On the road again, and again, and again, and again!

Wow what a summer it has been!  I have traveled more this summer than the last two combined I think!  Even though it has been more on-the-go than ever it has been wonderful to see family.  Let's start at the beginning shall we?!?

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Over the 4th of July we all (meaning Brad, Alexander and myself, my brother Joel, his wife Bri, and their son Isaac, my sister Leah, her husband Matthew, and their daughter, Abigail, and Mima-my dad's mom) traveled to Maryland.  It was a combo 4th of July weekend, surprise 50th birthday party for my dad, and a farewell get-together.  (My dad, Eileen and Jamie are traveling to Malaysia for 7 months for his job starting in September.)

At the 4th of July parade in their neighborhood.  High 5 to Cappy!

Jamie looking overly enthusiastic!!!

Alexander was extremely ill for that trip.  It was no fun for him... :-(

Getting "pushed around" by Abigail!

Even though it was super stressful having a sick kid, there is always respit in margaritas!  Here I am with Bri, who had a fruit smoothie because she is PREGNANT!  (Better you than me girl!)

We had a great party for my dad.  He was born on Christmas Day so this year Eileen had a great idea to do a surprise 50th birthday party in July!  Everyone contributed something special.  I thought I could make a cake, and here it is!  Fit for a sailor man!  It was such a fun party. 

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My next trip was to Dallas, Texas for my annual Mary Kay Seminar.  Actually it was to Rochester, then Dallas, then Rochester, then home!!!  I brought Alexander to my mom's house where she and her mom (thanks Nanny!) took care of him while I was away.  Aside from a horrible poop incident they had a great time!  I forgot my camera at home, so unfortunately I don't have any pictures.  At seminar I got some great awards.  I was the number one consultant in my unit for sales AND recruiting this year! 

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Our next family trip was to Pennsylvania for a family reunion on Brad's side.  His grandma turned 70 and his great grandma turned 90!  We stayed at a hotel and had a great time.  Alexander loved the pool and running the halls.  He also had fun with the elevator buttons!

Here is our little muscle man!  One of my mom's clients gave him this wetsuit with a lifejacket built right in.  It works great, and he looks just like a body builder with it on!

Chillin' with Daddy!

Here is the 5 generation picture (spouses included!)

5-Alexander/BJ (Brian James III)

4-Brad/Brian

3-Grandma Natalie (turquoise shirt on the left)

2-Great Grandma Sandy (green shirt on the right)

1-Great Great Grandma Manuel (front and center!)

Back row: Me, Barry, Lydia, Tabitha, Kylene

Who said all 5 generation pictures have to be serious!!!

Me and Kylene taking pictures of their son BJ

Putting Alexander to sleep.  God bless baby monitors!!!

Chillin' with Mommy!

Cousin lovin'!

What a fun time!

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Ok, stay with me now!  One more trip!!!  Since our trip to Maryland was such a bust with a sick kid over the 4th, Dad and Eileen flew Brad, Alexander and myself down for one more visit.  We had a BLAST!  The first morning we went out for a sail. 

I get extreme motion sickness on the sailboat.  So I told my Dad, "If it's moving and it's not on land I'm taking a pill!"  Bonine to the rescue!  It worked and I'm happy about it as you can see!

Alexander was loving Jamie's silly bands.

This is the boat that was on the movie "Wedding Crashers"

This is an osprey nest.  They are HUGE!

"Anchors away Cappy!  I'm ready to sail!!"

Alexander LOVED the swings!  Here he is swinging with Amma.

So ya know the show on TLC "DC Cupcakes?"  Well, I had the "brilliant" idea to go there.  We wanted to go with Brian and Kylene so we decided to meet up at their place.  What should have been a 40 minute drive took us over 2 hours!  With Alexander in the car and not much to keep him busy it was a nightmare.  When we finally did get to their place it was a smooth 30 minute drive to Georgetown cupcakes.  We round the corner of the shop and find this...

A 45 minute line to get IN the door!  And this was my reaction...

We decided to wait it out.  And look...we're still smiling!  Maybe that's because the smell of delicious cupcakes was wafting out of the door!

Now that is a thing of beauty!  They really were delicious.  However, if you ever make it there I highly suggest making a pre-order! ;-)

Alexander was enthralled in Eileen's "Psychology Today" magazine!  I just KNEW we had a smart boy!

We went to the beach, and here is Brad on jelly fish patrol.  They were everywhere...

Here's one that washed up on shore.

Wow...what an awesome summer!  I have, however, made everyone in my life fully aware that we are not going ANYWHERE until Thanksgiving!

Thanks for stopping in!

Love and Hugs