OBX

We decided to take the scenic route from Charleston to the Outerbanks of North Carolina, alon US 12. Pretty nice lots of farms and a few quaint coastal towns. We broke it up as we were not due at our friends home until Frida, so we stopped in the cute town of New Bern, NC, and discovered alot of historical places dating back to the 1700"s including a reminant of a church where George Washington himself worshiped. Next morning we are off to Whalehead Beach, at the very northern tip if the outerbanks. I am talking where the GPS just doesn't want to calculate, and wild horses roam deserted beaches. Where some areas are only accesible by 4 wheel drive. Upon our arrival we were welcomed by our great friends the Heslins, and her parents beautiful Oceanside home, respectfully called "At Ease"!!!!!!!! Love flowing from this place and, felt like it was our very own vacation home, where we were welcomed w/ ice cold beers on the beach, and grilled burgers, and hot dogs for dinner. We have soaked up every ray of the sun, and truley enjoyed our time on the beautiful beaches. Along w, great food, and lots of wine, and crabbing, and touring the local light houses, and just lots of laughs, both for the adults, and the kids(who have gotten along quite well) We do have 7 of them under one roof!!!!! They have loved learning to boogie boared, and the secrets to catching crabs. I can NOT say enough about the hospitality and great time we have had! Tommorrow takes us to Washington D.C. and I am sure lys more to blog about! I leave you with pictures!!!!!! enjoy!!!!!!

Road Trippin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sit here and it has been 4 days into our trip and I have to say.... wayyyyyy fun! I had planned to blog before now but honestly this whole discovering parts of this amazing country that we live in thing has left us in a few stops with GASP.... no Internet connection! well, that and just plain old tired, I mean the kind of tired that when your head hits the pillow, you don't move for the next 8 hours! The kids have been great, and as long a we stick to our plan of stopping and finding some fun town to walk around in, and discover, they are easily amused. We left Naples Wed. morning around 5 a.m.(yes, that is how we roll) kids slept in the car till around 9! Fed them breakfast of healthy powdered doughnuts, and OJ. This held them til Lunchtime, which was perfect because we had just crossed the Fl/Ga line and it was time for gas. we stopped in the town of Cumberland Island GA., had some sandwiches, and went and took a peek at the National Seashore and the quaint town of St. Marys. then we rolled on to Charleston, our first destination to explore and our overnight stop. All I can say is "hello, cuteness" This town is just adorable, with all of it"s quaint homes, and shops. We took a stroll along the water, and then thru a local park. We landed in this great restaurant/ pirate museum for dinner where we dined on local favorites, of she-crab soup, stuffed collards, shrimp and $3.00 beers for mom and dad!!!! Then we just walked around and took in this town that is soaked in history dating back to the early 1700's. Saw actual civil war sites, and walked where our forefathers walked. Hit the hotel(by the way the Holiday Inn in Charleston Historic Dist. ROCKS) around 9:30 and we were all sound asleep by 10:00! ( I know party animals we are) Leaving you with some pictures of Charleston!!!!

Wedding Bliss

Olivia

took alot to get this picture

wedding cuteness

It was GRAND! It was GORGEOUS! It was sooooooooooo FUN!!!!! My niece got married! This is the same little girl that was 5 when I started dating her uncle, the same little niece that I had walk down the same isle in the same church for my own wedding. The same little niece who I have had the pleasure of watching her grow up, and (sob, sob, sob) become a beautiful young lady! I will admit, I saw her for the first time as a "grown up" only this day! Until July 11th she was still our "lolly" I watched her walk down that isle and she literally was growing up as she got to that alter! She was beaming as she married Jesse and still had that sweet giggle that only those who know Holly, know what I am talking about. Her flower girl was our Olivia, and I have to say, she was in her glory! she went to get ready w/ the bridesmaids, and loved all of the excitement and fun to be had! This was a bonus for me, because I got to be there when Chet got a look at his daughter the bride for the first time! Let's just say, lots of sobs, he had to walk out of the room and compose himself at one point, but it was so tender and sweet! Olivia enjoyed her ride to the church in the limo with all of the girls, then she was a champ! She walked down the isle like she had done it all before. Jackson read from the bible, and I have to say he was quite impressive! He even had a previous teacher of his in the congregation, and she was boasting to all how great he did(thanks Steph). After a few pictures, we headed to the reception where the real party got going! I absolutely LOVE and ADORE my husbands family from NY, and they came down for the wedding!!!! We danced and chatted and laughed ALOT!!! I am adding more pictures because I couldn't fit them all in this post!!!!! Enjoy!

10 YEARS!!!!!! WHAT????? Where did it go? 10 years ago today, I became a mom for the first time! Not just any mom, but Jacksons mom! Life has been one big ride with him every since that day! This is my boy, ALL boy All the time!!!!!!!!! He is great at every sport he touches, he is kind and has a big heart! He has compassion for all things living, LOVES any kind of pet, even the creepy crawly ones! His favorite hobby, other than sports is fishing! He tries his hardest in school and with a lot of determination, keeps up good grades! He is fun! But most important, he loves his mama! I am blessed to be his mom, I am honored ( and a bit frustrated at times) to get to call this boy mine! He has God in his heart, and a magnetic personality! They say you forget when they were babies, well not me , not yet. I remember his 1st 4th of July, just 3 days old, holding him and watching the fireworks out his nursery window. I remember his breath and the way it felt on my chest, I remember the way his little body slumped on my chest and the was his full head of jet black hair felt against my chin! Ohhh! the joy of watching him grow! It just keeps gettin better!!!! Happy Birthday Jackson... may your every dream, wish and hope come true!!!!!!!!!!