Beach Highlights

We just returned from our 2nd Annual Penny Family Beach Trip! This year we cut our week a little short, due to part of the air conditioning in the house being out and Nate's age...he's just not ready for a whole week at the beach yet!

We arrived on Monday and Aunt Lauren had been at the cottage the previous week. After we got in we went straight for the beach!
Nate loved this swing that faced the ocean...he really didn't want to get out!

Lauren stayed with Nate and we were able to have a date night! We had a wonderful dinner and then played putt putt! It had been soooo long since we had played, but we both did well. Joel only beat me by 3 strokes.
On Tuesday morning we went to the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. We've picked these pictures to recreate each year--


That afternoon we hung out while Nate napped
and then went to Morehead City to pick up some things and enjoyed the air conditioning at the Chick fil a playplace.

We went to the beach again that evening and realized that Nate really only does the beach for about an hour and he's done! We took the video camera that night, so no pics.

The next morning we got up and went to the beach to take some pictures of Nate. It was SOOOOO much easier to capture him last year...he just keeps moving now!

Hanging out at the cottage- watching Pajanimals, of course!While Nate was napping we were starting to think that we really didn't need a whole other day to do everything we wanted to do and decided that we would go back to Buies Creek the next day. So on Wednesday afternoon we checked off the rest of our excursions off our list!

Joel and Nate's traditional cannon pic at Fort Macon. Nate really enjoyed running around the middle of the fort and checking out all of the rooms.



Ice Cream in Beaufort

One last trip to the beach (which we cut VERY close to a storm coming in!)
On Thursday morning we set our alarm early so we could get good lighting for the family pictures we wanted to take. It is soooo hard to try to do a self timer picture with a toddler! We captured the one I have put in our header, which is probably the best. I should work on a bloopers post to show you the rest! We were able to get a few better ones of me/Nate & Joel/Nate since you can coax him to look at you a little more-sometimes :-)Then it was time to pack up, clean up and head back over the bridge. We timed it so we could stop for lunch at Andy's in Havelock on our way back like we did last year. Nate enjoyed his chicken nuggets and french fries served in the car!

In planning for next year's trip with 2 kids (do I even want to think about it?) we think we will try to go in May. It will be cooler and little brother will be 5 months old-the same age that Nate was when we went last year, which seemed to be a really good age for the beach! And hopefully at 2 years old there will be more things that Nate will be able to do.

Nate's Vacation

Nate had one of his first "rites of passage" at the ripe, old age of 16 months- a week by himself at the grandparents! This is something that both Joel and I did growing up, and Nana and Papa couldn't wait to get Nate to themselves for a whole week! They did a great job taking pictures for us....here are a few from the week!

No doubt he was spoiled all week...lying back, waited on hand and foot!

Playing on the new playset they put up for him in the backyard

Taking scooter rides with Papa

Picking (and eating) blueberries with Nana

These are a few pics from Marbles Museum in Raleigh

Playing hockey with cousin KK

Perhaps a future banker, following in Daddy's footsteps?

All smiles on the pirate ship!

Nate and I had a sweet reunion when I went to pick him up. It will be more fun in future years when he can tell me all about the fun things they did!

Meredith 5 Year Reunion

Five years has definitely flown by! The reunion weekend was fun, although I did miss seeing many classmates who I was hoping to see -- who aren't on Facebook and I haven't seen since graduation. Still, it was fun to catch up with my girls!

Everyone at the President's house on Friday night.

Class of 2004 PJ Party

And dinner at Cafe Luna!

Nate was loved on....

all week by family and new friends!

He had his first trip to the bowling alley....
and to Build A Bear
Met the Surles

and Uncle Dion

and Great Grandmother "Mimi" Cornett

Such a lucky (and spoiled) boy!

5 years went by so fast!

May has always been a busy month and by these posts this year was no exception! Since we were home and could take advantage of free babysitters, we spent a night away to celebrate our 5 year anniversary! I had always hoped we could spend this anniversary at Fearrington Inn, where we spent our wedding night. We splurged for our wedding night and stayed in a deluxe suite, but decided just to book a standard room for this stay. Upon check in we were happily surprised that they had upgraded our reservation and were taken to Room 33, the same room from our wedding night!

On May 30, 2004

Redecorated in 2009...
We got the whole Fearrington experience this time--afternoon tea, shopping around the village, dinner at the Fearrington House Restaurant and breakfast the next morning.

Joel after tea

Doves in one of the village shops


All dressed up for dinner...it was delicious!


It was a great anniversary!

24 Weeks and Nursery Progress

I've come to terms with the fact that I will never be as good at updating the blog as Sharla! She is right on time with the weekly updates, but I'm more of a bi-weekly girl. :-)

So here's 24 weeks! I'm really showing now...so if co-workers (that work outside of the office, but happen to come by), church members or even just people out (so far a grocery cashier, a cashier at Moe's, and a waitress at a lunch place by work) didn't know yet, they do now! I don't think I've ever been asked "how are you feeling?" so much in my entire life! I am feeling generally well and am trying not to complain too much (Joel might have a different take on this) since I know the 3rd trimester will be especially uncomfortable.


I have also told my managers that I won't be returning and they were very supportive of my decision...I really couldn't have asked for it to have gone any better. 3 months and counting until I will be working at home.

Joel is working very hard on Ace's room--He has ripped out the carpet, put up the beadboard and is now working on painting. Here are some progress shots--the beadboard will be white and the top will be blue.

We're looking forward to a mini-vacation in Highlands, NC for Thanksgiving. We are going to drive up Wednesday afternoon/evening and come back on Saturday. I'll definitely have pictures from our trip!

NYC

I'm too tired right now to post the details of the weekend...but mom wants to see pictures...Us in Central Park

Our Hosts: Ben & MollyPumpkin carvings at Chelsea Market

Joel & Ben at the battery
Inside the battery's fort (classic Joel w/cannon pic)
The mastadon freaked Ben outMe, Ace and a big turtle!