Wallamble

A day to kick back and relax 🙂

Not much to be said for this day – we were too busy reading, snoozing, playing lego, coloring, watching movies – all the important quality-family-time / holiday things!

Finally it was time to get out of the house and head out for dinner. So being by the beach, we donned our best flip-flops…

We went to a Mexican place called Guapo’s – good food but excellent cocktails!

Then down to Nauset Beach where we saw some seals swimming! It was an awesome end to the day 🙂

(See of you can spot the Seals in these photos!)

The signs made us feel like we were at an Aussie beach.

Ahhhh holidays! Check out this huge bowl of M&Ms for our sweet toothed monster 🙂

What a beautiful place. This is going to be a great week 🙂

Day two – the aim was to make the final two hour drive to Brewster in the Cape Cod region – enjoying the sights along the way.

As per usual Lachie had us up bright and early and so we headed into Newport for a yummy breakfast at the Hungry Monkey Cafe in the old quarter of Newport Rhode Island.

Then we did a 10-ish mile drive around town…

…which included stops along the The Cliff Walk.
(Unfortunately the end of walk is yet to be repaired post Hurricane Sandy, however there was still ample opportunity to enjoy the views and see some of the infamous Newport mansions.)

Gorgeous views of Easton’s beach

& more mansions & beautiful views

Gooseberry Beach

Fort Adams and its stunning views across the harbour

Finishing up in town for a walk around the Newport marina…

Then a very yummy lunch Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant .
(mmmm…Rhode Island Clam Chowder)

A few not-so-subtle reminders of the America’s Cup…
(America’s Cup Inn & America’s Cup St)

On the way to our new home for the week, we stopped in at Sandwich, MA for high tea.

Before reaching Brewster in Cape Cod – our home for the next week. a quick swim and grocery shopping and it was time to call it for another night. Another fun day of sight seeing!

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Notes for next time (there are always way to many good things to do!):

* we really should have made time for The Breakers – “the grandest of the Newport Summer cottages” * Touro Synagogue, http://www.tourosynagogue.org/, (not open on Saturdays), * Picnic lunch & swim at Eastons Beach – just East of Newport – if the weather is nicer.

First stop of the day was Lachie’s new school for orientation – to meet Lachie’s new PreK teacher (Miss Sue Ann) and to see his classroom (the Tiger room!).
Then we were off!

Our first stop was New Haven which included a walk around Yale and New Haven Green. Besides the stunning architecture…

…the surprising highlight was the Yale Art Gallery.  Not only is it free, has an amazing collection but as we found out half way through you can take pictures!

After a quick snack from the Slider Food Truck we were off again…
(what a gourmet menu for a food truck – yummo!)

Next stop Mystic, Connecticut. A very cute little town. Unfortunately our slider snack killed all appetite for Mystic Pizza. instead we went for a walk through town, had a play in the park and saw the cute drawbridge raised.

Unfortunately poor Eli was a little off color and so we headed to the hotel in Narragansett, Rhode Island for some quiet time.

On the drive to dinner we saw the Narranganset Pier & Towers…

We had a yummy dinner at Buster Krab’s Burger Shack…
(Lachie & Eli’s dinner came in green cardboard cars and there was a mermaid coming through the roof?)

A quick peek at Wheeler Beach…

A stroll around Point Judith to check out the Lighthouse and rock towers. Eli even made a rock tower (ahem face) of her own…

Then dessert (ice cream!) at Aunt Carrie’s on the Beach before turning in 🙂

A great start to our holiday 🙂

What is Vegemite you ask? Only one way to find out 🙂

Who knew that a house with six adults and five kids under seven could be so quiet & organised?
(thank you to the people who invented basements and TV)

Nice to see you guys xx

First is always present time…

Birthday crown-making…

Cake-making…
(yes that does read 83!!! If we write Dad underneath at the other end do you think he will notice?)

Frocking up…
(with mandatory photo session)

We headed out to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for a yummy celebration lunch…

Which turned out to be next-door to where our NJ Devils play…
(pity they weren’t playing that day!)

A quick swim in the afternoon and then finally cake-time!

Happy birthday to the King!
(if you don’t believe me read the crown 🙂 )

Homeward bound via Long Island’s North shore.

First stop was a crazy moooo-style breakky at Maureen’s Kitchen.
We decided to try something new, Mom ordered corn beef hash and gave it the thumbs up.
Against guidance , Eli ordered grapefruit juice which unsurprisingly got the thumbs down 😉

Next was a scenic drive through <> before stopping at Cold SPring Harbor’s Fish Hatchery & Aquarium. It was interesting to see the fish at the different life stages.
Lachie loved the reptiles,
Mom the turtles,
Eli the fish
and Dad the sun 🙂

Our final stop was at the Old Westbury Gardens an absolutely magnificent old mansion and with beautiful to the utmost detail gardens:

One hour later, we were home mid-afternoon with plenty of time to get ready for a busy week.  Check out this shot from our nav-man…

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t as hot as we had hoped and so our beach weekend had turned more into a sightseeing weekend – but it was still lots of fun.

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Our taste of Long Island trip has left us with the desire to go back and see many of the intriguing areas in more detail. But which to choose first?
Notes for B: when we go back to Long Island (it is only 90 minutes away after all) – go to:

• Lobster Pot for the Lobster roll  ()
• See the big duck (how could we have missed this?)
• Amagansett Farmers Market for brunch
• Indian Wells beach & Atlantic Avenue Park – if the weather is nice.
• Shelter Island
• when the kids finally get driver’s licenses we should come back and do the wineries!