July ~ Hitting the Open Road

Ode to being late!  But alas, I have gotten around to SOME of my summer pictures!

July, you were hard on my back!  I drove over 3700 miles, saw 11 different states and 4 different capital cities.  All I can say is wow.  America is a beautiful country.  God's creation is really stunning!

The month started with my sister flying down, only to turn around and drive back north with the kids and I.

 

Pit stop in Kansas City = Dinner at Cracker Barrel

We made it to Fargo!  Everyone was relieved to get out of the car after 2 long days, especially Auntie Ash.  In all fairness, it's hard to jump into a car with 3 kids for 2 full days when you are not used to it.  CRAZY road trip!

 

July 3rd was BG's big 4th birthday!  

 

Uncle Troy is in charge of candles!

Uncle Nick always has cozy blankets readily available.

 Fourth of July drinks poolside.  (The blow up pool was in the yard.  It counts.)

A trip to Fargo always includes a trip to the farm.  The boys had a photo shoot with every single tractor they could find...(that equals lots of pictures.)

 

 Grandpa Roger and the kids going for a spin.                         A moth I found hanging out on a door.

BG got a tent for his birthday, so we put it up!

We visited the Fargo Air Museum in Fargo with Auntie Ash, Ethan and Grandpa and Grandma.  It is really nice inside and has lots to explore.

Camp out with Uncle Nick on the deck in the backyard.  Lots of memories were made!  Nick was the only one willing to sleep out there.  He deserves a medal!

We had so much fun visiting eveyone.  I haven't organized the photos from Montana yet, but when I do, expect a kaleidoscope of pictures! 

June ~ Full of Firsts

Oh June.  I love the month of June.  The end of another school year, beginning of summer, warm sunshine, barbeques, family trips; the making of memories.

I love looking back at pictures and recalling family trips, birthdays, weddings, time with friends.  Though, in all of our family trip pictures, none were of just Nate and I.  We had never been on a vacation, just the two of us, since our honeymoon in 2004.  June brought the first one in almost 9 years!  We flew to Orlando, since Nate had a work conference there.

We would have gotten a day and a half to ourselves before his meetings began, but we both got the flu when we arrived.

There was a NCIS marathon on our "sick day"

 Thankfully, it only lasted 24 hours, but by the time we both recovered, our fun together days were over.

     

 I, on the other hand, got to enjoy the resort all week by myself, while Nate worked during the days.  It really was a relaxing week for me.  I read, laid by the pool, napped, and took walks around the resort.  It was fabulous, even if it was a little boring.

 Here are a few pictures of the resort and "my pool" as I referred to it.

          

          

                                                     I laid at this pool every day, all day.

We did get to play a little bit.  We had dinner out at Bob Marley's restaurant and got to experience Universal Studios.  It really was fun!

     

This was my last day to enjoy the pool.

                Hogsmeade, for all my Harry Potter fans!                                        Hogwarts Castle & Nate

We really did have a good time.

So on top of our first vacation alone, I had my 31st birthday.  I didn't throw a big bash or spend the night out on the town.  (I'm too old to stay out that late anymore!)  We did, however go out for dinner at Johnny Carino's and enjoy some time with friends and family.  My in-laws were in town watching the kids while we were in Florida, which just happened to be right around my birthday. 

June was filled with memory making moments.  We are very blessed to be able to go on vacation and spend time together.  Go make some of your own memories!

Blessings!