Family Vacay

After the busy week of the 4th, I headed to the beach to meet my family for a few days of fun and sun. Sadly, David couldn't come this year. We missed him so bad!!

My first afternoon was spent under the umbrella - my favorite place. :)

I didn't even waste time changing into my swimsuit. 

That night, the whole crew headed to Shrimp Boat for dinner. The food was great and I loved catching up with everyone!

This is almost everyone in the fam.
Back: My dad, Asa, Sydney, Spencer, Hugh, Ivy, Chandler, Jill, Brince, Laura Lyn, and Gracie
Front: My mom, Jamie, Bren, Katie, Tana, and me

 I made sure to have all of my supplies for my first full day on the beach. Chair, umbrella, plenty of water, and a beach bag full of magazines and sunscreen. And yes, I don't even bother with shoes. 

Lots of time was spent playing corn hole....

...enjoying the late afternoon sun...

 ...and teaching Gongaman how to play corn hole. He picked it right up!

 How heavenly is this afternoon sun?

  

 Me, mom, Laura Lyn, and Abbye have matching cover-ups...love!

 These are all the cousins...

Brince, Laura Lyn, Ivy, me, Abbye, Gracie, Sydney, Asa, Tana, Spencer, Hugh, Katie, and Chandler

 Later in the week, we had a great dinner at Firefly, then me, Abbye, Brince, and Laura Lyn scooted to see the late, late movie showing of Savages. But not before we took a pic with Zach Galifianakis.

After most of the crew left the beach and went home, me, mom, and Abbye had girl time - a late lunch at Johnny Rockets before seeing Magic Mike. 

We were rebels and sneaked in milk-shakes!

 More time was spent on the beach...

We even got to witness an afternoon wedding...

 And later went to have mani/pedis and Bonefish in honor of Mom's birthday!

 

Happy Birthday Mom!

 Our last day was spent under blue skies again on the beach. The best part of the day was that Pam, Amanda, Ben, Christie, Rodney, Lizzie, and Anne came over from Mexico Beach to play! 

 Ben, Lizzie, and Rodney got "slushies" for being so good!

 A few rain clouds gave us a pretty rainbow!

 And the rain stayed away from us...even though the clouds looked scary!

 The last night was spent at Uncle Eddie's for dinner with Jill and Ivy and Ivy's friends. 

 And while I was away, my sweet hubs sent me this pic...a burger, beans, and chips over looking the lake...he was fine. :) Glad to be back home with him though!

Summer Flowers

I had to share these lovelies around my house. 

My friends Betsy, Colby, Sydney and Renee brought me the most gorgeous flowers to enjoy in my new house. And the flowers are just too pretty not to share!

I'm such a lucky girl!

 

 

 

 

 

Awesome Fourth!!!!

 Call me insane, but Tuesday night (10 days after we moved in to our new house) we had 24 people over for dinner. I couldn't have been happier!

David and I got as much done to the house as we could, but weren't too concerned - we were just so pumped to have our friends and family here! 

Most of the painting has been completed, but the kitchen floors weren't - no big though. They'll be done next week, but that didn't stop us from having a ball! I'm keeping everyone posted on the new house progress over at Bellissimo and Bella!

Our Gainesville friends, Atlanta friends, and my family was here to celebrate on the eve of our country's 236th birthday. We had grilled tenderloins, grilled pineapple, blackberry crumble for dessert, Colby's green salad, Natasha's fruit, apps from Lauren and Laura, a red velvet cake from Callie, and bread from Meredith. Everyone so sweetly brought something!

The boys manned the grill while we girls chatted inside getting dinner ready.

Ashley S. and Sydney 

Abbye and Ashley G.

Lauren, Meredith, Meghan

Laura Lyn and Brince

The boys hanging on the deck before dinner!

David and Brian

Lauren's awesome charcuterie platter!

Natasha's amazing fruit! Seriously, how awesome is this?
**Laura made a fabulous spinach dip, but it was eaten so quickly that I didn't have an opportunity to snap a pic!

Ready to eat!

 And later, after dinner....

After dinner, we played such a fun game of musical flip cup!

Me and Colby!

Sydney, Laura Lyn, Me, Laura, Callie, Ashley, Abbye, Ashley, Natasha, and Colby! 

David, Jamie, Brett, Brian, Trey, Gray, Ryals, Justin, and Brince

 We woke up on Wednesday morning, excited for the day! Lauren and Ryals, Meghan and Brian, Brince and Laura Lyn, and Abbye and Ashley G. all stayed at Casa Griffin. We spent the morning leisurely having breakfast and drinking coffee before it was dock time. 

Lauren's delish yogurt parfaits!

Meghan's tasty blueberry muffins!

I love the Fourth!

Patriotic girls!

 After a lunch of burgers and hot dogs and grilled corn on the cob, it was time for a cruise around the lake!

 A few friends had to head back to Atlanta, but Abbye and Ash, Brince and LL and David and I got dressed and packed a picnic for the fireworks show!

Our new house is right across the lake from where the fireworks display is done, so we had primo seats! You can see the boats coming in to watch it from the water.

Laura Lyn and Cooper!

A toast to America!

Callie and Brian came over with their friends Heidi, Tyler, Emily and Raleigh to watch the fireworks with us too! After the fireworks show, we all lit sparklers and sang the Star Spangled Banner....so fun!!! 

The show was amazing!!!

And as if on cue, after the fireworks were done, the most beautiful yellow full moon rose over the mountains! 

Hope you all had a beautiful, lovely 4th as well - spent with family and friends!
God Bless America