Dave

Sticking with the low key theme that has been our theme for the last 18 months, Dave welcomed 42 with a small family birthday celebration. And, we didn’t even celebrate on this actual birthday as he had to be in Atlanta, so we had dinner, cake and presents on the Friday after. While his travel hasn’t started up fully yet, it’s begun in earnest with a few trips so far.

A week after his birthday, he ran in the Philly Distance Run, which is an annual 1/2 marathon through Center City and Fairmount. And he got a PR! This man makes 42 look good!

Heading out to run the Philly Distance Run
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The first day of school was also Dave’s 41st birthday. As a result, it was a pretty low key celebration. We had a family dinner and the girls and I made him a Peppermint Pattie cake (his request). I have to say, it turned out pretty well – very decadent.

The Peppermint Pattie cake – we melted and baked patties into it, and then the girls decorated the top with more patties. It was pretty amazing.
The birthday boy!

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Our planned August vacation this year was supposed to be Alaska, but since that couldn’t happen, we decided to do another week on the boat on the Chesapeake. We didn’t travel quite as far as we did the first go round, but did stay in a new spot each night. This time we also met up with our friends the Townsends, who were supposed to be in St. Maarten the same week, but obviously couldn’t go. They chartered a boat out of Rock Hall and we met up 4 of our 7 nights out. At one point we also met up with a family we had met down in Tangier the last time we were on the boat. A dad and twin 7 year olds who have been on their boat nonstop since the spring.

We spent a few days with the Sharps in Rock Hall before heading out.

  • The girls with Mom Mom and Pop Pop on a beautiful night in Rock Hall

We always travel with sea kayaks, which are the best way to get around into little coves and shallow rivers. The Townsends up the game with inflatable standing paddle boards, which were pretty cool. Sophie in particular loved them and was really good getting around on it.

  • Sophie & Crystal
  • Bella paddle board dancing
  • A boat of 7 year olds
  • Sophie taking one of the twins out for a ride

The Townsends also brought along a huge pink blowup unicorn, which was of course a hit with all the girls.

5 girls getting ready to set sail on their pink flying unicorn
Dave and the girls using the seine.
Dinner with a view
Bella with an ice cream face in Havre de Grace. Ice cream was a destination in each place we stopped and this place was by far the best.

It was another amazing week on the boat!

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We spent the last 4 days with the Sharp’s on their boat in the Chesapeake. It was a wonderful, relaxing vacation. We met them in Rock Hall, MD, sailed to Annapolis, then Lankford Creek, and then back to Rock Hall. The first night was really hot, but it got better after that – and we were able to sit out under the stars at night and do some swimming during the day.
Sophie enjoyed being on the boat. She spent most of the timing laying back with her hair blowing in the breeze.

She also had a chance to do a little swimming. Although she wasn’t a huge fan of the life vest, she didn’t seem to mind the water. She floated around for a few minutes before she wanted to get out. Luckily the water felt just like bath water. We’ll have her swimming like an olympian in no time!

Zoe had her 15th birthday on Monday and we celebrated with cake and ice cream.

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This weekend we spent Saturday in Long Beach Island – Dave had a regatta and I took Sophie to the beach (for a short time… it’s going to be easier when I have a little help). On Sunday, which was Father’s Day, we went sailing with the Sharps in Cape May. It was a gorgeous day for a sail!
Sophie enjoyed chilling on Mom mom’s lap for most of the day

Benson & Rudy also enjoyed laying out in the cockpit

I think Dave enjoyed his first Father’s Day thoroughly

And I got some quality time in with Mr. B.

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Dave and Sophie spent some quality time together this weekend (while Dave spent some quality time with his iPhone)

This picture says it all for Benson. No longer the top dog… he’s been banished to the background. Poor guy!

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