4th of July Fun!

Cousins! Lalon, Lincoln, Naylor and Anna

Miss Priss

Mr. Cool

Naylor, Lalon, Whitley Ann and Brian enjoying the beach and a snack

Annie and Robin

Brian, Robin, Dustin, Leslie and Jason pre-Buddy's

Taylor and Robert

The boys cooking up the shrimp - yummy!

Ava James going for a ride with her glasses on - too cute!

As is tradition over the past 6+/- years, we headed to Wrightsville Beach to spend the long weekend with some family. And as is another tradition, there was tons of food and fun - and this year, toddlers! We have certainly grown over the years and there are more air mattresses and pack and plays than when we began, but it's a lot of fun. I grew up with my cousin Leslie (just a little less than a year younger than me) and there were times growing up that she was sometimes more a sister than a cousin - oh the memories we've made together! It makes me so happy to see my kids, playing along with their cousins Anna, Ava James and Lincoln and I hope for them, they are as close as we were growing up.

This weekend proved again how close we all are and how much we enjoy each other - we could sit in the driveway or on the back porch and just talk and re-tell stories for hours - and we do! Another 4th tradition, Uncle Craig cooked up his famous boiled shrimp and Annie made her awesome crab cakes - Leslie and Jason shared a new drink recipe served from a paint can - fun all around.

The kids enjoyed the beach, but Lalon was a little scared of the water - she didn't want to get too close, so she and I just let the water roll up on our feet. Brian and Naylor were a little more brave and went out a bit, but not too far. While we were out on Saturday a crew of ladies came through and then made their way into the water - one without her top. Well, as you can imagine that made quite a scene for conservative Wrightsville Beach. The poor lifeguard that had to tell her to come in and get a top on, well... bless his heart. She didn't make a fuss, she came in and did as told. You'd have thought she robbed a bank though, here came Park Rangers, lifeguards and two Wrightsville Beach police officers - oh boy! So that was entertaining to say the least. Whitley Ann also made her beach debut and took a small nap - I think she'll be a natural on the beach next summer!

The kids (and by kids, I mean me, Brian, Leslie, Jason and Dustin) went out Saturday night to the local watering hole and had the best time - it was like old times for me and Leslie! We got home that night and had a 'dance off' in the driveway before our parents came out to quieten us down... we all felt like we were going to be grounded the next day - ha!

It was a super fun weekend and has inspired a new Naylor family blog with recipes and whatnot - it's just a start, still lots to work to do on there, but I hope to get on that over the next few weeks! www.backporchmore.blogspot.com