Monday, July 14, 2014

Our Mini Family Vacation to Ocean City!

 

This year we decided to take a trip to Ocean City for the 4th of July. We usually stay local, but this year we thought it would be fun to take a long weekend away. Plus, our friends Tara and Blake were there celebrating the 4th, so we thought we would join in! We left on Wednesday night around 7:45 PM that way we would avoid rush hour and the kids could sleep on the ride. We made really good time and got to our condo before 11PM. Both kids did fall asleep, but woke up when we got there due to all the excitement! 20140702_194058

Callie was a little unsure about staying somewhere new. She kept saying “I want to go back to my home” but we talked to her and reassured her that it was okay and she finally fell asleep. The next morning the kids were up by 6am ( I SO wished they would sleep in) even though they went to bed late, they were too excited to sleep!

They were ready for the beach, bright and early!!! 20140703_064804

 

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It was windy and cool that morning at the beach and the water was COLD, but they loved it!

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Later on that day we went shopping…well, tried to! They don’t make shopping trips very easy. Then we went back to the condo to nap and eat. We met up with Tara and Blake later on that night when they got in and the kids played with sparklers!

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On the 4th, we woke up and went to breakfast! It was pouring rain that morning….so we decided to wait it out in our room and then go play mini golf with Tara and Blake! It only rained until 12ish, but it was too windy for fireworks, so they rescheduled them for the 5th! The mini golf place was PACKED, we didn’t stay for the entire course. We played some holes and once we had enough, we left! We walked the board walk that afternoon and had fun people watching!

At breakfast…silly girl!

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Waiting for the rain to stop!

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At Mini Golf with our friends Smile 

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Just us, on the board walk….. it was windy, but beautiful weather!

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Saturday the 5th was a busy day! We woke up early and headed to The Graff’s condo. We swam all morning, ate, and swam some more! Then we decided to go to our place and rest before fireworks. Callie napped and Carter watched TV. CJ and I packed up everything and decided that after the fireworks we would drive home to avoid Sunday traffic. We had SO much fun that night at the celebration. There was a DJ, dance contest, tug o’ war contest and LOTS of food. We had the best view of the fireworks too, it was awesome! Then after the grand finale we left! We made it home in 3 and ½ hours that night and even though we got in very late, I am so glad we left how we did. The Kids slept most of the way, we carried them in and we all went to bed. I had all day Sunday to unpack and it just was so much less stressful this way.

The rest of the pictures that I got….

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The pool at Tara’s uncle’s condo above….it was so nice! And the picture below, the kids are watching jelly fish off the inlet dock….

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Callie got her face painted and then took a selfie Smile 

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Momma and poppa Smile 

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Right before the big firework show….and I was so into it, that I didn’t snap a picture!

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Over all, the children had a blast; they loved the beach and can’t wait for our next trip…which ever beach we choose! I’m thinkin’ Nags Head Smile

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Starting Fresh

I have racked my brain over and over again, trying to figure out how in the world I would ever catch up on this blog. And, where I would even start?! Those questions have stressed me out, seriously. Not everyday, but every so often I would beat myself up over how far behind I’ve gotten on this thing and how Callie is going to give me a heartbroken look when she sees how much less I blogged after she was born.

That all might happen, she might really be upset or she might not care at all. I just have to stop wasting time here. I feel like I have said this a million times, but I really am going to try harder (SO HELP ME LORD!) to make this blog worth reading later in life. To be realistic though, I cannot go back and retrace. That will take a lot of time and I may never get up to date. And even though I have issues letting go, I am going to have to.

Starting fresh, tonight. The one and only PAST post I will do and it will be a recap (to the best of my abilities) of 2013. Then, everything from here on out will be current. Here it goes……

2013 was a great year! We had a pretty good winter, not too much snow, but we did get some and the kids loved it.

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Spring came and it was Carter’s first year of Tball. Lots of fun!!!!

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Amanda’s birthday

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Mothers Day! I had lunch with my mom and sister Smile

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Carters 5th Birthday! The year he started Kindergarten! So exciting and fun for us this year.

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At Carters last game of Tball last season in June!

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Summer Time Fun!

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Jenny’s promotion ceremony to Middle School! She got the Principles Award for her academics!

 

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Family Visits over the summer….

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My Attempt at a summer picture Smile

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Callie, being Callie

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Steven’s Birthday at PTM!!

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Getting Ready for Kindergarten….

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Our trip to OC…… last year was NOT the best. IT was cold, it rained, our hotel was not what we were expecting. Needless to say we planned it better for 2014….. a little Winking smile 

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Kindergarten Orientation

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Moving up to the bigger kid Sunday School class Smile That day they had a celebration in the church for the “graduates”and he got his own Bible!

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Best Buddies

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FIRST day of Kindergarten!!!!!!!

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Hanging with Grandad after school

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Sassy girl

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Mikey, Jenny, Johnny all got Baptized in the fall Smile

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Our Fall Family picture

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Fall fun…Bowles Farm!

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Carter with his class for the Halloween parade!

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Family time for my moms Birthday

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THE ONLY Thanksgiving picture I got…I KNOW, pathetic! “sigh” I will do better this year! Last year we had my whole family over, it was so nice! I hope we do it again this year!

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Christmas TIME IMG_4729IMG_4746IMG_4755IMG_4771IMG_4781

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Sweet Frog dates during Christmas Break

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And Mikey’s Birthday on 1-1….closes out 2013 and starts the new year FRESH! I hope to be doing his pose below for every post….. Haha, its not goodbye, its Later man….

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