A Quick Trip To New Jersey :-)

As one last hurrah before school starts (and one last BIG hurrah before baby #3 comes), I decided to take the boys to New Jersey to visit my aunts and uncles and to go to Sesame Place.  The boys are still young enough to love Sesame Street and I wanted to take them while they were still young, innocent, and had stars in their eyes for their favorite characters.
The boys and I left Boston last Friday afternoon after lunch and arrived in New Jersey at dinner time.  They were very well behaved on the drive there, played with their toys, and loved listening to the Disney Music station on Pandora in the car.  It was great!  

That next morning while I was in the shower, my
Tita Ging was watching the boys while I got ready quickly.
I came down the stairs to find Alex reading to William!
They were sitting there quietly and sweetly and weren't
fighting with one another.  It was a great start to the day!

After I got ready, my Tita Rachel, Tito Tito, and the boys hopped into the car and headed over to Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA.  I loved going to this place when I was a kid and was so excited to take the boys again.

William and Alex, ready to have a super fun day!

Since I'm pregnant, I couldn't go on any of the rides, so
Tito Tito braved all of the rides and rode with the boys.
Here's William on his first BIG roller coaster ride
with Tito Tito.  He loved it!

Then Tito Tito rode this ride again with Alex.
Thanks Tito Tito!!

The boys in front of a big birthday cake in celebration
of Sesame Street's 35th birthday.

It was somewhat hot that day, and waiting in line
for the rides made the boys a little tired.  Here's
William, taking a seat on Tito Tito's lap while we
waited to ride on the carousel.

Eventually, he wanted Tito Tito to hold him...which
made it much easier on me, because since I'm 34 weeks
pregnant, it's pretty hard to carry these guys for an extended
period of time.

William, Tita Rachel, Tito Tito, and Alex on the carousel.

Alex is finally big enough to ride the rides by himself!
Since there was no room on one side of this ride, he
went to the other side by himself and did such a great job!
This kid is a dare devil and loves to ride rides.

William and Tito Tito on the other side of the same ride.

There they go!

William sliding down a slide while Tito Tito and Alex
rode on another ride.  (William didn't want to ride that ride.)

Alex and William with Cookie Monster (whose birthday
is very close to William's birthday)!

As a special treat and surprise, I decided to book the character lunch dining experience so the boys could have some individualized time with some of the characters.  Plus, we got a pretty decent lunch and the kids got to dance around with the characters!!  Best money spent and the food was better than what we could've gotten at the food courts.

My view from the buffet as I was getting food for the kids.
HA!  Big Bird was a really big bird!

Goofy Alex cut in on a picture with Big Bird.

The Count stopped by our table.  :-)

Here's the boys with Elmo and Big Bird.  William loooooooves Elmo.  :-)

They were star struck.

Then Bert stopped by our table and immediately took Alex's hat
and put it on his nose.

William and Alex with Bert.

Bert did the fist bump with the kids.

Then Alex hunted down Ernie.

And William got a picture as well.

Kinda creepy, ain't it?  :-p

Elmo and Big Bird were right by our table, so after
the boys finished their lunch, they got up and danced
around with Elmo and Big Bird!  It was so great!

The boys dancing with Elmo and Big Bird.

Then, they played some really fun party music and the kids got up and danced with the characters.

The boys doing the "Y.M.C.A" with Ernie.

William was pulling on Alex's shirt and I asked him to
stop...and apparently William was not pleased with
being reprimanded.  He got a little grumpy.

The boys dancing with the Count.

As the hour long lunch/party died down, the boys and
I got in line for the bathroom.  While we were waiting,
the Count came up to the boys and gave them a big hug.
I thought it was very sweet.

The boys and the Count one last time.

After lunch, the boys and I put on our swim clothes and splashed around in the water park while Tita Rachel and Tito Tito hung out in the shade.  I didn't bring my phone with me, so unfortunately there aren't any pictures of the water park fun.

At the end of the day, the boys picked out a new "friend" to bring home with them.  Alex chose the Count and William chose Abby Cadabby.  William called his friend his "baby girl" and carried her around like a little baby.  It was very sweet to see this tender side of him.

Alex with the Count and William with Abby Cadabby
at Sesame Place.

Thanks so much for taking us, Tita Rachel and Tito Tito!!!  The boys and I had such a wonderful time playing, dancing, and splashing around.  Plus, thanks so much, Tito Tito, for being such a trooper and riding all of the rides with the kiddos.  :-p

After we got home, we rested for about 20 minutes, and then my Tito Bee Eye came over and took me and the boys to Toys R Us.  (These boys are ridiculously blessed with so many family members that love them so much and want to spoil them silly.)

With toys in hand, we met Tita Rachel, Tito Tito, Tita Ging, and Tita Lou out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants to visit in New Jersey:  Penang.  It's a delicious Malaysian restaurant that we've been going to and enjoying their cuisine for years.

William enjoyed some crispy honey squid, okra with shrimp paste,
and some chicken satay.

Alex enjoyed the same foods as well as wonton soup.

Alex piled up some pillows and made himself comfortable
after he finished all of his food.

William got in some snuggles with Tita Lou.

Tita Rachel, Tito Tito, and Tito Bee Eye at Penang.

Tita Ging and Tita Lou at Penang.

Alex wanted to get a selfie with me.

After dinner, we went back to Tito Tito and Tita Rachel's house to have dessert.  Tita Lou and Tita Ging had gone to Red Ribbon which is a Filipino bakery with amazing desserts.  They bought tons of cake slices for us to sample and I politely indulged...a lot.  :-)

Alex playing with his Transformer while Tita Ging
made decaf coffee to go along with the delicious cake slices.

Thanks so much for alllllll of the delicious Filipino
treats, Tita Lou and Tita Ging!!!  I was in heaven.

That next morning, Tita Rachel, Tito Tito, and Tita Ging took us out to breakfast before we made the long trek back home.
With bellies full, we packed up, said our "Thank you's" and said good bye to everyone.

William cheesin' with Tita Rachel.

William, Tito Tito, Tita Rachel, Alex, and Tita Ging
saying, "Good bye," to one another.

Our handsome men, packed up and ready to head back to Boston.

Our car crossing the George Washington bridge in NY.

Thanks so much, Titas and Titos for taking the time to see us, bring us delicious food (we've had enough food for the whole week and I haven't had to cook!!), and for spoiling us silly as you always do.  It was so great to see all of you and the boys loved being surrounded by family.
Until next time...

Love and kisses,
Nikki