More from vacation........visiting and meals together

As I've already mentioned....this Beach Week was our whole family....Alden and I, all our kids, and all our grandkids = 8 adults and 7 kids (we called this the DC crew). AND.....two of my sisters and their families = 7 adults and 2 kids (the Richmond crew). Grand total: 15 adults and 9 kids. Oh yeah ~ and lots of fun!

We had two houses.....The DC crew and the Richmond crew were neighbors . Our houses were right beside each other. What absolute fun!

We alternated between the houses for dinners ~ one night we would eat our house and the next at the other house. It gave us all a BREAK every day from planning and executing a meal! GREAT plan. And we are talking some impressive meals ~ delicious!

We spent our days pretty much doing what we wanted.....going to the beach, shopping, playing at the pool (both houses had pools!), reading, napping, playing with the kids, kayaking....just doing we wanted.....but then we ALL got together for dinner! We usually ate, visited and then headed down to the beach to let the kids run around, enjoy the sunset, and visit some more!

preparing for the luau ~ our first meal together

it is time ~ the luau begins

kid table good to be together ~ food delicious visiting

Kim enjoying Ayden

cousins enjoying dinner

Dinner at the RC (Richmond crew's house)

we even got to celebrate a few b'days ~ Sarah turned 3!

lots of picture taking Happy Birthday Sarah pinata fun peek a boo! Sawyer and Papa enjoying beach time after dinner :) Courtney and Pat

Bailey

Phill and Christy

Steve, Phill and Ayden

cousins enjoying the waves

sisters got to go to lunch together Phill, Christy, Hannah and Brittany

we even got to eat on the deck one night.....from the beach.....to the deck

Derek, Rachel, Katherine and Sarah

the two youngest ~ Sawyer and Ayden We got to celebrate Heather's b'day! :)

Chris, Christy and cousins

Our kids ~ Steve, Phill, Courtney and Hannah

Little doctor taking care of us ~ Rebekah, Katherine, and Joshua

tending to Courtney and Heather

Dinner together ~ Richard, Alden, Susan, Kim and Heather

Susan and Richard's familey ~ Derek, Rachel, Katherine and Sarah and Chris

Ayden even fell asleep in the hammock one evening during dinner :)

Bailey and Sarah ~ cousins.....and fast friends

cousins enjoying dinner together

Steve

evening beach time

spaghetti dinner

grandkids enjoying dinner together

Dorian and Katherine enjoying spaghetti together

thanks for cleaning up guys

chatting before dinner

sisters :)

Phill, Christy, Brittany, Andrea and Ayden

girls ~ cousins (Heather, Courtney and Hannah)

ahhhh ~ moon shining on the ocean

Come again SOON Beach Week

Great Ending {to a long, hard week}

Unfortunately, I (Dorian) had a kidney stone this past week. I have a history of these ~ one of my least favorite parts of my life. God gave me the strength to endure it, medical help to assist me, and family and friends to encourage me. I had been feeling the beginning signs about a month ago, but it didn't really GET me til Monday. I passed it Thursday night I believe. A ct scan showed no stones on Friday! Yahoo!

Enduring these stones takes "all you've got" to get through it. I was thankful, but depleted emotionally and physically yesterday.

Last evening.....was the perfect ending to my week. Alden and I went to Cosi to get some "take out" dinner and headed to the banks of the Potomac ~ a favorite spot for us. We took a blanket, "beach chairs", dinner and had a wonderful, quiet evening together. We ate, we watched the sunset, we talked, we watched planes fly in, helicopters fly overhead, boats cruise by, and finally sat under the stars. Three hours of total peace ~ a gift from God. I was filled up with contentment. I am not totally recovered from the stress of the week, but on my way for sure!

chairs set up and beautiful scene at hand

dinner is served :)

and enjoyed

even Mister Duck wanting to enjoy it!

enjoying the planes flying by

God's handiwork ~ sun beginning to set

just beautiful!

simply gorgeous

magnificent

the glory of God's creation.......

the lights on the bridge come on......the stars begin to shine.....we STILL sit.....and talk.....and take it all in. Don't I have the best husband....and an awesome God. Thankful.