Come Away With Us to Bemus Point, NY

After 3 weeks, visit to 3 different states, and almost a 2-day travel back home (we had to do an overnighter in Chicago because our 2nd flight got cancelled), we are back in our concrete paradise as I like to refer to Southern California, and already missing the beeeeeeautiful nature and slow-pace of Bemus, New York. Every time we go back to Brad's hometown village on Chautauqua Lake we marvel at the peace, beauty, and relaxation we find. With Taji in tow, we were so happy to have 3 weeks of TV-less, minimal internet/phone-less, outdoor fun!!! Taj was in boy heaven as he explored the outdoors, played in the water (and in his super cool inflatable pool and intertubes), chased after the squirrels, chipmunks, cats, dogs, and balls, and made so many new friends! He grew before our eyes, saying so many new words (boat, fishies, bird, outside, ceiling, sky, apple, saying "more" during feeding time), and he also says "hi mama" and "hi dada"!!! He danced (he does his version of the "beyonce" booty shake!) and ran around like crazy. Taj's little sibling also had a kick-ass time (literally.... but not in the ***, just in my belly!! yup, little butterfly tickles and movements!! Can't believe how quickly the time flew by, we always wish we could stay longer..... We were also surprised that Taj was such an amazing traveler, we received many compliments on what a good happy boy he was on the plane, and on the trip back home he took all his naps on the flights! If this is any sign of what is to come, we have some exciting vacations ahead of us!

Getting back to our Bemus "escape", we had lots of wonderful family time, including fun on the lake, a trip to the zoo, bikerides, a trip to the Amish country where we bought Taj some cool wooden toys, a trip to the vineyards (next summer you will find me sipping away at the wine tastings!), Midway Park amusement park with the cousins, etc. We had sunset dinners lakeside while listening to the live music playing on the floating stage in the village, attended friend dinner parties. But the highlight of our beautiful trip was nevertheless, our emotional family reunion .... Taj's first time meeting his cousins, aunts, uncle, and grandmas :) Couldn't have asked for a more perfect and serene summer vacation.

I took sooooo many photos, and really captured some amazing scenery (that's the fun little slideshow way below), but before you come away with us on Taji's 1st summer vacation photo journey, here was some of Taji's favorites!:


drinking his baba on the hammock every day:
sunset dining on the water almost every evening:
skipping rocks on the lake:
playing in the lake:
picking up chicks while boat hopping :) :
relaxing with mama and dada and admiring the nature:
and fishing with dada!:

NY 2011 from jana grover on Vimeo.