Saying Goodbye to Summer

This summer seemed to start slowly and move quickly. Summers here in the Southeast can be scorching and humid. The smells of grass slowly withering from the heat of the sun and lack of rain and the stagnant air that lays thick on your face and threatens to steal any fresh air you long for. I love summers here. It brings about stories from old oak trees that gather together the shade of summers past. It brings the sun at a different place in the sky, almost out of reach of the clouds. It brings long days that can only be spent with the Atlantic on the horizon and the sand in the wrinkles of the skin on the bottoms of your feet. Summer in the South, my favorite time of year;)

This summer we started with a trip to Baltimore Maryland for a few appointments for Vivien at John's Hopkins. We decided to bring Isaiah and Lara Ellen along as well. My Mom joined us to help with the older kiddos during the day when we were up at the hospital with Vivien. The kids were such great traveling buddies. There were no major meltdowns or catastrophic occurrences while we were there.

We enjoyed the Inner Harbor area every evening after doctors appointments and naps. It was much cooler at night and the lights on the water were beautiful.

My most favorite part of the trip other than the exciting news about Vivien being able to start very small amounts of oral feeds was our trip to DC. I remembered going to DC when I was 12 to see the unveiling of the Korean Memorial. My grandfather fought in that war & I was elated & honored to be able to share those memories with my kids. This Memorial attracted so many people of all different races, ethnicities, backgrounds, and religions. It was incredibly humbling for me to witness people that were brought to tears by being able to walk on American soil and feel free, maybe for the first time in their life.

Another favorite was the Lincoln Memorial, I held back tears as I explained to Isaiah what Abraham Lincoln did for our country and how he fought for equality for every man, woman & child. It quickly became his favorite Memorial as well

The most comical part of the trip other than the fact that we decided to walk DC in 6 hours on the hottest day of the year & drive 8 hours back home without having any place to shower first was when Laura Ellen caught a view of the Washington Monument...she said "Look Daddy! It's a pencil!"

She's loads of laughter

Thank you Mama for spending the week with us. We had a great time and I know memories were made along the way for the kiddos. They love their Grandma Ri-Ri.

After Baltimore, we enjoyed copious amounts of time by the water. Aunt April's pool, the waterpark, the beach, the small pool & the slip&slide in the backyard. Anything to keep us cool wherever we'd go. 

One of the many benefits of living 15 minutes from the Atlantic coast...

Coastal born and raised, the sand beckons our feet and the salty air craves our hair to mingle through. We cannot escape the joys and memories made on the coast as we welcome summer and all too quickly bid her farewell.