We’re Back from Hawaii!

Did you even know we were going to Hawaii? We didn’t know we were going either until a week before the trip! Chris had a one day business meeting in Kauai and we decided to turn it into a week-long family vacation :). This is something we have always wanted to do, so it was a wonderful surprise to be able to go for 1/2 the cost – and just in time for our seventh anniversary too :)!

We spent most of our time on the island of Kauai, but we also visited Oahu, where Chris lived for a couple of years in college. Here’s a fun family pic taken at Waikiki Beach with some tropical birds – I can’t believe I let them put that huge bird on my head!

Julia wasn’t in the family photo above, because she was asleep in the stroller at the time. But the bird guys did convince me to open the stroller cover up so they could put a bird on her too. I can only imagine what she was thinking when she woke up to see this little guy laying in the stroller with her ha ha!!

I took over 1000 photos during our trip, so I will be sharing more when I get a chance (free time for blogging is hard to come by these days)! For now, I will leave you with a nice sunset picture of the pool outside the condo we stayed at in Kauai :).

We’re Home Again!

My sister Sarah took this photo of me with Julia at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was a beautiful day in Gloucester on Tuesday, and we enjoyed spending time together by the sea. As you may have guessed by now, Chris, Gabe, Julia and I just got back from New England. We had a whirlwind trip and visited lots of family  in Massachusetts and Connecticut while we were there.  I have over 700 photos to sort through so get ready for some great posts ahead :)! Before I get to all that, though, I need to get going on the laundry and unpacking. I hope you are all having a great week!

A Lovely Place to Stay in Gulf Shores

We really enjoyed the condo we rented this year at the Lighthouse Condominiums in Gulf Shores! It was so pretty inside, had great views and there was plenty of room for all 8 of us. Even from the 9th floor, it was easy to get down to the pools and beach.

It’s wonderful having access to an indoor pool for the occasional rainy day. We also loved the outdoor pools, especially the “zero entry” pool, which had lots of shallow water and fun jets for the kids to play in. And let’s not for get the hot tub, or “Hot Pool” as Gabe called it :). Ahhhh… I miss being on vacation!

We’re Home from the Beach!

We had a wonderful trip to Gulf Shores with more sunny days than were predicted and thankfully no oil washing ashore.

I have a full day of unpacking and getting back to regular life ahead of me, so I better go get started.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Daydreams of the Beach

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2

Since today I’m daydreaming of being by the sea, let’s take a look back at some beach photos of Chris and me from years past…

When we were in high school (Martha’s Vineyard 1994):

Still teens, but college students now (Rocky Neck State Park 1998):

Here we are officially a couple again after a 6 1/2 year break (long story). FYI: that’s not really the hairstyle Chris had back then, he let me “play” with his hair that day – luckily that was the last time hehe (Rocky Neck State Park 2001):

Jump ahead to our honeymoon a few years later. Interesting fact, that natural bridge has since collapsed into the sea (Aruba 2003):

Our little Cape Cod getaway a couple of summers ago (Dennis Beach 2008):

I’m so thankful for these lovely memories of the beach with my best friend!