Beach Week

Corbett Beach Week -- one of the highlights of the entire year. This was our fourth year going, and the first time Logan got to stay the whole week! It was such a relaxing, happy time being at the beach and with the family. It always ends a little too soon, but oh boy it was great while it lasted. I was in a funk for a few weeks after beach week -- kind of needed a vacation from the vacation. ;)

We were there Saturday - Saturday. The weather was great and we played hard every day. My favorite moments include going out on the surfboard with Logan, the Corbett 5K, ultimate frisbee game on the sand bar, playing Mafia as a family, watching the kids play in the sand, and girls day in Southport.

Here are some pictures from our week (a little out of order, but you get the idea):

 all packed and ready to go -- the kids were troopers (even with little leg room)!

the view from our bedroom -- LOVE!!

annual group shot after church

I have a picture of them playing cards from last beach week. 

So fun to see the difference -- Hud has gotten so much bigger!

Love this kid! 

She's such a cute beach baby! 

They loved playing in the sand together. 

Pretty much all the sand and water they could possibly want.

And way too many sea shells

Girls date in Southport, NC

walking the beach after dinner

crab trapping with Gramps

feeding seagulls --Amelia loved this! 

last day there and a family picture

the kids with Grammy and Gramps

I need to get the rest of the pictures from all the family, but you can tell how much fun we had. Corbett beach week is such a special time and I hope the tradition lives on, even if the rest of the family is in different parts of the country. We certainly love the time together. You can check out previous beach weeks here - 2013  or 2012 or 2011 (kind of fun to see the changes through the years).

Until next year, beach week. :)

Summer Odds and Ends

Before I post about the annual Corbett beach trip (the last hurrah before the summer ended), I wanted to post about some of the other "little" things we did throughout the summer. I will just let the pictures do the talking....

Summer concerts at Romare Bearden Park

our first 5k together -- ROC Race (obstacle race)

Playgroup feeding horses and picnic down by the lake

Playing so hard Hud fell asleep outside

At Discovery Kids in Huntersville -- we love this place!

I've been obsessed with having fresh flowers in the house. It helps that a cute Asian family sells them up the street. I would grab a bouquet every now and then throughout the summer. Gorgeous, huh?

 We made a quick trip to Raleigh to see friends. It was a fun reunion. 

 We went to Logan's company picnic at this really cool venue, Carrigan Farms. The kids loved getting their face painted, the caricature drawings, and moon bounces. I only wish we had gone swimming in the quarry; it looked so refreshing! 

 Hud didn't want to take a bath after we got home. 

He kept saying, "I want to be a tiger foreverrrrrr!"

 We were able to meet daddy for lunch a lot during the summer. It was always a treat.
The kids love pizza from Fuel. 

 We went to a Charlotte Knights baseball game one perfect night. It had just rained, so it wasn't too hot or humid. We were able to walk to the ballpark from our house. 

We spent a lot of time indoors at Imaginon (children's library) and Discovery Place (children's museum). 

We have been putting the new red wagon, Hud's birthday present from my family, to good use.

The kids love it (especially Mia from this picture). 

Freedom Park (one of our favorite parks) 

Girls' trip to Williamsburg

Lucky me. I was able to have my FIRST ever weekend away from the kiddos. I know. I can't believe I've waited this long. It was much needed and long overdue, so I am very glad it worked out. BIG thanks to my awesome husband who held down the fort with the kids at home. He did great and the kids loved having him all weekend.

My two best friends from high school and I decided to do a girls' trip a few months ago, and we thought beginning August would be the best time. Unfortunately, my sweet friend Angelina was not able to join us. We missed her so much! Anna and I had a great time though. Can you believe it was my first time to Colonial Williamsburg (after living in Northern VA for most of my life)? Yeah, I couldn't believe I missed out on this gem when I was living so close.

What a beautiful place with so much history and depth. I really enjoyed being there and having Anna (she's been a million times) as a pseudo tour guide. We had such a fun time shopping, exploring, eating (Aromas and Christiana Campbell's were my favorites), and catching up. I love that girl and I'm so glad we are still friends after all these years. Thanks for a fun, relaxing trip Anna! Love you!

yeah, I know -- all my friends are taller than me

 Thomas Jefferson actor - he looked and talked like the real deal, pretty cool 

 eating dinner at the delicious Christiana Campbell's Tavern

still craving the crab cakes

Walking babe

While the Corbett family was visiting for Hudson's birthday, Grandpa Corbett was determined to get our little Amelia walking. She was already pulling herself up and walking along the couch, so gramps made her practice often and a few days after they left -- she did it all on her own! I was kind of hoping she would take her sweet ole' time (I'm in no rush for this sweet angel baby to grow up), but I also wanted her walking before Corbett Beach Week (more about that soon).

It was perfect timing. Everyone was ready for a walking babe, Amelia included. So, she did it. At 10 months old. She was so very proud of herself; see for yourself...

Videos to be posted soon (my computer is being awfully slow with the uploading)!