It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Vacation. Real time away...relaxing, spending time with great friends, sleeping, eating and laying on the beach for 8 days. Oh my goodness, it was wonderful. We already can't wait until next year!

We met up with the Dormans and Coopers for our annual beach trip last week. 6 adults, 4 4-yr-olds, 1 2-yr-old and 2 1-yr-olds in a great big beach house! We always make such great memories! This year included Darcey picking flowers from the stage during the Shannon Tanner show, Greer learning to climb out of her pack-n-play, "Po-nanza," the landlord, "Lyle! You better sleep with one eye open!" and many more. So much laughing...it's just so easy and fun. Just what we need to get ready to start up a new busy school year!

The first night, 5 of the kiddos enjoyed a dip in the big jacuzzi bath tub. They get along so well...always taking up right where they left off the last time we were together.

On the beach...it is impossible to measure the value of great friends!


Family beach pic. Gehrig wasn't really into the whole say-cheese-and-look-at-the-camera thing all week.

The whole crew!

Precious.

Brittany & Lauren came to babysit the last part of the week, so the adults went out for a couple of nights without kids. So nice!

Beach pics...Greer and Gehrig.

Our fam.

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The Coopers.

The Dormans.

Love them!

The kids love Brittany and Lauren!

Our last day on the beach. :(

And if you're bored, check out the slew of pics in the beach gallery on the right! Goodbye summer!

Teaser

There are MANY more to come, but we couldn't help but share this cute pic of Greer with her sweetheart Bo, walking on the beach. Adorable.

Cousins Camp

Bebe, Megan & Nathan came home with us from Atlanta for a few days. It is so cute to watch the cousins play together! They always pick up right where they left off and have such a great time. As they get older, the differences in their ages is less apparent. We hope they are always good buddies.

Swimming one evening.

Music class.

All grandkids with Bebe.

Enjoying snocones.

Bathtime!

And finally, our drawing Greer...signing "sorry" to us after she colored on her chair with marker. Thankfully, the washable kind!

A Day on Peachtree

As promised, the story of our 4th...

We have been wanting to run in the world-famous Peachtree Road Race for a few years, but it always conflicts with FCA camp. Since the 4th fell on a Saturday this year, we could do both! After making the trek from St. Simons to Atlanta on Friday, we enjoyed a carb-loading dinner and crashed at Bebe's for the night. (Except that I didn't sleep because I was still sick!) Bryce, Jessica and I left around 5:30 to head down to the race. Jessica had a number in time group 2, B in time group 4 and me in time group 9.

(Lesson #1: Submit a time to get in an early group. Huge difference in starting at 7:30 and 8:56!)

It was amazing to see what 55,000 runners look like! Excitement was in the air and music played everywhere. We were armed with our bib numbers, kleenex and cold meds...but:

(Lesson #2: Bring your own safety pins to this race. There is no table that has them for you. Much thanks to the nice people we bummed them from in the potty line.)

After waiting in line forever to use the lovely portable potties, we bid farewell to Jessica to start her race and moved on back! (B nicely offered to run in my group with me since you can move groups back, but not forward.)

Meanwhile, Bebe and Slade were awesome to pack up the kids and come out to cheer us on! They said the kids were great. It was fun to have them there. Jessica ran by them before B & I even started the race!!


In Piedmont Park.

Waiting for Mommy & Daddy.

Here comes Daddy!

And finally...

After the race...

In front of the masses!

Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice dip in the pool at Bebe's.

What would the 4th of July be without watermelon? Digging in...

After much needed naps, we made our way back to Peachtree to enjoy the Lenox fireworks. They were beautiful and wonderfully coordinated with the patriotic music. We are so thankful for our freedom!

Greer was a little hesitant at first, but grew to enjoy the show.

Bebe made Greer's cute dress! And Gehrig LOVED the fireworks show.

A great busy day, full of thankfulness and family and love for country.

Last Week, Except for Saturday

As soon as B finished summer ball the last weekend in June, we left for our 8-day, multi-stop first vacation of the summer. I would calculate the miles driven, but I am too tired! Here's documentation of the first couple of stops. First up: a visit to my dad at the coast.
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The kids helped Papa drive the boat.

Riding to breakfast.

The kids and Papa had such a great time together.



Greer couldn't make it home for a nap!

Tic-tac-toe at dinner.

With Dad.

Sweetness.

After Dad's, we left for FCA Coaches Camp in St. Simons. First though... A high school BFF, Jacy, was in St. Simons for the week too! We were able to grab lunch and meet her sweet Brynn. I could've held her all day (if Greer would've let me)! She is so cute and a visit was long overdue! We are looking forward to doing it again soon.
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With our girls.

We rarely take many pictures at camp...and always wish that we had after we're gone! It is just such a busy week and we are hot and sweaty most of the time!! Camp was wonderful as always, spiritually encouraging and uplifting. A couple of our friends who are also coaches went with us this time and four of our students went to the leadership camp held on the campus simultaneously. Other than me being sick the whole week and a major storm and power outage, everything went very smoothly. It was so fun to catch up with old friends and meet new ones too. If you're a coach, you should go! If not, help support a coach near you to go! It prepares B for the new school year like nothing else could.
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The Gs and Peyton Wilkins checking out the view.

The last night, we get to go out for dinner without kids! We so enjoyed the time with Chris & Rebecca, Davey & Amy (FCA Camp buddies) and Brad & Angie (new friends)! It was probably the only time we were all clean and showered at the same time this week! Haha!

And as is tradition, we visited the water park while we were there. Papa and the Aultmans met us there again for a great time! It was hard to leave!!





We picked on Eric, calling him our "manny." He is a great friend and co-worker for B and is awesome with our kids. We can't wait to return the favor for him and Jessica one day.

Gehrig & Anna Leigh had a blast at dinner afterwards!

From St. Simons, we drove to Atlanta on Friday to prepare for the Peachtree Road Race and 4th festivities with the fam. We'll post pics from the rest of the weekend soon! June gallery is up.