On our way home from Maryland, we stopped to have a pizza picnic at Liberty State Park. Liberty State Park is awesome for its promenade views of the Statue of Liberty and the New York City skyline. It was a beautiful afternoon to stroll down the waterfront and enjoy the panorama.
Our kids have a couple of masterful fishermen for grandfathers, so we wanted to give them the chance to fish with one of them! On Tuesday we spent the day at our favorite little kid-friendly fishing pond, Teetertown Ravine Nature Preserve.
This is where Cody and Ridge went fishing for Fathers and Sons. Then we took the kids back on Memorial Day. We found it a great spot for kids to fish. Although the fish are small, they bite quick and are easy to catch! Kids can easily catch several fish in a couple of hours.
It didn’t take long for everyone to catch a fish! Even Tanner helped reel one in! And then proceeded to poke it.
Jade loved the fishing, but the boys’ favorite part was playing in the mud and rocks! Good thing Grandma was there to keep an eye on them.
After a fun day fishing, we headed back home for some R & R.
On our way home, we stopped at the local farm for fresh produce and cider donuts. We bought some of the best corn of my life! Tanner agreed.
Later on, the kids had a chance to play in their own yard with their grandparents! A big deal for us!!
At bedtime, lucky Jade got to snuggle and read bed time stories with Grandpa. Cody and Jade have been reading The Jungle Book together at bedtime, which also happens to be one of Grandpa’s favorites. I found a beautiful hardcover edition with stunning illustrations for Cody for Father’s Day. It has been a huge hit all around!
In keeping with our desire to give my parents a taste of all things New Jersey, we took them to Point Pleasant Beach on the Jersey Shore.
We spent the first half of the day playing in the sand and water.
Grandma helped Ridge build a sandcastle.
Tanner tried to bury Grandpa in the sand.
Then they went for a walk down the beach. This is one of my favorite pictures… be still my heart.
Grandma jumped in the waves with Tanner and Jade.
What makes Point Pleasant different than any other beach is that it also has a boardwalk with food, rides, and carnival games; something for which the Jersey Shore is known.
Tanner took a nap in the stroller while we hit up the rides.
Even Grandpa and Grandma went on some of the rides with Jade!
After the rides, we found a place to sit down and eat dinner. We timed it perfectly, because as soon as we started eating, rain began pouring down!
It took only a few minutes after we finished eating for the rain to let up. On our way back to the car, we hurried to get our famous Jersey Shore ice cream before the next rain storm hit. Jade and Ridge chose giant lollipops over ice cream though! It really was an awesome day at the Shore with my parents!
Thursday was the last full day before my dad had to head back home. We started it off with a run to Jersey Boy Bagels. My dad is a seafood lover, so we of course had to get him the lox. He loved it! Tanner and I were willing to try, but didn’t go back for a second bite. Ridge, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with it!
We had an easy morning at home playing trains and being together.
In the afternoon we went to Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown. This historical park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental army’s winter encampment of December 1779 to June 1780, where they survived through the coldest winter on record.
It’s fun to watch Jade absorb the information in museums as she reads and ponders about what she sees. I think she truly enjoys them!
After visiting the museum, we headed over to take a tour of the Ford Mansion. General Washington used the home as his headquarters during the winter of 1779-1780.
Apparently, the mansion has pretty high security, because the guide promptly locked us inside. This didn’t bode well with Tanner and he started to have a major melt down. Full on screaming while the guide is trying to give his big, long spill about the place to the tour group. But we were locked in! In a small room with nowhere to go! Finally, the guide paused to ask us if we wanted out! Cody—maybe a little too eagerly—ushered the boys out. I was grateful to have such a nice husband to walk with the boys so I could stay on the tour. The place was quite cool!!
After Washington’s Headquarters, we had to make a stop at Carlo’s Bake Shop in Morristown. This is another one of New Jersey’s claims to fame; it is the bakery from the TV show, Cake Boss.
We finished off Grandpa’s last night with us with singing, dancing, and more snuggles!
It’s hard to express how sentimental my parents trip to New Jersey is to me. We completely enjoyed every moment having them spend time with us in “our territory!” There is no greater joy than seeing how much my parents love my kids and vice versa. I love my mom and dad so much!