plain and simple

163/366

I took the kids to the park and we hiked one of the back trails through the woods.  2.5 miles and we had so much fun!!  It was so pretty and peaceful back in the woods and so fun just to hang out with the kids and talk (and get some exercise!).

162/366

Happy Birthday to my awesome husband!!  He was in heaven with his huge plate of sushi :)

161/366

An afternoon filled with lots of kids, good food and fun adult time?  Yes!!  Love getting together with our amazing friends that we have made here...love that Esme has this link to Ethiopia & her first year of life.. just awesome!

160/366

Last week, Declan started occupational therapy for for his SPD .  Today was his second visit and I really think this is going to be good for him (and for us!).  He got to set up the gym this morning- decided where to hang stuff, where to put everything so it would make a cool course.. he loved it!  So glad it isn't a struggle to get him to go.  We are getting some good ideas on how to help him and for him to help himself.. yay!

159/366

Brian is starting Aislin and Declan on their summer work-out plan this week.  They went for a two mile run + a two mile hike today.  Esme and I just hiked, but we had fun and got our exercise in, also!

And just because this is funny.. Esme found her eye mask from Easter and wanted Giraffe to have one, too.  Underwear make a *great* eye mask.. just so you know!

158/366

We're home!  Esme was so excited to be home, she ran around like a crazy bird and then had to run downstairs to climb!  Love this wild monkey ;)

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What a fun day!  We visited the Battleship North Carolina- so amazing!  We all had such a great time, it was so interesting to see this ship.  After we visited, I found out my friend's grandfather was on this ship in WWII! 

Papa!

kids :)

this dude was in heaven!

Esme took a picture of Aislin & me

this girl did *not* like being down below.. I eventually had to bring her up early because she was feeling claustrophobic and nauseous (she is SO like me!)

Yep, I took pictures of some toilets :)

and some bunks (and about a billion other things)

I think this is when Aislin started to get scared :)  ahha

It was a good day :)

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Beach day :)  We decided to go to beach for a few hours today.. it was cloudy and windy, but the kids had a great time.  We didn't really get into the water past our knees.. the waves were strong and the undertow was, also.  The kids didn't really mind, they could just play in the sand for hours!  McKinsey and Nana had fun, too :)

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Cousins!  We got to spend a few hours today with Brian's sister & her family- yay!!  It is so fun to have the cousins together (minus Dominic.. we missed you!).  Aislin and Declan look up to their older cousins so much- it is so sweet!

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Road trip!  A few days ago, I decided to make an unplanned trip up to North Carolina to see Brian's parents.  McKinsey was free and decided to come with us- we quickly packed and got in the car and left.  The trip was pretty good- only 6 hours - and the kids did sooo well.  Love my little travelers!  Aislin and Declan were asleep by the time we got to Nana and Papa's at 10:30, but little mama was still wide awake.  Can't wait to just hang out and relax and go to the beach!

Here we are when we arrived!

And a cute picture of Aislin and McKinsey from earlier in the day: