10 - Play with the vacuum cleaner

50 Dangerous Things (you should let your children do)

Playing with the vacuum is just not something the boys have thought about doing before. That might be because I love that vacuum dearly and have told them that it is probably the most expensive thing I own. They had alot of fun and were able to make crazy sounds come out of it!

One of the sounds was a high-pitched humming sound and the other was a terribly annoying buzzing. Then the broke out the shop vac to test out Mr. Bernoulli's Principle.

 Dangerous? Only to my vacuum. Not remotely for the kids. It was still fun and keeps us on the track of doing all 50 'dangerous' things.



A Good Walk

We make great use of an area called The Great Swamp located near us. We visit the birds at The Raptor Trust, play in the nature centers and take long walks on the boardwalks constucted throughout the swamp. On our last visit, we utilized the park's "Self Guided Trail Booklet for the Orange & Red Trails". The booklet tells you how to follow trails and covers a little bit about 'Leave No Trace' guidelines.

The booklet uses numbered trail markers to show things along the trail such as specific trees, pond life, deer enclosures, and even helps you identify poison ivy. There are 14 stations along the trail and the trail itself is just a nice walk. Just like everywhere else in NJ right now, it is heavy on the mosquitos :(

We will visit again and again, getting a chance to see snakes, hawks, looking for owl pellets, view the fall foliage, chase chipmunks, watch turtles, listen to the birds and spend some good time walking. Good for kids, good for moms.

Conversation with the Imaginary Bathroom Inspector

(otherwise known as "I Might be Losing My Mind")

The boys have their own bathroom, upstairs. Yes, ma'am - two days ago.
Really!!
4 boys. Yes, God bless me.
Yes, I do own Clorox. And a toilet brush.
I hardly see how this is my mother's fault - she did the best she could.
I swear - two days ago!
I do know there is sand, rocks and shells on the floor. Mikey says they fell out of his bathing suit.
I do think there should be a basic standard of clean - I kind of thought I was meeting that.
No, Huh?
You know, I feel like I am on some type of work-release program and have been sentenced to clean a fraternity house.
No - I don't think this is at all funny.
I agree, towels should not smell like this.
Yes, we do plan on replacing the broken towel racks - I just see chin ups and 'gymnastics' happening on them.
Yes, we have told them they should not do it.
Oh that? It's glue from where we attached and *detached* the Touch and Brush. The blue stains on the floor are where the toothpaste plopped out of the Touch and Brush. See, we tried.
Yes, I understand what needs to get done. Yes, I found your visit particularly helpful although very disheartening.
Noooooooo, I don't need anything else inspected.

As I was wrapping up my imaginary conversation (yes, I know that it's not normal) Ethan yelled upstairs for me to come and fix him a bowl of ice cream. Do you think he can eat it with a toilet brush???

Stop and Smell the Flowers

We recently visited the New Jersey Botanical Gardens in Ringwood, NJ. I was informed by one of the gardeners, that we visited at the end of what is considered the best of the season and post-Hurrican Irene, and it was still exceptionally beautiful.

Parking and entrance was free. They usually charge on weekends and holidays, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Bring your picnic lunch and you're only out for gas. The grounds are expansive, but easily walkable. There was lots to look at and many things were labeled for easy identification.

I don't bug the boys to come look at signs or read what is posted, but I often find them doing it anyway. On trips like this, I take the stance that more is 'caught' than 'taught'. You never know when  a reference to something will come up and they will have learned it or seen it here.

Picnicking is usually not permitted, but since it was practically empty, coupled with the fact that I usually view rules as loose suggestions, we spread our blanket in front of this 'memory' bench and had a nice afternoon siesta.

The website lists the times that certain gardens are in bloom. I see more than one trip coming our way next season. In proximity, it is close to The Highlands Natural Pool, which has been on my 'go to' list for two years - and will be added for a third attempt.

Who wants to make a day of it with me next year?

Ethan Surf's Revisited with Professional Pics

The original "surfing" post is here.

I am so excited to present...The Costello's....from a professional angle. I'd like to thank Anthony Trufolo for these great shots.

That last one is really epic! The following pictures were shot by Donna Green Photography. I am equally as excited to have such great, candid shots of our family.