A Visit to Gramma and Daddy Jim

 We made our nearly annual trip to Massachusetts this past week!  We drove up and spent a few days with my parents before spending a few days with Brendan's parents and then heading home.  It's tough living away from family and we love going to see them.  Unfortunately, it's our one vacation a year and we spend a LOT of it driving - up and back and between.  It's not what I would call a relaxing week but it's so worth it - lots of fun to be had and lots of memories made! 
Aoife helped Daddy Jim plant some beans that they had been growing, Declan loved playing in the car, in the yard and in the water!  We rode bikes, ate lobsters, roasted marshmallows and played in the sprinkler.  It was HOT so it was nice to get into the water a little bit!! I wish that we had more vacation time so we wouldn't be so rushed but one week is about all we can take at a time.  A day off here and there make a nice long weekend but going up to MA isn't really possible in 3 days!

A Visit from Kris

 Laurie's boyfriend, Kris, came to visit us tonight.  He is here for work and we haven't left for vacation yet, so it worked out great!  It was nice to meet him - finally!

Aidan's first swim meet

 Since Aidan joined the swim team late, he only had a few practices before the first meet but he did great!!  He made it to the end, didn't drown and didn't come in last!!!  :)

Dinner With Friends!

 We had dinner with some great friends from our college days this weekend!  Our friends, Day and Chuck hosted us, Tracy, Betsy and Evan and all of our kids for dinner at their newly renovated house.  It was so much fun getting together - it had been almost 15 years since I had seen Day and Betsy and I hadn't seen Tracy since we lived in Alexandria (6 years ago!).  Hopefully once everyone gets back from all of their summer travels, we can get together regularly.  Everyone had a great time!!

The girls making guacamole:

 Dinner!

 Dancing!

 Day, Tracy, Betsy and me!

 Emmy and Brendan

 Declan and Aidan

Aidan's First Swim Practice

 Aidan had his first swim practice today!  It was tough and he hung in there for a whole hour!  The kids pool doesn't open until 11:00 and practice starts at 10:30 so we had to wait a FULL 30 MINUTES on the pool deck.  You'd think it was a year!!  Everyone had a good time at the pool and we got a good swim in before we had to go home for lunch!!

A Visit from Emma

Our neighbors from Fort Campbell came to visit us for a little bit this afternoon!  It was so great to have Emma and Monica here!  I miss having friends right next door!!!

The Air and Space Museum for Emmy's Birthday

 We visited the Air and Space Museum near Dulles on Emmy's birthday.  It was the perfect place to go so that everyone could run around in the air conditioning!!  It ended up pouring rain too - so it was even better that we were inside!!  Declan LOVES helicopters and planes so he was in heaven and the other kids loved watching Declan enjoy himself so much!  We'll have to go back again soon!