This is the post I've been waiting for....our very first family vacation! We had a really, really nice time. I do have to admit, vacationing with kids is not at all the same as vacationing alone with your husband or having a vacation with girl friends. It took us all a couple of days to get in a good groove (and for me to adjust some of my peaceful and totally relaxing expectations!), but in the end, I am looking forward to doing it again next year if we are able!! Although, I would also like one of the aforementioned vacations sans kids!! We were so happy that Grandma, Granddaddy, NoNo, and LoLo could join us for the first few days! Without further ado, our first family vacation--Ocean Isle Beach, NC:
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| Tommy demanded to go to the beach as soon as we arrived, and Granddaddy was more than happy to comply! |
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| Getting comfortable.... |
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| maybe I'll just stay in the sand for now ;) |
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| Ahhhhhh, sweet vacation at last!! |
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| Grandma and Tommy lounging on the porch overlooking the ocean! |
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| Ethan contemplating all the creatures he may meet at the beach :) |
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| LoLo relaxing with a mimosa at dusk! |
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| Honey badger stealing a much-coveted oatmeal cream pie!! |
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| Grandma spoiled the boys by giving them each a surprise goody bag for each day they were there! |
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| SPIDERMAN PJs!!! |
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| Ethan stripped immediately... |
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| They literally would only take these off to go to the beach (and, as you'll see later, didn't even bother one night!) |
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| Grandma walking the boys to the beach! |
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| Everyone look at the camera!! |
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| Grandma helping Ethy get his feet wet ;) |
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| Grandma pulling off the Jackie-O look quite nicely! |
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| Splish Splash! |
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| Granddaddy throwing out the challenge! |
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| Ethan found the mud... |
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| so did Tommy! |
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| I think someone is up to something..... |
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| Mud Fight!!! |
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| Haha, although it might appear at first glance that Granddaddy is wiping mud on Tommy's back, he is actually rinsing it for him :) |
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| "Don't worry buddy, I'll never let you fall....... |
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| WHOOPS!!! |
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| Grandma and Granddaddy enjoying a little R&R <3 |
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| Classic E here |
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| Had to take a classic butt-crack at the beach pic LOL! |
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| Ahhhh, this is the life! |
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| I love this little guy's crazy faces so much!! |
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| Looking for shells with Granddaddy :) |
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| Granddaddy giving shells to Ethan to put in the bucket...some made it, most did not :) |
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| Tommy and Grandma were worn out, and ended up snuggling up for a nap on the couch! |
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| Meanwhile, Laura was busy making us cocktails for later! |
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| Yummy spaghetti dinner made by Grandma (and, Nolan oh so pleased to be in the picture!) |
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| Gift #2.... |
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| Spidey water bottles! |
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| NoNo and Tommy enjoying a good laugh... |
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| and, a little post-kiss on the cheek smile :) |
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| At the beach after dinner--my favorite time! |
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| Tommy and Granddaddy having some man time :) |
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| Me and my tooterbear <3 |
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| Tommy had a blast playing with Granddaddy that night! |
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| Run Tommy Run! |
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| The ocean won this round--wet feet!! |
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| Pure joy! |
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| Again, the two "Toms" are first to rise and hit the beach! |
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| Life is good at the beach!! |
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| Love this one of Grandma and Tommy <3 |
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| We didn't even coordinate their suits on purpose! |
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| I love his little body running down the huge beach <3 |
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| Tommy attack!! |
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| GOTCHA GRANDDADDY!!!! |
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| <3 |
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| Back at it after nap with Daddy this time! |
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| Granddaddy kept a chair ready for Tommy :) |
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| "Granddaddy!!!" |
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| Welcome back, Tommy! |
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| Daddy has no escape :) |
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| It was so nice chatting and keeping cool in the ocean with Davey! |
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| Granddaddy scoped out the beach, and found out exactly where the sandbar would be so he could set up shop for the entire day--"Property of Granddaddy!" |
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| LoLo getting in the mix! |
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| MUWAHAHAHAHA!! |
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| Take that!! |
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| VICTORY!! |
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| After an incredibly short departure from Tommy (like to the steps), he decided to come back once he saw Ethan and Grandma heading out to join everyone! |
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| Grandma's got you Ethy.... |
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| JUMP!! |
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| Shoooooooo, that was a close one!! |
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| Time for a little snack :) |
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| Annndddd, gift #3 |
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| Binoculars!!! Or, as Tommy calls them, "Anocuwars" |
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| NoNo and LoLo getting jiggy with it! |
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| The happy couple :) |
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| Oh dear, a surprise gift #4 to wear the rest of the week.... |
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| SpongeBob PJs for Ethan... 0_0...thank God there's baseball on there to redeem SpongeBob! |
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| Tommy got some cute Elmo under the sea PJs, but as you can see, he refused to take off his other pajamas "because my name is Spiderman!"....ohhhhhhhhhhh, thanks for clearing that up!! |
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| I love this goof-ball!! |
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| RUNNINGGGGGGGGG |
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| Okay, this is the start of one of the most adorable series of pictures ever.... |
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| I know they're all practically the same, but how stinkin' cute are they holding hands?!?! <3 |
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| This was my set-up everyday during nap :) Thanks so much to Donna Howard for letting us borrow your awesome chairs!! It was so nice to just be silent and still and be in awe of God's creation. |
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| Nap's over! Ethy is in a break ;) It wasn't all fun and games! |
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| This cracks me up, Ethan started crying up there with me, and all the sudden, I see Davey and Tommy walking up and Tommy is crying too--Davey seemed so confused!! Hilarious picture though imo :) |
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| Look at that sexy man!! |
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| I love my gingey! |
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| He's a stinker, but he's irresistible! |
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| Ethan hung in there like a champ with the waves....when he actually got in the water that is! |
