Daddy's Birthday: A hike through Jacobsburg State Park

^^Chopped off over six inches of hair - feels incredible!^^

This past weekend Jake and I hopped the bus home to B-Town, PA to celebrate my Dad's 56th birthday. The day dawned hot, sunny and humid. After powering up with a hearty eggs, bacon, bagel and fruit breakfast feast we headed to Jacobsburg State Park for a hike through the woods in attempt to burn off future birthday cake-calories and of course, be one with nature. 

We spent the morning hiking, skipping rocks, embracing the cool shade of the forest and soaking in some quality family time. It was a wonderful day!

^^Dad's impressive bacon, egg, cheese, tomato and cream cheese bagel^^

^^Cute little sister^^

^^Jake is an expert rock skipper. He can make a smooth, flat stone jump across the water five or six times! I am still working on three! There were a lot of great stones to practice with on the shore^^ 

^^I am happiest when I am hiking in the woods with my husband - who would have thought?!^^

^^Sisters rocking race-back tanks and Holy Cross drawstring backpacks! ha!^^

^^Mom and the birthday boy!^^

^^The boy can get some serious air while clicking his heels.^^

Narragansett, Past and Present.

Not much has changed in the past five years. We still use the self-timer and shamelessly smooch in public. And I hope that never changes. 

^^PAST - 2008 We awoke for the sunrise and a self-timer shot^^

^^PRESENT - 2013 We did not awake for the sunrise, but still rocked a self-timer shot^^

^^PAST - Cheek smoochies with the Olympus point and shoot^^

^^PRESENT - cheek smoochies with the iPhone^^

^^PAST - Lip locked^^

^^PRESENT (and future) - Lip locked^^

A weekend in Narragansett, RI

This past weekend JG and I packed up our swimsuits and headed north to the beautiful seaside town of Narragansett, RI. Jake's amazing Aunt Sue and Uncle Stan live just a stone's throw from the beach. The first time Jake and I went to Narragansett just the two of us - back in 2008, we had only be dating for four months! Fast forward five years and now we were sitting on the beach married for four months! Pretty cute, no?

We spent our two days catching up with Sue and Stan, lounging on the beach, reading and sleeping, walking around town and eating waaaay too much delicious food. Also, nothing beats coming home from the beach and taking a refreshing out-door shower - my favorite! It was a perfect weekend!

^^My husband^^

^^My favorite RRR sarong (going on six years) // JG's spanking new, neon swim trunks^^

^^My $9.95 H&M actually stays on my head when it's windy.^^

^^Posing after lunch. See more of these shots here.^^

^^Beautiful flowers on our walk down to the beach^^

^^One of my favorite places in Narragansett is the wall that stretches along the perimeter of the beach. You can sit there for hours gazing out across the sea; feeling salt water spritz your toes as the waves crash against the rocks.

^^Luckily someone passed by and offered to take a picture of us!^^

^^Clearly I'm fron "the south" aka Pennsylvania, since I was the only one on the beach bundled up with two sweaters!^^

^^Don't be fooled by the sunshine on that clear blue sea - it was freezing!^^

Some people are born to be hosts. And Sue and Stan have mastered the art of hosting. When we arrived they had stocked the fridge with all the essentials for an incredible cookout, breakfast must-haves and the fixings for packed lunches and snacks for the beach. I am still having dreams of the chopped salad and cheeseburgers we had on Friday. Oh I almost forgot Sue's Red-Zinger and fresh spearmint iced tea! Yum!!

^^Thanks a million Sue & Stan - we love you guys!!^^

^^Fresh garlic chives from the garden on a pumpernickel bagel with lox and cream cheese!^^

^^Delicious juicy grapes^^

^^Seriously the best lobster roll I've ever had.^^

^^Morning coffee date at the cove^^