Family Reunion

This weekend is my mom's dad's side of the family, family reunion. I get to meet family that I have never met. It was a whirlwind weekend.

Friday: went to my Aunt's house. This is the house that my mom grew up in. This is the only house my aunt has ever lived in. We had dinner and a bridal shower for my cousin Tara. Aks about the really scary mommy moment with the two dogs.

Saturday: Reunion It was held at a park. Ryan and Grace loved playing with all the kids. Grace did have an accident- she fell and cut her leg and got a little blood on her leg. It must have scared her because she wet her pants at the same time. Poor thing.

Sunday: We went to our family church in the country. This is a really small church- only 9 pews on each side. It was built by family in 1928. Then we went out to our family cemetery. This is where my grandparents on my moms side are buried and where my mom will be buried. Believe it or not the kids loved going through and learning about our past.


Sunday night the kids and I went to dinner with an old friend from high school. Jim was my prom date when I was a freshman. It was great catching up. He is married with a three year old. He was kind enough to let me borrow a stroller for all our sightseeing. Grace's little legs will be happy. Our stroller just could not fit in the car.

Half-way

Today marks the half-way spot. Imust admit the mama is getting a little weary. It could be the drama lately. Early this morning before the rest of the house was up, I started getting Ryan and Grace dressed in our room. Ryan was sitting on the edge of the bed watching TV and trying to get his shirt on. I was packing the suitcases when I heard the loudest bang I have ever heard. When I turned around Ryan was crying. He was also bleeding. He had fallen while his arms were inside his shirt so, his face stopped the fall. Hi lip began to swell and his nose began to bleed. I rushed to put clothes on and run downstairs for ice. Now the whole house was awake! Ryan is fine now, just a little bruise on his nose. It was very stressful for the mama, I hate emergencies! I just don't think I know how to react. My mom asshured me I did a great job. It is really amazing to think this little person is looking to me for assurance and help to fix the boo boo or problem and inside I am screaming," help, Jesus!". Thankfully, I have Jesus to run to.

So we packed our bags after a great home cooked breakfast and headed to Annapolis, Marylands capitol. It was and easy 2 hour drive, with a stoip at my favorite drive thru, Sonic.

We had lunch in Annapolis and walked around a bit. What a beuatiful city. Lots of old historical buildings.
Then we headed to Gaithersburg, where I used to live a long time ago. My step-father arrives today from Fl. I must say our hotel room is quite cozy with five us.

Beach and More Beach

Honestly, I think my kids could live at the beach. We went to the beach in the morning and the boardwalk in the afternoon. The water is super cold. Grace was turning purple. We rode a big ferris wheel and the kids road rides. We have eaten a ton of junk food, taffy, carmel popcorn, candy,etc. But I have also eaten a ton of seafood, YUMMY!

Moms friends we are staying with, it was his birthday so we went out to Fish Tales to eat dinner. This place is awesome for families. It is a bar/restaurant. The tables were inside and outside. On the outside it was all sand and bright picnic tables. Then there were seat hammocks all over the place. I had wish Dan and I were there relaxing in the hammocks with a pina coloda. Then there was a giant wooden pirate ship for the kids to play in and an arcade. You could actually have adult conversation! It was fun. After the kids went to bed, the adults stayed up back at the house til 1am talking and solving the worlds problems. They are great people and was a wonderful night of conversation. Tomorrow we leave for the next leg of the journey.

To the Beach

We headed to the Beach today after 4 nights in Williamsburg, VA. We had a great journey that took us under the ocean in several tunnels and really long bridges. The kids were glued to the DVD player, so every time I said. "look at that" it was met with "uh, huh". The deal with the DVD is was at the destination it goes off, between the destinations they could watch it. And I must admit, I enjoy the peace and quiet.

It is alot cooler than I expected at the beach and the water is freezing but we have enjoyed buidling alot of sand castles and burried Ryana and Grace in sand. We walked the boardwalk and went on several rides at the boardwalk. The sunsets are gorgeous. My gift from God. I even got to,hold on now, sleep until 8:30am!!!! We are staying in a beautiful waterfront home that is the home of my mom's best friend from high school. They have been so sweet to open their home to us.

Grace and Ryan LOVE the beach. My mom and I have enjoyed the people watching. It is Senior Week this week. The last time I was here was for my senior trip over 20 years ago. How did I grow up so fast???? This was the first beach my mom took me to when I was about Grace's age.



Seafood at the over water restaurant.

                                            We bought some taffy and silly bands!

                                                                   Yummy,shaved ices!

Jesus spotted on the beach.

Colonial Williamsburg

I had a great time learning about our nations history at Colonial Williamsburg. The only bad thing was there was a heat wave when we were there. All I heard from Ryan was when are we going to get A/C. Grace was a trouper. I had no idea it was so spread out and her little legs had to do  alot of walking.

It was truly special to walk the streets and eat in the Tavern where some of our of our founding fathers walked and ate. It was amazing that through the reenactment the actually read the Bible. And right before Virginia decided to vote to become independent from Britain the leaders called a day of prayer on June 1st. They whole town and leaders went to church to pray. I wish our leaders today would go visit Colonial Williamsburg and remember where we came from and that we were founded on God and His Word.

The Palace

Guns and swords decorate the foyer. Obviously , the mad did the decorating on this one.

The Capitol

Ready to go home!

I am all wiped out!