Summer of Dreams: Happy in the Hamptons

After our high-energy sight-seeing tour of Niagara and Palmyra, we needed a vacation. The kind where all you do is relax. So, we decided to pretend we were rich and famous and headed two hours East, to the Hampton's.

1. We shopped. A lot. You know how you after running a long distance you hit a runner's high? Well, I don't run, but after shopping for 800 hours, I hit a shopper's high. At which point, money and functionality don't matter. And so, when I found myself at Barney's (which would have been mistake number one, but we were there to buy a suit for Allen) walking up to the cash register with a pair of Chloe shoes in hand and no idea how they got there, I knew it was time to stop. I clearly remember seeing the fabulous Chloe shoes. Petting them. Putting them on my feet. Lovingly admiring them. But the part where my brain and my hands agreed that it was reasonable to purchase these shoes, that part is all a fog. Point: It is unlawful for me to purchase while shopping under the influence. I painfully pried the shoes from my uncooperating hands, and walked out with only one killer suit. For Allen.

2. We beached. We spent two days at two different beaches. First up was Cupsogue Beach in Westhampton. The water was crystal clear. And perfect. This beach was affordable, and thus, by noon, was packed. The second day we decided to go for a more exclusive feel (because we were pretending to be rich and famous and all) and landed at Cooper's Beach, in Southampton. Also known as the Number One beach in America. With good reason. It was pristine. The sand had been freshly raked, the water was like sparkling crystals, the people glamorous, the scenery priceless (or 35 million and 33,000 square feet a pop). It was exactly how I pictured the Hampton's. And considering that it cost me my first born and my right leg to step foot on the beach, it was quiet. With only a few people dotted across the shoreline. All with matching umbrellas. Nice.

We sunned. We swam. We played. We relaxed. We loved every second of these prettiful beaches.

Allen and Co. working on their sand castle at Cupsogue.

The finished product, which was way more impressive in person. It jutted up a good two feet in the air. Note: Chubs hamming it up in the background.

Myself and Co. working on our sand castle at Cooper's Beach.

The finished product. I am obviously lacking in the creativity department.

3. We went sight-seeing. We drove all along the coast, making sure to ogle at every Hampton. At the very tip of Long Island, as in, where the land hits the ocean, is the Montauk Point the Lighthouse. The oldest lighthouse in New York, commissioned by George Washington and built in 1796. We took a gander.

Those above 41" climbed all 137 stairs to the top. All for this picture.

The best part was the rolling hill outside of the lighthouse. The picture doesn't capture the actual steepness of the hill, or Allen's "ready to vomit" face, but both were quite impressive.

 4. We ate. Nearly as much as we shopped. With three unruly and impatient children, we were unable to frequent the fancy shmancy restaurants, but we did manage to have some phenomenal food. Like at the Crab Bar, where we watched them unload the fresh seafood from a truck, and then fry it up for us. The most succulent, mouth-watering, fried deliciousness ever. And speaking of fried deliciousness, pretty sure I had sweet potato fries with every meal. I don't know what it is about the Hampton's and their sweet potato fries, but bless you.

Only one more week before Allen goes back to work. I am not ready for this dreamy blissfulness to end.

Linley Speaks

This morning Linley comes in my room and asks me, "Mom, where's that place where they speak Spanish and have polar bears? Oh yeah, it's called China."

Linley's Big Day

Today The Princess turned four. We had a little Pink Party, complete with pink tiaras and pink tutus.

We made necklaces and bracelets and painted our toes and our fingers varying shades of pink.

We sang "Happy Birthday"

and blew out pink candles on our pink cupcakes

We opened presents

We were happy

Happy Birthday Linley. We love you and all the pretty pinkness that you add to our lives!!!

Notes about the party that made it a success:

1. It was short (one hour) and simple (no games, just girl fun)

2. No presents were allowed.

3. The guest list was small

4. Girls are waaaaaay easier to keep entertained than boys

Summer of Dreams: Vacation Day 4

We spent our last day touring Palmyra. We began at the Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center.

Which led us to the Hill Cumorah.

Next up, we visited the Smith Family Farm. First we walked through the log home.

The room Joseph Smith shared with his brothers. Where Angel Moroni appeared to him.

The Frame house

The Sacred Grove. So completely peaceful and serene. Well, except for that whole moment when Linley and Ryder were punching each other. I tried to get them to understand the importance of the ground we were walking on by telling them that Jesus and Heavenly Father appeared here to Joseph Smith. Linley looked at me like I was completely insane and said, "I don't see Jesus mom. This is a forest." Then ran off to wrestle her brother.

We finished up at the Palmyra temple, ate some disgustingly humongous portions of food at Nima's in downtown Palmyra, then settled in for the drive home.

To say we were all pooped was an understatement. We had to wake Tess up Saturday morning at 10 because she was holding us up from running some errands. She then took a 4 hour nap in the afternoon.

This is one week our family will forever treasure (or at least those of us with a brain capable of making memories that last longer than 14 minutes).

Summer of Dreams: Vacation Day 3

Let's all be happy to note, that our morning did not begin until 7. Hallelujah. We started this day with a White Water Walk. Once upon a time, people without brains attempted to swim or boat along these rapids. They all died. No one has attempted this after 1905.

Tess preferred to sleep. She would not wake up until after our next event: The Butterfly Conservatory.

We really like butterflies.

See. Really like them.

We finished up our time in Niagara watching a 4D movie called Niagara's Fury. Linley and Tess both felt the fury. If nothing else, this trip taught us our girls are wimps. In fact, Linley's favorite part of Niagara was riding on the tram up from the bottom of a hill to the top. Where did we go wrong???

After picking up the car from the forced upon us Valet (oh Canada, you were so good at robbing us) we ventured out for a two hour drive (and a most satisfying meal at Arby's, thank you very much America), where we arrived at Palmyra. That is one happening little city.

The Hill Cumorah Pageant stage.

Linley eventually got happy. After she got use to the stench. Which was definitely stinky.

The pageant far surpassed our expectations. Fire and water and all sorts of special effects. Completely impressive and moving and everything we could have hoped for and more!!