Back from Nags Head

We are on our way home from Nags Head tonight.  After a great week, I am looking forward to being back at home and of course, our bed!  Another relaxing beach trip only this time with Logan's family and some friends.  We shared a house with Todd, Erin and Cedar and Holmes and Linda stayed with Clare and the girls. We had wonderful weather and always a breeze even on the hottest days.  River loved having Emy and Charlotte to play with at the beach.  I really think that kid could play for 10 hours at the beach and never get tired of it.  Although it was hard for him each day to leave around 1:30 for a shower and nap, his body needed the rest after all the sun and running around in the sand.  Riv did lots of bike riding and walks with Logan and I.  After leaving tonight he cried for awhile saying, " I really miss the beach cottage and really want to go back."  It was sweet.  There were a few things River said this week that were just so precious that I wanted to jot them down before I forgot.  One night I went in to check on him after putting him to bed and he said, "mommy, I just cannot sleep.  I want God to come here."  Today, he heard me tell Logan that my lower back was really hurting me and he said, " mommy, just ask God to help you."  I guess we are doing something right as parents b/c River knows when someone is hurting or in pain, we ask God to heal them.  It is just amazing how a 3 year old has to remind us to do so sometimes.  So, I asked God to "help my back."  

After dinner tonight, I looked across the table at Linda (Logan's mom) and said, "Linda, you know we are leaving from here to go home..."  Her eyes swelled up with tears and said, "No."  I didn't think she had remembered so I offered for her to take Mason  for a short walk.  She was so appreciative and took him saying, "It has just been so wonderful having everyone together."  She was crying and grabbed my hand and whispered " I love you."  It was a sweet moment.  A bittersweet moment.  One that made me smile. I do not know what is going on in her head at times with Alzheimers but I thank God for how much she cares about family and how much she loves her family.

I lost my Uncle Gary yesterday.  My dad's brother.  Mom called me at the beach to tell me.  He fought cancer I know for atleast 4 years.  My dad brought him to Harrisonburg a few years ago when I was pregnant with River.  A very dear man.  Sweet man.  Little man.  He has had a tough life.  Was in the army.  Such a hard worker his whole life.  Just a sweetheart.  I will never forget his smile or laugh.  He never had much money at all and when he left to head back home from his visit with us, he bought me a dozen roses.  I was so appreciative b/c this is someone that did not have the money but had the huge heart!  It was a weird goodbye for me b/c it was like I knew that would be the last time I would see him until heaven.  With all of this going on now, I just hope and pray that I will always be close to my family because life is short on earth.  I thank God that we are close and love one another.   That is what matters.

July 4th at Crabijeans

 We met Mom and Dad and Chris' family at Crabijeans for 4th of July.  We had such a beautiful weekend and the water was very nice.  I took turns pulling Logan and Chris on the tube on the back of the seadoo.  It was always fun to look behind and see that they were no longer on the tube, just dumped in the water!  Fireworks at the water are always so amazing b/c we sit outside and have atleast 8 different shows to watch across the water, and of course, our neighbor next door does a display. The only downfall was getting eaten alive by the bugs.  Dawson, Marley, and River loved to fish and all caught fish.  It was a huge deal baiting the rods and casting that weekend.  I got some amazing pictures of that on my mom's camera only.  (unfortunately).  But, here are a few from that weekend anyway.  

 

Colorado Trip

We had the opportunity to go with Logan on a business trip to Colorado.  I never get tired of looking at those gorgeous mountains.  God is awesome!  Overall, the boys did great sleeping in hotel rooms.  Mason was usually found in the 

bathroom (half in the tub) in his pack-and-play.  It made for interesting night visits to the bathroom.  HaHa.  I planned something fun for the boys each day.  A few of our highlights were visiting "Garden of the Gods" and the Zoo.  Of course, we enjoyed the hotel pool.  River was always in his life jacket and Mason in his floatie.  It was nice to get away and spend time with Logan while he worked!  Very fortunate that we could go!

June Beach Trip

We went to the beach in June this year with GaGa and Poppa and all the family to Corolla.  We stayed at a 3 story house with a pool.  Our first year for a pool with all the kids and it was a huge hit.  We spent most mornings taking turns either staying at home for the babies (Chloe and Mason's) am nap or taking the older ones to the beach.  Then back to the house for pool time before naps.  We loved laying by the pool during naps..gotta love those monitors! Enjoyed walks, bike rides, and just great quality hangout time with the family!  We continued to have each couple cook one night for all 15 of us this year and went out the other nights.  Pizza in one night.  The kids dug up sand crabs everyday at the beach and Marley and River were constantly pushing their huge matching dumptrucks full of sand everywhere.  Abby and D loved to ride the boogie boards close to the shore. We also took the kids to a nearby lighthouse and climbed all 15 stories.  River did so with no problem.  No surprise there.  It was hard to come back...but then again, it always is!  Another wonderful trip with the family.