P365 - 2014 - Day 211 - a ball at his feet

P365 - 2014 - Day 211 - a ball at his feet

It's kind of like soccer never really ended.  Here we are back at practices.  Days spent at the beach and nights spent at the park at practice.  Nothing makes The Bear happier than a day spent surfing and a night spent with a ball at his feet.

P365 - 2014 - Day 210 - just because

P365 - 2014 - Day 210 - just because

Just because he is so handsome.... just because I love the way his hair lightens in the summer.... just because summer means sandy feet... just because he will never be 9 another summer.....just because I love this kid.

P365 - 2014 - Day 209 - another half of summer

P365 - 2014 - Day 209 - another half of summer

We started the Monday morning with dentist appointments for the kids, a quick trip to the library, and then I took my crew out for lunch before meeting some friends for mini golf.   I am not sure how summer has flown by as quickly as it has already... but I am looking at this with optimism.  The summer is not half over... we still have another half of summer left to play!

P365 - 2014 - Day 208 - ice cream smiles

P365 - 2014 - Day 208 - ice cream smiles

After a rainy start to the day, the sun decided to come out and it turned into a pretty nice day.  I got to go for a long run and the kids got to hang at the beach with friends.  We ended the day with a trip to Skipper Dipper and some ice cream smiles.

P365 - 2014 - Day 207 - J -Dog

P365 - 2014 - Day 207 - J-Dog

The Boy took some pictures of the birthday dog.... this is the one that he texted to me.  I knew those ipods were useful for something...  ;-)

P365 - 2014 - Day 206 - Happy Birthday

P365 - 2014 - Day 206 - Happy Birthday

Today was The Pooch's birthday.  He is now a big two year old....which begs the question whether or not he will start behaving like a big dog....hmmm.  Doubtful. ;-)  Happy Birthday Jersey Shore - even if you are our "bad boy" we love you! xoxo

P365 - 2014 - Day 205 - started the day at a meeting

P365 - 2014 - Day 205 - started the day at a meeting

The kids started the day at a meeting for Generation Dream.  They watched a video of young people that won awards for their amazing philanthropy, worked on a new fundraiser called Kids 4 Change, signed up for time slots to work the Coquina Jam, signed up for positions within the organization, and finished the meeting by making birthday cards for a young boy who has a brain tumor.  I am so happy that they have this opportunity to give back and know the feeling of helping someone else.

P365 - 2014 - Day 204 - girl's night out

P365 - 2014 - Day 204 - girl's night out

The Princess and I continued our girl time today.  While the boys went to the water park, we went to visit cousins in Beach Haven.  We all met up for dinner and while the boys went to soccer practice, The Princess and I had a girl's night out to The Surflight Theater to see Willy Wonka.  Love this kid. xo

P365 - 2014 - Day 203 - birthday happy

P365 - 2014 - Day 203 - birthday happy

In the continuing birthday do overs, I spent the day with The Princess doing some shopping.  Then when all of the kids went to the park for soccer practice, I went to get a mani and pedi.  My piggies are finally birthday happy.

P365 - 2014 - Day 202 - "do over birthday"

P365 - 2014 - Day 202 - "do over birthday"

It was my "do over birthday" today.  Since it rained on my parade yesterday;-) and we couldn't go to the water park or the beach and I had to run in the pouring rain, I declared today my do over birthday.  I got out for a beautiful early run and then went to the beach with not just my kids but My Wonderful Husband too!  He has been so busy lately with surf lessons that it is a rare sighting to find him on the beach and it was a pleasant surprise for my do over day. I ended the day with a little shopping party with the girls - all in all a good do over day!  It's still my birthday month after all! :-)

P365 - 2014 - Day 201 - Happy 41st Birthday to me!!

P365 - 2014 - Day 201 - Happy 41st Birthday to me!!

