Book Report!

Here are some more books for you to read....or not. Y'all might hate these posts, but I love them because they help me remember what I have read! You know when a friend says "have you read anything good lately?" and then you can't remember a single thing? Or I can't remember anything recent... well then I go back to these posts and remember!

So, here's what I've been reading lately!

Crazy Rich Asians

This has been one on my list for a while and I never got around to it.  I needed a new audio book so I got this one and I loved it! There are a lot of characters, and at times, I was a little confused... but it was funny and well written and FUN! Rachel is an ABC-- American born Chinese and she is going on a summer vacation with her boyfriend.. they both live in NYC and upon arriving in Singapore, she discovers he is filthy rich... and she meets a whole lot of crazy rich Asians! Loved this one.... kept thinking it would make a GREAT movie!

The Island

Obviously I can't do one of these posts without an Elin book.  Duhhhh.  I REALLY liked this one! It's all about sisters and their dynamics.  As one sister calls of her wedding, she decides to spend the summer with her mother on the island of Tuckernuck.  Her sister comes too and then the aunt joins them as well.  There's no TV, basically no electricity and not a whole lot to do but drink and talk.  And they do that! great beach read!


One Tue Loves

 So as you will see, I have a thing about this author currently... I enjoy the way she writes- and the way she tells a story.  I read three of her books this go 'round and I am honestly not sure if I could pick a favorite.  The story opens with Emma sitting at dinner with her fiance and her parents when her husband calls.  Yup, that's right.  They thought he died in a helicopter crash, but alas, he survived.  Emma has to decide who she is now-- and what life she wants to lead.  Read it, guys.  it was good!

Forever, Interrupted
 wrote about this one here. Oh how I loved this book!

Maybe in Another Life

I also really liked the concept of this one-- she is a clever writer! The main character, Hannah, moves to LA and goes out with her best friend her first night there.  She runs into her former love of her life.  Then the book splits chapter by chapter-- one, if she went home with him what happens, and one, if she didn't go home with him, what happens.  It is interesting to see how the universe threw things at Hannah in each instance.  And I found myself intrigued to figure out which scenario was the better of the two.  Another winner from this author. 


Sweet Tea Tuesdays

This book popped up on my kindle as a "limited on sale" or something like that so I got it.  It is a cute, easy read (maybe a touch sad) about three neighbors who gather for tea every single Tuesday.  Their lives are going on around them and something happens to one of them.  One of the characters has two daughters who are also central characters.  It was a cute book and quick read!


Have y'all read anything lately?? I have a growing list right now....



 

Camp Carrie and Carol

So we left Myrtle Beach, drove to Chapel Hill, did a little unloading and reloading and then got back on the road.  We were going to my parents' beach house for the week! Eddie stayed home to work (thanks, Ed!) so it was me and the boys heading down.  We had BIG plans though.

The boys went to camp at the beach-- called Sea to Sound camp... they learn about the different habitats and explore and play and they had a BALL! It was awesome!

You know who else had a ball? ME AND MY MOMMA! We had so much fun doing whatever we wanted to do whenever we wanted to do it! It was awesome!

 We dropped those cuties at camp Monday morning and this is our "FREEEEEDOM" smile as we pulled away. 

Then we headed to a tennis clinic down the beach a ways. 

After tennis, we walked across the street to the beach and had a LOVELY lunch outside,  

 Then, we proceeded to SIT in chairs and relax and drink and read and do whatever else we wanted to.  Definitely didn't suck.  At all. 

 CHEERS!

We picked up our campers at 4:00-- can you see the spring in Andy's step? He was loving camp!!

 We came home and the boys got in the hot tub for a little wind down time.  I love this picture so much:

 Bruce missed his boys all day! He kept looking in the hot tub to check on them!

 "They are really here, momma!" (and Cal is drinking a sprite with a clever coozie....)

Tuesday, we had some ready to go campers!


 Every morning, they played in this field during drop off-- they played the best games.  Can you spot Cal running?

This day, mom and I did some shopping! We hit up all our favorite spots and then had lunch on the waterfront in Beaufort.  The day started off rainy, but the clouds parted for out lunch. 

 A wild horse walked across this beach as we sat there eating.  Pretty cool to watch!


We came home for  a little chill out time before pick up-- Bruce was all about chilling out with his grandma. 

Wednesday was SOUND day for the campers.  They were going exploring in the sound and they were PUMPED!

We picked up the crew and headed straight for the pool where the boys practiced their dives.

 The wind was whipping out there.  

Thursday was basically our favorite day.  We started out by taking the dogs on a long walk that ended at the gazebo-- can you see Bruce? 

 HAPPY boy!

 Then we played tennis.... and it was HOT hot hot hot.  We sweat like you would not believe.  It was noon and we were running around a court-- what were we thinking?! But it was too much fun to stop. 

After tennis, we threw on swim suits and headed out in the kayak.  We went all over the sound, drinking our hard earned beer.  

 Until it started raining-- so we retreated to the deck to drink champagne instead. 

