SWEET SUMMER TIME

     I am trying to get back into some sort of home routine - we just got home from a two week stay at the beach.  Barrett and I stayed the entire time (with the dogs and cat). Art, Brittany and Brooke were there on the weekends.  I was so glad that Brooke's flight schedule allowed her to fly from DC both weekends. It was so nice having everyone together TWO WEEKENDS IN A ROW.  I was a happy mom!  

    Before heading to the beach  I started stacking clothes up on my bed and getting things ready to leave Raleigh.  Lola knows exactly what is going on when I do this. She won't let me out of her sight. This time she laid on top of my clothes and stayed there.  She was making sure I didn't forget to pack her!

         Barrett and I got to the beach the day before Hurricane Arthur hit. Our beach wasn't under a watch or warning, but was preparing for A LOT of rain. 

     This is the calm before the storm……you obviously cannot tell from the picture, but it was very windy the morning of the storm…..

and the water was very high. This is a picture during the low tide. The water is as high as it usually is during high tide and it kept rising. 

It rained and rained and rained all day long. The water pooled and flooded the streets. 

The one great thing about a big storm is the beautiful sunset that follows the next day. 

     Art, Barrett and I watched the annual 4th of July parade. The other girls were not at the beach yet, but were on their way. 

 Finally, all of my girls were together this summer! Brittany (and BF1) drove from Raleigh and Brooke flew in from DC. 

We had a great weekend!

Friday nights at the beach, we have appetizers for dinner and either watch a movie or play games

We spent a lot of time on the beach and just hanging out at our house.

One of Art's sisters had us over for dinner. She has a condo near us on the waterway. 

(Art and two of his sisters)

     Art and the two older girls had to go back to work during the week. Barrett and I caught up on some craft projects, TV shows, shelling and reading while they were gone. But a few days later, when they came back, we decided to go to Southport for dinner (Brooke wasn't there yet). Southport is about forty minutes away from Ocean Isle Beach. It is a cute little town with restaurants on the water. Several movies have recently been filmed there. 

   

Brooke arrived later that evening and was able to stay for another three days!  

We just spent a lot of time together on the beach and outside during the day. Gotta love the lazy days of summer! 

One night we made shrimp and grits……so good!

Some friends (22 years) of ours came by. They are originally from NC also, but now live in Florida. They were at Ocean Isle staying with family.  It was so good to see them! 

I love seeing my girls together. I am amazed at how much they look alike now that they are older. Lola loves having everyone together too. She can't get enough of them and is usually right in the middle (or right on top). 

Charlie loves having everyone together too, but even family doesn't come between him and his naps.

      I am not sure if my entire family will be together again this summer. That really makes me very sad. One of the hardest things about everyone growing up is the lack of together time. It does, however, make our time together much sweeter.