Susan and the kids flew back from Manila, and we left two days later for our summer family beach trip. We were minus the Gregory family and plus Sandy and Ken this year. It was a fantastic week with people precious to us and in a beautiful place. I took far too many pics that I am very attached to, so I'll try to keep captions short.
Short ride to the pool and beach.
Meet our paddleboard. This was its christening in the ocean! Ken and Sandy gave each other boards for their anniversary last month, so amongst the three boards, we all got in a lot of good times out on the water and on the marsh.
Watching Daddy.
Seven year old Ryan...
Scott had just turned nine the week before...
Taking a ride with Daddy.
Blythe graduated up to a safety seal float, and I've never seen so many teeth when she smiles- the girl loves her newfound freedom with floaty-less arms and is so proud of "swimming all by mySEF!"
Two four year olds and best buddies.
Bop Bop a.k.a. Superman- he was grandaddy to all and when Jake came back early to work on Friday, he added Sherpa and the only man there with three women and six kids. Bop Bop was an exceptionally busy, patient, wonderful man!
Sweet Ashley turned four the week before, so we celebrated with flower cupcakes!
The twins caused all kinds of havoc and chaos in the course of the week during naps and bedtime. First time not in pack n plays, stashed away in double closets, access to a bathroom. Think walking in during naps one afternoon to find a clogged, overflowing toilet, clogged tub due to combination of water and too much toilet paper. Jake walks in, they're soaked, baby dolls soaked, naptime books soaked, blankies soaked- and it's with mystery water- tub? toilet? no matter. Big trouble for twinsies. So they just about kill us with their antics during naps, then we walk in one night to find them snuggling together as they sleep in the hallway. Isn't that how kids are? You're fed up with them, then you're reminded of their exquisite preciousness.
Coordinating grandmas.
LOVE my girls!
Grammy with six of her nine.
Bliss. She's just as fearless this year as last. Which means she needs to have a floaty on before being inside the gates of the pool. ;)
Celebrating Scott turning nine!
Shrimp and grits night!
Morning. In fairness to Blythe, this is a morning after you go to bed with wet pigtails.
Sus brought back these hand-embroidered dresses for all the girls- the handiwork is beautiful.
The Elliott kids!
The grandparents before heading out to paddleboard through the marsh with the outgoing tide. I LOVE this picture.
Ashley and Abby Jane waving to each other underwater. Ashley, who has a pool in her Manila backyard, is a ridiculously amazing little swimmer, so a week with her at the pool progressed Abby Jane's swimming immensely.
Over/under seating for dinner at the pool our last night.
Thanks, Mom, for an amazing trip!
Before I get to the list, though, check out the website for my dear friend Mikelyn's new book, which is coming out very soon!! If it were available yet, it would be my next book of choice, hands down!
1. Same Kind of Different as me has a second book out...
2. Kisses for Kate (comments from two people)
3. Dietrich Bonhoffer
4. Elizabeth Musser: (comments from four people) Swan House, The Dwelling Place, Searching for Eternity
5. Anne Lamott
6. Annie Dillard: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
7. Dorothy Sayers: Mind of the Maker
8. Jeanette Walls: The Glass Castle
9. Jodi Piccoult's fiction (comments from two people)
10. Bel Canto
11. The Red Tent
12. Unbroken (comments from six people)
13. Killing Lincoln
14. The Robe
15. Lonesome Dove
16. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
17. Kathleen Grissom: The Kitchen House
18. The Space Between us by Thrity Umrigar
19. Hunger Games (comments from six people)
20. Promise Me
21. Andre Agassi's bio
22. The Mysterious Benedict Society
23. My life in France
24. White Like Me by Tim Wise
25. The Wedding Gift
26. Elizabeth Street
27. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
28. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (comments from two people)
29. The Color of Water
30. The Year of Living Biblically
31. Start Something that Matters
32. No Impact Man
33. Ayn Rands: Atlas Shrugged
34. Edward Rutherford: New York
35. Long Way Gone