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| Also, as you can tell, the honey badger doesn't tan :) |
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| Tommy developed a fear of tasting salt water..... |
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| what a bubb rubb! |
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| Me, myself, and I with a yummy lemon italian ice at nap! |
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| I had to take this picture of my view from the chair, because the sky was sooooo blue, and not a cloud in it! |
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| Yay--Davey came to join me after nap! |
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| My three guys just chillin' :) |
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| My two pale guys! |
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| Daddy clearly has just won the race to the volleyball nets! |
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| I mean, what more can I add to this sight with words?!?! |
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| Who does Emi love?? |
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| Playing together...at least for a few minutes! |
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| I love my babies <3 <3 <3 |
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| Haha, this was a trip....this lady nicely stopped and asked if we wanted a family photo. Immediately, Tommy starts to cry and say he has to pee, and Ethan.....well, Ethy being Ethy...thus, this picture <3 |
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| Daddy tried SO HARD to interest the boys in building a sand castle!! |
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| Ethan wasn't having it...... |
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| I mean, it is his party, and he shall cry if he wants to... |
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| CRYYYYYY if he wants to!!! |
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| olololol...running away from Mommy because I'm taking his picture while he's being a cry baby! |
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| Keep on trying, babe! |
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| Tommy feeding the Orca some sand......because "we don't say kill"....thanks, Mr. Word Police |
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| What a goose! |
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| Love this one <3 |
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| LOL!!! Can you see the terror and concern standing in knee depth water?!?! |
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| Haha, Daddy decided to get some wind sprints in one night--Tommy obviously LOVED it! |
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| Ummmm.....Ummmmmmmmmm....you can't do that hon! We're standing at the water, and Tommy yells down, "I gotta go pee pee!".....before we could get up there, this is what was happening! |
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| So mad he has ketchup on his face here from dinner!!! |
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| Ethan's favorite beach activity--burying Buzz and Woody.... |
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| and recovering them later! |
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| Tommy's favorite activity was throwing seashells, and sometimes his bucket, into the ocean! |
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| What a handsome guy <3 |
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| Poor Woody...... |
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| Love my guys holding hands and looking out into the deep! |
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| Do not be misled, Tommy did NOT build these castles... |
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| that said, he and Ethan were more than happy to trample them (don't worry, they had been abandoned!) |
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| This is OUR STATE!! |
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| This would be one of the last times we would see our faithful friends, Woody and Buzz. For after the honey badger hid them this time, they were not to be found again! We've decided to make it a new family tradition to shallowly bury 2 small toys in the hopes that some unsuspecting child will joyfully happen upon them <3 |
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| Tommy just loved spending that special time with Daddy standing at the water's edge and throwing shells in together <3 |
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| And, again...the honey badger....in a break, and clearly not loving it! |
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| I LOVE this one...see Davey and Tommy in the background?! |
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| My hearts <3 |
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| Possibly my favorite picture...he just did not want to leave. He loved just standing there and watching the waves roll in. My little man and his big ocean <3 |
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| Ethan's hair was quite vivid against all of the cool color tones of the beach! |
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| Hahahahaha, Davey is trying to get Tommy to do something here, and Tommy is giving him the ol' folding of the arms treatment!! :) |
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| Bye Bye beach <3 |
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| "Look, an airplane!!" |
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| Brothers helping each other up.... |
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| across..... |
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| and down <3 |
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| Fairwell, Ocean Isle Beach, you provided us with some wonderful memories <3 |
As we headed out on Saturday morning, we decided to make the most of our trip home by stopping at the aquarium at Fort Fisher!
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| Standing in front of Fort Fisher Aquarium :) |
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| Tommy was a bit alarmed by the crocodile staring at him as we walked in! |
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| Tommy "feeding" the crocodile a quarter :) |
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| Ethan loved seeing the turtles! |
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| This joker was INCREDIBLE...look how massive this shark's jaw is--YIKES!!! |
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| The teeth were like the size of the boys' heads!! |
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| "jellyfish!" |
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| "Lobster!" |
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| I was pretty proud of the boys on this one--they actually wanted to touch the shark! |
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| Tommy might've been a bit too eager ;) |
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| Ethan was pretty mesmerized by the sharks swimming that close (and, they were allowed to touch them!) |
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| The boys LOVED the "Nemo" tank...it had all the fish just like in the movie. It was so cute watching them find each one, and proudly call out their movie name! |
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| "LOOK Ethan!!! It's Dori!!!" |
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| Another nice woman stopped to take our family photo <3 |
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| Okay, this was high up in the trees on the nature walk (the background is sky)...BUT, I cannot tell you how MASSIVE this spider was...I'm talking Aragog. If you look at the spider above it, that is like a normal sized spider!! |
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| A turtle pond!! |
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| The boys loved watching the turtles for a bit before we headed out! |
A trip back home wouldn't be complete without a stop in Burgaw to see Granny!!! Since we weren't sure how long we'd be at the aquarium, we told her not to bother cooking for us (a shame, really!), and to just meet us at McDonalds :)
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| Sweet Granny <3 |
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| Two of my favorite people in the world! |
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| I'll always feel like a little girl snuggling up with my Grandma <3 |
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| My Ethy <3 |
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| The boys were getting just a little punchy by the end of lunch :) |
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| Haha, Granny loved every second of it though! |
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My "cookie monster" when we arrived back home <3
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But, I couldn't leave you without this AMAZING PICTURE of our adventures at the beach.........
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| Happy Family Vacation 2013!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 |
Life Lesson: Please just take a moment to look at God's beautiful creation. There is nothing better to me than sitting at the beach, basking in His presence, talking and listening to Him. <3
Listen to the words of the Psalmist, David:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat."
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| Is there any other word to describe this than Glorious?? |
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