Summer Vacations- The Beach and Northern Michigan

We had some major trips to take this year, one on top of the other. At the beginning of June we went to Myrtle Beach with my dad's side of the family.

From left to right, my stepbrother Joe holding my nephew Deacon, my sister-in-law Leslie, nephew Silas, Ben, me, Miller, Scarlett, my dad, my stepmom, my sister Lindsey holding my niece Penelope, and her boyfriend Billy.

We came home from the beach for two days and then drove north to Michigan. It was a 14 hour drive that I was terrified of for months but for no reason. My kids did great! We drove 3 hours to Knoxville, which they are already pros at, to stop at my parents house and have dinner. We changed into PJs and diapers and I took the first shift of driving. I thought that I would only be able to do 2 or 3 hours but I did 8! I was so proud of myself but I was exhausted. Ben got to sleep while the kids did but when it was my turn, they were awake and I had to keep catering to them.

Michigan was kind of a funny coincidence. My mom's side of the family is from Michigan and we used to go vacation in Traverse City. My cousin happened to be marrying a girl from Traverse City so that is where the wedding was. It was a family reunion on our old stomping grounds. I had talked about wanting to take Ben and the kids for years and this was the perfect opportunity.

We got to do the sand dunes which was a totally different experience having to chase my kids and being pregnant. I was slow but I got further than I had before.

Miller completely left us but thank goodness there were other family members that could keep up with him.

My little ones got to be the ring bearer and flower girls. Miller looked so handsome!!!

This was my favorite picture of them. I was so afraid that they would not perform but they were perfect. They walked all the way up the aisle holding hands and then came and sat quietly with me during the ceremony. They always surprise me when I least expect it.

At the reception, they seriously never left the dance floor. It was 5 straight hours of dancing. They even just swayed around when slow songs came on, or tried to follow any line dance. They were the hit of the night and I got so much joy from watching them.

This was the best family picture that I could get from this trip, taken at my grandparents old campground.

Miller was not supposed to get wet while he was playing in the lake with my cousins but he was having fun and that is what matters.

After a few days in Traverse City, we traveled 3 hours north to Mackinaw City. None of us had ever been there and we wanted to visit the island. We took a day trip over to Mackinac Island and had a great time. We rode an "outside bus" (a horse drawn carriage) according to Miller, and got to ride the ferry and see lighthouses. We all just wished that we had been able to stay on the island.

We drove back during the day which made me nervous, but again, the kids did great. We stopped in Knoxville for the night and then Ben, Scarlett and I drove back to GA while Miller stayed with my mom for a few days. Scarlett and I were like a couple of lost puppies without Miller around but it was nice to give her a few days to be an only child. It just made us appreciate all the chaos and fun he brings with him.

Christmas Events

So I am WAAAAAAAAAAYYY behind and I have good reasons. Before I get started with pictures, let me recap the last few months.

 Late September we went to Disney. We came home and a week later was Miller's birthday party which I went all out for. Two weeks later, my grandmother had a stroke and we took a last minute trip up to TN to visit her. We came home and Halloween was a few days later. The next weekend my grandmother passed away and another 5 day trip to TN. We were home for 10 days and then back to TN for Thanksgiving which was extended two days because Ben had a meeting there on the following Tuesday. A week after we got home, my mom came to visit so we could do some Christmas activities. At the same time we got word that Ben's grandmother passed away so we had to push up Scarlett's birthday party a day and go to Memphis on her birthday for a 5 day trip there. We came home for two days where I frantically tried to wrap up all of our Christmas stuff. We left for TN for my sisters shower a few days before Christmas. Normally we would be there from Christmas Eve through January 2nd but again, Ben had a meeting so that got extended to the 6th. Well on Monday the 5th my sister went to her 38th week doctors appointment to be told that she needed to be induced that day. That makes our two week trip to TN grow to three weeks.

I am exhausted and just want to be home. I really want a stretch of time at home because we have a laundry list of projects we want to start on this year. In the past two months, we have only been home for 3 weeks. Ugh!

Now to pictures.

My babies in some Christmas pictures. Love them!

Our annual Christmas potluck with our friends.

While mom was at our house, we went to the Botanical Gardens. I love this event! I love going to look at Christmas lights but it is hard with kids in car seats so this is the perfect way to go look at lights with them.

This is sort of out of order but here our a couple of pictures from my sisters shower. 

My stepmom and sister, Lindsey.

 

My sister and I. 

Since we had to move Scarlett's birthday party, my parents could not come so Scarlett opened her present her. Lindsey doesn't mind sharing the spotlight with her. 

 

That is from me of course. 

 

I can not believe that my baby sister is having a baby. As this is posting, she is in labor and I am so excited for my first niece.

Thanksgiving 2014

We were lucky this Thanksgiving that we got to spend so much time with all three of our families. I forgot my camera on actual Thanksgiving day but it was just a low key Thanksgiving at my dad and stepmoms house.

