Great Adventure

We went to Great Adventure on Thurs. It was meant to be a couple hours that lasted aaaaallllllllllll day. We had a pair of free tickets from last fall that would have expired today, so we had to go. First, we went to this place around the corner and had the mother of all breakfasts. We really gorged ourselves and rode out to the Safari. Of course, we all had to 'go' before we started to drive through.

I normally don't take pictures of the animals anymore in the drive through. The Kid has been through there a million times (well, at least 6) and I have taken every picture there could possibly be for him to collect. He LOVES the animals. Except for this time. The Zebras had a couple new babies, and one was nursing on his mommy. It was the sweetest thing I have ever seen, so I had to dig out the camera and get a shot.


Warning: Mini Rant ahead

They freaking changed the age limit for the free kids this year. The Kid was free last Sept when we went and he was 3, well he is still freaking 3 and we were 'supposed' to pay for him. It was under 4 is free now it is under 3...read 2 AND under free. We just put him in the stroller and breezed on in and no asked any questions, which is good since the Kid has been telling people he is 4 already since we had his birthday celebration at school already. It's not like he got much taller. He could still only go on the same rides he did last year. I would have totally played the pregnancy card (ie. I CAN'T go on any rides, so why should I even have to pay??) if they gave us a hard time.

But no one did...thank goodness, because I don't know if I'd really have the balls to play the pregnant card. Then we went in and I just took a few pics. Here is my favorite. The rest didn't come out that great.

God he is getting SO big. I have another shot from 2 years ago at the same fountain. And no, he isn't on his tip toes in the shot above. The railing is no longer in his armpits!

Next year we will be getting season passes.

So the reason the day was Soooooooo long.... after we left G.A. we went to grab a bite to eat. It was aournd 3 (and breakfast had passed and we were starving), and somehow he didn't pass out, yet. So we went through McDs drive through and then headed over to the Jackson Outlets and the Stride Rite store for new shoes for the Kid. We got an awesome firtruck light up pair for only $20! Then we HAD to stop at the Disney store and spent some more money. Finally we realized it was 5:30! Ooops. The Kid STILL didn't pass out on the way home and didn't go to bed until 8:30. What time was he up the next day? .... 6:30 AM!

I can't believe that tomorrow is actually June! Half this year is almost over already...anyone else feel like it was just January??

I've Been Tagged!

The House of Mis-Fits tagged me on this one. It's my first tag ever!


You know the rules: Answer the questions. Tag others! :)

• What were you doing 10 years ago?

May/June 1998; Just getting home and settled from college and working at the boardwalk as a parking enforcement officer.

• What are 5 snacks that you enjoy?
  

1. Ben & Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie ice cream
2. Oreos
3. potato chips
4. cheese sticks
5. pickles
   

• What are 5 things you would do if you were a billionaire?
  
  

1. pay off all of our debt
2. buy a new car for me and a new truck for Hubby
3. save money for the kid's college
4. pay people to come in and renovate this whole house in a week - home makeover style
5. give a chunk to some charities
   

• What are 5 things you wish you could do today?

1. ride my bike
2. sit on the beach
3. stop having heartburn
4. go back to sleep
5. go to a church carnival (oh wait, I am doing that today)
   

I tag: Modern Matriarch & Tranny Head


You're IT!

Kid Quotes

I have been collecting some quotes from an almost 4 year old for about 4 weeks, when I remember to type them here, of course. And since I am exhausted from a looooong day at Great Adventure (will post about tomorrow) you will get them now and I'll start a new list when more pearls of wisdom that come from the Kid.




His response to the 1st ultrasound he was at.
"It's like water is splashing in Mommy's belly."



Standing in the doorway of the kitchen with one hand on his hip like a cowboy, after watching the cowboy Backyardigans.

"Do you know where a fella can get some apple juice around here?"



After watching Curious George when he visits the country:
"If we lived in the city and all of our friends lived in the country the carpenter ants would eat the pipes." Wha?? Huh?


And the creme De la creme today...
After seeing our construction guy's pick up truck in our driveway:
"Doug has two gas holes."



Seriously, I couldn't make this up!

Rejected Again

Well, I got my '98 Jetta inspected today since it is due to be done before the end of the month.
Now I have a big fat red REJECTED sticker on it. I think my car's feelings are hurt. No one likes to be rejected. Especially for all to see. It's not the first time my poor car has failed...but at least last time there was a crack in the exhaust system that we just didn't know about.
You wanna know why my car failed? The back 2 tires are bald on one side. Seriously, that's it. My step-dad is a mechanic and he can't believe the guy actually noticed that. So now I have to get new tires AND go back and get my REJECTED sticker peeled off.
Here in NJ you are supposed to get 45 days to get your car rechecked or you are 'subject to a full reinspection' and we don't want that! What if my check engine light comes on in the meantime? (That has happened already too.) BUT on the failure form they give you it says right below that line 'if you do not get your car inspected by 6/30/08 you can be subject to registration suspension.' WHAT?? Where is my 45 days?
Damn Jersey. Poor car. Thank goodness my step-dad is a mechanic or I would have been in big trouble over the last 12 years that I have since owned 2 Jetta's (an '86 and '98). Let's just say we are never buying a VW ever again.

