Florida Vacation (Part 1)

At the end of June we headed down to Florida for our yearly summer trip to Bartow-- with a few stops along the way :) I am usually able to visit one or two other times during the year, but I always take the boys down in the summer-- we look forward to it all year long. 

Daniel doesn't usually go with us on these summer trips, but this year he was able to head down with us and then fly back to North Carolina a few days later. We visited a couple of friends and spent a glorious day at the beach. 

Ice cream out of a vending machine at a random rest area on the drive down. 

Dancing at dinner.

Walking on the beach after dinner. We stayed at St. Augustine beach and it was perfect!

The next morning we headed out early to the beach for our only full day in St. Augustine.  The weather was gorgeous-- sunny and breezy and not too terribly hot. 

Lunch!

Sometimes they are so sweet.

My boys.

Castille de San Marcos. Love these two. 

The fort at St. Augustine was hot. As in seventh-circle-of-hell hot. Carver can deal with heat, and Daniel can too. For me and Carson it is like krytonite. We almost died. DIED. I felt my life force slowing leaving. I actually lost the will to live for a few moments. 

So to recover from the soul-searing heat we stopped for popsicles. This was a fun place!

I love how Carson is peeking around Carver here. So funny.

Saltwater Cowboys for dinner. So much fun!

After we left the beach we headed to Amanda's house to visit her and her sweet family. This is the first time I was able to meet Amanda's kids and they are beautiful and precious and I am so thankful for this quick visit. The boys adored tiny baby Eden :) 

After we left Amanda's house we made a stop for lunch at Sonny's and then headed to Orlando to visit Courtney, Darin, and Whitney!

The kiddos helping make dessert. 

Pirates!

The next day the boys spent the morning in Courtney's pool and had the BEST time. Our visits are never long enough but they are always so much fun. So thankful that my entire family loves Courtney's entire family-- it makes for really fun and really easy visits.

After visiting friends, we were finally on our way to Bartow!

Mini-Vacation in Georgia

While Carver was at Strong Rock, Carson, mom, and I stayed at a nearby cabin-- staying close helped me be a bit less stressed about dropping my 6-year-old off at summer camp. We had a great week and I really hope we can make this a tradition each summer as long as the boys are in camp.

We went swimming every day, took rides on our golf cart, and ate (some meals) at the tiny diner on the property with the cabin/campground. We went to the Dillard House, and Babyland General, the local splash pad, and the outlets in Dahlonega. We kept busy the whole week and had so  much fun. Loved getting to spend time with Carson without Carver for a few days. And getting uninterrupted attention from Grandmama was super special for him :)

Boys. Trying to civilize them is a completely daunting task.

The Village Tavern Pizza in Helen, GA.

Babyland General. He loves it!

Baby geese!

We stayed an extra night after we picked Carver up from camp. While watching some men fishing, Carson (and Carver) struck up a lively conversation. He tells everyone he meets that he is "4." 

Carver Goes to Camp

We left Georgia two years ago and I still have moments when I wonder if we made the right decision. I love Asheville and love our life here-- but I miss Georgia and I miss our life there too. One of the most difficult parts of the move was leaving Strong Rock Camp. Camping has been a part of both my and Daniel's life for decades-- together and separately-- we have strong ties to this industry and ministry. So, to leave just as our boys were getting old enough to really reap the benefits of growing up at camp was devastating.

But this was a big summer for Carver (and for us!). In June, Carver went to Strong Rock as a camper! We spent months getting him ready for camp-- like how to shower by himself, how to not strip naked every time he used the bathroom--- you know, life skills :) He was unsure about camp, he really wanted to go but really wanted us to go with him.

I was nervous taking him that Sunday morning-- but he did GREAT. Not a tear (from him at least) and he was SO excited.

It was not an overly stressful week for me-- we know and love and trust everyone at Strong Rock-- and having friends there meant we got a lot of extra texts and pictures.

Carver was actually sad when we went to pick him up. .And he spent the next weeks begging to go back. All in all we could not have asked for a better first experience for him at camp-- and I am so thankful that it was at Strong Rock.

Dropping off big brother.

On the porch of his cabin.

Love this one :) He is a proud member of the Awahili Tribe!

Campwide evening activity.

Awahili pride. Apparently.

Horseback was a favorite skill.

Zip line!

How he looked when we picked him up-- an enormous shirt, tucked into bright red shorts, camo crocs and legs covered in grass clippings.

Reunited at last!

Carson immediately started helping the staff break down the Gym after the closing program. 

Julia was a counselor this summer. That was a huge added benefit and it made me much less stressed having her there for Carver's first summer.

Carver can't wait to go back next summer. He says he is staying two weeks next year. I am not so sure I will be ready for that-- but I am so pleased that he loved camp!