Summer Memories

The girls' summer vacation is winding down as they will be heading back to school soon. During the month of July, Savannah and Hadley stayed at Grandma Barbara's house at the beach for four weeks. (Tal and I visited the girls two weekends.) The girls loved spending time with Grandma and Gran, as well as Uncle Benny, Aunt EJ, and Harper. 

Savannah and Hadley enjoyed going to the beach, swimming in the pool, playing at the splash pad, bowling, cooking, shopping for new clothes, having sleepovers with their cousin Harper, swinging at the park, sliding down the water slides at the water park, and playing putt-putt. 

Thanks to Grandma Barbara for taking care of our girls, showering them with love, and making fun memories with them!

Walking to the beach behind Grandma's house

While Hadley was digging in the sand, she found several sand fiddler crabs and then watched them scurry across the sand. 

Savannah and Gran

Putt-Putt

Hadley got a hole-in-one!

Swimming at the pool

Hadley got some new freckles on her face this summer!

Grandma Barbara took the girls back to school shopping, and they wore a new outfit to church.

Silly Hadley

Hadley read aloud some books to Savannah at Grandma's house.

While the girls were at Grandma's house, I used some birthday money from my mom and Barbara to get a pedicure and massage at the spa. I enjoyed relaxing, as well as celebrating my birthday, the completion of National Boards, and the end of a crazy, stressful school year. 

When the girls and I visited my mom in IL in June, she gave me some antique blue Ball mason jars from my Great Uncle Howard. The jars coordinate nicely with our home's color scheme!

IL Road Trip: Part 2 (Family Time)

While the girls and I were in IL, we were blessed to spend time with Grandma Judy, Aunt Joy, and Gran Rowell, as well as see my lifelong friends Peggie and Sarah.

Savannah (12), Grandma Judy, and Hadley (6) 

Every day the girls and I played at the park, swam in the hotel pool, and went out to eat with family and friends.

Hadley helped Grandma Judy frost the chocolate cake.

Savannah had an infected bug bite on her leg, so we went to urgent care to get an antibiotic.

Grandma Judy put Hadley's hair in ponytails.

Sisters: Aunt Joy (visiting from Arizona) and Grandma Judy

We visited my grandma in the nursing home. Gran Rowell is 105 years old!

On June 28, the girls and I drove 13 hours from IL to home. We only stopped two times. The girls were excellent travelers, especially considering that we spent 26 hours together in a car in one week. We were thankful for safe travel and good weather on our 1,700-mile road trip through 7 states (North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois)!

Rural Kentucky

IL Road Trip: Part 1 (Great Wolf Lodge)

 From June 23-28, the girls and I took our annual trip from NC to IL to see our family and friends. On June 23, we drove 8.5 hours and spent the night at Great Wolf Lodge in Ohio. After a long day of traveling, we enjoyed relaxing in our comfy hotel room and burning some energy at the water park with 6 water areas. Our favorites were the water slides, family raft ride, lazy river, and swaying lily pads. 

View of the outdoor pool from our room

Water Slides

Hadley loved holding onto the cargo nets while she stepped on the swaying lily pads. She made it across the pool...without falling in the water!

Day Date

Today Tal and I enjoyed having a date while Grandma Barbara took care of Savannah and Hadley. After church, we ate brunch at a Norse brewing company (although we don't drink). I got the Viking burger, and Tal got chicken and waffles. After brunch, we visited a few stores and picked up frozen yogurt for dessert. As always, we loved having some alone time and adult conversation!

 

Everyday Moments

 Random phone photos from everyday life

I found Hadley's selfies on my phone.

Savannah enjoyed golfing with Tal.

Sno cones on a hot day

I turned our family selfies into cartoon characters.

Hadley and I cooled off at the local pool on a hot day. Hadley rode the water slide 6 times!

Tal and I met with an attorney and created our estate planning documents. We selected the executor of our will, our power of attorney, and our healthcare power of attorney. We also chose our beneficiaries and a guardian for our girls, as well as created trusts for our girls. Tal and I hope that we live a long time, but we have peace of mind knowing that our girls and our estate will be taken care of if something happens to us.