On September 9th Carley and Chris tied the knot! It was a beautiful ceremony, presided over by Becky, at a cute venue with a rustic vibe. Both girls were in the wedding. Lauren was a flower girl with Ari and Sophie was a junior bridesmaid. They did a great job and looked beautiful.
Becky as the officiant Chris and Carley with the flower girlsChris and Carley with the Juniorscheezin with the bride and groomThe fam all dressed up
It started to rain right at the end of the ceremony, but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. The party inside was hopping and everyone had a really good time.
Lauren caught the bouquet, but quickly passed it over to Hayley, who was very much angling for it.
It was a good, long summer with lots of time in Maryland.
Over the last few weeks we had more friends come and visit, enjoyed several sunset sails, and listened to Dave’s dad band.
My family came for Pirates and Wenches Weekend again (it maybe become a tradition!).
The girls both had friends for the last weekend in August, and The Devine’s came down for Labor Day weekend. I’m always sad to leave when summer ends, but fall is also a great time down there as well 😉
This year, instead of Ocean City, the Rainer Fam came to Rock Hall for the week. The end of the week also happened to be Pirates and Wenches weekend, which was a bonus I guess 😉
The Sharps were out of town that week, so Doug, Vicki and Nana sayed at their house, and everyone else stayed at ours.
It was a nice, pretty low key week. We did some days at the beach, some days at the pool, and some just hanging out at the house.
Dinner on the porchHarbour ShackNana enjoying the BaySunset at Haven Harbor South
And we did most of the Pirates and Wenches festivities as well.
Pirate PetuniaSophie the pirate princessDinghy water fight in the harborMini pirates
The girls usually spend one week of the summer down in Charlottesville with my family. Since I’m working from anywhere these days, I went down with them and stayed the week. We hadn’t seen everyone in-person since Sophie’s birthday back in March, so it was really nice to finally give real hugs. The week was pretty low key. Most of the activities that the girls do while down there are closed this summer, or we just weren’t comfortable doing them, so we spent a lot of time at the house and just took a couple of trips out.
One day Becky and I took the girls to Sugar Hollow, which is a beautiful hiking spot where I spent a lot of time in high school.
On a rock in Sugar Hollow
Another day we went to a lake that was open for swimming.
One afternoon we met up with my friend Sarah and her daughter Lexi, who is 2 weeks younger than Sophie. We typically see them once or twice a year. The girls have totally different personalities, but get along pretty well. This time they bonded over Tic Toc (if I could find an eye roll emoji I would insert it here).
Sophie & Lexi (looking at Tic Toc together). Also pictured, adorable Caleb, who is just a year.
And the rest of the time we spent at the house – playing in the yard, fishing, and just hanging out.
Sophie and Penny fishing at the lake.
Lauren lost a tooth while we were down there – her 8th tooth, and third to lose while we’re with my family. Must be a tooth fairy preferred location.
Holding up her 8th lost tooth.
We of course travel with all of the animals, which right now just included Lauren’s tortoise, Jewels, and Sophie’s parakeets, Princess and Zebra. Jewels had an opportunity to meet Vahid, and she was not thrilled about it. She kept her head in the shell the entire time.
Jewels and Vahid meet.
Lauren and Ari are pretty inseparable, and spent nearly the entire time together. At times it makes it tough for Soph because she feels left out. She and Ari also play together, but their personalities are very similar, which usually means it leads to fighting pretty quickly.
Mom also wanted to recreate a picture that she took of Dad, Becky and I about 30 years ago when we had Hannah, who is a doppelganger of Penny. Penny wasn’t super into taking direction, and we’re all a lot bigger than we were 30 years ago!
1992 vs. 2020 The whole fam on our last night there.
My family did their Ocean City week a little later this summer, in mid-August. The girls and I visited for just a few days, Saturday-Tuesday, which was the perfect amount of time. The house was further south and about 11 blocks from the start of the boardwalk, which was actually really nice. It was really quiet and the house was waterfront with a huge porch, which was lovely!
Lauren in the dunes
view from the front porch
The weather was also great for all but one of the days we were there. The girls tried boogie boarding for the first time and loved it.
We went up to the boards just twice, which was perfect. Over the last few years the seagulls have gotten really bad, so this summer they brought in a falconer to keep them under control. When he’s on the boards with his falcon, the seagulls keep their distance, meaning we could actually eat food outside, which normally you can never do.
the falconer and his bird
Mack’s and Monco’s on the boards, without seagulls thanks to the falcon
This year’s spring break was pretty low key, and it was also really nice. We did a tour of the Mid-Atlantic – visiting the Townsends in Maryland, staying a few days with my family in Virginia, and then ending the week in Rock Hall with the Sharps.
We stayed with the Townsends in their new house, which is beautiful. All three girls get along really well, but Bella and Lauren are especially close.
Bella and Lauren playing dress up
Then we hit the road down to Charlottesville where we stayed for a few days. The weather was mostly beautiful and we took full advantage spending a lot of time outside.
Ari and the girls also get along really well, especially Ari and Lauren who are only a year apart.
On the Lawn at UVa
On top of Wilde Rock in Crozet
We spent the last few days of the week in Rock Hall, where the weather was beautiful and we were able to hit the beach one day, and where I also neglected to take any pictures.
And we ended the week off with Easter brunch at Torresdale with the Sharps, Zoe, and Elliott.
This year Becky entered Ariana into the Annual Dogwood Festival pageant, and she won the Tiny Miss title! Which meant she got to ride on a float in the Dogwood Festival parade and also celebrate at a Queen’s Ball.
The girls and I made the trip down to see her.
Here she is on the float before the parade started (it was a Candy Land theme).
Doing her princess wave as she passed us.
My high school friends Jenny and Samantha, and Jenny’s sister Laura all came to watch with their kids.
Here’s the whole gang – between the four of us we have 9 girls and 1 boy.
Here we are, each with our oldest. Everyone has a mini me, it’s a little crazy.
That night we got all dolled up and headed to the Queen’s ball at the Double Tree hotel.
The girls and I at mom and dad’s house.
Becky and me, and the girls with the little Princess
The event was a mix between a wedding and a high school dance. The girls were most thrilled to dance with the Queen herself. Lauren especially was enamored.
It was a really fun night and Ariana had a great time. She felt so special all day and my girls were thrilled to spend it with her.
