Final East Coast Trip post: Video!

I'm not sure if this video will be interesting for anyone other than my family, but I thought I'd share it anyway! I made it about a month ago when we first got home, and my Mom and Dad loved it. I usually try to put together clips after family vacations like this for posterity's sake and I absolutely love looking back on them. Such a fun way to relive a vacation. And now I guess you get to relive a little bit of it too, if you have an extra eight minutes to spare! ;) Enjoy!

East Coast Trip Part Four: Corin and John's wedding!

The very last leg of our trip brought us to gorgeous Hillborough, N.J. to celebrate the nuptials of Corin and John!  Corin and I grew up together from infancy, and our parents have been best friends since college. She was my childhood best friend too, and we've always been in each other's lives from as far back as I can remember. Every photo of every birthday, there's Corin and their family smiling away. We even call each others' parents Aunt and Uncle, and have spent every major milestone in all of our lives together. Growing up in New Jersey we'd also spend every New Year's Eve together, and I have some of the greatest memories of our annual sleepovers while our parents were at the Fireman's New Year's Ball. I remember being so young in our New Year's crowns, getting so excited about staying up later than usual, hoarding the noise makers and candy from our younger sisters, and plotting some sort of silly mischief. After watching the ball drop of course we'd pretend to be asleep for the babysitter- and older woman and family friend named Betty, and we'd always sneak out of the bedrooms and watch The Twilight Zone marathon once she fell asleep.

The wedding took place at this house- Corin's parents' home, the same house she grew up in with her sister Caitlyn, and the same house that holds so many of our most special growing up memories. This was the place I was as my little sister was being born, it's the home where there were countless parties, sleepovers, and get-togethers. A place full of memory and tradition. So seeing Corin get married there was very special and pretty emotional. I felt like we had come full circle. I sat there, my husband next to me and our son on my lap, and thought about child-me, looking forward at this moment. I know she'd be proud.

The happiness she and John share is so apparent, and it was awesome to be at a wedding that was so full of love, in such a familiar, happy, and absolutely gorgeous place. Their backyard goes on for miles, and Mother Nature did not let us down with the blue, blue sky and big fluffy clouds. It was perfect.

Here are some photos:


Uncle John, Hank and Henry

best friends since college


Abe, Uncle John, and Lauren




Cor and her Dad walking in

first dance






Corin, John, and us




My Mom and Maureen have been best friends since kindergarten...and my Mom even introduced her to her hubby Kevin! These are four of my most favorite people in the whole entire world.





Maureen and my Mom

East Coast Trip, Part Three!

This part of our vacation took us from Vermont to New Jersey, and we enjoyed a relaxing week at the beach. We woke up each morning to the sound of the ocean right outside our door, spent time on the boardwalk, and took naps in the shade of our sun tent each afternoon.  Our bellies were full of Italian subs from the deli and way too much funnel cake at the week's end, but it was totally worth it.  Henry also experienced the beach for the first time and our notion that we are raising a true water baby was confirmed. He loved it. All in all it was a great time, and we were so sad to leave.

Here are the photos: