Rock Hall

Dave and I decided to do another triathalon in Rock Hall. We did one at the end of September (my first) and it was a lot of fun. We stuck with the sprint distance, which is a 1/2 mile swim, 16 mile bike ride, and a 5K run. This was Dave’s first race since injuring his foot back in January. He did great, beating his time from September. I trained a lot for it and also beat my time from September by 10 minutes! That also put me in 3rd place for my age group, which was 40-44 (they made us compete as the age we will be at the end of the year), so I got to stand on the podium!

  • Pre-race photo op
  • transition from the swim to the bike
  • 3rd place in the 40-44 age group

A few months ago the Sharp’s bought a new sailboat and after the race the new name was put on: Kind of Blue. It’s a Catalina 42, which is a good bit bigger than their previous boat, Stolen Moments.

Read more

We just got back from a week vacation on the Sharp’s sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay. The timing weatherwise was not great, as the first part of the week was also the first heatwave of the season – but we made the most of it. Outside of the weather we had a great, very relaxing time.

On Sunday night we met the Sharps in Turners Creek, where we did a boat/car exchange. They had brought the boat from Rock Hall and they drove back that night in our car. We grilled on the boat, did a lot of swimming, and tried to stay cool. There was a nice breeze all night, so it wasn’t that bad.

You could easily spot us on the river, as we were the only boat with a giant inflatable flamingo and unicorn. The girls spent most of their times playing on these, especially on the very hot days.

The next day we headed over to Fairlee Creek, about a 4 hour motor away. We did some more swimming, seining for creatures, kayaking, and playing on the beach.

Here’s a shot of Sophie and Lauren in the kayak headed over to the beach. Soph is getting pretty good with the kayak.

Both he girls took turns steering the boat on the trip. Here’s Lauren with a little oversight from Dave.

The Sharps met us again and we made dinner over an open fire on the beach, which is pretty unusual because most places don’t allow fires on the beach.

Here are the girls cooking their dinners over the open flames… Sophie with her not so campfire easy tofu 😉

But soon the smoke got to be too much for the girls and the dads took over…

That night, after the Sharps left, the wind died and the bugs descended. It was a pretty rough night for all. Definitely the low point of the trip.

On Tuesday, July 3rd, we headed over to Rock Hall for their Independence Day celebration, which they do the day before. We watched fireworks from the front yard of the Sharp’s house.

 

The next morning, on the 4th, Dave and I ran in the Flat Five, a 5 mile race throughout Rock Hall. There are only about 50 people who do it, and Dave and I both placed in our age class (first time ever)! I won my class and he came in third.

Here we are with our coveted prizes: a coffee mug for me and a beer cozy for Dave.

That day there was a parade than ran through town and then Dave (pop pop) had a gig with the house band at the Harbor Shack. It was pretty cool to hear him play.

Here’s a video of the band:

IMG_3728

We stayed for the first set, and then got back on the boat and motor/sailed 3 hours to Baltimore, where we docked and watched their 4th of July fireworks, which was pretty impressive.

On our way over to Baltimore we passed right by the buoy marketing the spot where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner, which was pretty cool.

The next two days we spent in Baltimore. Dave and to work 1/2 days, so I took the kids around – to the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, and some shopping.

Lauren sitting on a “motorcycle” that was crafted from one piece of wood at Ripley’s, and the girls at the Inner Harbor.

We went to a famous dessert spot called Vaccaro’s where we got the biggest dessert I’ve ever seen. There was no way 4 of us could finish it.

It was called a snickers volcano.

On our last day we met the Townsend’s for lunch (who live just an hour away) before jumping back on the boat to Rock Hall.

 

 

Read more

Our old neighbors and Sophie’s BFF from Greene Towne, the Marvin’s, came to visit from Hawaii. We met them for a quick brunch and visit in the old neighborhood.

Claire, Sophie, Lauren, and Emma outside of our old house. The new owners painted the door black, from our beautiful purple – how could they?! 
We spent another weekend on the Chesapeake with the Townsends, this time on the boat. We sailed to Cacaway Island and anchored for the night. The weather was beautiful and the water was really warm (almost bath warm). We kayaked, swam, grilled and hung out. It was an excellent weekend.
Sophie manning her own kayak with Crystal carrying Lauren and Bella.

