This Full House Archive

Category: Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

  • So, This is Sandwich

    Clowning at the oldest house on The Cape in Sandwich, MA
    Day 4 – Glen and Hope get all Pilgrim at the Hoxie House, the oldest house in Sandwich, MA where the kids insist that they ALL could NOT have survived in 1637…me, either!

    Dexter's Grist Mill in Sandwich, MA
    Day 4 – Dexter Grist Mill in Sandwich, MA

    This Full House at the Grist Mill
    Day 4 – Sandwich still looks as pretty as it did when we first visited with Holly,
    when she was 6 months old, way back in…um…Holy Hannah Montana, but
    I'm old!

    Hope at Grist Mill in Sandwich, MA
    Day 4 – Yeah, after all these years, it surprisingly still works pretty good, like me, too!

    Impatient Toes on The Cape
    Day 4 – Aaaand look, Sandwich and I have the same taste in color 🙂

    Sunkissed and sandy
    Day 4 – So, yeah, all this alone time, together, well, it's taken a little while to get used to, but we're all feeling real good, albeit a bit sun-kissed and sandy!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

  • I Don’t Think We’re in Jersey, Anymore!

    Hope Digs the Sand at The Cape
    Day 2 – Hope digs the sand at So. Village Beach!

    Garth [not his real name] and the rest of The Cape
    Day 2 – Garth [not his real name] along with the rest of The Cape at So. Village Beach on the 4th of July!

    Holly and Heather at So. Village Beach
    Day 2 – Holly and Heather take a dip in the warm-ish waters of Nantucket Sound!

    Hope and Glen at So. Village Beach
    Day 2 – Hope and Glen are like, wow, you can actually go swimming on the beaches at The Cape and "Look mom, no jelly fish!"

    So, why am I sitting here, rather than lounging on the beach with the kids, today?  Garth [not his real name] is at the shop getting new breaks for the car and I've got my period (you're welcome) because, that's how we roll!!!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

  • Mommy Needs a Mojito!

    Mommy Needs a Mojito!
    Day 1 – New England's looking good already, right?

    Seafood Cakes & Boston Beans
    Day 1 – Tastes good, too!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

  • Yeah, but it just wouldn’t be as much fun…without them!

      Seaside Heights 2004
    June, 2004
    Greetings from Seaside Heights, NJ

    Yesterday, my mom and I carried on the tradition of celebrating the first days of summer vacation and took the kids to the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, NJ…alone (my husband was at work and my dad wasn't feeling so great) and, yeah, it was a beautiful day, still.   I can't help but feel as if the kids and I were, you know, missing something.

    Besides, my dad and Garth [not his real name] I mean.

    Glen tires to sink ships and wins tickets!

    Oh, we got there in plenty of time to sink a couple of battleships, since Wristband Day ($15.00 per person gets you on rides until 6 p.m.) didn't start until noon and we had, surprisingly enough, very little traffic getting there. 

    Aaaand, since my mother already saved up a wad of dollar bills the size of a small infant, we spent a leisurely hour hanging out in the air-conditioned arcade.

    Mama teaches the girls whose the boss in skee ball!

    Look it her.  The woman's gone through a double-knee surgery, twice.  Still.  My mother was able to show the girls, you know, just who's the boss in skee ball, anyway!

    Mommy's little wheel of fortune spinner.

    Holly gave up trying to beat her grandmother (Heather, however, who is "supposedly" as stubborn as her mother, stayed behind for a second beating) while, Hopey came "THIS CLOSE" to winning an extra 250 tickets, "DAWN-IT!"

    Hopey gazes into the future at Seaside Heights

    Then, it soon hit me (no, not the Wheel of Fortune, STOPIT!) around the time when I took this picture of Hopey, standing in front of one of those funky little fun-house-type mirrors they've got scattered all around the arcade, that I felt as if I were, you know, taking a glimpse into the future.

    "I look weird!"

    Spring 1999 - Mommy and Glen at Pt. Pleasant, NJ 

    Spring 1999
    Mommy and Glen at Pt. Pleasant, NJ

    The kids are growing up SO FAST and, well, it just doesn't feel like 1999, or 2004, anymore, you know what I mean?

    Spring Break at Sandy Hook, NJ!

    Yeah, going to the beach IS a whole lot easier (sans stroller and diapers) and hanging out on the boardwalk is a lot funner (yes, it's a word!) especially, when you have parents (like I do) who insist on, "Showing you kids a good time," time and time, again.

    Yes, but this sort of traffic SUCKS! 

