After an enormous breakfast, we headed to the Fort Wayne, Indiana Children’s Zoo.  This zoo had so much stuff to do that I’m amazed that we actually seen it all.  Although it was a tad bit hot and humid, it didn’t stop us from having bucket loads of fun.  The kids were having the best of time as well as being on their best behavior.  Thank goodness!! 

This is Jilliann and myself second time at the zoo but it seemed like our first time around.  I was especially grateful to have shared this visit with my sisters, niece and nephews.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - Happy Monday!

Considering we were completely and totally blessed to have spent three long weeks with Leo’s family, I couldn’t have asked for a better “icing on the cake” surprise!  My beautiful sisters took time out of their busy lives and made a road trip to Indiana from Wisconsin to visit with us for a day.  That’s right, I said a day!  They drove 6 hours on Wednesday and then turned around today (Thursday) and headed back home.  There is nothing more rewarding to the heart and soul to have spent the little time I did with my sisters.  And even more icing on the cake was seeing my two adorable nephews and my sweet little niece!  I am such a lucky Aunt to be blessed with such a beautiful family.  I’m pretty sure as they departed today my niece and nephews left with rosy red cheeks due to the excessive kissing I could not control!

We were definitely overwhelmed today since we wanted to get in as much fun as we possibly could considering we didn’t have a whole lot of time!  So after a fabulous lunch, hours at the zoo and then pizza at the arcades we said our goodbyes!  My sisters may never know you truly important this day meant to me.  As I always say on my blog, “I never see my family enough” and today was just the “ICING ON THE CAKE”!

Dear Ranae and Rachel,

We may have hated sharing bedrooms and clothes growing up and fighting over the most inconsequential things wasn’t fun, but I appreciate and love you two more than you will ever know.  You both are a huge part of what makes my world go around and I blessed to have you in my life.  I love you both!

You’re Favorite Sister!

While finishing up our vacation here in Indiana, I really wanted to create a post on how grateful Leo and I have been these past few weeks.  We are far more grateful than anyone could ever imagine to have had the opportunity to spend a long beautiful week in North Carolina with Leo’s family.  They were/are far too generous and we couldn’t have asked for a better vacation!  Thank you all!

Being in Connecticut and surrounded by such great people was absolutely wonderful.  We definitely know we don’t see our families enough and it was fabulous to have seen everyone over great Italian food and all the stories about Leo when he was a little boy.  I can never get enough of them!

If you’re ever in Connecticut area, you must stop by Leo’s grandma’s house for some of the best home cooking you could possibly ever imagine!  She is truly fabulous and I love her to pieces!

** We’re here in Indiana finishing up our vacation and I have some fun and exciting news to share with ya’ll and I couldn’t be more ecstatic so stay tuned! **

Our beach vacation here in North Carolina is officially coming to a close.  Tomorrow we say good-bye to our beach house and the beautiful ocean.  The beach is one of my favorite places to escape from everything and just enjoy the never ending waters and that softness of the breeze brushing against your skin.  Some great memories were created here and we’ll definitely miss this place.  I loved nothing more than watching Jilliann enjoy every minute she spent here at the beach.  Watching her smile, laugh and jumping in excitement will be my most memorable moments here.  She can truly warm my heart when she’s so overjoyed in excitement!!  I love it!!

Not only was our vacation surrounded by great people and wonderful food, but I also just finished a fabulous summer book!  I said to myself that I was going to take as much time as I could to just sit down, relax and enjoy a nice piece of reading material.  And I am so glad I did!  I definitely don’t read enough so I think after this vacation that will have to change.  And if your looking for a great book for some summer reading, definitely check out “Dear, John” by Nicholas Sparks.  I bought this book at the last minute while in the airport getting ready to fly out to Indiana.  I’m not much a novelist reader but this book defnitely had me wanting more.  I coudn’t seem to put it down.  It also was a book that I could completely relate to you which made it that much better!!  If you’re familiar with Nicholas Sparks, he also wrote the book “The Notebook” which became one of my favorite movies of all time!