Lauren at the helm
The last weekend in July Dave and I rode in the Tour de Shore, a 67 mile bike ride from Philly to Atlantic City. A friend wanted us to do it with her to celebrate her 35th birthday, so we did. It was a long, long ride, but we made it (in 5.5 hours!). I was dead tired when it was done and sword I’d never do it again – but now that I’m fully recovered, I might consider it again 😉

The “team:” me, Tom, Robyn, Dave
Read more

The summer has been full of camps, friends, family, and long weekends. Here’s just a snapshot. 
Sophie did a week long Handiworks camp where she learned how to sew. She loved it! Here she is (bottom left) wearing a hat she made with her friend Rachel. 

For 6 weeks Sophie went to Miquon Day Camp where she swam twice a day (among other nature camp activities). She worked all summer long and in her last week finally passed the deep water test and got her prized green band. Look at that proud face. 
In mid-July we had a fun afternoon with two entomologist from the Academy of Natural Sciences, who did a bug hunt on our property. The found about a dozen bugs, two of which will be kept in the permanent collect at the museum. 
In August we headed down to Rock Hall for the annual Pirates and Wenches weekend where Dave and the girls took first place in the dinghy contest. The winning dinghy was decorated like a pirate ship, complete with a shark on the side. Here’s the crew – Both Dave’s, Sophie, Lauren, and Shannon. Argh! 

Read more

We headed to Rock Hall, MD for Memorial Day weekend and stayed at the Sharp’s house with our friends the Marvin’s and the Spiegel’s. The three older girls, Sophie, Claire and Liora, have been friends since their first year at the Toddler House and this trip was a little bitter sweet because the Marvin’s will be moving to Hawaii in July. We had three great days hanging at the beach, on the boat, and in the back yard. 
The kids crew: Emma, Ilan, Lauren, Sophie, Claire & Liora

Lora, Lauren and Claire on the boat.

Read more

The Pope came to Philly at the end of September and the entire City had to basically shutdown. We took the opportunity to enjoy the 4 day weekend in Rock Hall with the Devine’s. The weather was beautiful – perfect early fall days and nights. We spent a lot of time on the water.

John, Dave and the girls trying to catch jelly fish off the dock

Sophie and Ava waiting to take Tiny Boat out

The girls on Tiny Boat

Read more

Last weekend for Memorial Day we went down to Rock Hall, MD for a few day (thanks Mom Mom and Pop Pop Sharp for letting us use your house!). The Devine’s joined us for the whole weekend and the Townsend’s joined us for the last day. 4 kids total and everyone had a great time.

Ava and Sophie loved the horse swing and kept chanting “higher, higher!” No one fell off so it was a success… 
 All three girls put the new sandbox to good use
 We set up the blow-up pool in the backyard. The girls had a blast (and as you see in this pic Ava was very into the hose)

 What’s amazing about this pic is that it’s Benson, out in the water. This is not a dog who likes to swim at all, but after a stick throws he got very into it. Just too tempting I guess.
 We all went for a sail on Sunday. Ava and Sophie spent most of the time at the bow. They were loving it.

Read more

Over the 4th the Coughlins and Rainers had their traditional summer vacation in Ocean City. Sophie stayed with them for the entire week and enjoyed being the most spoiled little grandkid there was. Lauren and I came down for a few days at the end of the week. While the weather the first part of the week wasn’t great, the weather at the end was perfect! Lots of beach sitting, cocktail drinking, book reading, bike riding, treasure burying and just relaxing…. ahhhh. I have about a million pictures, and here are just a few of the highlights.

Lauren’s first real beach day. She wasn’t a fan of the water, but didn’t mind hanging out in her chair or on the lap of her relatives. 
 Sophie is a true beach bum. She could be down there for 8 hours straight, and still not be ready to leave. She had a blast playing by herself, making friends, and running in and out of the water. 
And what’s a trip to Ocean City without renting a surrey?

The whole crew (sans James, who is taking the picture)
 After the week was over, Becky, James, Mom & Dad and all of us visited with Kathy & Dave at their new house in Rock Hall, MD. Here’s Sophie helping Dave and Uncle Ed to clean a fish. She’s quite the little helper. 

Read more

This weekend we headed down to Maryland. We spent Friday night at the Sharp’s new house in Rock Hall, and then Dave had a regatta with the ULYC on Saturday in Oxford, and then we headed back to Rock Hall on Sunday for Mother’s Day. It was an absolutely beautiful weekend weather-wise and so nice to just relax with family.

Dave’s boat came in 2nd at the regatta and he also presented the awards that evening at a party and awards ceremony. This year Sophie was also his helper.

Clapping for an award winner

An attentive listener to an acceptance speech 
The fam
And the very best part of the weekend was my Mother’s Day present – a beach cruiser bike with an attachment for Sophie! We’ll keep it down at the house in MD. We rode around for a while this afternoon and it was so much fun. So looking forward to this summer! 

Read more