brought out new flowers but I feel like an idiot that I didn't make sure you WERE at home! What a dum dum head I am!
I was just thinking about ya, sitting here grinning over your old posts and thought, I need to send Sue sumpin'. After all, you have been SO, so dear to Miss Grace and to me.
Love ya,
Sue