Considering we’ll be leaving this beautiful North Carolina sun, I know that every one will be leaving this vacation much tanner than we were coming in.  And that in itself is always a great thing to take with you from your fun family vacation!!

*** It was absolutely amazing to see the wild horses they have here on the beach.  And I literally mean “wild”!  They run wild up and down the beach which also makes them a huge tourist attraction and we were so happy to have seen them!! ***

 

On day four of our vacation and after our scenic tour of the lighthouses, we stopped at a tiny amusement park for a little fun in the sun!  It was a great watching everyone race to the finish line in their speedy cars.  The look on all their faces we’re just priceless!

Today we decided to take a scenic tour through the island of North Carolina.  It’s amazing the history each town has to offer.  Not only are you bombarded with beach houses, but the lighthouses here are absolutely amazing.  We had the pleasure touring throughing Cape Hatters and Bodie Island.

I hate to even start thinking that our vacation here in North Carolina is coming to end.  To think that I won’t be able to wake up with a warm cup of Italian coffee, relax on the patio and breathe in that amazing beach air.

Happy Thursday Ya’ll!!!

Once again we awoke to a beautiful sunny day and wasted no time in heading to the beach.  I on the other hand I had to stay completely covered due to my 2nd degree sunburn! Ouch!  And I am an SPF fool and I always make sure that everyone has their suncreen on nice and thick, but when the second application came about I forgot to apply it to myself!  And boy am I paying for it!  Their is nothing like a bad sunburn that can completely ruin a few days of vacation.

Jilliann is definitely a beach girl!  She has no fear, just a complete love for the water!  Watching her jumping into the waves and it wisking her to shore was more fun that she had anticipated!  I loved nothing more than watching that bright smile never leave her face.

I can’t even begin to tell you how relaxing it was this morning to awake to some freshly brewed coffee and the beautiful southern sun!  While sipping on my coffee I enjoyed a nice quiet morning on our third floor balconcy looking over the beautiful beach houses and the never ending waters.  It was definitely refreshing and I can’t wait to do this every morning for the next five days!

After filling up on an enormous breakfast, we wasted no time in grabbing our swimsuits and sunscreen and headed to the beach.  We all had an absolute blast in catching some waves with our bodyboards!  Jilliann was in complete heaven making her sandcastles and keeping her Nono and Nona busy at hand!

As I took a few minutes relaxing and catching some rays, I watched from afar Jilliann with her Nono and Nona having fun in the ocean and making sandcastles.  And at the moment I thought to myself how truly grateful she (we) is to be spending a vacation with our family.  Spending seven days and having thirteen bodies all living under the same beach house might sound overwhelming, but I couldn’t be more grateful and blessed to be here with everyone.

Happy Sunday Ya’ll!!

 

As we were enjoying a beautiful day, the day America was born, I couldn’t miss out following Jilliann around Nono and Nona’s backyard while she was picking berries.

We’ve finally arrived here in Corolla, North Carolina!  This area is absolutely AMAZING!  It’s so great to be back in the south again!  The sound of a southern twang and the taste of sweet tea can’t make this vacation any better.  

Happy Saturday!

** I absolutely love this photo!  My little Jilliann has the longest, darkest eye lashes!!  I’m so jealous!!

Happy 4th of July!  Leo, Jilliann and I couldn’t be more excited to spending this 4th of July here in Indiana with some of our greatest friends and family.  We are so blessed!

It’s amazing to think in 1776 the most memorable epocha in the history of America was made.  I defnitely have to count my blessings to be living in one of the greatest places in the world.  Our country may not be perfect, but it sure is a great place to call your own!! 

I love the smell of Independence Day, the fireworks, hotdogs, the hot sun and everthing around you is the color of RED, WHITE & BLUE!  So I wish everyone a Happy 4th of July!