Virginia Beach Nationals!

... Continued... (I'm only two months behind in the blogging world, SIGH). After Tyson's Nationals in Myrtle Beach, we loaded up our vehicles.  Darren and the dogs returned to Roanoke. The kids and I went to Virginia Beach for Lilah's Nationals.  Lilah is SOOOOO not used to use being a divided family that departing from her daddy was so hard. She cried herself into a nap.

Day #2 Continued...

Oh you know, it's only been three months since we completed our trip to Orlando and a month since I last posted on it. Haha.  Oh well, as they say, "Better Late Than Never!" I will continue to blame it on my kids' intense schedules. Yes, it's Summer, but nothing is SLOWING down. It has actually been a blessing that school is out because this extra curricular schedule could not be maintained throughout the year. We are in the height of AAU Basketball season and dance stuff is keeping us busy and traveling. We just realized that both Ty's nationals and Lilah's Nationals are at the same time, different beaches. Sigh... It will be a mystery on how we handle that dilemma.

Day #2 - Islands Of Adventures

On Day #2 of our trip, we started out at Islands Of Adventures! This is an Orlando park that I had never been to before, which is always nice to explore a "FIRST" at 42 years of age. None of us knew what to expect, but we were excited. I did prepare the birthday twins with matching minion shirts though and they were so exited and appreciative.  Other than the fact that my shirt is CRAZY SEE THROUGH (SMH) do yo notice what is on it? Bananas!!!! Minions favorite!

Tulsa Bound!

Well, the day has arrived.  Our Company's 20th Anniversary "EVOLVE" Seminar is this weekend. I have been signed up for almost a full year.  I am beyond thankful to my amazing husband for giving me this opportunity to EVOLVE/grow both personally and professionally.  I went bed at midnight, prepping for my departure and had to wake up at 3:00 a.m. to shower.  Even if I am tired, I will NOT let my body feel it. I'll just play catch up when I get home.  I am Tulsa Bound until Monday morning.  

Day 1 - Universal Studios Orlando

As previously mentioned, Darren and I had plans to do Universal Studios on Saturday and Islands of Adventure on Sunday BUT, we found out that our tickets were "BOGO:  buy one day at Universal, get another day at Universal for FREE!" We didn't find this out until we were standing in our hotel lobby picking up our tickets. SO, after we ate lunch, we headed to Universal Studios to begin our adventure.  We aren't those types of people that grab a park map and design a plan.  We just aren't planners normally, so we certainly didn't want to start become a planner on vacation. Truthfully, I think our days are filled with so much routine and so much scheduling as it is, that it would have been more like work, instead of fun to "map" it all out.  

Universal Studios Bound!

The day arrived... we had to be at the airport by 6:45 a.m..  Our flight left at 8:35 a.m. My kids were excited as ever.  The last time they flew on an airplane was when we took a 10 day trip to all of the Disney Parks.  You can visit that trip by using our search box, on the homepage of our blog! Lilah and Jax had their birthday shirts on and they were already receiving all kinds of attention from the airport employees and attendees.  

A Trip To The Mall Of America!

This past weekend was my 42nd birthday! It's crazy to think that TWO FULL YEARS ago I turned 40. After celebrating my birthday this weekend and having an Instagram memory pop up, reminding me of my trip to the Mall Of America, I realized I never blogged about it. Sigh... A back log of two years? Really?! Really!!!

Myrtle Beach ~ Day #7

Just another day at the pool and beach!

 WHAT? Are my kids actually interacting QUIETLY, engaged, and happy?

 This was BY FAR MY FAVORITE color combination to DATE! Just unique and fun.

 I'm also pretty obsessed with my Liley's hairstyle. She sorta looks like Princess Leia AND I LOVE IT.

Twice blessed.

This kid is getting BIG! I blinked and he went from a sixe 8/10 to a size 14/16.

Brothers.

I am also pretty addicted to Lilah's freckles.  You don't see them that often, anymore, and I think it makes her unique looking.

My trio.