Boardwalk!

Well, it just started raining here around 8pm. It ended up being an awesome day!
The Kid and I went over to the boardwalk (<--check link for the specials/times/days!) on our own around 4:30 and got back around 7:30, and I have to say, all of you that live nearby need to get down there and have some cheap fun!! (I know there are a few of you nearby that read me.) We parked in the lot at the aquarium and it was FREE...although they were charging $5 in the lot right next to the rides. Then we walked down to the rides and he went on a couple, then at 5 they slipped like a slip cover over all the ticket signs and reduced all the tickets needed for each ride by about 1 or 2 tickets (depending on the ride). All of the rides he walked right on, and some of them he was the only one on it at all! That's how empty it was.
Then we went to Little Macs and got 2 burgers (reg $5.95 for $1.75 each), 2 sm fries (reg $3.95 for $1 each) and a large lemonade, I figured I could splurge for the $5 lemonade since I didn't pay to park....all for a whopping $10.97. That's as much as McDs.
Then a few games were only $1, so the Kid and I (and ONLY the Kid and I- so no one could beat us.) played the water gun game by the train and he won one of those red rubber balls that look like they are covered in nipples. Chuck E Cheese training did him well...he actually did really good!
Then on the way to the car we each got a soft serve ice cream cone for $1 EACH! It was awesome. And it was beautiful down there.

Hope you guys can all make it down one day in the next 2 weeks while the deals are going on. And the fireworks don't start until the end of June, so don't worry about going on a Thurs. It was seriously awesome and relaxing. Except for when we were eating and the freaking seagulls were almost dive bombing us. The rats with wings were freaking me out!

We also played mini-golf for his 1st time. We went to the cheap rooftop golf and I only paid $3 for him to play. And I am so glad it wasn't much more than that, because after the 1st 2 holes he just liked to go to each one and just plop the ball in, laugh and move on to the next one.

Of course, I didn't bring my camera because the battery was dead and it was a last minute decision to go down there before it rained and I didn't have time to charge it. :(

Weekend Recap

Wow! What a beautiful holiday weekend we had over here at the Jersey Shore.

On Friday we went strawberry picking. They are starting to get mush already! I thought they would last much longer when you get them right off the vine. But they were much cheaper than the store, so it's all good.

Saturday we just bummed around and then went to the fireworks.

There was traffic galore coming down here on Sunday...thank goodness I was going the opposite way to my dad's house. My brother and my grandfather were also there visiting for my dad's birthday. The Kid is so lucky to have 3 GREAT-grandparents still around. We got some more stories from India. My brother said that they WORSHIP cows over there like you wouldn't believe. The McDonald's (yes, of course they still have McD's) doesn't even sell burgers in most parts of India. Families will never kill their own cows, they use them only for milk and cheese, etc. Most of the country is vegetarian, except for the few that will eat chicken and fish...but that's about it. That is how my brother lost about 20 pounds...mmmm maybe I should get over to India for my diet. Nah, I can't stand curry. Which they have tons of different types of curry over there and my brother loved every minute of it. Plus they swim all.the.time. So he always had his workout in too.

Yesterday was a little windy, but we went on a nice bike ride down to the little beach near us. It is awesome to know that I still have all the balance to ride around with the Kid on the back. We love the bike. And when I told him that this would be the last summer he could ride on the back he was not happy about it. Mostly because he is almost 40 lbs and that is the limit on the seat...not to mention next year the baby will be in it and he is going to have to learn to ride his own bike!

And now today. As I sit here looking out the window there is the trickle of rain. Not fun. But I guess it has to rain sometime. We really lucked out this weekend, weather wise. There is a hanging plant outside my window on the front steps and I am watching these 2 little sparrows flying in and out of it with nest supplies. I guess we will getting baby birds soon!

America the Beautiful

Please take a moment from cooking your burgers and downing your beer (mmmmmmm beer) to remember why you are able to start a small fire in your backyard and cook meat on it (or whatever you like to enjoy at a BBQ).

The men and women that have fought in war after war since the beginning of America to give us the freedom to do as we want, vote as we want, and well, drink as much beer as we want. (Can you tell I am missing the beer this weekend??)

No matter what you think of the way this country is run or not run, whatever the case may be, remember the people who have died to give you that right to feel anyway you want about this country. Hug a vet, or two, I know I did - my one grandfather joined WWII near the end and was a paratrooper that dropped into concentration camps and helped liberate them. And my other grandfather was a bit young for the war, but he joined the Navy right after it ended.

Enjoy your day!! It is gorgeous here in Jersey and as soon as Hubby comes home from work we are going to be putting some London Broil on the grill and kick back and he can drink my share of beer. ;)


(Those pictures above probably look familiar. They came with the computer and I thought they fit perfectly.)