Summer Update

We love summer!! So thankful for the time to relax, recharge, be lazy, play games, be unscheduled, go to the beach, the pool, and just live without the schedule that will come soon enough. 

Lily handed out programs at the 2017 graduation for her high school.

 John was out of town for Father's Day, but we celebrated with my dad at his house for a tasty brunch.

We took a leisurely walk on the boardwalk after dinner one night.

Fynley has kept us entertained with lots of time snuggling and playing with her.

Lily worked as a counselor for the same summer camp this year and enjoyed her time working for them. 

Shelly volunteered at a local farm for the past few weeks. She did a great job helping with the campers and the various animals---goats, chickens, horses, and bunnies. She even assisted in the goat yoga activities.  

John bought a jet ski and we have had a great time with it. Lily completed her boating certificate and is now feeling confident enough to drive the jet ski and enjoys the wind through her hair out on the water. 

Shelly went to NC to have her braces taken off. We are all super excited for her. She had her braces on for almost exactly two years (July 23, 2015--July 20, 2017) and has been the perfect patient. Shelly has handled it so well and made numerous trips back and forth to Greensboro over the last year. 

Lily and Shelly put their Enos up in the front yard and have enjoyed hanging out in them in the evenings. 

Shelly and I visited the Norfolk zoo and loved it. So many great animals and super clean and inviting. 

We went to a Tides baseball game and had a fun time on an unseasonably comfortable evening. 

We visited the new Waterside and walked around to check out the restaurants. The girls also stopped at the Fudgery for a little dessert. We took a stroll over to the new hotel and checked out the Grain located at the top of the hotel. Great views and fun setting. 


Lily and I took a road trip to James Madison University for a tour of the school. We were both very impressed and loved the school. We stayed the night at Charlottesville and stopped in Richmond on our way home. 

We've spent plenty of days (and nights) at my dad's pool. The perfect place to hang out on the warm summer days. 

Lily's friend, Claudia, came for a 10 day visit. She was the perfect guest and Lily loved having her here. 

The girls, Claudia, Krissy, and I all went to Busch Gardens for the day and had a terrific time on the roller coasters. 

Lily had her first official senior event. She had her portrait taken for the yearbook. Wow, this is all just about to begin. 

We took a super fun cruise to the Bahamas and I'll post more about that later. 

Hoping to pack the remaining summer weeks with plenty of thrills and excitement. 

Friend Time

Last week Lily had a good friend here visiting from North Carolina and we packed the week with all kinds of fun activities. Shopping, parasailing, Busch Gardens, the beach, seafood restaurants, watching the sunrise, and The Mermaid Factory kept us busy. It was a great visit and we can't wait to see Tay Tay again. 

Busch Gardens

Lily went with a friend and her family to Williamsburg this past week. They went to Busch Gardens and had the opportunity to visit the park two days in a row. 

Lily was a little apprehensive about all of the roller coasters, but after just a short amount of time at BG she was officially a roller coaster girl. She loved it and we can't wait to go back this summer. 

Lily and Ally

Mach Tower

VB Trip

We headed east to Virginia Beach for our niece's high school graduation. While we were there we also hit the beach, swam in grandpa's pool, did a little shopping, ate great food, had an adventure in Busch Gardens, and had lots of fun family time. 

Daisy road tripping

Pretty Cousins
Chelsea, Sofia (the graduate), and Lily

Chelsea and Lily

Graduation party
Playing at the slide

Shelly playing

Hanging out with Ava

My sweet Lily

Girls reading

Cake for Ava

We were also fortunate to spend time with my dad on Father's Day. So thankful for my pop!!! He's one of the best!!!

Krissy and Shelly on the carousel

Lily 

Fun times

Bumper cars on the Autobahn

The battering Ram

Cousins on the Battering Ram

And, also grateful to have such a super husband who is an exceptional father!


A little interesting side note:  while at Busch Gardens, we went on the Roman Rapids ride (a wet one) and proceeded to ruin my phone and camera. Hence, the lack of photos of the second half of our VB visit! Ugh. Oh well, what's done is done, right???