 

I can't recall where we went to dinner, but Darren and I did take the kids putt-putt golf this night.  

Most families make this a beach tradition, but we do not.  I guess putt-putt is fun to kids, but Darren and I find golf beyond BORING.  I would truly rather watch the grass grow.    

 

Darren has been wanting a jeep, so we joked and said, "We finally took the plunge!" Haha.  What better place to cruise around in a Jeep Wrangler!

If I am NOT mistaken, Daren won the round of golf.  If we didn't hear it 100 times, we didn't hear it ONCE, "There's a whole lot of pizza left in that box!" AFTER EVERY SINGLE STROKE I TOOK. Darren hates to lose and he has all kinds of scare tactics and distraction techniques.  LOL! If he wins, I usually just say, "I let you win!" Oh man... that really gets him going.  LOL!

Fourth Of July '17 @Myrtle Beach

Eeeekkkkkk! I am just NOW blogging about the Fourth of July?!?! Good grief.  Can you spell  B-E-H-I-N-D.  

The morning of the 4th, I took a walk on the beach, with my dogs, and made sure to capture our great product, LipSense, sporting the American Flag.  Hehe.  

I came well prepared with all kinds of goodies for the 4th.  Well, a suitcase filled, and more, to be exact.

The 4th of July is always a wonderful memory for us.  We have sorta created a tradition of spending the day on the beach, getting decked out in our 4th of July attire, and going to eat dinner at The House Of Blues.

My kids' morning started out with a red, "white", and blue breakfast.  Mom of the year over here, served her kids cupcakes. Geez. I really was a cool mom this morning.  

 I also decorated our beach condo and laid out all of the goodies that I brought.

I even made my dogs a 4th of July breakfast.  

 BEACH TIME!

 So that was no different on July 4, 2017.

Everyone enjoyed the HOT day!  I love watching my family enjoy the waves with their daddy.  I wish I could say that I do it too.... I can't let my hair down long enough to enjoy that, both literally and figuratively speaking.  

 Daddy to the rescue though... he's like a GIANT KID.

 

 Riding waves with dad always creates those sweet smile.  

Ha! I tried to capture a cute, BEHIND photo... whoopsie.... where is Jax?

Sigh... it's just quite impossible to capture a GOOD group photo.  This is real life people.  

 

We interrupt this fun beach day to have a fun American Flag snack.  

It was not my kids, but I, who created this flag out of my food.  I know, I know. #EveryLittleThingIsABIGDeal 

After a beautiful day on the beach, my crew got all dressed up in their red, white, and blue clothing.  My sweet Liley is sporting JoJo Siwa's American flag bow, from Justice. I love it. Her dress was a "Rare Tradition" dress from Belk.

Jax Mr. Handsome was sporting the cutest outfit from both Old Navy and Target.  The shirt was from Old Navy and the shorts were from Target.  

We may have trouble taking group shots, but the individual shots we have on point.

 Love her.

 Ty had on a really awesome shirt from Old Navy too.  Way to go this year Old Navy!

Of to dinner we go... House of Blues.

 What an awesome shot of Liley with her main squeeze.

 I can't get enough of this kid.  Just so special and sweet (MOST days).

They drive me crazy, but they make me equally as proud.  I cannot complain, that is for sure.  Three healthy, happy, beautiful, and SMART children.  If we could just get the sibling rivalry under raps, I think motherhood would be perfect.

FINALLY.  I got in a PHOTO.  I was ON THIS VACATION after all.  LOL!

After dinner, Lilah and Darren had a little father/daughter dance.  You can tel Lilah was enjoying herself, but was also bashful.  

 Foreshadowing into her future wedding day! Sniff, sniff. 

 Daddy spinning Lilah around.  Can you see her sweet self smiling up at him?

Sadly, we missed fireworks.  Yea, I know.  Everyone was upset and mad.  The good thing is... you can see them EVERY NIGHT at Myrtle Beach, no matter what time of year it is.  AND... there is ALWAYS  next year, Lord willing.