Spontaneous Trip to Myrtle Beach!

We (the girls and I) headed down to Myrtle Beach last weekend after Brian and Carrie called to say they were headed there for a weekend getaway. Since Mike was gone again for the weekend and Myrtle Beach is only a three-hour drive from here, I threw some clothes and diapers in some bags and headed that way!! Brian and I both worked on Mom and Dad via phone to coax them into joining us. They decided they would, and so it turned into a great (although way too short) Carnes family vacation!

William and Abby Kate had the best time playing and sliding in the indoor and outdoor pools at our hotel and even braved the waves! We also had time for a round of Pirate Put-Put! Thank you, B & C, for letting us join you!! It was a great time!!

Old Friend to the Rescue!

Over the past couple of weeks we have been enjoying spending time with old friends. I met Sommer back in Quantico, VA, the first week we were there - the very beginning of our Marine Corps journey. We've come a long way since then and were lucky enough to have lived in a lot of the same places over the past five years. A couple years ago, our journeys took us to opposite sides of the country, but now I'm happy to say they're stationed here for a few years!

Sommer's son and AK are only three months apart in age. I was AMAZED at how much Griffin had grown in two years! They play so well together, and I'm sure Avery and Riley (their 6-month-old little girl) will become great friends as well.

Here are AK and Grif at 3 months old and 1 week old, and now at 3 years old:


We made plans to take the kids to the library today, and my car wouldn't start. Sommer came right over (thanks, Sommer!) and we realized that we'd done this exact thing before, back in Meridian, MS. My car that time too. :) So you'd think we'd remember how to do the whole jumper cables thing. Not so much. We were all timid and scared to touch the wrong things to the wrong things and then we accidentally touched the two handles together and ZZZZTTTT! After some trial and error and a few phone calls, we had the car running again. Thankfully we didn't kill each other or blow anything up.

We went to the library only to have my car not start (again) when we were ready to leave. Sommer and I had to push the gigantic automobile out of the parking space so she could align her vehicle next to it in order to jump it. Again. Very. Heavy. Especially because the front wheels had to be pushed up and out of the the curb gutter. Sommer was a rockstar, pushing most of the weight - in a dress, no less!

I purchased a new battery so I'm all set for another few years, during which I'm sure I'll forget how to use jumper cables. Again. Sommer, you'll be available again next time, right?! haha :)

Highway to Heaven

In the grocery store today, a man that had a speech impediment was bagging our groceries. I was cringing just waiting for AK to notice and say something. Of course two seconds later she said out loud, "Mommy, why does that guy talk funny?" I quickly distracted her and kept her busy until we were out the door. Same thing a couple weeks ago when she saw a man with Dwarfism. So when we got home today, I reminded AK that God makes people all different kinds of ways, and that we should never point out their differences out loud or stare. Then our conversation continued like this...

AK: OK, Mommy, I won't stare. I don't want to make people feel bad.

Me: Good girl.

AK: Why does God make people different?

Me: I don't know, you'll have to ask Him that one day when you go to heaven.

AK: When do we go to heaven?

Me: Hopefully after you've lived a long, full life. And I'll already be there too.

AK: You're going too? Oh, good, cuz I'd be too scared to drive myself.

:)

Thirty-one

Thank you, God, for my 31 years and for all the blessings in my life! Thanks to my husband and AK for making it special and to everyone for all the birthday wishes, cards and gifts I received this week!