November Beach Day

In a million years, I would never have guessed that we would have been in our bathing suits at the beach when I planned this trip to New Jersey just days before December.  In fact, I didn't even pack bathing suits.  It was only after all the kids were in the car and we were ready to go that I ran back in the house to grab something and thought "What if there's a hot tub or something and the kids want their suits?" As a total afterthought, I threw their suits in the bag before we left.  Well, this morning, the first thing the kids said was "Beach!!" And they wanted to wear their bathing suits.  They INSISTED on it. So, I made L and T wear clothes over their suits thinking as soon as we got there, they'd be cold and not want to be in their suits.  And for R and E, I made them wear clothes and just brought their suits with me.  Dave found a breakfast joint right across the street from the beach, so after a yummy pancake breakfast, we headed to the beach.  We were there for a grand total of about 30 seconds before all four kids were in their bathing suits running around.

And they stayed in their suits the ENTIRE time, even playing in the water up to their knees.  I never looked at the weather, but I'm guessing it was probably in the mid-60's and sunny.  If we could have ordered the weather, we could not have done better.  It was absolutely PERFECT.

Congress Hall in the background. 

Tanner's fort - he was VERY proud of this.

Alas, we had to leave in order to make our Noon check out time.  But the kids were thrilled they got to spend all morning at the beach in their bathing suits.

We didn't have to be at the ferry until 2:00, so after checking out of our hotel, we headed to the main courtyard of Congress Hall where they had a "Winter Wonderland" set up with carousal rides, train rides, story time with Mrs. Claus, etc.  Very cute!

Once we were done with Winter Wonderland, we had just enough time to check out the Cape May Lighthouse before heading to our ferry.  Dave and Ella stayed back while Lacey, Tanner, Riley and I climbed the 199 steps to the very top.  If you look closely you can see the 4 of us waving down to Dave while he took this picture.

The view from the top.

Our lighthouse selfie.

It was a perfect Thanksgiving weekend getaway!

Feeling Thankful Cape May Style

As we were thinking about what to do for Thanksgiving this year, I came across a Groupon for a hotel in Cape May that caught my attention.  I am blogging my way through the 1000 Places to See Before You Die book (http://www.1001placesbeforeidie.blogspot.com).  Well, Cape May happens to be in there, so I've had this on my list for a while.  So, we decided to take the plunge!  We got up early this morning and after having donuts (a Mitchell family tradition), we drove two hours to Lewes, Delaware where we boarded a ferry to Cape May.

The ferry was an hour and a half long and the weather was BEAUTIFUL.  We all enjoyed being on the water!

Once we arrived in Cape May (which marks #173 out of 1000 ;)), we got settled into our little cottage at the Star Inn one of two sister hotels to the Congress Hall, located across the street.  It was absolutely perfect.  It has a little front porch with two rockers and a porch swing, a front room with a big fold out couch and kitchen and then a bedroom in the back with a king size bed.  It also has a back yard with a picnic table.  We all had fun tonight cozying up in our own private little yard with some hot chocolate.

After checking out our digs, we headed to the beach, just a block away!

T posing next to his "sand angel."

 Too cold too swim, but absolutely perfect playing-in-the-sand weather!

In fact, we were having so much fun, this was Ella's reaction when we said it was time to leave and find a place to eat.

We decided to walk around the town and check it out while we searched for the perfect family-friendly place to eat.

Cape May is the southernmost tip of New Jersey's 130-mile coastline.  It is the oldest seashore resort in America and vacationers have been arriving here since the early 1800's.  In fact, the Congress Hotel has been in existence since 1816.  

Victorian cottages with wide porches known as "gingerbread houses" or "painted ladies" line the gas-lit streets and have earned Cape May the unofficial title of the world's bed and breakfast capital.  

After searching high and low for an affordable, family-friendly, atmospheric place to have our Thanksgiving meal (no easy task in a beach town where half the restaurants close during the off season and the other half close for Thanksgiving!), we came across Delaney's.  The perfect fit!

Dave and I have decided we've made a tradition of having non-traditional Thanksgiving meals.  In fact, we met exactly 11 years ago... over Thanksgiving in Spain.  Eating paella at an outdoor cafe in Seville.

Congress Hall

(If you look closely, that's me and Ella at the end of the hall ;))

Cape May..... we have decided we are quite in love with you.

This Thanksgiving we are Thankful.  Thankful for family, friends, freedom, so many blessings.  But right now, in this stage of life, we are especially thankful for these four turkeys.  

Secret Garden

A couple months ago, Lacey and I read A Secret Garden together.  We both loved reading it and as soon as it was over, Lacey declared "let's start over and read it again!" So, I've been on the lookout to see if the theatre production of the play/musical was coming to town any time soon and lo and behold, it was!  Tanner joined us here and there during the book, so when I asked Lacey if she wanted to go see the play (at Centerstage Theatre in Baltimore), not only did she say absolutely, yes, but Tanner joined in saying he wanted to go too.  I debated whether or not I should bring him because the production was 2 hours 20 min long including a 15 min intermission and didn't start until 8pm.  I figured my night owl Lacey would be okay, but I worried about my "early to bed, early to rise" Tanner.

Anyway, here we are in our 3rd row seats excited for the play to start....

And here is Tanner about an hour later.  

Oh well, hopefully he picked up a little culture through osmosis.

Tanner's Turn

Well, after blogging about the end of Lacey's soccer season as well as Riley's, Tanner's team was the last to wrap up this past Saturday.

Great group of boys, great coaches and a great season!