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!

First Day of School

First day of school, first day of school!!! Grady is so happy to be back in school. He has been talking about it forever and the day has finally come. He is back at Montreat Morning school for three days a week, 8 to 12. He knew a bunch of kids in his class and was so excited to play with them.

I had to work at the park today. We had a huge group of home schoolers out for our big Home School Day. Josh decided to take off work so he could pick G up from school on his first day back. What a great Dad!! So, we all went together to take Grady to school, then I ran off to work. Myles got to spend some alone time with Dad. Everyone was super happy.

Ready for school

Hurry up, Mom!! Let's get going!

I had to add a few of little Myles. He will join Grady at Montreat next year.

No, he is not potty trained yet. He just loves to wear G's undies. Look at those chubby thighs.

Labor Day Weekend

What a busy Labor Day weekend we had! Josh had to work Monday so we packed as much as we could into two days. On Saturday, we headed to Hendersonville for the annual Apple Festival. It was SO crowded and if you all know Josh, you know that he does not do crowds. We were there long enough to walk around and grab a bag of tasty, local apples. Boy, are the they best apples! I was so inspired, I baked an apple pie when we got home.

That night Josh and the boys went over to a friends house for a BBQ while I headed to my buddy, Emily's wedding. A night out by myself....what a concept. We all had a great time at our respective events. Josh had to put the boys to sleep by himself for the first time....it went off without a hitch. Yipee!

On Sunday we woke up early and headed to Pisgah National Forest/Montreat for a hike. Josh's good friend from Colorado, Gus, came into town this weekend and met us there. His girlfriend, Lauren has friends in Asheville so they came to visit. It was fun catching up with them.

After our hike and Myles nap, we went to my favorite festival of all time, the Lexington Ave Art Festival. It's like a mini Mardi Gras, minus the parades and drunks. It's super kid friendly and hosts the best people watching. Asheville is crazy to begin with but this is Asheville on steroids. LOVE IT!

G and Moo at the Apple Festival in Hendersonville

Hiking with Lauren and Gus

Lauren was a professional photographer and took a zillion pics of the boys. She is going to send me a CD. It was like our own private (free) photo shoot. We had beautiful settings, Pisgah and the LAAF festival. I can't wait to see the photos.

The LAAF Festival in Asheville

Here are a few examples of the craziness that is LAAF

Look at these crazies!

Myles loves balloons

Lauren was trying to take a few pics of G in front of some great art but he was not cooperating. Too many pictures taken...he was finished.

Watching some crazy bike racing.

The boys were so tired by the end of the day they they passed out in the parking lot. It was definitely time to head home.

Late Summer Weekend

It was another beautiful weekend in the mountain of North Carolina. The sun was shining, 85 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. We spent Saturday at the Goombay Festival in Asheville, honoring Caribbean and African heritage. It's one of our favorite festivals in town. Great music and interesting food....awesome people watching too.

Sunday we went down to Chimney Rock Park to do some hiking. We took the Hickory Nut Falls Trail out to the bottom of the waterfall. It was a perfect day for a hike, not too hot. After our hike we had lunch with Emily and Joey and then ended the day with some splashing in the cool waters of the Rocky Broad River. I just love the last days of Summer!

The fam, by Hickory Nut Falls

Hiking to the falls

G and Dad

Dad and G found a dead crayfish. G was fascinated with it. We also saw a Dusky salamander and a garter snake. Wildlife galore.... great habitat for creepy crawlies.

Myles had to see the dead crayfish too.

College Reunion

The boys and I went down to Columbia, SC this weekend to visit with some of my best friends and college roommates, Lisa and Kristy. It was the first time all of our kids were together. It wasn't easy to get a conversation in with all the kiddos running around but we did manage to catch up a bit. There was a lot less beer and a lot more sippy cups than there use to be. Not like the good ole college days. Time sure changes things!!

When I got home late Sunday night I was exhausted. Having both boys by myself while on vacation was insane. When I say my kids are high energy, I mean they NEVER sit still. Josh couldn't come as he had to work. We missed him but he managed to get a lot accomplished without the boys wanting to "help"!!

It was great to see the girls and their families. Lisa and Chris, thanks for letting us take over your house for the weekend. Kristy and Marc, we are so glad you all could make it to Columbia. I loved meeting all the kids, they are awesome! What a great bunch of little ones. Let's do it again soon....with a babysitter!

Lisa, Me and Kristy


Cute little Lily.


Grady LOVED Lily! Here she is tickling him. It was so funny. She just sat right down on him and went to town. They were both squealing. On the drive home G said, "Can Lily be my sister?"

Lisa, Lily and Lisa's mom. It was great to see Lisa's mama as I haven't seen her in years.

Lisa and I took the kids to the zoo. It was 95 degrees and we were dying. Wooo, there is nothing like August in Columbia!!

The boys and I fed the birds. See the one on the backpack? (Do you see the sweat on my back?!!)

I tried to take this pic myself. Not so good.

Myles wanted to push Lily around while she napped.

All of the kids playing together. Riley, 5 and Phinn, 1 are Kristy and Marc's kids. Lily, 1 is Lisa and Chris's daughter. Too cute!

Look at all the blondies!

We all went out to dinner. Marc's friends met us too. I bet the waitress took one look at all the kids and wanted to run. Jon, my great friend, met us there too. G looked up at him and said "Jon, you are as tall as a house!"

G and Riley climbing on the booth. We were an out of control table.