What a year this has been!!!  A year of changes and new beginnings, the first year "in my 40's", and the year that I took back my health and wellness.  I was not messing around anymore.  I refused to accept that turning 40 meant being tired, sluggish, and unfit.  I made lifestyle changes and entered my 41st birthday 30 lbs lighter, 56 inches smaller, happier, and healthier than I have been in years.  In previous years I had joked with the kids that I was still 25... last year I agreed to be 26....  But it was mostly a joke because I sure didn't feel 25 or 26.  But today I am proud to be 41 and feel 25!  The weather decided to not cooperate for my birthday so my plans of a morning workout class were thwarted - although I did run in the rain... our plans to go to the water park were also put on hold due to cold temps and rain.  But we did go out for a nice dinner at Blue Water Cafe and dessert in Beach Haven.  All in all it was a nice day and an even better year.  Here's to another great year!!!  Happy 41st Birthday to me!!! xo

P365 - 2014 - Day 200 - another Saturday morning

P365 - 2014 - Day 200 - another Saturday morning

I started another Saturday morning with a beach yoga class.  I am so proud of the steps that I have taken in my life to be healthier and more balanced.  One more day until I turn 41 and I feel and look better than I did at 31. ;-)

P365 - 2014 - Day 199 - These two

P365 - 2014 - Day 199 - These two

These two beach beauties are all about hanging out on the beach....swimming, laying out, taking walks, and chatting. Oh boy are we in trouble.... ;-)

P365 - 2014 - Day 198 - A great start to my birthday weekend

P365 - 2014 - Day 198 - A great start to my birthday weekend

It was a fun night out with my girls... my beach girls... we traded in our bikinis and beach chairs for our hair done and some cute "real" clothes and went out for drinks.  It was a beautiful night on the rooftop deck at Daddy O's.  It was a great start to my birthday weekend!  xo

P365 - 2014 - Day 197 - "tourist' thing

P365 - 2014 - Day 197 - "tourist" thing

After a rainy morning and a very late run, I made an executive decision to take the day off from the beach.  Instead, the kids and I did the "tourist" thing and went down to the lighthouse.  The kids had never actually climbed all the way to the top of Ol' Barney and I thought it would be fun.  We had a nice afternoon at the lighthouse and then out for ice cream.

P365 - 2014 - Day 196 - a bonus

P365 - 2014 - Day 196 - a bonus

That's right... the day has finally come.  Our phones were up for renewal and we were able to upgrade to an iphone!  I have been waiting for this phone since we got our other phones 2 years ago and realized how much I hated it. The fact that this phone is pink and the clear case is sparkly was simply a bonus.  :-)

P365 - 2014 - Day 195 - absorbed

P365 - 2014 - Day 195 - absorbed

The current book that I am absorbed in.... a little creepy and spooky but soooo good.

P365 - 2014 Day 194 - World Cup final

P365 - 2014 - Day 194 - World Cup final

It was the World Cup final so after a quick trip to the beach we all met back at home to watch the Germany/Argentina game.  These Germany fans were happy to see their team win!

P365 - 2014 - Day 193 - two buddies

P365 - 2014 - Day 193 - two buddies

These two buddies grabbed their boards and headed to the water for an afternoon of fun surfing the waves.

P365 - 2014 - Day 192 - my surfer girl

P365 - 2014 - Day 192 - my surfer girl

We met our friends for an early morning surf session and I just had to snap this picture of my surfer girl taking a rest....  Just because.... xoxo

P365 - 2014 - Day 191 - dreamers and believers

P365 - 2014 - Day 191 - dreamers and believers

The kids are participating in a great charity organization - David's Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation is a wonderful organization that raises money for local families that are dealing with cancer.  They began a new branch of this organization that gives children the opportunity to get involved - they are Generation Dream - the next generation of dreamers and believers...  I am so happy that my children will have the opportunity to participate and learn firsthand the wonderful feeling of helping others and paying it forward.  They have just gotten started and as a special treat, they were able to go to the Jetty factory to see their Generation Dream shirts being printed.  They had a great time!

P365 - 2014 - Day 190 - I love summer sunsets

P365 - 2014 - Day 190 - I love summer sunsets

It was a on again off again rainy day... but a rainy day at the beach is still better than any day any where else. After a fun afternoon at the LBI foundation, we spent the afternoon at home cleaning up outside,  While I standing there, I noticed this beautiful sunset over the bay.  I grabbed my camera and ran down to get a photo.  I love summer sunsets at the beach.

