Summer antics!

We are in the midst of what's turning out to be quite the busy summer! We took a road trip with the munchkin, as I may have mentioned, in May down the east coast and back. We had a blats and Gabriel did suprisingly well being in the car for a few hours at a time each day. We broke it up so that the longest stretch was 5 hours, and he was (except for a crazy streak from Beaufort to Savannah) a fun passenger.

Running around in Charleston SC

Me on the USS North Carolina in Wilmington NC

Hanging out at Tybee Island GA

In June, Mr. Houla suprised me by taking me to the beach for a couple of days. We hadn't been to this beach in a couple of years and I was excited. We've had so many great times and made some awesome memories there. The suprises didn't end at the beach-he had my parents and his parents suprise us down there with Gabriel! I was thrilled. Great birthday weekend!

Me and my boy making a goofy face at my birthday dinner!

We also took a day trip with G to a closer beach a couple of weeks ago. The three of us had a blast and he was exhausted! I'm always amazed at just how adaptable little kids can be. He takes everything in stride and doesn't seem bothered by changes to his schedule or new places. (KNOCK ON WOOD).

Then two weeks ago we had a great family gathering. It was the perfect "storm"-my grandparents came up from their home and my cousin andher son came down from where her husband is doing his post-doc work for the summer-all over the 4th of July weekend. We got to celebrate the three toddlers' two-year-old birthdays (Gabriel, my niece Brooke, and my cousin's son-the ones that are all a total of 7 weeks apart); my grandpa's birthday; and my cousin's birthday. It was awesome. Throw in various other activities and my niece's birthday party last weekend, and it's been so fun.

Our yearly view at my aunt's house for the 4th fireworks

My awesome, wonderful Grandparents

Now we are preparing for a mini-vacation this weekend and GABRIEL'S BIRTHDAY next weekend. It's so hard to comprehend. My opinionated, crazy boy is about to be 2. Unbelieveable! After his birthday, we aren't slowing down. We have our annual Outer Banks trip and last but not least a road trip with my brother and his best friend to cheer on the US Men's soccer team. All before October 1st-whew. I'm pretty tired typing that up.