Our weekend started early as we packed up and left for the beach on Thursday night! This was the first time we heading all the way down I-40 East since our very last trip to Holden Beach. I won't lie- it was very bittersweet for me going to the beach, but not to the beach house.  More sweet than bitter though!  We pulled up to a cute tangerine-colored house on Carolina Beach and my parents greeted us with big hugs and excitement that we were all together to celebrate Markie's college graduation!

I started Friday morning with Markie, Grey, and my trusty Nikon on the beach for their graduation pictures.  They also snuck in a few engagement shots for their wedding Save the Date cards.  I loved being out on the water and sand and doing my thing.  

After a while, we headed back to the house to get ready for Markie's graduation. It was a little chillier outside and my kids literally slept NONE the night before, so the day was spent napping and ordering takeout from a local seafood joint.

Friday night we watched her walk the stage.  

Then had a yummy dinner at the Basics downtown. It was amazing soul food and we were stuffed at the end of dinner! Friday also happened to be my other sister's 26th birthday, so we showered her with ice cream cake and song at the end of dinner! 

Saturday we were blessed with warmth and sunshine! My dad and Justin walked to Britt's donuts, a Carolina beach landmark with the best donuts! All one kind, freshly made and DELICIOUS! I am not joking.. I had four (it was really for the baby!) They were like croissant-y Krispy Kreme donuts... YUMMO!

I took my pregnant sister, Noelle and her family along with my camera to the beach because she wanted some maternity pictures. It was an amazing morning and the perfect location for pictures for a summer baby girl!

After I finished up, we spent the rest of the day on the beach letting the kids enjoy the sand. Ty and Elena are the perfect age...so cute running around with their little legs in their cute bathing suits. I wish this age would last forever and I know it's one of those things I will miss most about toddlerhood.  

After a solid 6 hours in the sun,I took the kids up to bath and they barely made it out of the tub before falling asleep.

We topped the day off with a trip to Squiggley's Homemade Ice Cream. It did not disappoint this pregnant girl! I needed that giant waffle cone filled with Thin Mint ice cream!

Sunday we packed our things and I was able to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom in person, then we hit the road for home! 

We were exhausted after our weekend at Carolina Beach, but Justin mustered the energy to pick up some (cooked) sushi for me for Mother's Day and I spent the remainder of the day with him, the kids, and Holden. It was SUCH A GREAT family-filled weekend!  

In my mother's words. "God gives joy and peace at the beach!"

Take me out to the ball game!

Sunday night we celebrated my brother-in-law's birthday with a family trip to the ball field! This was our first Durham Bulls game and the kids had a great time!  Weather we perfect... hot dogs were delicious, and the Bulls won the game! Couldn't ask for a better Sunday evening!

Ty was excited to bring his glove to the game!

Elena loved chowing down on her hot dog!

Callan and Ty loved palling around in the stands!

Here is a family shot! 

Ty and the boys drank so much lemonade, I'm surprised they didn't turn yellow. #lotsofpottybreaks

Elena had the best seat in the stadium.. in her humble opinion.

After the game, the kids got to run the bases... it was so exciting for them to be on the field!

We had a great time! Thanks for choosing the game to spend your birthday, Uncle Frank! 

Weekending: Birthday parties and Photo sessions

This was the weekend of the birthday party for us!

Thank goodness we had Friday night to relax and gear up for our weekend of celebrating friends and family.

Early Saturday morning I had a Spring photo session for my goddaughter, who is one of my favorite subjects! We went to Historic Oakview Park and played.  Justin brought the kids to explore while I spent time with Grace and my Nikon!

Next Ty had a birthday party to go to at the bounce house! It was his friend's 3rd birthday and he loved the hours of jumping and pizza and donut lunch!

Elena and I had a first birthday to go to Saturday afternoon! My friend Catie did an awesome job with the tractor themed first birthday for little Will! He had such a great time turning one this year!

Sunday morning we went to church and then I had a photo session for Catie's family that was in from out of town. I just love seeing all of them together and I was so excited when she asked me to do their family pictures this year.

Justin's brother had his birthday on Friday, so the whole family went to the Durham Bulls baseball game to celebrate with him. This was Ty and Elena's first Bulls game and we had the best time!

More about the game to come tomorrow! :)

A Day at Monster Jam

No, I was not there. No, I was not invited. But these pictures prove that this was SO. MUCH. FUN. and I just had to share. 

This past weekend Justin and Frankie took Ty and Callan to their first Monster Jam. The boys (daddy's included) were so excited to see some "BIG MONSTER TRUCKS". Before the show started they arrived at the arena early for the Pit Party. Ty clearly had the time of his life.

After the pit party, the guys did the manliest thing they could think of... grab corn dogs and fries, find a vacant stairwell, and chow down before the show!

The smiles on these four faces are priceless as they watched these monster trucks do their thing!

when you don't sit still, all your pictures look like this!

This kind of Saturday makes me so happy to have a son. I absolutely eat these boy activities up, even if I can only see the pictures! 

Linked up here today!