Happy Saturday/Happy “3” Day Weekend

So I will go on with my end of the summer blog post.  I was thinking we didn’t do much this summer, but after posting the pics from just June I’ll have to re-think that assessment.  The first post was just one month and that was a pretty full month.

July came in, and I should know what the weather was like but I don’t and I haven’t been weather journaling for a very long time.  I guess somethings have just stopped for awhile, and I’m sure I will return to my weather journaling.  After writing and thinking about July, I remember that I was sick on the 4th of July.  It turned out to be good that I was in bed for a few days.  God is funny like that.   He knows when you need a rest and he gives you the excuse to go to bed for awhile. It was okay because I am really so over the crowds and carnivals with all the mayhem that it brings.

We did go on our road trip out to Virginia Beach to see the guys.  Always love that drive.  It was a miracle because we got on the road by 10 am the day we left.  We made it all the way to Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia.  That was amazing.  We even stopped at our favorite rest stop, Indiana Grand and won some money for the trip.  The trip the following day on Sunday is usually our long drive b/c we only make it to like Indiana Grand and then we have a long drive to Richmond, Virginia.  But it turned out to be only about a 4/5 hour drive to Richmond.  We stayed at The Jefferson.  It is a beautiful hotel.

So we made it out to Richmond to see our guys.  We also got to meet Matthew’s lady friend, Shyria.  She was lovely.  She had been a dancer on Richmond Ballet, ah but medical school was calling back to her and being a doctor is what she wants to be.  She got to go to China with the company, but that was like her 5th time to China.  She also speaks fluent Chinese or whatever they speak so Matthew was real lucky to have her as his companion.  When he got sick over there, that was also a blessing.  She knew exactly how to help him and took care of him.  She knew about the hospitals over there.  Her father is also a doctor so she knew what to do, thank God ❤

So we picked up the guys and headed for the beach, Virginia Beach.   I guess that has become our place/spot, whatever you want to call it.  We stayed at the Oceanside Hilton as always with a glorious view of the ocean every morning.  We were there for 3 full days…Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we headed back to Richmond on Thursday.  We had to get back to attend D. Randall Blythe’s book signing, “Dark Days, A Memoir by D.Randall Blythe.”  Here are some pictures when we were out at Virginia Beach.  We also drove down to the outer banks in North Carolina.  Michael just loves it down there, and I have to agree with him.  Virginia Beach has gotten very touristry.  Too busy, I just really like my friends that I have made down there at my shops.  The Tervis Shop and the Life is Good Store.  But I think I would rather spend more time at the outer banks.  The food is to die for and it’s not so crowded.  Beautiful too !!!

This was a cute video.  When I listen to us all talking, it takes me back to the time.  We always have such fun when we are together.  I have to laugh at how much are conversation revolves around food.  And then of course there’s Michael who is just so funny.  I literally have been laughing my life away 🙂

I’m just going to put up another video of the vaca.  It’s not too boring, or is it like watching family movies ??  I hope not…I hope you enjoy just sharing a little bit of our life as a family…  We do have a lot of fun ❤ Rock n Roll,  B O O M !!!

We also celebrated Connor’s 23rd birthday while we were out here.  We left Virginia Beach on Thursday and headed back to Randy’s book signing in Richmond.  I feel really blessed that our son’s think so much of us that they include us in their world of, “Metal Rock.”  I don’t get it, but they love, love, love it.  And you have to love  kids who invite their mom & dad to share in a room full of metal rocker’s.  I was so out of place, but Randy was just the nicest guy ever.  Someone came up to us with our name written on a napkin and said, “You’re in,” and then sat us in a special place w/o paying.  Very cool !!!  I was dressed in my little white blouse and my white Keds with a blue jean skirt.  I almost went outside and rolled around in the mud so I didn’t look so, well you know like a mom… Ahhhh 🙂  Here are some pictures I got from there.

Well that pretty much ended the trip.  We left for home on Saturday from Richmond.  When only other eventful thing on the trip was not being able to find a hotel to sleep in on the way home and just about driving all the way back home to Chicago in one day.  As it was we drove north of Indianapolis the first day.  We left at noon from Richmond and finally found a Holiday Inn Express at 2 am the next morning.  But no worries, I was in good hands.  He is the best driver and we arrived home safely as usual.  He’s the best, and we had a really great time out in Virginia with our guys.

That is how July ended up.  So it was a busy month too.  We had a great trip, with fun and our family.  It just doesn’t get any better than that ❤