Impromptu Vacations

Sweet summertime. Mine started off right with a few trips to the beach and a visit to the Big Apple to see wonderful family. But after this, I didn't have much planned. I looked forward to my weeks of sleeping in and doing absolutely nothing - my reward for months of very long hours at school. Of course, the nothingness didn't last long and here, we are - already at the end of summer and school is just around the corner. Where did summer go?!

Well, it was filled with some weekend camping and shenanigans. I may or may not have been involved in tin-foiling every inch of my principal's office when he left for vacation himself.

Friends came to visit and we got to show off our state some more. These girls bless me so much every time we get to catch up, it makes my heart happy! Then plot twist...Brad got a new job and suddenly had a week off in-between jobs. Naturally, we decided to road-trip back to Iowa. Because isn't that what everyone would do if they had an impromptu week off? So in the car we went and drove 16 hours.

Our spontaneous trip home meant we got to spend time with all of Brad's nephew, including Chris, who was visiting from Idaho. It's been a while since we've seen all the boys in the same place! Some day, I'll remember to take pictures when our family is altogether.

 Soon, we were back in the car and driving to North Carolina. (Anyone notice a trend of my navigators always being asleep?) The road tripping didn't end there though! After just a few days, I turned right back around and drove back to Iowa with my friend, Molly. This second trip was planned when Molly realized she too, had some time off work. We had a little more fun with this drive though, stopping overnight to visit friends along the way, rather than powering straight through. Thank you Karen and Laura (and Mitch & Diane)!

For this second week in Iowa, I spent time with my side of the family. I helped my parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary (WOW!) and checked out the good ol' county fair. It's funny to see my dad still in charge of the exact same things he was as when I was growing up - some things never change! My mom and I got an entire week together - I realized it had been since 2007 that I have stayed home at my parent's house for more than one night in a row. Brad and I are usually on such a whirlwind to see everybody when we're back, it was nice to have some quiet time to relax at home!

Once back in North Carolina, our summer was essentially gone. My weeks of nothingness were successfully filled up in grand style and I won't complain! Time to head into school and start getting ready for the new year. But there's no better way to say one last goodbye to summer and my freedom than baseball and fireworks! Go Bulls!