Sun and Surf!

We enjoyed 5 fabulous days/nights at Carolina Beach, NC last week. We drove instead of flying and none of us went crazy! Score! So many fun memories made at the beach and a few made in the Griswold family truckster! 

First night we enjoyed the worlds largest pizza!

Mom spent hours making NC memory boxes for each grand kid to keep shells, sand, whatever their hearts desire in. 

Lovin the beach!

At the NC Aquqrium. The kids got to touch sharks, sting rays, amenities, starfish, and more!

Out to eat one night. I'm shocked Mikes eyes are closed! Haha!!!

Hannah photo bombing!

Buried in the sand. Too cute. 

One day we went hiking to find Venus Fly Traps, didn't find any! But we did see a WWII bunker and fiddler and ghost crabs. Oh and it was REALLY HOT!

Hot and thirsty kids after the hike. 

The 6 cousins. 

Ms. Sassafras IJ. 

Boogie boarding!

Beach time!

 One afternoon the 4 of us went to tour the USS North Carolina battleship. It was amazing! We all really enjoyed it. Porter is getting interested in history so this was really fun for him. 

Sitting on the anchor. 

Last night!

Family pic! I feel so blessed to have such amazing parents, sisters, brother-in-laws, and nieces! Great group of peeps!

We can't be serious all of the time! Ha!!!!!

Couple of summer camps, Rex and Ice Cream

Porter received a GC to Coldstone as a bday party favor (great idea!) so we had to use it a couple of weeks ago. My kids had no idea what Cold Stone was (the horror!) and they of course are big fans now! 

Rex helping Mike with paper work. Maybe one of these days I will get the office in order and decorated! Haha! Yes, that would be a moving box still sitting there a year later.......

Rex's new hangout. 

Stella did a 2 day Mermaid camp through Brownies with her friend Ella in Boone. She really enjoyed it. 

Stella, Ella and Ella's little sis, Anna. 

Their cabin

They chose bottom bunks next to each other. 

The week prior P spent his days at a Living History Farm camp. He loved it! He and a good friend from school were in the same group. On the last day they put on an ole fashioned circus for the parents. It was adorable! Taking a bow at the end. 

Porter as a " strong man"

P doing a magic trick!

His favorite day was "creek stomp day" he was a muddy mess at the end but that was his plan! :-)

The 4th

We finally had the chance to slip away to Okoboji this summer for the 1st time. We were all very happy to be able to celebrate the 4th of July with family and friends. 

Stella, Linda and Porter tubing!

P with sparklers on the 4th. 

Park across the street from the house. We didn't spend much time there bc the Mosquitos were SO bad with all the rain! But we did manage a few trips there. 

Cuddle time. 

We met up with the Ricklefs crew one afternoon! So much fun! 

Kids loved learning to knee board. :-) we hope to try water skies next, but they weren't on board with that this trip. 

Last night we celebrated Owen and Hadley's bdays! Heather and Jason hired a sno cone truck to stop by. The kids were in heaven!

Porter and Owen 

Kids lined up for their sugary treat!

P is doing a camp through Living History Farms this week M-F from 9-4. And ALL of the neighbor kids are gone this week! I've had such a good time with Stella the last couple of days. Normally she'd be off with her homies, but we've been chilling' and I've really enjoyed it. Today we spent a good 4 hours rearranging her room, organizing, tossing, etc. She wanted to move all her American Girl doll stuff to the basement so we did that many made an AGD area down there for to play. That freed up a lot of space in her room. She loves the new layout!