Bye, Bye Virginia

After the worst travel day of my life, the boys and I made it home from Virginia. We were supposed to be home by 3:30 but ended up arriving at 10pm. It all started when our plane at BWI had some mechanical issues. If you know me, you know I am not getting on a plane that has any "issues". They grounded the plane and I had to find another flight via a 1-800 number (Gee thanks, US Air). We got a flight out of DC, an hour away. I had to lug the boys, a stroller, luggage and two car seats to flag down a cab and get to another airport. We had a layover in Charlotte then caught a plane to Asheville. The flight to Asheville was on a tiny plane and there was a monsoon coming down. Sweet, just what I needed a roller coaster plane ride, the perfect thing to calm my nerves. Great end to a great day!

The boys were amazingly well behaved....yes, I too was shocked! I let them wrestle all over the terminal and play ring around the roseys at the security area but at least they were happy (with only a few nasty looks from travelers). I only had one breakdown, when a very rude lady told me to move my bags and stroller out of her way. She did not know who she was messing with at that point! Woo, it was a rough one but after 12 1/2 hours of traveling we made is home safely. Mind you I say "safely" not at all sanely...if that is a word (I'm still recovering).

Anyway, we had a blast at Mimi and Papaws. Thanks for everything, Mom and Dad. We miss you already! Not only did we get to hang out with Mimi, Papaw and Uncle Will, we saw my friend Brooke, her kids and Ms BJ (my second Mother). It was a great trip despite the crazy travel.

Papaw routinely took the boys on ATV rides.

Dad joined in the fun. We even got Mimi on the ATV...funny stuff.

We were able to say good-bye to Uncle Will as he left for Brussels while we were there. He is going to be gone for a year, getting his Masters Degree. I'm so glad we got to see him before he took off.

My little garden elf

Myles enjoying the gigantic tv.

The boys spent hours in the pool. Mimi bought them little fishing rods which provided for great entertainment.

Reading a book with Papaw

This was a real treat...the TV. We don't have a tv at our house so the boys were psyched to watch shows on this one.

We went over to Brooke's house and played with all of her toys. It was like an amusement park! Complete with bounce house, pool, cars you can drive, and toys galore.

Kendall taking Myles for a ride in her pink car.

Plane Pull and Festival

On Saturday, we all headed to Dulles Airport for the Plane Pull and Family Festival. It was every little boys dream. There were planes, helicopters, diggers, rescue vehicles, cars, etc. for people to look at and crawl around in. The boys were in heaven. Mimi and Papaw were troopers, braving 95 degree weather and two crazy boys running around. 95 degree weather + a tarmac = HOT, HOT, HOT!

Papaw was a big help as he knew information about every plane there. He is also a car expert and filled Grady in on all of the antique cars. Mimi, as always, was her happy self. Thanks for being a sport on your birthday, Mom. We met up with one of my best friends, Brooke. Her kids, Kendall and Bennett were just as excited and my boys. It was an adventure for Grady and Myles, they loved it.

Mom and the boys by a huge cargo plane

We were able to go into several of the cargo planes

Papaw explaing this plane to Grady

Myles in the back of an ambulance. He was trying to hide from me.

Grady the Paramedic

Helicoper pilots

Checking out the old cars

Myles was running around the tarmac

Kendall, Bennett, Brooke, Grady and Myles on the People Mover

Early Birthday for Mimi

Hooray! Today is Mimi's 70th Birthday!! Yesterday, we started discussing a cake for the big day and the boys decided that they wanted cake right then and there. So, Mimi and Grady made the cake a day early and we celebrated as soon as it was out of the oven. Mom had intended to have a big party for her 70th but was having so much fun playing with the boys this week that she didn't want to plan a party. Also, the boys came bearing germs as well and Mimi caught a cold. Sorry....happy birthday. We love you, Mimi.

Mimi and G making her early birthday cake.

Mimi let G do the honor of decorating the cake. What a work of art! I love that the candles and sprinkles were in different areas.


Blowing out the candles. G had to give Mimi a little help.

That's good cake.

After getting icing all over themselves, the boys splashed in the pool.

Garden Time

Mimi's garden is magical! I can't believe it is so beautiful this time of year. She know just where to put things in order for it to be perfect. Much to my mothers dismay, I do not share her green thumb but I appreciate the beauty of flowers. Grady on the other hand, might have the coveted green thumb....or he just wants to do everything Mimi does.

The boys love to run around in the garden. They play hide and seek along the paths and run around like crazy men.

This is Grady acting like a garden statue

Mimi and Grady transplanting a few flowers. Grady is watering them with water out of the kiddie pool.

Following Mimi through the flowers

Myles loves the pink flamingo

Where's Grady???

There he is!! He's like a little garden elf, running from flower to flower.

Posing for the camera. You sure are stylin' in those flip-flops. Thanks Grandpa!

My pictures don't do my mom's garden justice.

Long Beach Island

We just got back from a wonderful vacation to Long Beach Island, NJ. We left NC last Friday night and headed up to Virginia to stay with my folks. We woke up Sat, threw Mimi in the car and continued our journey up to New Jersey where we met up with Josh's family. One of Josh and Nick's buddy from high school offered his family beach house to us for the week. It was a great little cottage on Long Beach Island, only a block from the beach. Perfect!!

The first weekend we were there I counted 16 people in the house. It was chaos but SO much fun! Our family of four, my mom, Shelley, Peter, Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Joseph, Nick, Carolyn, Nicholas, Connor, Carolyn's Parents, Carolyn's two sisters and a sister's husband made up the crazy crew at the house. Wow, I think that was everyone!

We had a blast hanging out with everyone. We ate and drank enough for an army and loved every minute of it. Grady and Myles had a blast playing with their cousins, Nicholas and Conner. My mom was thrilled to get to know Josh's family. The trip was a huge success.

Now, we are back in Virgina at my parents house. Josh is leaving today to head back to work. The boys and I are going to stay for another week and fly home next Sunday. We are going to miss Josh terribly but someone has to "bring home the bacon"!! We miss Josh's family already. We can't wait for Christmas at Gramma and Grandpa's.

The first thing the boys did was check out all the beach toys Gramma brought for them. Playing with Gramma is SO much fun.

Carolyn's parents and little Connor.

Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Joseph and Myles. Myles enjoyed the donuts they brought. They always come bearing goodies....sweets, toys, etc. Thanks, Nancy and Joesph.

On our second day there, we celebrated Connor's first birthday. I can't believe the little guy is already one. He was adorable and had such a sweet, calm personality. I could eat him up!

Happy Birthday, Connor

Birthday cake....yum

Mimi and Grady won the prize for being the silliest people in the house. Who else would smear green frosting on their faces?

Beach time! It was perfect weather for the beach. Not too hot, not too cold. Plus, there was hardly a soul on the beach. Josh and I were saying that we will never go back to the beach during the season. It is much better without the heat and the crowds.

Boys on the beach

Uncle Nick and Connor

Dad playing football with Uncle Nick

Grandpa and Grady playing in the surf.

Nicholas and Aunt Carolyn looking for shells.

Spinning!!

Relaxing after a long day at the beach.

The island's lighthouse.

The boys looking for shells by the lighthouse.

We climbed the stairs to the top of the lighthouse. What a view!

We really wanted a picture of all the boys and Gramma but getting four boys to sit still was impossible. This is the best one I took.

Gramma and "the babies" watching cartoons.

Grady and Nicholas had so much fun together. Here they are dancing with my ipod. What cuties!