IMG_3363IMG_3389IMG_3360IMG_3357IMG_3341 IMG_3337

IMG_3332IMG_3334IMG_3336IMG_3330IMG_3320IMG_3315-2IMG_3322

excited to get to do a little photo shoot of Nevaeh in the mountains.  i love that niece of mine!  i can’t get enough.

IMG_3394

this is the beach where we have held our annual end of vacation cookout for over 20 years….our perfect picnic spot.

IMG_3403

IMG_3161

absolutely perfect weather, a spot to recline and watch the kids, i could have stayed forever…we all could have.

IMG_3165IMG_3386IMG_3164IMG_3168IMG_3158

seriously goofy

06.24.09

IMG_3471 IMG_3463IMG_3457IMG_3456

our annual tradition to visit the museum in rutherfordtown, nc.  we love this place!  the pictures tell why…

IMG_3209IMG_3212IMG_3226IMG_3231IMG_3234IMG_3236IMG_3266IMG_3271IMG_3277IMG_3279

loads of downhills to ride, diving to practice, a lazy river to lounge, exotic crawlies to find…meant a relaxing vacation was had.

IMG_2972IMG_3292IMG_2979IMG_3015IMG_2993IMG_3008IMG_3199IMG_3417

fam.camp.09

06.03.09

perfect weather (cool nights, warm days, not a spot of rain, and no mosquitoes, you heard me, none) + perfect friends (everyone had buddies to play with) = perfect memories.  hot dogs and marshmallows roasting on the fire, reading aloud in the tent after dark, plenty of woods to explore, a mountain creek, a lake beach, hiking and creatures to discover.  we should do this more often.

IMG_4566 IMG_4602IMG_4579IMG_4577

new goggles, very proud.

IMG_4541IMG_4540IMG_4556

guess who’s not happy?  you only get one guess.

IMG_4560

a very, very happy dog…look at that smile…outside with us the entire weekend with many little ones hugging and lounging on her constantly.

IMG_4614

smores and checkers.  life is good.

IMG_4604IMG_4573 IMG_4536IMG_4527

memorial.daying

06.02.09

IMG_4454-2IMG_4457IMG_4383IMG_4369

their own personal pool.

IMG_4471IMG_4470
happy birthday, grandan!!

IMG_4350

in case you were wondering what dillon eyes look like…hint: they’re HUGE.

IMG_4360

slumber party on lam’s playroom floor.  the stuff memories are made of.

the dog-cousins came up too.  they’re getting so big!  sydney loved the action.

IMG_4409IMG_4397 IMG_4411IMG_4425IMG_4419IMG_4424IMG_4435IMG_4430IMG_4428IMG_4450IMG_4444

remie and ruger were not excited about learning to swim.

IMG_4427IMG_4485IMG_4488

thanks to lam’s hospitality it was a wonderful weekend, full of yummy food, relaxing afternoons and water, water, water.  thank you God for the rain!

underwater

06.02.09

IMG_2998

so for our last field trip with our king’s friends we went to the ga aquarium.  good times.

IMG_3014 IMG_3028 IMG_3024

when we noticed that the penguins were off display we asked at the front desk and were kindly excorted to their temporary holding tank.  we had such fun watching them dive and swim right up close!

IMG_3052 IMG_3054

we also paid to see the titanic exhibit and it was worth it!  as we walked in we were given boarding passes with names on them.  the boys received male names and the girls females.  it was really intriguing to read about our lives and at the end of the exhibit to see whether or not we survived the disaster.  we were able to see actually clothes that had been preserved in a suitcase, dishes, a stateroom and a third class room all set up, touch an iceberg (really impressive to a four yr old), and see videos of exactly how they think it went down.  between all the dark halls and the moaning sounds of the ship, ethan was a little overwhelmed and had to be reminded that the ocean was far, far away.  IMG_3815

girls.night

06.02.09

IMG_2994

mandy organized a night out while she was in town.  such a fun night: la madelines for dinner, then coffee at cafe intermezzo.  a good, long chat. very nice.