Friday was the last day of camp.  They put on a little skit and it was just adorable! Cal was the main "speaker" which was funny, and unexpected.   Andy was a fish.  Which isn't unexpected...

 This camp was right on the beach and it was just gorgeous. 

 Friday at 7, Andy couldn't take it any longer.  He passed out in grandma's bed.  He was cooked.  It was a long week, going 9-4 every single day. 

 Cal curled up....on the dog bed.....and had some good rest time. 

My brother's wife was down in Savannah with his girls and Jackson was at camp, so Chris came down solo.  He lost his dog a few months ago (sob sob) so he got some gooooood pup snuggles in with Bruce.  He LOVED Bruce-- it made my heart happy.  Bruce was fond of him too-- they had lots of snuggle time together.  

Talk about a great week!!!!



 

Summer Regional Meeting

I post about this meeting every year... Eddie's company holds a regional meeting every summer and they are kind enough to invite families along to join in on the fun! This year we were back in Myrtle Beach and we had a great time! I remember going to this meeting 6 years ago, when Andy was barely a month old and thinking "will these meetings ever be fun again?!" and they really are!

We drove down Thursday morning and clearly, I was overly excited about this.... #holyfatface

 The kids were great on the way down, thankfully.  We checked in and while Ed parked the car, I took the baggage cart and the kids up to the room.  In the elevator, I heard Andy munching on something and he goes "this place is great! They have free apples!" Apparently he found a bowl in the lobby and helped himself....

We had a welcome meeting and then we had the opening dinner.  The theme this year was all sports related so it was super excited to have Woolie Bull arrive to hand out awards to all the kids there! Andy got an award for graduating kindergarten:

 And Cal got one for baseball....

 Both kids were super excited to get to see the Bull up close and even hug him a few times. 

I am fortunate enough that my brother, dad and Eddie are all in the same region-- makes these meetings a lot more fun having all my peeps near by!

Also lucky that Eddie's brother in law (Tricia's husband) has also started working with Jones, so we have another family member to add to the mix! Makes these meetings even more fun!

 This dinner was outside and I swear, there was 200% humidity-- I didn't realize how awful the hair situation was until we got back in the room.... but I do love my hottie hubby. 

The three of us went down to the pool after dinner to watch the boys swim for a while.  Tricia and I drank WAY too much wine....but had so much fun doing it!

The next morning we had meetings (the spouses did too...!) and then it was pool and beach time! These kiddos were excited.  It was very strange this year because the kids are both strong swimmers now so I don't feel like I have to follow them around or be in the water catching them... I almost felt lost.... like not quite comfortable sitting in a chair with my book with my eyes of of them, but not like I had to follow them around either.  Odd.

Of course when they were in the ocean, I was watching them like a hawk.  Have y'all heard about the rough rough water conditions off the coasts of N and S Carolina?? Holy smokes.  Any way.....

Friday night we had an evening at the Fun Warehouse-- there were arcade games, go carts, roller skating and lots of other super fun things.  

I looooooved roller skating.  I want to do it again.  I think it might be a good workout too.... burn that booty! The boys were not great at it and it was hilarious to watch....like baby giraffes trying to walk...

 They loved some go-karting! Andy wasn't tall enough to drive alone...

 Cal was though!!! He was a VERY serious driver....

There was one part of the place that was filled with these challenges-- they were sort of like ninja warrior, but crossed with wipe out-- this was the big red ball challenge.  The kids made it look easy, so several men tried it and I about wet my pants.  

Saturday morning, we were TIRED.  We ate breakfast and then had some snuggle time.  Eddie was in meetings and Cal requested a selfie while all three of us were in one square inch of the bed.  

Eventually we made it out to the pool. We started the day pool side and then ended up on the beach.  I took only one picture during the day:

Saturday night was the awards dinner.  I adore this evening.... I am proud of Eddie and I love seeing him recognized for all his hard work.   My dad won a really great award this year-- of course I cried like a baby when they called him up. 

 With my amazing parents....

 Funny(ish) story--- we had a big time on the beach before this...some of us bigger than others (ahem, eddie....).  He came up for a little power nap and I bathed the boys and myself and got completely ready and tried to wake him and he kept saying he needed 5 more minutes.  Finally, I set the alarm on his phone to continuously go off and then the boys and I headed down... so that's why the first few pictures aren't with Eddie- hahahaha He finally came down and was feeling much better after a little snooze. 

 I was seriously beaming sitting next to him-- the guy works SO hard and I am grateful.  And proud. 

I looooove my sweet sister in law, Tricia! Looking at this picture below against the one above of me and Ed, they really do look alike, huh?

Love this one of the four of us....

The night ended and we went to pick up the kids from child care.... Nug was OUT cold on the floor.  Eddie scooped him up and we put him straight to bed.  Bless his heart.... he had a pizza stain on the BACK of his shirt.  I think he slept on pizza on the floor.... 

Sunday morning we loaded up and headed back to Chapel Hill.... but we didn't stay there long....! We unloaded 2 bags and reloaded other bags and got right back on the road again for Atlantic Beach! More on that coming up.... but Andy took advantage of the car ride....