Splash!

This summer we joined our local YMCA. We love the Y we go to on a regular basis - great childcare, outdoor pool, good classes - but we also get to visit other area Y's and access their facilities. Near Daddy's work there is a splash park at the Y...and we ventured down one evening with our neighbor friends!

Testing the water!

Waiting...

Our friend, J

We had a blast and can't wait to visit one more time before the end of the summer...maybe tomorrow if everyone stays healthy!

We May (or May Not!) Return!

I'm writing this to let you all know we are going camping...in a tent...with all 3 kids...for a whole night.

We may...or may not...live to tell about it!

And I promise...one post per day next week...we have so much too share!

Hello?

Yes, we are still here! We got home on Saturday from Mimi and Papa's...and I still have one suitcase left to unpack. I won't tell you which child's it is because someday they will read this and I don't want to pay the price!

Sassy came home with a yucky tummy and we had to deal with that.

Bruiser is just all out of sorts and we are dealing with that.

Tater is going to VBS(again!) every morning and trying to adjust to living in our house (with our rules) again and we are dealing with that.

Daddy is crazy-busy at work...and trying to adjust to having 4 more people back in the house!

My back went out (I wish it "went out" somewhere...rather than causing me this pain!) and I have had to shuffle children around, unpack, do laundry, visit with friends, help out with church stuff, think about going back to school in two weeks, and...basically...just live our life!

So, we are chugging along...most of the time! There are pictures and giveaways and reviews to post about...and eventually that will all happen! Right now? I'm going to survive until nap time and then crash on the couch with a heating pad and school work...relaxing, right?!?!

Summer Has...

...officially kicked my you-know-what! I haven't blogged in over a week...but I have some good (maybe?) excuses! We spent a week at the shore, where I had to "borrow" wireless service to even check my email...not exactly set-up for blogging! Then last week Daddy went away camping in Maine and left me home...alone...with the children. It was a BIT busy! And now this week we are at Papa and Mimi's house, enjoying the sights and sounds of my childhood...while my camera cord is back at home! So next week will be full of pictures and stories...I know, you can't wait!

Oh, and just wait! We'll be home for a week, have a quick camping trip planned (because we are crazy like that!), I have to get my classroom ready at some point, and then three out of the five of us have to head back to school (Mommy to teach, Tater to kindergarten, and Bruiser to preschool). Life never seems to give us a break or a moment to breath!

So my posts will most likely be spotty but things will settle down some day and we will return with some form of normalcy...so keep visiting and checking for that moment!

Bruiser Boy!

Sleeping through dinner on the boardwalk!

Looking "handsome" and horrifying Daddy!

Family Shots...And All The Attempts!

Riding the surrey on the boardwalk

Attempt #1

Attempt #2

The best we got!

And with Papa and Mimi!

Down the Shore With Papa and Mimi!

Sassy being, well, sassy!

Chatting with Mimi

Daddy's big hole...that he digs every time we go to the beach!

Trying for a family shot...

...until reality set in!

Even Papa helped with big hole...

...and he never did this when I was a kid!

Precious!

Filling the Days!

Like I said before...it was a heat wave! So we searched far and wide to fill our days until it was cool enough to go to the beach! Daddy, Pop-Pop, and Memaw took the two older ones to play mini-golf...or Bruiser's version of golf, which resembled hockey! But amazingly he did get a hole-in-one...go figure!

Then we headed out for the family fun day in town on Thursday...amidst the drizzles! Tater was especially excited about the pony rides...while Sassy got a bit frightened!

We ended our tour of the town with a stop by Bruiser's favorite spot...the firehouse! He had fun even though he got a bit shy when we put him in the truck!

Boardwalk Rides!

We seemed to have picked the week of a heat wave to vacation this year. So, while the sand was too hot to walk on, we looked for other activities to entertain our active little ones. One afternoon we walked to the rides on the boardwalk (and then had Pop-Pop pick us up in the car! Yes, it was that hot!).

Bruiser on the firetrucks!

Tater ringing the bell!

Riding the monorail train...that looked like Thomas!

Sassy with Mommy and Daddy on the train!

Riding the race cars...like the Whip.

Going on the big flume with Daddy...even Bruiser loved it!

There they go!

We Went "Down the Shore"!

We headed out on our first family vacation ever!

Here is the shot from our first ever visit to the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey.

Miss Sassy!

Taking a dip!

With Pop-Pop!

With Memaw!

Running from the waves!

Clinging to Daddy after taking a tumble in the waves...

Enjoying the boardwalk on Night #1!

There are more pictures to come...vacation was a success!