Summer time

I can't believe we start back to school tomorrow.  Summer flew by!  This was such a wonderful and relaxing summer (for the most part) and I hate to see it end.  We managed to squeeze in as much fun as we could.

We kicked off summer with a little road trip through Orange Beach, Alabama to New Orleans and back through Auburn.  It was awesome!  Yes, folks, you can take your little people to New Orleans and have a great time.  We affectionately refer to that as our foodie trip.  We literally had a list of all the food items we wanted to try and marked them off as we went.  In Orange Beach, we lounged on the beach some, took a dolphin sighting cruise and just relaxed.  New Orleans was full of boudin, gumbo, po boys, snow balls, beignets, and thankfully, crawfish (we were there the last weekend of the season).  We enjoyed Father's Day brunch at Commander's Palace and I can say that it is hands down the best fine dining experience we've ever had as a family.  If you go, you must try the turtle soup.  Yes, I love food.  While at Auburn we stopped in Toomers Drugs to enjoy some of their famous lemonade.

Poor timing on the food fest though because just days after I got back was my 20 year high school reunion!  YIKES!  How'd 20 years pass already??  I still feel like I'm just 22 and I'm sure some folks would say I act like it, too. 

4th of July brought a trip to West Virginia for us.  I know.  Not the place you would think of spending the 4th.  However, our old neighbors and part of our friend family moved back there and just finished their new home and we went to hang out in the pool and just relax.  It was perfection.  There is nothing better for the soul than time spent enjoying the company of folks you love.  Lots of pool time, lots of cooking, some walks,  crafty 4th tee shirts,  wine and champagne and other cocktails, some guitar sing a longs.  Perfect.

Then we got back.  Hubby got a call that his job position has been eliminated.  Yep.  Laid off.  We are currently working his time out and hopeful that he will be placed before his official last day.  I'll keep you posted, but that's enough of the debbie downer stuff.

We had already paid in full for our beach house rental and couldn't get all of our money back so off we went for our beach week and tried to relax.  Lots of time at the beach and pool.  Each child still had their special outing by themselves with us--we started a tradition years ago that each child gets one outing with us while we are at the beach so they can have our undivided attention and we can make individual special memories with them.  It was a good time.  Just given the previously listed news, not quite as laid back as in years past.

Here's to hoping for a great school year (and a new job)!