The Polar Vortex has returned, and with it a Need for Warmer Memories

Frozen Nostril hairs.

Seriously, this is what I have to deal with as I walk the kids to the bus stop.  New Jersey is in a deep freeze, and even with the sunshine today, it truly feels like the polar vortex has returned and smacked the shit out of us. 

So without further ado, here are the rest of my favorite memories of warmer times....

#5  Beach Time

Myrtle beach, Daytona beach,  Flagler Beach, The Jersey Shore,  I don't care.  I am not a huge fan of  sand in my crack, but I do love the ocean.  I am more of a lake girl myself than a beach girl, but I love taking the kids to the beach now and again and watch them come close to drowning in the waves.   It's a family tradition.


#4  Fun times at the Bronx Zoo

 

One of the first fun things we did last year in the warmer weather was take a late spring trip to the Bronx Zoo on a Wednesday while the kids were off from school.   If you live within driving distance, you have to hit the Bronx Zoo at least once in your life, and plan to spend the entire day there exploring.   Wear comfortable clothing and bring water bottles, because it is a trek!   The dinosaur park is also fantastic, and on Wednesdays you can get an all day pass to do all the "extra" fun things in the park, like the Butterfly house, trams, and Dino experience.  Do not verbally assault the tram driver like my friend Vicki did though.   They frown on becoming violent with the employees. For more information about my favorite zoo, the Bronx Zoo, click Here.

 

# 3  Good times on the Soccer Field

 

 

 

I love watching Sagan play soccer.   He is working so hard to maintain his cool while playing and really getting in there.  He may never be a soccer star, but to our family we know he all ready is, because he has to work twice as hard as the other kids to maintain his behaviors while playing, passing, sharing, and listening to the ref and accepting his calls.  Don't ever take the small things for granted when you watch kids play soccer.  Some kids are working so much harder than others just to function out there.  It's so fun watching the little buggers play!  Sometimes we freeze on the soccer field, sometimes we roast, but it's ALWAYS warmer than it is right now.

 

#2 and #1 coming tomorrow!

 

Things That Cold Weather Makes me Miss Most

When it is so cold out that your bones literally feel like they are cracking beneath your skin, and just walking to the mailbox produces blue fingernail beds, sometimes, a girl gets to daydreaming, let's face it.   Here are my Top Ten memories of a better time, to remind me that warmth is just around the corner.

#10.  Those crafty little Ground Hogs at Turtleback Zoo.

Oh how I love to sit and watch these little foul fellas dig in the dirt and smell each other's asses.  I could sit there with the kids and watch them all day.  The ground hogs remind me of leisurely strolls around the zoo with the kids, as well as fun birthday parties and good family time. I believe the two on the right are making out.

 

 

#9  Maine fun.

 

There is nothing as awesome as spending time in Maine with our good friends and swimming in some of the cleanest water in the country.   It isn't exactly warm all the time, in fact some summers have been downright chilly, but we always have a hell of a time and relax and spend quality time together.

 

 

 

#8   Stu making ridiculous faces under water.

 

It isn't summer if Stu is not taking selfies in which he resembles a drowning, bald, Mr. Bean.

 

 

 

#7    My Hydrangeas

 

These flowers are the love of my life, after ice cream and my kids, in that order.   I don't even know when I started loving Hydrangeas, all I know is I will buy a house based on how many Hydrangeas it has in the yard when we purchase it. 

 

 

#6   Ridiculous fun in the sprinkler

 

This summer we had the most bad ass inflatable sprinkler tunnel on the block.   All the kids came over and had a ball throwing themselves through it.   Then it popped, and deflated and they all went home.   The end. 

 

 

#5  Time spent at Lake Lackawanna

 

Though I'd only let the kids swim in this sketchy lake in early June through MAYBE July 4th, we are so lucky to have wonderful neighbors who let us use their lakefront for fun and frolic.  It really is a beautiful lake with a wonderful community.   Despite the fact it smells like a moldy basement July through October.

 

 

 

#6  Kan Jam.

 

Every year we have friends over for a heated, ultra competitive game of throwing yellow Frisbees into black garbage cans with mail-slots.   The first year we had it at our house, we had 5 teams of two.   This past Summer I had 10 teams.   This upcoming summer I am going to have to turn teams away because our yard isn't big enough.   Everyone loves our Kan Jam potuck and I love seeing everyone having so much fun together in the heat!   This year we are aiming to have it on an ice cold weekend, seeing last year we had it on the surface of the Sun.

 

 

 

 

Summer Memories, 5 through #1 will be in a later post.  It's warming up today a bit, and I must get off to the store in preparation for the next snow/wind/ice/cold/polar vortex/ event.  Cheers.