The second annual Olds Beach Week took place this year at Holden Beach, NC. Dad, Taryn, Brie, Baylee, Blaze, Miles, Halleigh and I all stayed at the beach house all week. My Granny, Grandpa, Great Aunt Barbara, Uncle Jasper, and Aunt Becky all came for a couple days in the middle of the week. We enjoyed having the mid-week people come; it made it different than last year, and helped us not dwell on missing Ben.

We spent pretty much every minute that we could on the beach swimming, looking for shells, riding bikes, body surfing, sunbathing, visiting, and slathering Halleigh with sunscreen.  Which brings me to the week's biggest accomplishment... Everyone got sunburned, at least a little bit, except Halleigh. She kind of had a faint swimming suit line by the last day, but not one iota of pink on that girl! YES!

Miles and I felt like we started the week with a baby and came back with a kid. She really blossomed around her uncle and aunts into a little girl who is more of a kid than a baby. She added several words to her vocabulary, which was really fun for my family to participate in. Much thanks to Brie for teaching her "belbow" elbow.  You can see in one of the above pictures that Halleigh had her first ponytail; that was a big hit with her dad.  He always wants me to put her hair in a ponytail. You can also tell from the pictures that she wanted for nothing all week. People doted on her like she was the Queen of Sheba... it has made this week difficult at times. It seems that I am just not as cool as Uncle Blaze. he he he

We liked Holden Beach so much that I think we are going back there next year... I can't wait!

Here is my favorite picture taken of Ben during our trip to see him at basic training graduation.  This is at Navy Pier in Chicago, and this is an anchor from the USS Chicago.

Since being back from Virginia, I have been too preoccupied with my ear to put up pictures from our weekend in Virginia.  Feeling better today has been WONDERFUL!  Very little pain, and only mild cloggy feeling. Relief, finally!

So, since I was feeling better, I thought I wouldn't deprive you all of the great pictures from this past weekend. We went up there, as many of you know, so that Miles could meet with his professors and get some face time with these people before he takes his orals.  He met with 4 out of 5 and I think that he feels pretty good about the direction he is headed.

We stayed with our good friends, the Hunts in Remington, VA.  We had a really good time, and Halleigh LOVED being around other kids for days on end.   Here are a few of the pictures that we took while we were up there.  Enjoy!

 Pictures:

1. Left to Right: Halleigh, Trey, Sharon, Zach and Brody

2. Trey, the youngest Hunt brother.

3. Halleigh and Brody (the middle brother)

4. Zach, the original Hunt child

5. Halleigh wearing Zach's safety goggles.

6. Halleigh, Brody, Zach and Jesse playing on their trampoline

A great time was had by all and we are hoping to lure the Hunts south, for a visit sometime this summer!

I have been asked several times since I have been back if we had fun... we'll here is your answer.  Everyone is all smiles! It was REALLY fun.  It was good to spend some time with Ben, before he left for the Navy and the time with the rest of the family was precious! Halleigh really got to know that side of my family, and they are all thoroughly attached to her.

In fact, my dad came home from work the day before we left and said that he wanted to call Miles and tell him that he would send me back but he wanted to keep Halleigh. What am I chopped liver? ha ha ha Just Kidding Dad. :)

In the pictures: top left Brie, Baylee, Halleigh, and Blaze. top right Brie, me, Halleigh, Baylee. Bottom right Baylee and Halleigh. Bottom right center Halleigh and her great grandpa. Bottom left center Brie, Halleigh and Baylee.  Bottom right me and Halleigh.

We did lots of hanging out and that is just what I was hoping to do. Hanging out with my family felt SO good.  

Obviously Halleigh's uncles were in love with her.  Blaze (top)  spent the whole two weeks following Halleigh around the house.  It may have been harder for Ben (bottom) to leave Halleigh than anyone else.  As soon as we have Ben's address we'll have to send pictures.  Ben, we miss you!

These pictures were from the tea party that my parents' church had.  The pictures on the left is of me and Brie (my sister). On the left top is my paternal grandmother and my other sister, Baylee. On right bottom is Halleigh, Brie and a few of Brie's friends enjoying tea and social time. 

The tea party was so much fun that I am working on starting a tea party tradition at our church in Durham.