July

July was a busy month with lots of fun. But, the best part, by far, was Maycie's baptism.

I'm so proud of my sweet girl for making this decision. 

Grandma and Grandpa Mann were able to make it out and everyone else send their love.

Addilyn gave a wonderful talk on baptism.

Grandma Mann gave a sweet talk on baptism.

We went to the Charlotte botanical gardens to take some special pictures of Maycie in her baptism dress.

What a special day with lots of friends. Friends who were in attendance: the Abbotts, Worths, Harts, Baughans.

With grandparents in town we decided to take a trip to Williamsburg. Clynn and Marilyn visited colonial  Williamsburg while Rob and I took the kids to Water Country, USA.

On the way home we stopped off at Shirley Plantation, the oldest plantation in America. It is still a working plantation and descendants of the original owners still live in the house. 

Admiring the 350 year old oak tree.

Fourth of July breakfast.

Grandma Marilyn arrived just in time for us to celebrate her birthday with her.

The favorite activity was our bike ride down the Virginia Creeper, a 17 mile gradual downhill bike ride that follows an old railway line through the Virginia forest. It was beautiful and so much fun. Grandpa was kind enough to meet us at the bottom of the trail and pick us up. We were all a little saddle sore after 17 miles.

We spotted a black rat snack on the side of the trail and to top it off, the rhododendrons were in bloom.

Beach Reunion

May 4 - 11, 2013

After years of talking about it the Robbins finally gathered for their first (hopefully annually) family reunion. The destination: North Carolina Outer Banks (OBX). 

Here's the house my dad rented for us.

9 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 2 fridges, 2 dishwashers, 2 stoves. There's a reason this house is called "The Reunion".

The kids didn't wait long before hitting the waves.

Isaac didn't care much for the sand and the sound of rushing waves but he sure enjoyed hitching a ride on dad.

A deck with a view.

The kids loved collecting shells on the shore....

and trying to beat the waves.

It was fun for the kids to reunite with their cousins.

Alex and Ty

Addilyn and Whitney

At night we went ghost hunting. Ghost crab hunting that is.

 Uncle Patrick loved trying to grab the little critters, but they didn't return the admiration and gave him a few pinches.

Maycie talking smack to the crabs.

Isaac enjoying being in the buff.

As usual the hot tub and pool were the favorite activities.

We took a ferry to Ocracoke Island for a day.

Playing games on the boat ride over.

The guys deep sea fishing trip was the highlight of the week.

Mahi mahi was the main catch.

The catch of the day was a giant grouper that was being eaten by a mako shark as they were reeling it in. Even after half of it was gone it still weighed 40 lbs.

Check out all that fish!

Alex celebrated a birthday at the beach.

Marmie got him this awesome baseball training game.

Flying kites at the beach.

We tried to take a good family picture but Isaac was cooperating.

Uncle Trevor and Isaac enjoying their morning cereal.

Uncle Patrick boogie boarding.