Time at the beach is always good for your soul...

Erin & Andy getting married at the beach also allowed us to take a family vacation at the same time.  Erin's parents were sweet enough to invite us to stay at the beach house that they got for their family.  It was Lyla's first time in a car that long and her first time at the beach.  Let me just say that I have never been prouder of her!  It was a 12 hour car ride each way.  She only took one nap the whole time we were there.  Her schedule was completely thrown.... BUT she was the best behaved little girl you have ever seen!  The three of us had SO MUCH FUN together!

Lyla loved playing in the sand at the beach, but was terrified of the ocean.  She loved swimming in the pool at the house.  She got to play mini golf for the first time and actually did pretty good!  We went for ice cream and she had "Purple Cow" which we all just found totally hilarious! 

By staying at the house it allowed Gary and I to put Lyla to bed at night and then still get to hang out with everyone without having to find somebody to stay with Lyla.  We had parties on the porch and live music.  I got to catch up with old friends while Gary made some new ones. 

I really forgot how great it is to just get away and forget about everything for a couple of days!  I hope we get to go away again next summer!

Always a Bridesmaid - FINALLY a Bride

My Little Erin Ree finally got married!  I couldn't be any happier for her!  She has loved Andy since middle school (I really wish we still had the diary to prove it!).  It was a beautiful wedding!  Lyla was  her flower girl and I was a bridesmaid.  

They got married at the beach.  There were lots of complications including a location change the night before, travel arrangements getting messed up, the bar closing an hour before it was supposed to...  but really, years from now those are not what anyone will remember. 

Everyone will remember that it was a beautiful summer day on the beach.  We will remember that Erin not only had her dad walk her down the aisle, but Kozmo was there too!  We will remember how proud we were of the kids for walking down the steps together and holding up that sign!  We will laugh about how Jamie forgot the ring and how Andy couldn't stop laughing during his vows.  We will never forget how amazing Jesse was playing on the beach for 20 minutes nonstop.. just waiting for the girls to get down there or how awesome he did playing Erin & Andy's first song to dance to.  

We will remember the joy.  We will remember that it was the day that Erin officially became a Jinkens!