The End of Summer

September has a way of sneaking up on you! Our summer was filled with vacationing and fun, so before it turns to fall and there are other fun things to update everyone on, here's a little bit of what we have been up to this summer.

Jeremy was on vacation from work from about April until September, and since that has not ever happened before and will probably never happen again, you better believe we took advantage of it!

Our first stop was Daytona Beach and Orlando, Florida where we spent time with family, hung out at the beach, and went to an Air Museum, Sea World, and Downtown Disney. The kids had a blast!

Our first stop at the beach, fully clothed, because we just couldn't wait to go and get in the sand! 

At the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville. 

Waiting for the whales and looking at the fishies at Sea World!

Kirsten became a princess for a day at Downtown Disney's Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. 

Our next stop was to visit family in Tennessee on the way to Arkansas. We had so much fun catching up, the kids love, love, love their cousins, and we appreciated their hospitality in the midst of our journey so much! 

K and J jumping and playing dress up at the same time?!? Little girl heaven!

Trying to get four kids to sit still on the couch and smile at the same time is nearly impossible, but I thought this was a pretty good effort! 

Our next adventure was to Charleston, SC. For some reason I had it in my head that Charleston was eight hours away from us here in Little Rock.

I. Was. Wrong.

When we got in the car at 6am, I was in for a shock when I typed the address into our gps! Nevertheless, eleven hours later, we had a fantastic time catching up with one of Jeremy's best friends since high school and meeting his wife and son for the first time. It was an adventure, and you all know how much we love those!

The kids exploring downtown Charelston and playing in the fountain! 

Our next trip was up to Pennsylvania to visit with more family. The weather was so mild for the middle of the summer! And we were very blessed to be able to see and catch up with Jeremy's sister after not seeing her in a few years! 

Gorgeous double rainbow off of Jeremy's parent's back porch. 

Posing like the flamingos (Grandma's favorite!) at the animal park!

Idlewild Amusment Park! The kids had a blast, and Kirsten and Auntie Em bonded on the roller coasters!

Riding with Grandma on the Trolley at the Trolley Museum in Washington, PA.

And what trip up to Pennsylvania is complete without a tractor ride? Joshua and Grandpa had a great time together!

On the way home, we stopped and saw Matt and Jenn in Ohio and met their little guy, Andrew! The last time we were all in the same room together was at their wedding, back before these cute little kiddos joined our families!

 

 

Our final trip of the summer was a trip just for me...something that I've never done before! Plane rides have never been so relaxing! Jeremy held the fort down at home while I flew back to Florida to see my best friend from high school and go to our 10 year reunion. The weekend was relaxing and so much fun! 

Although we had a great time being able to visit so many great people this summer, most of all, we were blessed to have a fantastic summer together as a family! Three years of overseas living, a very high ops tempo, and then pilot training have taught us to appreciate every single second of family time!