Beach! Wedding!

 The rest of July was good. The girls did a dance intensive and Curtis went on a bike trip so it was just me and Brandon hanging out for a few days again. We spent time with the Wiests and did piano lessons after we got Curtis off on his trip and then Thursday we went to the wharf and Brandon kayaked around for two hours while I sat on the dock and watched. I didn't feel like getting our big kayak out and his is so easy to just throw in the van so I sat and enjoyed the beautiful day while he went all around the wharf. Friday we went out to breakfast with a gift card he had from Nana. 

We spent time packing and grocery shopping for our trip and Thursday night I helped Josh with all of the beach stuff. Friday Joel came over to play and I took him and Brandon to the pool and we were there for hours. It was relaxing and fun. We also packed up the car and got ready to leave. Josh had to go pick up Curtis early from the bike trip so he did a fun three hour drive up to the campsite where they were and then a three hour drive home Friday night. 

I had hoped to leave by 9am but we were a little delayed by two tired boys who got home late from camping/driving but we made it out and got to NC for my favorite week of the year by dinner time. We dropped everything off at the house and headed to the beach for two hours before we went back and had a late dinner. The house was great and in a perfect location.

 

Pretty much every day we spent 6 plus hours at the beach. Sunday we went early and came back to have brunch and listen to my nephew speak about his mission; it was a great talk. Then back to the beach until 6 or 7pm. Monday was the same, although a storm came through in the evening so we had to leave about 5pm. Tuesday it was stormy in the morning so we went to the beach for about an hour after we thought it had passed but then it started thundering again and raining so we left, showered and went to the beach shops and Beaufort. We tried a new place for dinner (Blackbeard's) and it was super good. I loved my tilefish, Josh had flounder, Curtis crab, Lily crab dip and Emma and Brandon had shrimp and it was all delicious. When we got back we went for a lovely walk on the beach at sunset. 

 

 

Wednesday we were at the beach all day and my friend Laura came to visit me. We went for a long walk and talked for a few hours and it was great to catch up. We were at the beach most of Thursday after a storm passed by in the morning and then Friday we went for a few hours before we had to leave. It was so fun. I love watching the waves, swimming in them, playing with my kids, watching the horizon and praying and thinking about the big ocean and God's creations, playing ladder ball (Curtis won) and watching Josh paddle surf. It is just fun to be together and have everyone occupied and I love when we are all out in the water together; dream come true! It was pretty calm the first few days but the waves picked up Thursday and Friday. The kids loved to dig holes and make sand civilizations and the big kids read quite a bit and it was all just wonderful. My soul feels filled up with happiness and peace. I love my family and being with them in one of my favorite places is always super special.

We packed up and left by 4pm Friday and had an easy drive home so that we could be ready for Saturday. We had to be at the temple by 10am for Tatum's sealing and it was so special. I was in the temple with my parents and my sisters and Josh and I only wish my kids didn't have to be outside but soon enough I hope we'll all be together in the temple. Tatum's husband seems like a really nice guy and the sealing was beautiful and then we did pictures and then a luncheon and then to the reception. Tatum had asked Josh to lead the ring ceremony and he did a wonderful job. It was a long but wonderful day. I enjoyed being with my family and seeing some nephews who just got home from their missions and the party was great too. We all loved the food and the Italian soda bar and Kristi made the cake so that was tasty. My parents won the contest for having been married the longest and most of us had fun dancing (someone was off reading most of the time) then we sent the newlyweds off in a cloud of bubbles before we left. We didn't get home until midnight and my family was pretty tired. We brought my parents home with us and they are here for a few days before we head off on our next (and last summer) adventure!