Our 2011 Summer Vacation

Looking at these photos makes me long for yet another sea-shore adventure already. We had such a wonderful time exploring the east coast.

Matt and I calculated, and even though we spent a total of 32 hours with the boys in the we had a wonderful time.

We started in Virginia Beach, visiting Gigi and Grampie with Uncle Kris for Independence Day fireworks.

I, of course, forgot an SD card in my camera - but I did get one of everyone relaxing in Gigi's awesome salt water pool with my phone.

And then a couple of the boys playing at the beach.

And one of Cole with a baby love bird who took to his shoulder at the awesome pet store we love to visit.

Then (after procuring a new card for the camera) we drove up the eastern shore, finding nooks, piers and alcoves to explore.

Cape Charles, VA is a fantastic train town with natural sea glass washing up on the shore.

Then we ventured up a little more north and visited Chincoteague Island, home of the NASA Wallop's Island launch site.

While we not-so-patiently waited for a rocket launch (which unfortunately never happened), we took a tour of the inside and had a blast exploring the visitor center.

The boys loved playing at the science center, but we had our sights set on ending the day at Rehoboth Beach, DE - and that we did!

Once it started raining we got the heck outta Dodge and got rested up for our next big day...
To Philadelphia, where we visited the awesome Please Touch Museum.

The best part was when the boys found the grocery store and insisted on only shopping for healthy food.

After a wonderful and long day playing hard in Philly, we headed up to the Berkshires in MA the next day.

Finally we arrived at Papa and Grammy's lake house!

 Matt's grandparents took better care of us and fed us better than we even do ourselves.

There was much book reading and card playing with lovely general relaxation.





Such a lovely way to end our road-trip adventure!





p.s. we stopped at "New Work City" on the way home and gave the boys a tour while picking up gluten-free donuts.  It, of course, was their favorite part of the trip! Now every time we hear the word NYC on TV Cole reminds me how exciting it was that we visited there.