Jax Beach...

After spending the Wednesday afternoon in Savanna, we got back in the car to finish the drive to Jacksonville Beach.  The girls could not wait to get to Uncle Mike's house...especially since it was Big Mike's birthday!  They were so sweet...they got a cake for all the summer birthdays:  Carsyn, Logan, Big Mike, Mike, and Maren (all those names barely fit on the cake)!  Afterward we went for a walk on the beach.  How nice to be able to walk a block and be on the ocean! 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Big Mike!

 

 

Love the ocean...

 

Love these peeps...

 

 

Thursday we took our time with breakfast, we headed out to the beach.  The girls were in heaven with all the shells they found.  And, Uncle Mike had a boogie board...so fun--especially when "Big Mike" pulled them around on it!  It was also awesome building sandcastles with their uncles.

 

 

Beach girls...

 

Maren...

 

Carsyn...

 

Logan...

 

 

 

Maren and Uncle Chris...

 

Nice work, guys...

 

 

That night we went out to dinner.  The girls were getting so spoiled with all that extra attention...it's really too bad that we don't live closer :(.

 

 

Out to dinner with two of their favorite guys...

 

 

 

On Friday we drove down to St. Augustine to take a tour of the "Oldest City in America".  What a pretty place, but my goodness was it HOT!  The girls had fun looking in all the souvenir shops to add to their collections.  Carsyn has decided to collect snow globes, and Maren is now collecting...shot glasses.  Seriously.  Logan has not committed to any collection, so instead she bought a thimble for Miss Linda, our neighbor and her sewing teacher. 

 

 

A little "Call Me Maybe" in the car...

 

 

 

Hanging out in St. Augustine...

 

 

 

Famous Magnolia Lane...

 

 

The fort in St. Augusting, Castillo de San Marcos...

 

 

 

After spending an incredibly hot and humid day walking around St. Augustine, Barry thought it would be a good idea to take the girls to the Alligator Farm.  Ummm...no thank you!  But, I was out-voted.  Whatever, I bought myself a giant Bud Light Lime-a-rita, and no longer cared ;)

 

Uncle Mike and Logan...

 

The whole gang...

 

 

Yes, please...

 

 

 

Saturday morning we went back out to the beach to make the most of our last day in Florida.  It was a lucky day for Carsyn...she found a shark tooth!!!  She was so excited.  After having fun at the beach, we went to pool at Mike's.  The girls loved spending time in Jacksonville with our extended "family"!  Thanks so much for putting all of us up, and putting up with us ;).  Love you, guys!

 

 

So fun...

 

Surfer girl?

Of course the girl with the fewest teeth of her own found the shark tooth ;)...

 

Baby Maren...

 

 

 Pool time...

 

Love them...

 

 

We stopped in Charlotte on our drive home...half way there...

 

Happy Fourth!

What a busy July 4th we have had!  We started the day at the pool...boy was it crowded!  Afterward we had Lauren with us and headed over to friends' house for our city's annual Fourth of July parade (they live right on the route).  There were so many kids there--almost hard to keep track ;).  It was also very hot!  But, totally worth it--the girls had such a good time.  And, it was the last night to spend with our friends before they moved.  When it was time to leave, Carsyn was crying...poor girl. 

Logan is really going to miss Martin too...although she'll never admit how much.  He's one of her best friends.  We really they get orders back here soon!

 

Little firecrackers...

 

Ready to party...

 

Waiting for the parade...

 

 

 

The big kids...

The middle kids...

The little kids...

Maren, Carsyn, and Shannon...

Best buddies...

After the parade we went over to another party for the fireworks.  The girls always have a good time at Lilli's.  Happy Fourth, everyone!

 

Blonde girls and brown haired girls...

 

96th Running of the Indianapolis 500...

We arrived in Indy Friday evening, just in time to make it up to the Burger Bash.  We had hoped that some drivers would show up (Tony Kanaan), but that didn't happen.  The girls had fun anyway, and the food was good.  *I had a chicken sandwich--in case you're wondering. 

The girls and Lyla...

Saturday morning I decided not to wake everyone up and drag them to the drivers meeting and autograph meeting to stalk see TK.  Instead we headed downtown for the parade.  We ended up walking to the beginning of the parade and waiting for the drivers to come out there.  Jackpot!!!  Not only did we get to see them all (and chat with a few), we also saw Guy Fieri!  The girls were thrilled.  They were also super-happy to see Tony. 

Guy chatting with Mario and Marco...

Maren waiting for the drivers...

Carsyn and Graham (for Evan)...

Logan and Marco...

Maren, Ashley Judd, and Dario...

We love Tony!

Man was it hot during the parade.  But, the girls were troopers...so we rewarded them with lunch at Mug'n Bun!  I had forgotten how good it was.  Afterward we went back to Kathy's to clean up for church and a cookout at Joe and Jeanne's.  We love going back to St. Chris for Mass and seeing Father Mike!  After church we went over to my friend's grandma's house to see him and his family.  It was so good to see you guys, FINALLY!  That night we took it easy and went to Target to pick up a few last-minute items for the race.

Mug'n Bun...

Black and white...

The girls and Dreyton and Carter...

 

Race morning = goosebumps!  There's nothing like it.  We packed our coolers, slathered on the sunscreen, and headed to Fred's.  We knew it was going to be hot--and it was, but you got use to it ; ).  In fact, the girls did so well this year.  Logan sat through the entire race, and Carsyn and Maren were in the stands for over 75% of it.  It was very emotional during the parade laps when they did the tribute to Dan Wheldon, but the race was AWESOME!  Great racing.  The crowd (us especially) went completely nuts when Tony took the lead.  Unfortunately he did not win, but finished on the podium.  After the race we went back to Kathy's to shower and eat, wait for the crowds to clear out, and drive back home.  It was a great weekend, and we are so grateful to our hosts!  You guys are the best!

Race morning (Carsyn hated her shirt--what else is new)...

Parking at Fred's...

Wouldn't be a race without Kathy and John ; )...

All of us...

So hot, and the race hadn't even started...

Ran into cousins, Aubrey and Braxton...

Trying to keep cool...

Tribute to Dan Wheldon...

Turn one!

Pre-race traditions...

All cleaned up...

Leaving Indy, we drove past the track...