Four years young!!!

Last year when you turned 3

I said "this will be our last big family birthday party."

Because at some point you have to start going places like

"pump-it-up" and "Chuck-e-Cheese".....right??

I looked back at pictures of your first birthday...

when a red wagon made your day!

your second birthday....

a big shovel and a new sandbox....

your sister and a new cousin joining in the celebration....

and at your 3rd birthday....

when we officially started 2-day birthday celebrations...

and our family continued to grow!

So this year when I asked you

what you wanted to do for your birthday and you said

"I want to have a superhero birthday....and I want everyone

to come to my house"....it was really a no brainer.

Because at 4 years old baby you get it....

you want to celebrate surrounded by people you love....

laugh with your cousins....

share your family with new friends...

and I couldn't be prouder!!

So the Mom that said "never again"

became the Mom that rented a bounce house...

hosted 15 kids and 25 adults with a superhero theme....

and had cupcakes with more "batman blue" frosting than

any child should consume in one afternoon!!

Happy Birthday to my little superhero....



Biddeford or Bust

We started our vacation this year in true Strazzulla style....

we turned a 2 hour car ride into a 3 1/2 hour car ride by way of having to turn around

because we forgot something at the house combined with

driving in a torrential rain storm that was moving up the coast at

60 mph....the same speed we were going!!!

But we made it to Biddeford Maine this past monday

and it was totaly worth the trip.

My mother rented a house in complete with our own private dock,

patio, grilling area, fire pit....need I say more!!

Add Auntie Dawnie, Uncle Kyle & Logan and

mix in some completely unpredictable weather

and you have the makings for a fantastic family vacation!!

Having arrived a day later than Auntie Dawnie and Uncle Kyle

we were determined to "catch up" on what we had missed.....

and they told us about the amazing low tide at the closest beach and how

far out they could walk....so we went to check it out

a classic, rocky, maine beach coastline.....

and when you're on vacation this seems like a good idea.....

because Grampy wasn't about to let Tyler miss out on the "low tide"

that wasn't so low this day.....and I wasn't about to let them go without me.

This is my father walking Tyler out to the "Sandbar"....through a rip

current that made it hard for me to keep up!!

But we survived (although I wish this bouy had been in the water near us)

and we decided to stick to some on-shore activities for the rest of the day.

We visited Biddeford Pool Beach and had the whole place to ourselves...

which we took full advantage of...

and although the lifeguard warned us "not to go too far from our stuff" as storm clouds

were rolling in.....we didn't let that stop us....but we did stay close to

our stuff because this Maine weather is serious!!

We rode on whales in Kennebunk....

did lots of cuddling....

and Mom and Dad even found a little time for themselves...

And again, in true Strazzulla Vacation style, the day we had to leave came too fast...

and also had the nicest weather!!

So one last hoorah to Old Orchard Beach...

where the Tobey's happened to be staying as well......

and this time, it really was low tide!!

Grampy and Tyler still looking for the sandbar!!

So next year there will be no ferry ride to Block Island...

there will be no searching for hours by my mother to find the perfect place...

next year it's Biddeford or Bust!!



Sailing with Dup

The hot, humid weather today reminds me of last week when

we decided to go to Cape Cod to escape the heat wave.

Today while we soaked in our inflatable pool in the backyard.....

I pretended we were at the beach

It was just the four of us and Dup this time around which meant it was time

for our kids to have the first sail of the season.

Although both kids were a little unsure at first it didn't take them long to

get their "sea legs"

Everyone helped Dup steer the boat.....Ava loved having total control...

and the taste of her life jacket!!

While Tyler had a little rest and enjoyed the view...

It was one of those days when you just have to sit back and say

"does it get any better than this?"