Beach 2010: Part 2

We decided to go out and play at dusk on our

last night there and I'm so glad we did!

The sun was setting, the beach was almost empty

and it was the perfect way to end the week!

Beach 2010

This will probably be one of a few posts as there is a lot to share from our beach trip with my family a few weeks ago. We had fun seeing everyone and spending the week together. However, this year was a much different trip for us. Last year Graham was in an exersaucer and was stationary. This year he was mobile, which meant not so much of a vacation for mommy and daddy! :) That's ok though...his wonder and excitement about his first true beach experience was more than enough to make up for the lack of R&R. We tried to capture his every reaction...so much so that after our trip we realized we have mainly pictures of just him. Oops!

He enjoyed walking up and down the beach...

...and LOVED the waves once he figured out how to stand...

...but wasn't a big fan of sitting in the sand or having it on his hands...

...and we spent lots and lots of time at the pool. He loved playing with toys on the steps.

Introducing...

...Ava McKay!!
Our little niece was born on July 15th at 1:53 pm!
She weighed 8 lbs 6 oz and was 21 inches long. She is adorable and already sports her own hairstyle. We are so excited to get to know her and watch her grow!

I love this pic of LG holding her baby sister for the first time!

Another Important Birthday

This is the year of milestone birthdays in my family.

My dad recently turned 60 so to celebrate,

we threw him a dessert party on the 4th of July

complete with family, friends and his favorite desserts!!!

...

Waiting for guests to arrive...

So glad we got to celebrate with you, dad! Love you!

Speaking of Enjoying...

...he sure did enjoy this ice cream sunday!

Grandpa's Birthday

Hello! It's been a long time since I last blogged, I know.

What can I say? It's been a busy summer.

But, there have been a few exciting events over the last two

months that I don't want to go unmentioned. So, even though this

post is long overdue, I wanted to share what has been going on.

....

At the end of June, my grandfather turned 90!!!

What a milestone birthday it was and we celebrated in style!

My aunt came to town and we took him to Village Tavern for a

family dinner. Then we had cake at his assisted living home

with the other tenants. It was such a fun day to be able

to celebrate him and his life!! And I think he enjoyed it!

Least Favorite Thing

Weekend Away

A few weekends ago we went to Boone/Blowing Rock with some of our best friends from college. We had such a great time hanging out. We hiked the rock colony, ate some good food, enjoyed a few rounds of catchphrase on the deck of the house, and just relaxed. It is so fun for us to see our friends love on G and to watch him interact with them. Thanks guys! Hope to see you soon!

David trying to teach G how to skip rocks.

Meredith and David

Wow.

Must have been a good nap!

Swim Lessons

We signed G up for swim lessons as something to do with dad this summer. Both are loving it so far...

My Boys!

These are from the weekend we planted flowers. We had a great Saturday outside and P pulled out a lawn chair to relax at the end of the day. Graham decided he wanted to sit in it... so P had to get another one! Warms my heart to see pics of my boys!

It's been a while...

Okay, honestly I love reading blogs. I love checking in on friends' lives and seeing what they have been up to. I love seeing pictures of kids we know doing something new or fun or exciting. And I was so excited about starting our own blog - yet I get stuck with what to post. Sometimes I feel like the details of our life are somewhat routine and so it's been a while since I posted anything. But, here goes...I am attempting to start posting more consistently!

The past month for us has been really crazy. I took two trips (one to visit my grandmother and the other to a cousin's wedding), P and G had their first father/son trip (to the mountains of course), and we did some fun things around here. I planted lots of flowers (a project we have been wanting to do for a while) and pulled out G's water table for the beginning of some summer fun!

One of the flower projects completed...

A Little Trim

Graham's hair had gotten long but I kept thinking "oh, it's his baby hair, no need to cut it yet." Well, when the back of his hair started blowing in the wind, I knew it was time. Last week, I took him to our friend Jackie and she gave him a little trim. I know this sounds silly, but I got emotional thinking about how the haircut would change the way he looks. Luckily, Jackie was able to trim the long pieces and leave everything else as is...so he still has baby hair, at least for a little bit longer. I loved seeing him in the chair though...he looked so small.

Movin' and Groovin'

My brother pulled out his guitar last week while we were at my parents' house. Graham was definitely feeling the music and I caught a couple videos of him groovin.'

Saying Goodbye

This past week I had to say goodbye to my beloved grandmother. She fought congestive heart failure for three years and last Monday night, two months shy of her 89th birthday, she moved on to her eternal home. There are so many things I am going to miss about her - her genuine concern for others, her compassion, her sense of humor, her contagious laugh, the way she shook all over when she laughed, her cooking, her macaroni salad and peanut butter fudge, how she always asked about Graham, the birthday and holiday cards she sent every year, the things she used to say, the way she took care of my Grandpa, how she was never without her makeup, how she used to laugh about her double chin and the flab under her arms, the way she was such a peacemaker between family and friends, and how she loved to sing (she sang in the church choir for 40 years). I will forever think of her when seasoning green beans, playing a game of uno, or eating necco wafers. I feel so blessed to have had her in my life for as long as I did and I can only hope to one day be as good of a wife and mother as she was. She touched so many people during her lifetime and is such an inspiration to me.

She asked that the following poem be used at her memorial service. She was always so humble and this poem paints the perfect picture of who she was - I can hear her saying these words because this is what she would want.

Miss Me - But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little - but not too long
And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me - but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone

It's all part of the Master's plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart

Go to the friends we know

And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds

Miss me - but let me go.

Love you and miss you Grandma!