Rainy Days...It has been cloudy, rainy and cool here for about the last 5 days. It has been really nice fall weather. John and I remarked that it felt like college fall weather. I think it has only been 68-75 degrees. We've had the windows open most days just to have a cool breeze and listen to the rain. Very peaceful!

Starting to think about fall now...Jacob starts school next Wednesday and John and I have our first PTA meeting that day. WOW! That sounds so strange. We've found a gymnastics program for Julia that is called the Funny Bugs. It meets once a week for an hour. And the library is back to their regular programming for little ones. So, we are looking forward to getting back to Toddler Time once a week. We are trying to get some regulated programs for Julia where she can express her social side...ha! We've even looked at Preschool programs 2-3 half days a week. But she has to be totally potty trained and we're not quite there yet.

Well, NY is great! We're still loving it! Looking forward to the Jazz Festival in September and Irish Fest in October. Should be entertaining!

Superheros

Puppet Show...
Julia getting ready for church

Other Cute Pics for the week...

More Pictures from the Mets Game...

Old Friend, New Friend...Had a really nice visit today with our friend, Norma. She was one of the flight attendants when I went with John to Buenos Aires back in January (I think). We hit it off with her right away and felt like we'd known her a long time. Well, she came today for lunch and to hangout and visit. We had a very nice, relaxed day. And the weather was great...really felt like fall since it was cloudy and a cool 68 degrees. Then Norma and I went and did some nosing around town. Can't wait for her to come back another time!

We are all finally getting back to normal healthwise. Jacob, Julia and I still have a little bit of a lingering cough but otherwise getting back to normal.

Mets Game...John and Jacob got to go to the Mets/Phillies game at Shea Stadium tonight. They had a big time and even went to the American Airlines cookout before the game so they got hotdogs, ribs, cracker jacks, etc. all for free before the game. Jacob got his picture taken with Mr. Met. What a cute boy! He was very excited to show me his new Mets hat and pennant.

I got to get out of the house yesterday for a much needed haircut and then head to the gym for a workout while John kept the kids. They had a ball! By the time I came home, they had made puppets and put on a puppet show for me. WOW!!!

Night Time...The other night I went for a walk on the beach while John kept the kids. This is my view from the end of our street. A little dark but peaceful.

Last night the kids got to play a new computer game with John. They were positively mesmerized.

Excitement...Lot of exciting things going on in the Elliott household. We got the letter yesterday from Jacob's school telling us who his teacher will be and all the things we need to know to get ready for the first day of school. He is so excited! Less than 2 weeks and he will be an official kindergartener. WOW!

Other exciting news...We got a call from John's mom that his brother, Jared, and his wife, Karen, are expecting their first baby. What a wonderful blessing! We are so happy for them and keep them in our prayers.

Got to go on a nice family bikeride last night on the boardwalk and then stopped off for icecream and a ride on the children's rides at the ice cream parlour. Big fun!

Mammogram...Well, I had a first today...the first mammogram. I was ready to get it over with and dreading it all at the same time. It didn't hurt, though, and that was what I was always told about. But, now I have a baseline mammogram and they gave me the results while I waited. Everything was totally normal and there was no signs of cancer. Yea! I think you always have one side of your brain that knows everything is fine and one side of your brain (the pessimistic side) that worries about "what if". Well, all is well...yea!

A Great Visit...
W just finished a great visit with John's nephew, William. He's been in town visiting us for the last several days. What a great guy! He was so easy and fun to have around plus the kids adored him. He is a musician who is in college in Tennessee. He and John went and visited a jazz bar in Manhattan called the Zinc Bar his first night here. They had a great time and enjoyed seeing Time Square at night. It really is like it is daylight since there are so many lights. The rest of the visit was spent hanging out at the beach or wandering around Long Beach. Unfortunately, Jacob was under the weather so we stayed pretty close to home. But it was certainly nice to spend time with family.

Barnyard...The kids and I went to see the movie "Barnyard" today at the local theater. Very cute! But the coyotes are SCARY!!! The music was great and the kids had a good time. It was just over an hour so just perfect for Julia. Much longer would have been too much. Luckily, there were only 2 other families in the auditorium so we had a whole aisle to ourselves and Julia didn't disturb anyone too much with her not so quiet "quiet voice"...ha!

First Day of VBS...Well, Jacob had his first day of VBS today. Had a great time! About 50-60 kids. They learned all about Ruth and Naomi today and of course, how to say "Jesus Loves Me" in spanish. And I had a great time, too, with all the kids in my group. But I can tell you it was a LONG day! Only 4 more to go...ha! But I think the timing is great since we are less than a month out from Jacob starting kindergarten. He will have the chance to meet new friends and see it is not so scary. In fact, he and John have headed off to Target tonight to get Jacob a new backpack and school supplies for school. We want to make it lots of fun and something he looks forward to. He already can't wait to play on the cool playground equipment! I called the school today and the letters go out next week letting us know which teacher he will have. Sept 6 is the big day so keep us in your prayers!

