Our Journey Through Grace: July 2016

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Vacation Adventure 1 - Ocean City

Andrew and Elisha got an extended week in Ocean City with some great friends of ours! I was in grad class for part of the week but I joined them for a long weekend. We stayed with the wonderful Bavis family at Free Beth's parents home. They were so welcoming and took amazing care of us! Thank you!

Daddy Adventure Day 1

A boat ride to a local restaurant, Free Beth's dad, Poppop helped Elisha drive the boat. Elisha loved riding on the boat and was excited to play at the playground which was at the restaurant.

I can do it all by myself.

I got this!

That was hardwork!

Time to snuggle with Daddy- Mommy is going to be jealous!

Daddy Adventure Day 2

The beach was calling their names. Andrew is not a beach person but Daddy took it on and Elisha LOVED it! Free Beth also gets props because she did all the sunscreen application because Andrew despises it!

Cheese

The biggest sandbox ever!

Mommy and Daddy Adventure

We spent time playing at the mini beach which is at the house we stayed at.

More sand!

We went on a quick kayaking trip. Thanks Adam and Andrew for taking us around!

My prayer, "Please don't tip over, please don't tip over . . ."

We had fun at the pool.

Pure Joy!

A friend from home was there and he had toy boats!

We took a family trip to the beach, or as Elisha says "TWO BEACHES!!!"

My snuggle bug!

Come on Mama, get in the water

Watch my footprints!

Daddy is braver than Mommy.

Kassouf's Summer 2016

I'm a big kid too Mom!

Having Fun!

My boys!

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Baby Stories ...

In case you missed the news!

Sharing our exciting family news was very different this second time.

My mom (Nana) found out the day after we found out. We were already scheduled to visit Calvert County for a family party which we did and then after we went back to Nana's to have dinner. We put Elisha in a "Big Brother" shirt and just let him play, Hoping that at some point Nana would realize, although she talked to him multiple times within the first 5 minutes she was also busy cooking so she did not pause to read his shirt. We would have let it go for as long as it took, but then Uncle Kyle got home and we did not want him to "figure it out" before Nana so I then nudged her and said- so read Elisha's shirt. She did not even have to read the shirt she just looked at me and said, does it say "Big Brother?". Needless to say Uncle Kyle then figured it out.

The next week we saw my dad (Poppy) at Sheep and Wool festival but we never had Poppy and Nonni (my step-mom) together at the same time so we did not tell them. Somehow within that weekend Poppy figured it out and cornered Kyle into confirming or denying.

On May 19, Poppy went to visit Great Mommom and Great Poppy for Mommom's 80th birthday so we sent him this picture to share with them.

Then Memorial Day weekend we planned our surprise trip to Myrtle Beach, our real reason on going was to tell Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa) our news in person. When we found out we were expecting Elisha Grandpa was visiting Maryland and Grandma was at home so we found out over video chat and she was very sad she could not hug anyone. This time the hug happened! We left right after school ended, but it took us 3.5 hours to get out of the state of Maryland, so we decided to spend the night in North Carolina . . . here are some pictures documenting our drive down. Grandma and Grandpa had no idea what was coming!

2 states down, 2 more to go!

Someone was passed out!

He was happy in the morning! Ready for Grandmas!

A Smart pit stop.

When we arrived Saturday morning Grandpa opened the door and Andrew was filming, he was so shocked to see us he just stood at the door, so I welcomed us in and as Grandma herd my voice she came around the corner in shock. I think with them being so shocked Elisha was then being shy and did not want to leave my side. Finally, after a few minutes we distracted Elisha with going to see the water, he held my hand and Grandpa's hand and went over to the window to see the water. Then he quickly asked Grandma to go to the big playground! As he turned around and went to convince Grandma to get her shoes, Grandpa said "Wait, I think they are trying to tell us something. I have figured it out!" Grandma then looked at us bewildered and Andrew said, "Did you read his shirt?" She then freaked out and said "really?" We said "Well you said you needed to hug someone so we came to hug you this time!" Uncle Mark and Aunt Ashley found out the next day at brunch and Uncle Tim and Aunt Erin found out a few weeks later when they came for dinner.

We also made Grandma take a family of four picture!

Those shoes will be filled in December of 2016 or January of 2017

Blueberries Blitz at Maple Lawn Farms

Berry picking is one of my favorite summer activities! Last weekend we got to go to Maple Lawn Farms in Fawn Grove, PA for their Blueberry Blitz!! It was $7 for a train ride to the blueberry patch, an ice cream sundae, $3.25 per pound of berries, and you got 1 pound of berries free for every ticket. Elisha and I both got tickets; so we got to ride the train! It was super fun and Elisha loved watching the train while we picked. We picked 11 pounds of blueberries and 3 pounds of black raspberries (my favorite, favorite, favorite berry, and you can't buy them in grocery stores!). It was a very enjoyable day.