Beach Day!

Since we decided on a camping trip this year, we planned a single day trip to the beach. Believe it or not, our boys had never been to the beach before this week. I know, I know, how terrible! We live so close to the coast and we haven't managed to get there in six years! Unforgivable! :)  We're just more of a mountains kind of family.  But even we knew we had to show the boys the ocean and all that sand!  So this was the year, and since we only planned one day there, we made the most of it!

Here are the photos to prove it . . .

And there ya have it! A perfect day at the beach! Maybe next year we'll spend several days there, and just maybe Mommy will get more than her shadow in a beach picture! :)

A Little Time Away

Here's a glimpse of what we've been up to while Jeff had some time off from work.

We took a 3-day camping trip with the boys and my brother and his wife . . .

 We spent quite a bit of time around the cozy fire since the weather was on the cool, damp side . . .

Drank a lot of coffee, both from the percolator . . .

and the French press . . .

Ate a lot, too, (and I didn't have to cook one itty bit!) . . .

Jeff even made my brother give it a try (I believe he's asking what to do next here) . . .

 

Eggs, bacon, and toast, . . .

 

S'mores, . . .

and Shoe-Fly Pie for Jeff's birthday!

We snuggled down in our sleeping bags and slept quite well, the second night, that is. The first night was a little rough - Garrett didn't sleep well, and so neither did we.  Carson slept soundly, though! :)

 

 And we got in a fair bit of exploring, too!

 

My brother and his wife took their kayaks out the second morning when the rain finally stopped.

Garrett and Carson took the kayaks for a dry run first (no pun intended!)  :)

  

Uncle Jerry thought he'd give them a taste of the rapids! :)

 

We had a really nice time camping and wished we could have stayed a few more days. More pictures to come, though, because we took a day-trip to the beach this past week, too! Gotta get the pictures up for the Grandmas! :)

August Rush

Can you believe we are almost halfway through August? Translated, that means, lots of swimming, bike riding, hanging out of laundry, aaaannnd, most spare moments spent scouring EBay for used home school curriculum as textbooks and supplies pile up everywhere! But I've found good deals and we are quite excited for this excessively hot summer to conclude and for a schoolwork routine to begin with crisp-weather activities sprinkled throughout the coming months! How 'bout you?  :)

It's been a blast watching the boys make great progress in the pool this summer (thanks to some very hospitable friends) as well as, our oldest ditch the training wheels on his bike and take off! Plus, due to the sudden death of our gas dryer, I have been able to enjoy the process of drying everything out-of-doors this summer, and it's actually been a good experience! I've never been more ahead of the laundry game! Who knew, clothes actually dry quicker in the hot sun than in the dryer for a whole lot less mula! :)

This summer my sweetie and I celebrated 10 years of wedded bliss, as well! Ahhhhhh! I am so blessed! Looking forward to many more decades spent with my loving hubby!

So, it's onward toward the next season of 2010 and I'm excited to see what the Lord has! Aren't you?