Maine 2009

A few weeks ago we took a quick trip up to York Beach, Maine. The weather was gorgeous, so we spent every day on the beach. Thursday night, we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Fox's Lobster House. Friday, the Goldenrod for dinner and then down to Portsmouth, NH's Prescott Park to see the play "Greese" with Mom, Dad and the Sgambelluri's. Saturday, it was dinner at Mom & Dad's camper to celebrate Erin's birthday (I can't believe my little niece is 12). On Sunday we took a quick trip to the beach to feed the seagulls and then back home.

Another great trip to one of our favorite places to visit.

Another Great Trip To Lake Placid

For the last 8 years, we have always taken a trip up to the Adirondacks, particulary Lake Placid to enjoy the colors. There is nothing like it. Normally we like to go up for a couple of nights, but this year we thought it would be too tough with the girls and Maeve is going through the "separation anxiety from Mommy" stage, so, leaving the kids with Mom and Dad was out of the question. So we took a day trip and it was a good one.

We got up to Lake Placid around 11:00 and stop by the Adirondack Craft Center. After that it was off to the village park on Mirror Lake where we had lunch with the ducks. After spending some time taking in view and the beautiful weather, we did a little shopping. After about a hour, Charlotte was in a bad need for a nape so we took a ride up to Saranac Lake and then around the backside of Whiteface Mountain, via Franklin Falls Pond and back to Lake Placid for dinner. After dinner at Mr Mike's Pizza.

Although it was only one day, it was another great day in the Adirondacks. A day to relax, take in the view and forget all the world's trouble.

Myrtle Beach - 2008

It's finally calm down a little bit to the point where I can write about our vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC. We started out Friday (8/30) and again drove down to Chester, Va where we stopped to spend the night. It took us a little longer then expected, but this time it wasn't the traffic; it was a combination of Maeve needing to stop to eat and the fact that we took a longer trip down I-81. On Saturday we woke up early and finished our drive to Myrtle Beach.

Again, we stayed at our usual place...Holiday Shores Motel on the corner of N. Ocean Blvd and 76th. By the time we checked in, got settled and fed Maeve (again), it was dinner time. Today it was dinner at Cheeseburger In Paradise. Yes, this place is owned by Jimmy Buffet.

The weather was great everyday we were there so we spent most of our time at the beach. On Wednesday, it got a little too hot so we came home early and took a trip to Barefoot Landing and dinner at Johnny Rockets.

Well, I lied, the weather was great every day except for Friday, when Tropical Storm Hanna decided to make a visit. We had been watching the weather all week and wondering if we would be evacuated. On Thursday we knew we were OK after talking to the owner of Holiday Shores and hearing the Governor of SC stating that the only people that should leave are people camping and in Mobil Homes. So Friday, we got up and went to Ripley's Aquarium at Broadway At The Beach. After the trip to the Fishies we had lunch at the Key West Grill (The food was bad, don't go there...Rip OFF). By the end of lunch, the wind and rain was picking up, so we stopped at a few more stores and then went back to the Motel for the night. After Charlotte went to bed around 9:00PM, the wind and the rain picked up, but we never lost power or cable. The next day we were on the beach at 10:00am...it was sunny and 85...a few branches on the ground, but no damage.

So that was about it...We left Myrtle Beach on9/8 and got home on 10th. Al in all, it was a great trip, however, I think we are going to cut back our 2010 trip to a week instead of 10 days. After 8 days there, Charlotte wanted to go home. I think we were all ready to go home at that point.

Here are some more pictures of the trip:

The Tale of Two Storms

Chris, Charlotte, Maeve and I are off to Myrtle Beach tomorrow for a 10 day vacation. Chris has been going to Myrtle beach her whole life and two of her trips were delayed because of Hurricaines. This can't possibly happen a third time.

Are we nuts??? Don't answer that, we are going anyway.

Time Goes Way To Fast

It's been a long time since I have actually written about what the three of us have been up to. All I can say is we have been busy and some good things have happened and some bad things have happened. As for now, I'll just tell you about some of the the good things.

In early July, we went to my cousin's High school Graduation Party, where we were able to catch up with family that we hadn't seen in awhile. At times we thought they had caught the wrong guy when my Uncle John put on a sweatshirt because it was so damn cold.

On July 4th the three of us went to Lake George, NY to visit my parents at the Ledgeview RV park. Unfortunately it rained most of the day, but it was good to see the family.

On July 12th, Charlotte, G-Mom, Papa and I went to Albany's Alive At Five Irish Night concert at Riverfront Park to see Hair of The Dog and Cherish The Ladies. Both bands were great and the weather was perfect.

On July 14th, the three of us went to the "The Crossings" in Colonie to check out the "Duckies". after that it was off to Hollywood Drive-In to see Live Free or Die Hard. A good movie, entertaining...Not as good as the first, but much better then the 2nd & 3rd. If you see it, make sure you realize this is a movie and not reality.

On July 20th it was off to Sue & Larry's house in Clifton Park for the monthly family dinner and Larry's birthday. Another great day, and Charlotte even got her first pedicure, by my cousin Amy.

On the 21st we met the Brownsey's at the Saratoga County Fair where we saw lots and lots of Animals. Charlotte, as usual went nuts over the duckies.

