Talk about ACTIVITY!!!

Last weekend started out normal enough.  We knew we had Leena's recital on Saturday and our family hike in our series of hikes with the rec department on Sunday.  Both went well, but what we didn't count on was Bonita going into labor and delivering a beautiful baby boy on Saturday afternoon, a week early, but perfectly PERFECT!  Joey was beside himself with overwhelming joy and love for his new son and we were instantly infatuated with Giovani Joseph Otero.  Unfortunately, with the ages of the girls, and Adam in tow, all 3 were not able to meet their new cousin.  They had to torturously wait downstairs in the main lobby while Mohammed and I took turns visiting the newest arrival. We will finally get to visit him at home tomorrow for a family BBQ--the girls can't wait!!

Leena's recital was wonderful.  She danced perfectly and was re-energized in her desire to continue taking classes.  She went from not wanting ANY MORE CLASSES AT ALL, to deciding she may want to take 2 classes next year!  Of course, she's also interested in 4-H and riding horses, so if that pans out, something will have to give :-) After her performance Saturday evening, we all headed out to Olive Garden to celebrate with a great dinner.  We arrived home beat from the busy day around 10pm, and we knew we had better get to bed quickly as Sunday promised to be another full day with early morning hiking and a visit to Gio, of course.

We were out the door Sunday by 7:55am and met up with our hiking guide (and at times, torturer) by 8:05am.  We were on our way to Alamuchy State Park in North Jersey, which took us about an hour to get to.  Today's hike was supposed to be easier than our first in April...no straight climbs up a mountain this month, thankfully, but a few more miles...5 to be exact.  The park was picturesque and the trees and bushes were in full bloom.  The terrain was flat (mostly) and so much easier to maneuver for Mohammed with Adam on his back.  It was easier for us all, and we had a much larger group than back in April...and gorgeous weather...high 60s...not too cold and not to warm.  Wish all our hikes could go this well.  We happened across a toad, a copperhead snake and various bugs, gnats and butterflies.  I was breaking in new boots, so much to my dismay, the backs of my ankles got sore about 2 miles into the hike and we made a pit stop for some much needed first aid.  Amazing what a little wound wash and a couple of bandaids can do!  After that, I was good to go.  Even Adam managed to hop out of his pack for a while and walk alongside us.  Well, not quite alongside us, but behind, in front of and all around us.  Note to self--the boy LOVES nature!  He wanted to stop and explore every 2 steps, so in order to make time, back in the carrier he went.  As a side benefit, our guide loves geocaching, and once I mentioned to him that I love it too, he planned to do several on the hike that were on the way!  We found SIX geocaches during the hike and it was great.  Of course, being the adventurer (aka: crazed and daring survivor man) he was, he found most of them and signed me in because he lept across rocks and down ditches so quickly that he could have given a cougar a run for his money.

This week has been a lot slower...Music class on Monday with Adam, finished all my CME by Wednesday and mailed it off to the Medical Board, a little geocaching with Brenda and hosted my monthly SCRAMP last night.  Today was Yasmeen's rank test to go from Blue Belt to Red Stripe in TKD.  Love watching her strut her stuff.  Hoping she'll consider going into competition next year since she's pretty good at what she does.