Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Memorial Day weekend we always try to make it down to the beach. This year we were able to continue that tradition but the neatest part of our trip was this year was our ride; we rode in a van instead of being cramped up in a car! It was so funny to see how excited our kids were to see a mini van as their ride to the beach. It was also sooooo nice not to hear "she's touching me, stop looking at me, he's hitting me,etc..... " the whole way there and home.

On the way down there we stopped to get something to drink and Joey's cousin was at the window serving, so that was a cute surprise (we hadn't scene her since Christmas)

We got to the beach about 9:00 on Friday night. Ayden slept on a pull out sofa, Bethany on the floor, and Brock demanded that everyone go to sleep when he did and that he would sleep in the middle of Joey and I. 

Oh to be little again and thrilled to be sleeping on the floor :)

Well Brock and Bethany decided that sleeping was over rated and they were up and down all night and finally at about 3:00 am Joey and I were ready to pull our hair out. 

At 7:00 am they were ready for pancakes and sausage (where does this energy come from????)

Next we headed to the beach. 

Ayden, Joey, & his dad headed straight for the water

Brock, Bethany, Joey's mom and I stayed nice and dry on the shore

We built a cute little turtle and then Bethany and Brock slowly decided to try the water out

We headed home for lunch and the kids stayed busy riding their bikes and playing in the canal

They even found a new little friend.... a blue crab. He wasn't very friendly so they let him go back home pretty quickly :)

 

 In between playtime and dinner time Joey and I got to sneak away to Harris Teeter to pick up some hotdog buns. You know your becoming an old married couple when you jump at the chance to go grocery shopping with your coupons! It was nice to have an hour with Joey of peace and quiet and alone time, even if it was to pick up some hotdog buns and sit in beach traffic. I also got some other stuff on sale and saved like $21 with my coupons!

For dinner that night we got to have a little memory of "great papa at the beach" as my children called him. Joey's grandfather passed away in December but we were able to eat some fish that he had got before he passed. It was nice to enjoy a meal from great papa. This was the kid's first time eating fish.
Ayden loved it,
Brock and Bethany are still deciding.

After dinner we took the kids to the park and packed up to head home. 

Sunday we went to church and had a moment to really remember what Memorial Day was about.
Our pastor's son made a very touching video and there was not a dry eye in the place.
http://vimeo.com/12100036

I also got to see my son Ayden do something that touched my heart a few days later.
We went to McFly's Barber Shop to get his haircut and it happens to be right outside the base so there was a lot of military decor in there and has mostly military service men and women come through.
As we were waiting Ayden got up and walked over to a man in uniform and said
"Thank you, your doing a good job sir"
I'm telling you what, it took everything I had not to bust out in tears. That was so sweet to me. I asked Ayden why he did that and he said momma, they taught us at school about our freedom and how we should say thank you to "army men"
What a wonderful reminder of Memorial Day.
I am so thankful for the sacrifice that so many families
have given so my family can have the freedom we have in this county.