The next day, after Fantasy of Trees and a movie for Ben's birthdays, we went out to eat with my mom's family. We figured that it was just easier to skip all the preparations and just go out to eat.

Last year Ben's birthday was on Thanksgiving so this year he got it during another one of our Thanksgivings.

This kids had a great time with their cousins so that Mommy could enjoy that time too.

The next day we drove a half an hour up the road to meet with Ben's family for lunch. It just happens that everyone was going to be in the area so we organized a meal so we could be together. It was not much time but better than nothing.

These three cousins have so much fun together. It is sad that they do not get to spend much time together.

Grandmommy and Grandaddy with all four of their grandkids.

The original six.

Everyone but Dave (Excuse the funky lighting. I tried and tried but could not get it to my liking so I gave up).

After lunch, we all walked over to Bass Pro Shop next door to look around. We found a few things to entertain Miller.

It was such a busy weekend but we are so glad we got to see so much of our family.

My Mammaw

In the beginning of October we found out that my Mammaw had a tumor that was assumed to be cancer and due to its size, we were told that it had spread. They removed it and discovered that miraculously, it was not cancer. She came home but 5 days later she had a stroke. We went up to TN to visit her in the hospital. She was not able to speak (which was Mammaws favorite activity) and was still pretty out of it. Over  the next two weeks, her body just started shutting down and my Pappaw decided to grant her wishes of being put on comfort care. She passed away on two weeks ago.

Honestly, the letting her pass away part was the hardest and I was so relieved to hear that she was no longer suffering. We went to TN for her funeral and to spend some time with my Pappaw. They were married for 66 years (66!!!!). and although they bickered, my Pappaw has lost his other half. I can  not tell you have hard it was to watch him sobbing over her body and see my dad cry. We had lots of family come to visit, including some cousins that have never made it in. My Pappaw loved seeing them but I could see that he was so sad not to be sharing that reunion with my Mammaw.

Grieving is strange. I really am at peace with her passing because I know that her mental state was declining rapidly in the last few years and it was better for her to go in a quicker way and suffer less. I am not overly depressed but when I think about all my memories with my grandparents (and there are millions), they have all of a sudden quadrupled in worth to me and I keep getting choked up. They are priceless and just solidifies how important making memories with my children is to me.

I think with all of my family, our primary concern is our Pappaw. I know he has to grieve for himself and figure out his new normal but I absolutely hate this for him. If I could take his pain away and grieve for him, I would do it in a heartbeat.  They were married when he was 20 so he has not been without my Mammaw in almost all of his adult life and this is going to be a huge adjustment.

We gave Scarlett her middle name so I am very grateful that her and Mammaw got to meet and have a short visit here on earth. I am glad she is at peace and pray everyday for my Pappaw to find joy again in life. 

I can not believe my grandparents were ever this young but this was  them right around the time the got married.

Mammaw's glamour shot. It has sat on Pappaw's dresser for as long as I can remember. 

I spent a lot of happy times with my Mammaw and Pappaw.

Vacation From Hell '14: Part 2

Here is the second part of our vacation.

We pretty much took Scarlett's naps where we could get them. There was lots of those on the beach. It was awesome to soak up some baby snuggles while sitting by the ocean.

We kept hearing the ice cream truck drive by so one afternoon my cousin chased it down and all the kids got treats. I am not sure if Miller was more excited about the ice cream sandwich or the ice cream truck. 

My uncle brought his kayak and Ben took a turn.

On Thursday night my cousins husband chartered a sunset booze cruise for my cousins 30th birthday. Here is the crew that went. Some people stayed behind to babysit or do other activities. 

This is the after shot of us at the end. 

Of course on our last day, Miller got sick. We had a few other people get sick this trip with just a bug so it was our turn to get it. He was pitiful and just wanted to lay on the couch and watch movies. I got in some good snuggles before he laid down for a long nap. He ended up getting some energy so that he could swim a bit that afternoon. 

I took some family pictures while we had everyone together there. They turned out so good!

This is the best I could get of my kids.

7 of the original 8 kids with my grandparents.

 

13 of the 16 cousins with my grandparents.

All 7 of the current great grandkids.

 

This is the best picture. It is of the in laws who call themselves the outlaws. They definitely give our family their flavor.

 

And here is everyone that was able to come. We are missing 7 plus the newest baby who will not be here until November.

It was such a good trip. Definitely crazy and hectic now that I have my two kids but we got so much quality time together. We even got to have some fun after the kids went to bed (there was one night with a little too much drinking where some of us ended up in the pool with our clothes on). We all left making plans for the next one in a couple of years. The only issue is  that we keep growing so we will probably have to move to different houses but we already scoped out new ones. I was so sad to leave but we have another trip next month to look forward to.