In early August we went on our much needed family vacation. This year it was Maine where it seam to rain half the time, but we still had a lot of fun. When we got home we were actually nutty enough to go to Saratoga to get our free chairs.

And finally, last night, the three of us went to Jerico Drive-In to see Ratatouille and The Simpsons Movie. Both movies were great although and will be on our DVDs "To Buy" lists.

Well that's all for now, I will try to post more family stuff now that we are less busy and getting more and more excite about baby # 2. Also, make sure you check out the photos in our album.

Tis The Season To Be Busy

We finally hit the unofficial start of summer and the last two weekends have been a little hectic. On May 26th, the three of us went down to New York City for the day to visit my brother and to visit the Central Park Zoo. Although we were only in the city for the day, it was nice to get down there again. This was our first trip to NY since Charlotte was born, and it seamed like Charlotte enjoyed the city as much as we do.

As usually, we drove to Poughkeepsie, NY to catch the Metro North Train into Grand Central. Charlotte spent her time on the train looking out the window, talking to all the passengers and napping. Once in NY, we got a quick bite to eat, passed by Chris's old neighborhood and then it was off to meet my brother Sean at the Central Park Zoo. The Zoo is nice...It's not real big, but it's big enough to fill a good part of your afternoon. There was a lot more animals then I expected included Polar Bears, Penguins, Snow Monkeys, Turtles and of course the seals. After the Zoo, we took a stroll in the park and then it was down to SoHo for dinner. After dinner it was getting late, so we took the subway back to Grand Central and on back home to Albany. It was a busy day, but it was fun and Charlotte was great.

This past weekend was another busy one. On Saturday, I was busy doing stuff around the house and then Saturday Night, the three of us went to Jerico Drive-In to see Pirates Of the Caribbean - At Worlds End. The movie was good but it wasn't as good as the first two and they leave the ending open for a forth installment. This was our second Drive-Inn movie of the summer and Charlotte is doing much, much better then the fiasco last summer.

On Sunday it was off to my parents house to celebrate my brothers, Sean (38) and I (36) birthday. Though the birthday fun didn't end Sunday...On Monday Chris and Charlotte baked my favorite cake for some birthday fun with just the three of us.

Cake, Golf & Our First Night "Out Out"

I haven't blogged in two weeks, so I guess now is a good time for a update. In the last two weeks Chris has been having fun in her cake decorating class, I had fun in Ocean City, Maryland and Chris and I went "out out" without Charlotte for the first time since she was born.
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Last month, Chris and her friend Marian decided to take a Cake Decorating class at Joann's. I guess Chris got the bug when she decorated Charlotte's birthday cake back in February. As you can see she is doing a great job.
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On Friday, March 23rd, my father, my uncle and I along with 17 other guys went down to Ocean City, Maryland for 5 days of golf, food, beer and fun. A total of 117 holes were played in the 5 days we were there including: 18 on Friday at Baywood Greens, 18 on Saturday at Eagles Landing, 27 on Sunday at the Bay Club, 36 on Monday at the Beach Club & Lighthouse Sound and 18 on Tuesday at Bear Trap Dunes. After Bear Trap it was back home. We had a great time, but it was good to get home and see Chris & Charlotte.
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This past weekend, it was off to the Picture People for the family photo and Charlotte's Easter picture (to be added later). After the photo we had a quick bite to eat at Ruby Tuesday's and then Chris and I went "out out" for the first time since Charlotte was born.

Yes, we have gone out to the movies since Charlotte's birthday, but we have never actually gone out to a bar to hang out. Chris and I, along with my parents, Laura, Tony, Sue, Larry, the Lansley and Daily's went down to Katie O'Byrne's in Schenectady, NY to see Hair of the Dog. If you are ever in the Albany area and get a chance to see Hair of the Dog, make sure you see them. A great Irish band. Oh, and thanks again to my cousin Amy for watching Charlotte.

Here are some more pictures from the last few weeks. You can view more pics by clicking on our album above.
Chris's first cake
I don't want to know what Larry is doing.
Tom Nappi
Who is the Lady above Laura
Sue & Mom chatting
Tony & his buddy
Mirror Fun
Smile
Hello

A Weekend In Vermont

The three of us took a trip up to Manchester, Vt for the weekend just to get away. Chris and I always love to go up there in the winter, and we figured now was as good as ever to get away.

Normally we always stay at the Marble West Inn in Dorset, VT. But since we had Charlotte this year, we figured we go to a more family oriented place...The North Shire Motel.

After checking in Friday afternoon, it was off to our favorite restaurant, The Ye Olde Tavern. Frequent readers to the blog may remember that this restaurant was the last restaurant the Chris and I went to before Charlotte was born. Well nothing change with the restaurant. The food was great, the staff was great and Charlotte enjoyed talking to the staff.

On Saturday, it was off to breakfast and then a nice leisurely ride to Stratton Mountain so Charlotte could get her nap in. After the ride, it was back to Manchester some shopping at the outlets and back to the motel so Chris and I could take a nap...yeah right!!

Later after the snooze, we tried dinner at Mulligans. Good food, Good Atmosphere and a good place for kids. Try it sometime if you are ever in town.

On Sunday, it was back home with a quick stop at Jensen's and Camelot Village.

Another fun trip to Vermont!!