Endless Summer Part II

I am finally getting to the beach pictures! I was hoping to have this post done much earlier, but I got behind when a lightning strike took out not only our modem and wireless router, but also our oven, microwave, and worst of all, our air conditioner. It took a week to get everything back up and running. We did have our AC back fairly quickly, but not before we had to stay one night in a hotel because of the heat. Once everything was back to normal, we had to start getting ready for Will's birthday. He turned four yesterday, so my next blog post will be new four-year-old Will photos. In the meantime, here are some pictures from our beach vacation. I picked Jon up on our sixth anniversary, July 31st. He flew in to the huge Fayetville, NC airport, and we proceeded to join his family at the beach. We shared a house at Cherry Grove with Jon's parents (Ed and Caren aka Grandma and Granddad), his sister Wendy, her husband Geoff, and their two boys, Brady and Zach. They each invited friends, one of which was Jon's cousin, Joanna. We also got to spend the week with Wendy's lifelong friend, Lora, Lora's husband Gary, and their daughter, Ashleigh. SO it was a full house, but Will and Brighton had all kinds of playmates, which they loved! Will was completely enamored with Ashleigh, and he followed Zach around like a puppy dog. It was a very fun week and a fantastic vacation spot! Thanks Grandma and Granddad (Popes and Kites too)!

We had a great time doing all sorts of beach activities.

Daddy got to "relax" (relax=playing with Will constantly and sometimes both Will and Brighton)

Will, Daddy, and Brighton had help from Brady, Zach, and Ashleigh digging holes that were quickly washed away by the tide.

Will tried a little boogey boarding.

Will collecting shells with Grandma and Granddad.

Time-out for a belly bump.

Brighton and Mommy smile for the camera. We spent lots of quality time together.

Brighton and Mommy waiting on "The Big One"

Brighton and Mommy swimming in the shallow water.

Brighton giving Mommy a shower.

I did get a little time to myself. The surf reminded me of childhood vacations to Ocean Isle Beach where my dad taught me to ride the waves like a pro (a pro canvas-float rider, of course)

Wendy, Geoff, and Joanna need to learn that no one is safe when Jon gets his camera out.

Will and Zach racing--cue theme from "Chariots of Fire"

Ashleigh joined in the race to the tide pool.

Will needed a short rest and then...

...let the fun resume.

Will gets airborne :)

I've seen that look before...watch out!

Here she comes!!!!

Will even got Uncle Geoff in on the fun.

Will and Brighton's audience. We walked to the inlet in the evening. It was fun relaxing in the huge tide pools. And the beach was so wide! The kids had a ball.

The only inside picture I have! This one came from Grandma's camera, and Grandma was very happy to be with four out of six of her grandkids. The week was full of activity, and by the time we got all cleaned up, we forgot to take pictures!

So much activity made for very sleepy kids...beach naps are the best!

Endless Summer Part I

This past Saturday, we returned to Louisiana after being gone for five weeks. On July 1, we left for my parents' house at Smith Mt Lake. Jon was able to take off for a whole week, so for the first time since working at Ferguson, he was able to spend a week at the lake. For the July 4th weekend, my parents hosted Jon's parents as well as his brother's family (which was a total surprise for us). Amanda, Matt, and Callie joined us as well as Amanda's inlaws, Steve and Dreama, and sister-in-law Michelle. We had a great time with everyone, and it was especially sweet to see Will and Jake playing together and Brighton, Sophia, and Callie all together. The girls are all very close in age. There was plenty of spoiling going around! Grandma and Granddad stuck around for a few days following the holiday, and Amanda and Callie were around for a couple days after that. We then had a couple more days of vacation before taking Daddy to the airport to fly home to NOLA. He joined us for the last week of vacation spent with his family in Myrtle Beach, but here are the highlights from just our lake vacation. There were only 1000 pictures to choose from, so I had to post as many as possible!

Will checking out a baby bird...he helped Nana and Matt take care of the bird until it finally flew on its own.

Brighton immediately set to pruning Nana's flowers, a task she kept up during the entire vacation.

Ahhh...it's been a long time, SML.

While we were taking it easy on the boat, Nana and Papa were monitoring our little sailors.

Will got a promotion to Captain. He and Brighton took turns driving the boat this year, but Papa actually let Will steer by himself some.

Brighton and Sophia bonding on the fourth of July. They haven't seen each other in a long time.

The Schumacher boat ride.

Will and Jake have the best time together! They got to see Will's Papa's fireworks display, fish, and...

whatever it is they are doing here.

Papa calls Brighton a Louisiana Mugwump

Callie and Brighton in their pigtails.

C and B in their matching July 4th dresses taking a wagon ride in Callie's suped-up Radio Flyer.

Mugwump enjoying the mud.

Bonding over a love of gravel.

Will rescuing Granddad in the lake.

Brighton and Grandma enjoying a beautiful day at SML.

Brighton Rae

Callie Mae

Not everyone was so happy to have their picture taken.

A Taylor family pic before Aunnie and Callie headed home. They came back before the kids and I left, but we had a few days with just Nana and Papa.
We took lots of walks...

and some boat rides too.

Showing off/Embarassing myself!

I love to ski!

Daddy is more of a novice skier, but he did finally get up!

But Daddy is an expert tube-rider. We finally convinced Will to try it, but the tube broke! He was done with all things tube-related after that...maybe next year.

This is a rare moment. Brighton really just liked to swim on her own...Miss Independent!

Will loved jumping off of the dock by himself, but it was even more fun once he recruited a partner...

Will loves his Daddy!