Pizza Night...Had our friends, Wayne and Jennifer and their kids, over to the house last night for pizza and just hang out. They had never been to our house before so it was a little crazy with the kids discovering all of the toys together. We had quite a whopping game of "spy" going on for a while with all the kids in sunglasses or goggles of some type. It was hilarious! Too bad we didn't get a picture of THAT!

Connecticut Avenue Block Party...We went over to our friend's block party last night. It was really fun! There were lots of people, food, drink, water slides for the kids, cotton candy machines, and great live music. It was not as big as some of the block parties I've seen but still fun because the people are the most fun to watch. It was a nice relaxed evening. The grownups got to hang out and talk and the kids had a ball playing in the water, eating ice cream and cotton candy. What's not to like!!!

Beautiful and 83 Degrees...Hate to rub it in but a cold front has come in and we are enjoying cool breezes with temperatures around 83-85 the last 2 days. Two blocks down from us is having their block party today and our friends, Wayne and Jennifer, live on that block so we may head over that direction later today. Apparently each house (each house mostly being a 2 family house) contributes $20 and they have outdoor food, bubble bounces for the kids, games, live music, etc. So, that would be fun. Our block is supposed to have a block party soon but we haven't gotten the notice yet. They only allow 4 blocks at a time to have their block parties on the same day because it would impede traffic too much. Once again, WE LOVE LONG BEACH!!! It is THE most fun, most family oriented place I have ever been to. It is amazing!

And for you grandparents, Jacob and I are working on a special Christmas present for you. The trick will be keeping mums the word until Christmas...ha! He has become quite a creative little dickens but that is your only clue...ha!

Potty Training for Superheros...Well, as many of you know Julia is potty training. Today she was in the middle of playing superheroes with her brother when she decided it was time to go potty. She lifted her "superhero goggles" onto her forehead and sat down to read her favorite "potty" book - "There is a Monster at the End of this Book starring Lovable, Furry, Old Grover". It is quite a spectacle! And in case you are wondering, the "superhero goggles" are actually pretend safety goggles for Jacob's pretend chainsaw. When she is actually playing superhero, she puts the goggles down on her face and tells everyone to "sshhh" that she is hunting bad guys. It is a hoot!

Elliott, Family of Four...Well, it is back to just the 4 Elliotts here at home. We've had a steady stream of family and friends. A lot of fun so the house seems a little quiet. But it will be nice to catch up and have some downtime this week before Vacation Bible School starts next week. Can't wait! Jacob will be able to attend and I will be a tour guide and they have nursery care for Julia. And John wants to come help, too, if he isn't called out to work. A real family endeavor!

We have just a month before Jacob starts kindergarten. That'll be a whole new way of life around here. Jacob is very excited but for now is most interested in the COOL playground out front. It has a whole fireman and firetruck theme. So, he is all about that!

Date Night...John and I had date night last night. We saw "You, Me, and DuPree". It was really cute! Owen Wilson, as usual ,is hilarious! Then we got ice cream on our way home. It was fun. Can't remember the last time we went to the movies...we're talking years...ha!

Summer Company...Our friends from Ardmore, Dixie and Zack, are in town visiting until Tuesday. We've had a nice visit. They went in to Manhattan yesterday and had a great time! It is so fun they we get to incorporate the beach and NYC all in one stop.

Week after next we start VBS at church. That'll be a lot of fun! We had a volunteer meeting today at church and since the theme is Trading Places, it will focus on different areas of the world. They will be teaching the kids to say "Jesus Loves Me" in 5 different languages. What more would you need to say ?!?! Jacob will attend and Julia will be in the nursery so I can help. It will also be a great way to meet people in the church we enjoy so much.

Mighty Ambicious...Well, I was VERY ambicious today. Now that I've got my new bike, I decided to ride my bike to the gym, workout and then ride back home. I did great getting there and working out but I have to admit the way home was A LOT harder and A LOT longer...ha! I definitely had to adjust my gears down to make the pedalling easier...ha! But the good news is that other than being tired, I feel great!

Night Time Bike Ride...John, the kids and I went for a great bike ride last night. It took about an hour and 45 minutes. We got one of those pull-behind carts that hook onto our bicycles for the kids to ride in so we rode up and down the neighborhood streets. I especially enjoy that since I am somewhat of a voyeur and like being able to see inside all the people's houses...ha! Is that so wrong?!?!? Then we stopped off at the boardwalk because they were having one of the free outdoor concerts playing reggae and calypso music. Finally, we headed home for popsicles and bedtime. Fun night!

New York Botanical Garden...On Sunday, mom, Julia, Jacob and I went to the NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx. It is right by the Bronx Zoo but it was just WAY too hot to go to the zoo. But the Botanical was beautiful and was having a showing of the hand blown Chuhily glass (see www.chuhily.com) on the property and in the conservatory. It was really amazing. Apparently he also has a permanent collection at one of the museums in OKC. He is married to a woman from OKC. They also have a really neat children's adventure land where kids can be out in nature but they also have a children's center where they can learn how things grow and about bees, etc. It was a lot of fun! We didn't see near enough of what all was on the property but got to see the main things we wanted to see.