    I can't help but feel as if things are going just a little too fast, even my poor mom and I had trouble keeping up with the kids, this time (stupid bum knees) I wish we ALL could have taken just a little more time, getting here, you know?

    "So, what are you guys going to do on your summer vacation?"

    Yep, after 3 years of staycations, we're going away to Cape Cod, this weekend.

    Why?

    Well, my husband and I honeymooned on the Cape (because, tropical islands were "highly over-rated") and it has been over 5 years since our last visit with the kids.  In fact, my parents were with us that time, too.  My youngest girl and the boy don't even remember it, much.  Still.  We love it and, since they're all old enough, I asked each of them to write down the things "they would like to do" and combined them into one big master list of things to do.

    [Note:  Word-for-word list via kids, links via me for those of you who've never been to Cape Cod]

    Things to Do on Cape Cod Vacation

    Honestly, even though it may sound like a lot to pack into 1 week, I was surprised by the number of things on their list(s) that don't require tickets (or, reservations) and I think my mom secretly wishes that she could come, this time, too.

    "You could always leave the kids with us, you know."

    Yeah, but it just wouldn't be as much fun…without them!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

  • Let’s All Get Buffed, Beautiful and Bitchin’

    I'm ready for my me-ssage!

    The "before" picture – this, my friends, is the face of a woman on the edge – but, wait until you see the "after" shot!

    Ever get the feeling that, you know, there's this unseen force, hanging out in the universe somewhere, with nothing better to do than rain on some poor schmuck's parade.

    If the kids &
    I don't get (or, see) some sun soon, we may ALL just lose our sh*t
    today; considering a trip to the mall I am THAT desperate!

    Summer's been very, very slow to start (here in Jersey) rain, rain and more rain, even the ants, that normally bug us around this time of year, have packed up and left town.  So, understandably, the kids and I are gettin' a little…um…antsy.

    If it were not for Twitter, I would have totally lost my sh*t by now.

    Who wouldn't?
    With 6 people living in a 7 room house? Quick to lose your sh*t, if
    summer refused to show it's bright & shiny head, I mean.

    So, my friend Melisa (with one S and one L, I think) Twittered (Twitted?) a suggestion:

    @thisfullhouse How about a family field trip to the tanning salon? That might be fun.

    [cue choir of angels on high]

    Hey, wait a minute, that's right, I almost forgot (thanks, Melisa with one S!) you see, I HAD A GET OUTTA THE HOUSE CARD for free, well, sort of. My husband, Garth [not his real name] gave me a gift card for a massage (or, a me…ssage…as he likes to call it) and 3 days into our summer break, I was already SO, you know, ready to use it!

    (more…)

  • Wordless Wednesday: If You Give a Kid a Piece of Chalk

    Driveways are made for chalking!!!
    Prettiful things begin to happen…

    Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
    Tag, you're it:   

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

  • Looking For Some Hot Fun in the Summertime, Then You Must NOT Be From Jersey!

    Sandy-hook-traffic

    I got the call around 8 p.m. Saturday night, while I was saying goodbye to my in-laws and thanking them for bringing my husband, Garth [not his real name] into the 21st century, by giving him a cool new mp3 player for his birthday (me next, okay?) and it is perhaps one of the most dreaded phone call (besides, you know, the school nurse, of course) that THIS Jersey mom hates, anyways.

    "Wanna go on the hook?"

    [blank stare]

    (more…)

  • Summer’s almost over, time to cram for school!

    Dunebabies

    Dune baby, dune baby, give me a smile — or, not.

    In less than 2 weeks, our summer will be over and — having directed nearly all of my attentions to raising kids and killer dust bunnies, for the last 15 years — perhaps you’d be surprised, as I am, to learn that I haven’t done a gosh-darned thing to get the kids ready for back-to-school.

    Besides, doing nothing….I mean.

    My husband, Garth (not his real name) and I have been busy — although, taking a quick look outside — you really couldn’t tell.

    We’ve slowly been mowing, planting, weeding and transplanting our way through the seemingly endless amount of chores that come with having a big backyard.  Not to mention, keeping our house from falling down and crashing into our 100-year-old neighbor’s immaculately kept lawn.

    Yeah, you heard right — she’s turning 100, next month — so, where do we get off feeling so tired, all the time?

    (more…)

  • Through a Child’s Eyes in Shades of Yellow and Orange

    [8/15/08 Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared ALL comments – sorry, if I lost yours – because, I am A DORK!]

    Minimesunflower

    Having lived in New Jersey my whole life, I always imagined summer as a gift and one that should be unwrapped very, very, slowly.

