Maryland

We had a wonderful week in Maryland with my parents. At times it has been chaos while I try to work and parent but here we are. Winging it. I always say if I can do those 8 weeks last year when I had both kids and worked, I can do it again. Ha!

Grady at Nannie and Poppa's checking the pond out!

This young man always gets comfortable here. He LOVES being here. 

The best pizza - mushrooms, onions, sausage and sweet peppers!



Molly Anne slept on the top bunk for the first time! Big girl growing right up! She wanted Grady to sleep on the bottom bunk but that didn't happen. He slept in my brother's bedroom. 


On the chair - yikes! 



They've both loved playing the piano over the years!



We always make a stop at the zoo!


Standing like a flamingo.





Grady didn't like the bears or bison too much. Look at him checking them out as he runs down the bridge.



These flakes have been super fun for them to build with this week. They both like them at ages 3 and 6.



Very relaxed while I was on a call. 


Triple trouble.



Lunch at a local spot. Key Lime crushes, cream of crab soup and a shrimp salad sandwich. Deliciousness.





Nannie being a retired teacher and helping Grady with his pencil/crayon grip!



They have been obsessed with the rocket that was launched from Wallops Island, VA. We got to see it as it blasted off to space. We could see the swirly clouds it made in the sky. It was super cool. The kids have loved watching it over and over on Poppa's phone. We had to make a trip to Barnes and Noble to get Grady a book about rockets! Molly Anne picked out a Junie B Jones book about going into First Grade! ;)



The love of a golden right here!


He loves each of them beyond!



It was a wonderful trip as usual! Until next time Nannie and Poppa!

Best Weekend

We had the BEST weekend in OIB. Probably our most favorite yet because all of our friends were there and it was just the three families. One family has two girls, another has two boys and of course we have one of each so it's always 3 girls and 3 boys. Ha!

On Friday I drove from Maryland to OIB and it was a longggg haul that time. I got stuck in a lot of traffic in VA Beach. We stopped one time there and then didn't stop until we got to OIB 5.5 hours later. I told the kids that they were CHAMPS in the car. They seriously rocked it and I was so proud of them. On the way up we only stopped once too. Whew gone are the days of hour long stops to feed bottles to babies and change diapers. It has definitely gotten way easier to travel!

Friday night we got there just in time for the weekly concert. This time Legacy at Motown Revue was playing and they were awesome. Probably my favorite band yet!

The children all played on the playground. 

Check out how beautiful it was!  We took the kids home and put them to bed then Kevin sent me over to our friends Steve and Ariel's house to hang out. He was like go have fun and it was too much fun. Their neighbors were also over there and we hung until midnight - too late! But it was fun!

Saturday morning Molly Anne slept in so Grady and I headed to our favorite place - 59 Causeway. Then to Publix to pick up a few things. 

Then we spent allllllll day on the beach with the whole crew!






We decided it would be a genius idea to take all four families (including our new friends) to Jinks for dinner! We typically always cook or bring dinner in but this time we went out for something different. 



Table for 16 please! Kids at one end and adults at the other. Grady is the youngest of the crew so honestly it's pretty easy to go out now. Shirley temples for all of them!





Couple of the dads took all 8 kids to get Sunset Slush and to the playground. Two other dad's went to sheffields to get playground drinks and the mamas headed to the perch for an orange crush!





Came back and this had happened...the godfather let this occur hahhaha! I'm sure the OIB visitors were highly impressed but Grady was so happy and whatever right?!! Too funny.



This picture and the one above will surely be in his rehearsal dinner slideshow!



Sunday morning started with the mamas working out then we went out on the boats. It's good to have two friends with boats! Both of our children LOVE going out on it and I grew up going out on my parent's boat every weekend. How long until we have to have one?! 





Name of this boat is the Fishin' Physician! 



This picture is a long story but I accidently dropped something down in the hull of Drew and Hilary's boat and Kevin asked Steve to help him get it out when we got to Inlet View for lunch. My goodness. It was solved by Steve and I was so grateful. 



Beached up at an island and played for awhile. 

Molly Anne and I headed over to see my friend Ashley and her family who are in town for the week. They have a pool so that was super fun for Molly Anne to get to play in! And we loved seeing them!

Ended the day with Maria's pizza and popsicles at our house!


And fishing off the dock. And then jumping in to get the cast net that I dropped. Always good times. We have zero fun if you can't tell!



Kevin got up at 5am and went back to Charlotte to work. We got up a little later and had breakfast at 59 Causeway then loaded up to head home. Back to reality!


Our friend Steve happened to be there too and snapped this picture before I knew he was there. I love it though. This is one of our fav spots!

Happy Tuesday everyone! 

Carnival

On Monday evening we headed to a local fireman’s carnival that is a very old tradition in the area. We had a ton of fun! (wearing my belt bag ha!)

I can’t say I loved being on top of the Ferris wheel for an extended time with a three year old while they let people on and off. I was pretty thrilled to get off at the end of our ride. The kids loved it. Molly Anne called me a scaredy cat ha!!

Picking ducks with Poppa!


Tilt-a-whirl is always our fav and we always ride it! I think this may have been Grady’s first tilt-a-whirl experience! He loved it. 


The professionals at making it very whirly!


Always a carousel ride or two with Poppa!



This carnival is famous for their soft shell crab sandwich and oyster fritter. I must say, the oyster sandwich was pretty amazing and Dad said the soft shell was good. I couldn’t decide so went with what I couldn’t get anywhere else. I’ll be back next year for this goodness ha!








A great time at the local carnival!