Juju and Ben

This is Julianne and her boyfriend Ben Irish.

Lesley

Grace goes to the Ocean

In the beginning of the week, Jamie and I took Grace Darling to the beach.

SHE LOVED IT!!! She ran and ran around the beach.

We walked her in the water behind a sand bar (the water is fairly calm there). We keep walking till she couldn't touch. And she took off swimming. She seemed to love it too.

Lesley

Pawley's Island

Saturday we arrived at Pawley's Island in South Carolina. This is the
view from the back decks of our beach house.

Lesley

Grace Darling's Kayaking Adventure

The first night that we were here. Jamie went out in Dick's Hobie (kayak with pedals). He asked if Grace Darling could go with him. I was terrified...what is she jumped off and drowned. I agreed if Jamie stayed kind of close to our dock. So I put her in the back of the Hobie. She looked a little nervous. After a couple of minutes, she was really enjoying it. She started standing up on the side so that she could see the water better. She was so curious.

Lesley

Downtown St. Mary's

I took these pictures of downtown St. Mary's. It is a small town, quaint and precious. It sits right on the St. Mary's river.

Lesley

Gran Gran's House

This is Gran Gran's house. She also lives on the marsh/St. Marys River.

These are pictures that Jamie took in her back yard. The views are breathtaking.

Lesley

Jackson Family Portrait

After everyone's dinner had settled at Grangran's house. I had everyone go outside and pose for some family pictures.

Lesley

Dinner at GranGran's

On Friday night, we had a phenomenal dinner at GranGran's. (Jamie, me, Fran, Dick, Grangran, Aunt Vicky and Uncle Delma). She made an amazing roast with gravy and rice, green beans, and there were other things I just can't remember. There was one thing that I have never tried before (nor heard of)...Fatback. For those of you who don't know it is sort of like bacon, it's other nick name is white bacon. It is fattier than bacon, thicker and then fried. It is good, probably clogs the arteries immediately, but worth it. Grangran also made doughnut holes for dessert.

Lesley

Father-Son Bonding

These pictures speak
more than my words ever could.

Lesley

Kayaking

A couple of months ago Dick purchased a kayak, well a super fancy open kayak with foot pedals and a rudder. It is specifically made for fishing. He is so excited about it and has gotten some use out of it so far.




Today, Jamie and Dick put the kayak in the water off Aunt Vicky and Uncle Delma's dock. They live just a few houses down from Gaga and Grandaddy. Their house and dock are below.





Dick and Jamie took turns in the kayak. They were having so much fun. It was a great father-son afternoon. I was only invited down to document the event.

Lesley

Cookout

Thursday- We went to Becky's house for a cookout. Everyone on Fran's side of the family were able to be there. Nancy, Dennis, Becky, Tommy, Doris, Hannah, Thomas, Gaga, Grandaddy, Fran, me and Jamie.




I was so excited to see everyone, especially Hannah. I thought that she would be hesitant of me because it has been 2 years since she has seen me and she is only 6 years old. However, just the opposite, as soon as she saw me I got the biggest sweetest hug ever. She is all little girl through and through.



Jamie and I were able to visit with everyone.



















































After dinner, I got to play Candyland with the two little ones.




But the highlight of the night of my night was trying on tiaras with Hannah and Becky.



At the end of the night the little ones started to climb all over Jamie. But they aren't as little as they were 2 years ago. They have both grown up so much and are so smart, not to mention adorable and well behaved.

Lesley

Guitar Hero Night in Jax

Tuesday night, Jamie and I went to Jacksonville to have dinner with Tommy, Doris and Thomas (Hannah was unable to make it, she was at her first sleep over ever). We went out to Dave and Busters. The boys gravitated to the video games, whereas Doris and I got addicted to the coin games. You put tokens in, which shoot off and land on a tray. Then there are little arms that push the coins towards the edge. For ever coin that falls over the edge, you get 8 tickets.

We got glued to a machine that had a ledge of coins that looked like it could all spill over at any moment. Well, a lot of tokens later and still the ledge remained. That is how they sucker you in to wasting your money. In the end, I picked out a set of pink flamingo lights with the tickets that we won. They are my little trophies. I am definitely putting them up on our deck.

After that we went back to Tommy and Doris's house, where Jamie and Thomas rocked out to guitar hero.

Lesley

St. Mary's, Georgia

This is where all of Jamie's grandparents live and a lot of other aunts, uncles and cousins. We are staying at Gaga and Grandaddy's house. (below)

Their home over looks the marsh, it is breath taking. This is my number one place for retirement as of right now. The pictures below I took off their back deck.

Lesley

Tour of the South

We are off!!! Jamie and I are lucky enough to be spending a month in the south, which we both miss so dearly. And the cherry on top is that half the time is at the beach.

Itinerary
June 30 - July 11: St. Mary's Georgia with a weekend trip to Thomasville, GA for a cousin's wedding
July 11 - July 18 - Pawley's Island, SC - Beach house with the Jacksons
July 19 - July 26 - Nags Head, NC - Beach house with the Lancasters
July 26- July 28 - Pawley's Island (to get out baby, Grace Darling)
HOME

We are stoked about getting to spend that much time with family this summer, especially with Jamie's family that we don't get to see as much.

Stay posted of our travels!

Lesley