P365 - 2014 - Day 189 - what summer is all about

P365 - 2014 - Day 189 - what summer is all about

This is what summer is all about... pick up soccer games, new and old friends on the beach, silliness at the bench, and fun.  We are lucky beyond words.

P365 - 2014 - Day 188 - karaoki

P365 - 2014- Day 188 - karaoki

There was a big fire on the island that stopped traffic on the boulevard for hours.  When our friends were not able to get home after their swim meet, they stopped by to borrow some shoes and shirts and took our kids for a fun filled evening of min golf, dinner, and karaoki.  These two song birds had a blast.

P365 - 2014 - Day 187 - tradition

P365 - 2014 - Day 187 - tradition

We marked the passing of another year with a visit from our friends.  How is it that these kids all seem to be getting older when we as parents simply stay the same? ;-)  One, a high school graduate - off to college in August, one going to be a high school sophmore, two going into 6th grade, and one going into 4th grade! They are a reminder of how long we have known each other and how many years we have been meeting at the beach to touch base, catch up, chat, and laugh.  I wish we had started the tradition of the yearly picture all those summers ago when it was just 4 of us... but glad we did start the tradition.  "Where should we take the picture this year?" I asked.  "In front of the stairs!  That's the tradition!" the kids all said.  Yes, it is.... :-) Here's to another year, another picture, and hopefully many more years of meeting at the beach! xo

P365 - 2014 - Day 186 - Happy 4th on the 5th!

P365 - 2014 - Day 186 - Happy 4th on the 5th!

It was a 4th of July redo on the 5th.  We ended the day with the Beach Haven fireworks over the bay.  Happy 4th on the 5th! xo

P365 - 2014 - Day 185 - a rainy 4th

P365 - 2014 - Day 185 - a rainy 4th

It was a rainy 4th of July.  Hurricane Arthur tried to make his way up the coast...mostly causing annoyance, canceled fireworks,, and lots of rain.  By the evening, the rain had stopped and with no fireworks to go to My Wonderful Husband went in search of some post hurricane waves after dinner.

P365 - 2014 - Day 184 - Oh How I Love Summer! (Guest Blogger - My Wonderful Husband)

P365 - 2014 - Day 184 - Oh How I Love Summer! (Guest Blogger - My Wonderful Husband)

For many people summer is a great time to relax, sit on the beach and enjoy the warm weather. For me it is a time to work.  Now that may sound like a complaint but it is far from it.  The reason it is the furthest thing from a complaint is because in summer I get to work the job I truly love--I work in a surf shop.  Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoy my "real" job.  Being a professor is extremely fulfilling, both from an intellectual perspective and from a personal one.  Shenandoah is a very small school so I get to see the intellectual development of my students and feel that I am actually making a difference in their lives.  But academia is not a world where I feel comfortable.  As I have written before in my beautiful wife's blog, I often feel like a fish out of water. But summer is when I am able to work on something I am now passionate about and still teach.

I feel as if at age 40 everyone should get a do-over; the ability to change careers and start something new.  For me, my summer job would be my everyday job.  Working at Brighton Beach Surf Shop is truly a joy!  Back breaking surf lessons (the part where I still get to teach), being covered in fiberglass from doing ding repairs, hanging board shorts, cataloging surfboards on the website--it doesn't sound fun or exciting for most, but for me it is fabulous.  So for all of you hoping for a break in summer so that you can relax on the beach, I will take the long hours with no days off because I get to work in surf shop!

P365 - 2014 - Day 183 - so happy I made this decision

P365 - 2014 - Day 183 - so happy I made this decision

After a beautiful day at the beach, a friend and I attended a great information and training session to learn more about the great nutritional cleansing company I am working with.  I am so happy I made this decision and said yes and can pay it forward to other people who need a positive change as well.

P365 - 2014 - Day 182 - "summer girl problem"

P365 - 2014 - Day 182 - "summer girl problem"

My summer uniform.... and the biggest decision is which one to wear. ;-) That's what I call a "summer girl problem".