(Panda)monium

This weekend we decided to hit the National Zoo on Sunday.  Yes, this was just a random pick for us.  But just because we were coming to the zoo, several excited things happened.  On Saturday night, our mommy Panda had not one but two babies.  Then, our current two year old baby panda, Bao Bao was celebrating his birthday as well.  The combination of these two events made the entire zoo feel panda crazy.  There were birthday celebrations (yes, seriously crazy people talking to the pandas), tons of media wanting to interview every person visiting.  However, the panda bug got us pretty excited too.  So much that Lily even dressed like a panda and then ended up getting her face painted as well.  All in all, it was an amazing panda day.

2 Year Old Bao Bao eating his birthday sugar cane

5 year old Lily celebrating Pandamonium

While it looks like I took the entire summer off...

I really did in fact work most of the summer.  I enjoyed a whole week out with one of my teams doing a book distribution in Pittsburg.  We distributed over 650,000 books in 4.5 days.  Yes, thats a lot of box moving, pallet jack wrangling, bending, lifting and all around feet hurting kind of days.  Thank goodness for some pain reliever.  Then I also got to make a trip to Oklahoma City with a couple co-workers for some partnership meetings.  It was HOT in Oklahoma City, but I was in great company.

Pittsburgh with some of our high school volunteers (they are learning in high school how to prepare for warehousing jobs... amazing program)

We were also blessed with a plethora of high school church volunteers for the entire week

Oklahoma City (this is a lake with a light house? Interesting.)

Coworkers Carey, Bryan and myself

Our new Florida digs

Yes, we bought a lot in Florida (only 1 mile from the beach).  Yes, we are building a house on said lot. Yes, we have a builder.  Yes, after a short 36 hour trip by Kim, everything is now picked out for the house (cabinets, counters, flooring, pool, etc.).  Yes, hopefully... the house will be done in time for spring break next year.  Can't wait for everyone to help us enjoy it.

While I was visiting on my short 36 hour whirlwind trip, I actually got to take a walk from our property out to Bonita Beach.  I can tell you that I have absolutely no buyers remorse.  The beach is beautiful and there are a bunch of restaurants and things right on the way to the beach.  I couldn't feel luckier even if I won the lottery.

Here is the nearly 1/2 acre lot.  Yes... it will get cleared soon.

And here is the beach that is only a 1 mile walk/bike ride.  

Annual day at the museum

This is the second year in a row that we have got to join my work friends (Elizabeth and Susan) and their daughters (Simone & Fiona), now also Lily's friends... for a day at the museum.  Susan is an art expert and used to work at the National Gallery of Art, in addition with other galleries, so she provided a special tour of a traveling exhibit at the Gallery.  Afterwards we all got to lunch together as well.  It was a wonderful day.

Just another day at the beach

Even though we rent the beach house out a lot during the summer, sometimes we do still a day and head over just to enjoy another day at the beach.  This particular turned out perfectly.  It was our last beach day with our interns, our friend Sarah joined us and it was perfect weather.  Not only did we hit the pool and the beach, but we also hit Funland and finished with dinner at Bethany Blues BBQ.  Oh, and we got the most perfect sunset view for nearly 20 minutes on the way home.  Gotta love summer.

Day out with all 4 interns

We were lucky enough this summer to have two interns live with us (Ilda & Stefany).  However, before they departed... we were blessed to spend an entire day out with all four interns.  They all stayed over on Friday night.  We had a great breakfast together on Saturday morning.  Then we headed to the National Zoo and got some great views of the pandas.  Then it was off to Great Falls State Park for a lunch picnic, a little hiking and great views of the falls.  By the time we got home we were all beat, but we enjoyed some great BBQ for dinner together.  It was so wonderful being around the interns this summer.  They truly were an inspiration to each of us and I know they will continue to make us all proud as they head into their future career paths.

Lily in the eye of the dinosaur with Ilda

Gorillas eating peanut butter sticks

 The pandas are always a favorite.  This is Bao Bao... the newest panda at the National Zoo

Pink birds (Flamingos that Spoonbills) are always a hit

Armando, Ilda, Stefany & Leonor at Great Falls State Park

Ilda and Lily (Lily adored our interns)

Lily, Ilda, Armando, Leonor & Stefany

Sams Birthday

In later July we got to make a day trip up to Wilmington, DE to celebrate Sam's birthday.  What a fun day we had.

Lily and Sam (these two sure seem to like each other)

However, when it comes to racing... Sam is not going to let anyone beat him

I think it was over 100 degrees so the water balloons were welcome!

Lily & Madeline

Summer Catch Up - Movie Time

Lily was is well loved by both Gianna and her little sister Mary Grace.  So much that Mary Grace even invited Lily to her birthday party at the movies.  We got to see the Minions movie and all the kids had a roaring great time.

Summer Catch Up - One heck of a July 4th week

This is the very first time we have spent an entire week at the beach house and boy was it a great time.  Our favorite Aunt Venita and Uncle Dave joined us for the entire week and it was so nice to have quality time with them that we so seldom get to have.  There was lots of get togethers, birthday partying, trip to Cape May and just all around hanging around the pool and beach.  I am determined that we continue doing this every year... hopefully we won't get detoured.

 The kids love the home made car wash....

 A little karaoking before heading out for fireworks

Birthday celebrating

The gangs all here (Chloe, Lily, Lexie, Sam, Madeline & Ava)

Heading out to Cape May on the Lewes-Cape May ferry (we saw tons of dolphins on the way home)

Summer Catch up - Baltimore Aquarium

As usual, we get so busy in the summer that I am too busy to make time to get these posts on our blog.  My apologies, but as most of you know... summer and sunny weather is my favorite time of year and I like nothing more than being outside as much as possible.  So, I hope you enjoy some of our sunny summer photos as much as I have enjoyed my summer.

Catching up first is a trip we made to the Baltimore Aquarium on July 3rd.  Right before we started a week long vacation with Aunt Venita & Uncle Dave... we sneaked a trip to the Aquarium in with our friends Gianna, Mary Grace & Jeanette.