    Then, I grew up.

    In my column over at the Imperfect Parent (I know, publishers Prescott and Jessica are being VERY generous) I talk a little about how our summers have taken on a kaleidoscopic effect that, more often than not, tends to leave me and the kids feeling a little, you know, dizzy.

    Busy one minute, colorless the next and then there are those moments
    – you know, the kid-friendly kind of spontaneous we parents have
    learned to expect – that slowly begin to unfold and reveal their
    beauty, which simply leave me wordless.

    Yesterday, after spending waaaaaay too much time cleaning out the garage,  I grabbed the camera and asked my youngest daughter (she’s 7) to join me for a little private time (because, it WAS her turn) as we both welcomed the Dog Days of Summer through a child’s eyes – in shades of yellow and orange.

    (more…)

  • Summer Vacation: Life is too short, eat dessert first and don’t forget your period pants! – Day 36

    My sister-in-law flew in from Arizona – and boy, are her arms…uh,
    never mind – she’s moved into Casa de Mucho Hormonal, already and is
    staying with us for while, anyway. So, in my infinite wisdom, I thought
    it would be an absolutely fan-TAS-tic idea to surprise her parents
    (a.k.a. the inlaws) on our way home from the farmer’s market.

    "Atwhay ouldshay eway ingbray?"

    Huh?

    "Orfay essertday!?!"

    Well, it finally happened – I thought – I’ve finally gone and lost
    my mind and could NOT understand a word she was saying, or they’re just
    plain talking crazy, in Arizona!

    "DESSERT…what should we bring, for dessert!?!"

    The last time I saw four children scatter, so fast, in opposite
    directions, was…um…did I mention how much I hate taking kids food
    shopping!?!

    "There’s a reason why I didn’t want them to hear, oh and DUH!"

    Okay, but I am a DORK and have never really been good at talking, or Pig Latin.

    "How about a cherry pie…NO, I want blueberry…EW, that’s not desserty enough…let’s get something CHOCOLATE!?!?

    Whatever, I don’t care!

    [eyes go wide]

    You see, growing up, dessert was never really a big deal in my house
    – slap an Oreo cookie on my plate and I’m good – but, my mother-in-law
    has dozens of family recipes, handed down by French-Irish ancestors,
    none of which I have been able to duplicate, food wise, anyway – nope,
    not even close, by the way – and her homemade chocolate cake (with
    mocha butter cream icing) well, dessert nirvana, comes to mind!

    Later, my sister-in-law gave my in-laws a call.

    "Liz, the kids and I want to stop by for a cup of coffee; is that okay?!?"

    Judging by her face – oh, and I’d recognize that eyerolling, anywhere – NOT so fan-TAS-tic.

    "No, we haven’t eaten dinner, either…and we’re not staying long…but, who says you can’t have dessert first!?!"

    Much later.

    "Where do you want me to put this?"

    My in-laws decided to come over, AFTER dinner, and she bought
    cake….YAY!….and there was a little bit left….yay, ME!…so, I
    asked her to put it in the microwave oven, of course – right next to
    the bread and the leftover Dunkin Donuts – where it was less likely to
    be eaten by a Doofus-Dog!

    Much, much later.

    "Shhh, Doofus-Dog – you want to wake the kids!?!? – if you shuddup, maybe I’ll even share some!"

    I felt a little naughty, but – oh, well! – this pms we women speak
    of, it IS such a turnoff, that – if not fed properly and often – can
    cause even the nicest of mommies’ bitch switch to flip!

    "What the?"

    I yelped – the cats ran from the kitchen and even the dog sensed that someone was gonna DIE!

    "There isn’t anymore left!"

    I didn’t even notice my sister-in-law sitting at the kitchen table
    and that sudden realization nearly induced a self-fulfilled prophecy. A
    few more seconds passed and I was still clutching my chest and unable
    to speak.

    "I got my period this morning…and feel like crap…so, I took the last of the chocolate cake…and ate it!"

    On the one hand, I thought…okay…but, on the other hand, I would’ve liked to have tasted at least SOME of the chocolate cake!

    "I don’t see what the big deal is – you don’t even eat dessert!"

    FLIP.

    Morale of the story:  They call it PMS, because Mad Cow Disease was already taken!
    .

    If anyone needs me, I’ll be upstairs getting in two more sleeps until I leave for Chicago, not to mention, praying I don’t get sick on the plane and packing my period pants, just in case!

    My sister-in-law?

    She’s grounded – until menopause, anyway – see ya!