Like Family

Throughout life, if you are lucky, you make friends that turn out to be family. I am lucky.

At the tail end of our family vacation in Ocean City, two of my dearest friends, Kate and Courtney, along with their families came for a visit. Although too brief (it always is), we had a great time. The kids had tons of fun on the beach and boardwalk. The adults, too shared lots of laughs and good times.

Left to Right: Anna (16 mo.)on big Sister Lily's (almost 5) lap, Andrew (19 mo.)
in front of Natalie (almost 8), Meredith (almost 4) and Katie (almost 4)

Katie, Lily and Natalie

Lily and Katie "trying" to drive

Katie on the tiniest ferris wheel

Anna

Ocean City

The second week in August we went to Ocean City, NJ. For those of you who don't know, I have been going to Ocean City since I was born. Literally. My mom, too, has been going there since she was born (a long, long time ago... ha ha, mom)

I have so many great memories of going to the beach with my cousins...building dribble castles, ball castles, castles with moats...burying children in piles of sand, making mermaids and race cars with my live heads...jumping the waves, body surfing, and boogie boarding...the amusement rides...And, of course, making "swimming pools" complete with walls that we truly believed would not be crushed by high tide..

It was almost nostalgic to be sharing the same good times with my own children.

We had wonderful time. The weather could not have been better, but what really made the trip so good was spending time with my family. Cheesy, I know, but true. Rich, Carolyn and Charlie, along with my parents and us stayed under one roof for the whole week. We went to the beach everyday and also hit the playground and boardwalk together. The kids got along very well. Of course they occasionally took toys from each other, pushed or tormented one another, but all in all they really enjoyed each other. The boys, Charlie and Andrew, are only 5 months apart. It was "monkey see-monkey" do all week. Katie assumed the role of "boss of everyone."

The next generation of Ocean City-ers

The Galka Family

The boys in their matching euro suits we bought in Maastricht

Pop and Katie playing with a boat

Aunt Carolyn and Katie

Uncle Rich and Charlie

Katie and Charlie

Sand slide?

Charlie, Andrew and Katie celebrating Charlie's 2nd birthday (a week early)

Train ride at Playland with Rich, Charlie, Me, Katie and Andrew

Grandma on the Hot Air Balloon ride with Katie and Charlie

Dragon Tilt-a-World with Daddy

Good Friends

Katie has a wonderful group of friends that she met when she was just a baby. The moms and I have watched them grow up and have provided each other with so many laughs and support over the last few years. The kid's friendships, as well as ours, have been invaluable.

Just a few days after landing (sorry this is SO late), we hosted a pool party in our back yard.

Baby pool, that is. Just a handful of our fav friends could make it but it was a great time nonetheless.

Andrew and Katie

A "newer" addition known always as Baby Alaina (Jillian's sister)

Three "girls" in a tub ~ Sylvia, Katie and Jillian

Adjusting

We are back on US soil and it feels good....

Our travels were quite uneventful. The taxi picked us up Satruday at 6:45am (we were up at 5:45am) to catch the 7:26am train from Maastricht to Eindhoven (about an hour). We switched trains, luckily our next train was on the same platform, and we reached the Amsteredam airport with plenty of time to get a snack and board our flight. Our only hiccup, so to speak, was that our flight was one hour late leaving/arriving.

Ned and I divided and conquered...

We had:

1 stroller
3 large roller duffle bags
1 diaper bag
1 carry on tote
2 Britax carseats
2 laptops
2 kids!

I managed the kids... didnt loose any! Ned managed the luggage on an off the trains...didnt loose any!

The kids were good on the flight. Andrew napped for about 2 hours at the start of the 7 hour flight. Katie did not, but enjoyed watching endless videos. Both were exhausted when we finally got to our shuttle service and fell asleep. Katie slept from 5pm-3:30am and was ready to start her day! Andrew, because he napped we think, slept from 9pm-6am. (awesome!). The next night was the reverse... Andrew slept from 7pm-3:30am and was ready to start his day! And, Katie slept from 7:30pm-6am. Oh well, they say it takes about a week to adjust.

We are tired, but happy and excited to see our friends, house, dog and all that is familiar.