Blood Sweat and Gears 2011

Lills snoozing in the hotel. I love that Harrison woke up at 5am for two years straight, and when I woke Lillian up at 5am she looked at me like I had lost my mind.

Lined up at the start

Blake Condray knows the way to my heart. She brought me a Pioneer Woman cinnamon roll. Mmmmm.

Nick, Lillian and Harrison at RS-2

Daddy and his biggest fan

After the race, we went to a great cook out at the Condray's rental in the mountains. What a great night, I even brought Blue Bell! Can't wait for next year.

Breakfast in Bed

Harrison with his first breakfast in bed. I think it was a hit! Sausage, TV, and mommy's cozy bed...happy boy

These Are The Days

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This has always been one of my very favorite songs. I am working hard to savor these summer moments. To not get overwhelmed by the laundry, beach towels hanging everywhere, endless requests for snacks, constant need for sunscreen, whining, bickering siblings, summer storms that make my dog freak out, days where I lose my patience before 9am, and lack of any time to myself. I feel guilty for feeling anxious about my children being out of pre-school for the summer. I just am not always sure how to "enjoy" non-stop kidfest. I adore my bambinos, I truly do. I really strive to provide them with outdoor activities, time with friends, a nurturing home, healthy food, laughter...and I know in my heart that I will miss these days. My most favorite part of the beach was just being able to focus all my energy on the things that mattered; relaxation and time together as a family. At home there are so many responsibilities. I have been trying to take time each day and just "breathe" and keep it all in perspective. Last week was Harrison's first time to go to YMCA "pirate" camp, and he loved it. This week I will be teaching VBS which is a whole new experience in itself. Next weekend we head to Boone for Blood Sweat and Gears, then I leave for MI for three weeks. I am an "on the go" kind of girl. Always have been. This morning I took a few hours to do a major house clean, order picture prints for a project that has taken me over a year to get started on, pay bills, make cobbler for the neighbors, wash out all the trash cans, and now the kids are napping. Oddly, I feel so much more at ease after being productive. Now time to go and enjoy "the endless summer."

Father's Day 2011

Dad and Joe; my two favorite men.

Joe meeting Harrison right after he was born

Joe loving on Lillian June when she was a few hours old

Happy Father's Day, honey

We love you more than words

Joe went for a long bike ride this morning, had some coffee, we went out for a fun lunch, and as I type this he is snoozing on the couch. Happy Father's Day to my husband, dad, grandfather, and father's in law. I love you all! xoxo

Chow

Friday night we went out with Anna and Jason for a long overdue double date. We hit a new spot, Chow. It was delish. I had a fantastic shrimp quesadilla and of course a seabreeze. After Chow, we listened to a band over at Margaux's. It was a great night out with such wonderful friends.

Would you like fries with that?

I saw these on a blog that I follow. What a cute idea. The fries are actually sugar cookies. Here is the link

http://www.bakerella.com/fast-food-fun/

The Super Target version is a bit more my speed. I got a dozen of these for all the neighborhood kids and I just could not get over their cuteness. Such a fun concept (these sat in the car a little too long).

I was telling Joe about the cake they had with the fake grill (even had charcoal), burger/hot dog/watermelon cupcakes and was placed on a red and white checkered blanket, to which he replied, "you love this stuff!" I really, really do. I think I need to find a cake decorating class in Raleigh.

Corolla

The Cottage on the Green

Harrison wasted no time getting in our pool

Grandma reading bedtime books

Family Hokey Pokey

Harrison was so excited to share a room with his cousins

Ready for our first day at the beach

The trolley picked us up in front of our house. Now that is how to do the beach with kids. front door service!

My little beach bum

Em, Lyn and Taylor

Hanging with Gigi

Lillian took a two hour nap on the beach. She was tuckered out.

All 5 kids napped at the beach

Sweet Miles. 12 weeks old and already a fan of the beach.

The Currituck Sound

Hollywood

Grandma and Grandpa with their grandkids

Our whole family

One of the best things about the house, was this screened in porch. The kids could make a mess and we could rinse it all off. Perfect!

On Tuesday we went on a tour to see the wild horses

Canon ball!

Date Night

Vacation is great for snuggling with your kids in bed. Nowhere to be and no chores to do.

Duck Donuts

Joe and Lee

Attempting a group shot

Jack, Harrison and Beckett

Joe and the kids at the top of the lighthouse

Breakfast for dinner

Lillian and Harrison loving on Miles

Bicycle built for two

Daddy Nap

Last day at the beach

I could watch these two play in the sand all day

Pretty Lills
I already have this in a frame. My sweet peas

Napping again

Heaven

For our last night at the beach, we went out for a yummy dinner and then went to ride go-carts. Even Lillian was a fan.

I have a major case of the "vacation blues." We have been home for a week and I am still sulking. I want to go back to our beach house. I just did not want the trip to be over, it was such a wonderful time. We had a few days with all 18 people, a few more days with just our extended family, and then still a few more days with just me, Joe and the kids. It was heaven. Good food (even steamed seafood), popsicles, cocktails, laughter, pool time, naps, movies, magazines, long walks, family bike rides, nature hunts for turtles, go carts, golf, shopping, date nights, seashells, and lots of sunscreen.
We already booked the house for next year, and I can't wait!