Our Ocean Adventure

Last month we loaded up the van and hit the road! Traveling in a 5X10 foot space with three children
six and under is not for the feint of heart. Sixteen and a half hours later we were all laugh-crying
ourselves out of the sardine can on wheels and kissing the pavement triumphantly....

we arrived in North Carolina!!!

You wanna know the first thing I saw? A COCKROACH as big as my head.
#holdme

The drive actually wasn't bad. We brought so many snacks. Like so many. And an entire SEASON of
Curious George which was promptly ingrained into our brains. We also stopped at Chick-fil-a and
let them drink root beer and run off energy in the germ-infested play place. Parents of the year!!!
Yea. We like to live it up around here!!!

If you're looking for travel tips -- that's my best stuff, you guys. Gold.

Seriously though -- no lie -- my kids are awesome and traveled so well; all things considered!!

Anyway. It was amazing to visit my sister, Nellie, and her little family!!! We stayed at their house
for a few days before we headed to the beach --- where we rented these little houses that made us
next door neighbors for the first time in our lives! It was magical. 300 feet from the ocean. Maybe?!

You could hear the waves. See the view from bed. I would have been ok moving in. Let's just stay.
We would walk over this little boardwalk and BAM: the Atlantic Ocean!!!

Everyone had so much fun playing, eating, beaching, napping together!!!
I love the cousins together! Makes me happy.

Our kids learned to boogie board. Heck, even I learned to boogie board! The ocean actually
ripped my swimsuit off down to my waist and I lost the house key (that was tucked in said swimsuit).
It was epic. Very liberating experience.

I will always remember the LAUGHTER of Bella when she met the waves for the first time.
The JOY on Zay's face when he would catch a ride on his board.
And the ENERGY that is Judah, "Today is a good day to surf, mom." -- with that hair of his!
I can't even. Lol.

We took home suntans as souvenirs.... and buckets full of shells that smell like rotting crabs???!
I make the boys keep them out of the house. Except for the ones we made into merman necklaces....

So radically cool, dude.

Love my people and my sister and her family!!!
Glad we could share an ocean adventure together!!!
Take me baaaaaack!!!

A String of Sundays

This year we decided to take vacation time and just BE.
It was like 10 Sundays all in a row. No planes to catch, rental cars to pick up,
clothing and menu planning to be done... we just put everything on hold and did whatever
we felt like doing! It was glorious. I highly recommend stay-cations.
It's amazing what magic you can create in your own backyard with the people you love.



We took walks and rode bikes.
We went exploring and swam like fish.
There were picnics and family naps.
There was time to read and watch old movies... Cary Grant, anyone?! *swoon*
We took time to help others and tend the garden.

So refreshing to just be still and let the world spin by.







We stepped into a small town and got lost in the coziness and familiarity of a slower pace.
4th of July fireworks in the country are the best.

There was the scent of popcorn and the music of laughing children in the air.
Friendly faces were spread across the lawn as "stars exploded" (according to Judah) over the fields.
It was their first time seeing fireworks and the awe in their eyes is testimony to that.





Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July holiday!
Know that you were on my heart and mind - in my prayers -
as I enjoyed my string of Sundays.

I am blessed to share this space with you
and am excited to be back!!!