A Sunday at Topsail Island

Now about those 749 pictures.

Meeting the beach.

 Bear's first time on the sandy beaches.

The start to a beautiful week.

Pandemonium

After 5 weeks of traveling, 

7 different beds, 

2 sets of grandparents and one set of great-grandparents,

One glorious week at the beach, 

4 weeks without my Bondy, 

  3,000 miles traveled by van (at least),

One mission farewell,

749 pictures taken,

  13 hour road trip with my best friend and our four kids under the age of 3 and a half

and a million memories made

we are finally back home safe and sound.  And as of yesterday, my parents are moved in! We are one big happy family all under the same roof again. YAY! 

Following is a travelogue of  the aforementioned 12 hour  road trip with Dani and our kiddos.  It was hilariously insane.  We never have a bad time when were together.

Stopping at a hotel for the night where everyone felt the need to say, "You've got your hands full!"

I've decided that from now on, any time I see someone with kids and I have the boys with me, I will very concernedly say, "You've got your hands full!" Especially when mine are misbehaving and they only have one well behaved child.  That would amuse me terribly.

 After two days we finally made it home, with the worst thing being little Caleb getting carsick and Dani almost driving off the road as she watched him loose his lunch.

The two of us had so much fun playing after the kids were all in bed.  Stay tuned for a post revealing what we stayed up until the wee hours of the night making.

We miss you guys so much! Thanks for the visit.

Lil' SJ

My sister wanted me to take some one year pictures of my niece while we were at the beach.  I wish I knew what I was doing. Fake it 'til ya make it, right? Besides, you can't really take a bad picture on the beach.

So, without further ado here is my first "official" photography session! 

Love you SJ!

The 1000' Pier-thought this was posted forever ago. Hmm

Our beach house was right near a pier.  I thought it was pretty and enchanting, but after we took a walk on it I changed my mind.  All of the fishermen catching and cleaning fish was just about enough to make me never want to eat them again.  I have decided I only like piers from a distance.

Meet My Nephew

 

This is Rex.  He was born when I was nine.  We were tight.  

I have lots of great memories of when he was little.  

Now he is all grown up and leaving to serve a two year mission for our church tomorrow. 

Brazil is gonna love you bud.  I am so proud of you.

Beach Dresses

I know I have talked about the blog MADE before, but if you sew and haven't checked it out yet, you are long overdue.  It is by far my favorite craft blog around.  So courtesy of Dana's Warhol Dress Pattern here are some beach dresses for my nieces.