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.

MEMORIAL DAY BEACH WEEKEND

We spent four days at the beach for Memorial Day weekend. 

The dogs, cat, Barrett and I left Raleigh Friday midmorning. 

Art left Raleigh mid afternoon.

Brittany and two of her friends left around 4:30 PM

(along with the rest of Raleigh that was headed to the beach).  

Because of soccer and my dad's surgery our spring weekends at the beach have been nonexistent.

It was so so SO good to get back there!

I spent Friday afternoon here….

on the back deck taking in the sun and sights of the canal.  

Our view of the canal is just about gone because of the palm trees. 

They are now blocking our view and need to grow a few feet taller so we can see the water from our rockers again. 

We also have a front porch that overlooks the street and other houses. 

I have four chairs out there and that is where I love to sit alone. 

I couldn't wait to hang my new "happy summer" flag and sit out there and unwind. 

Because of our schedule on Friday, we ordered pizza and sat out crackers and cheese

and everyone grazed and ate as theygot there. 

Meet Tucker.

He belongs to one of Brittany's friends and he came to spend the weekend with Lola and Charlie. 

They all got along so well and I loved having him there. 

I tried and tried to get that perfect picture of the three of them, but it was not going to happen.  

This is in our (little) backyard. 

Our neighbors have two dogs and this is the corner and section of the fence where they go to  meet up, gossip and argue. 

We had beautiful, humidity free weather all weekend

and

spent a lot of time on the beach. 

Barrett is reading the Game of Thrones series and I am so envious. 

I do not have her reading skills and interest.  

I would never start and book/series that long because it would take me forever to finish it. 

While I love reading, it makes me so sleepy. 

She can read and read and read………..

We put our hammock out by the canal, under the palms when we are there. 

Three pages of a book, the sound of the water and I am out…..

….like I said, it takes me forever to read a book. 

I planted all of my flower pots over Easter weekend. 

I was worried that they would be all dried up and dead since we haven't been able to be there, but they survived and looked pretty good. I guess there have been enough thunder storms and showers to keep them going.  

I have BIG plans for that pot of basil on the right, some garlic and shrimp! 

I have hydrangeas finally!

There are no deer to eat them there!

They are one of my favorite flowers. 

We planted them and landscaped this side of our house last year and I am loving it!

 I don't care that the calendar says that summer isn't quite here yet.

It is for us. 

Barrett's last day of school is tomorrow and we will be beach bound again tomorrow at 3:30. 

Happy summer!

COOL BEACH DAYS

The last time we went to the beach was Easter week. 

Barrett had the week off of school and she, I and the dogs spent it there.

With all that has been going on, we just haven't had the time to get there, 

but we are going this week! 

Easter week was a bit cool there, but we still enjoyed it. 

Lola is addicted to her soccer ball.  

She goes bonkers when she sees it and whines. 

She whines until someone will play with her.
She won't stop until you hide the ball from her. 

She was quite upset when it went into the canal. 

Art had to fish it out for her. 

The whole family was there.

Brooke and Mr. E flew in from DC. 

He fits in well. 

Art's sister came and spent the weekend with us. 

Shee fits in well with our craziness too. 

We cooked ribs in the smoker……

Charlie does not like to play with balls (or toys).

He likes food.

He kept peeping over the table when Art would take them out of the smoker to basted them.

He kept watch over the smoker. 

He was rewarded for his patience help cuteness! 

I spy some barbeque sauce on his whiskers! 

The weather is supposed to be really warm this weekend and I am so ready for it! 

I have been bound to home for so long,

I cannot wait to be beach bound!