July!

We had a month full of adventures in July, and it was wonderful!  The first few days of the month were spent doing final Europe trip prep, plus getting the piano tuned and Anna having Lyla over to swim on the 2nd.  We spent the 4th through the 13th on our fabulous European trip, where we got to tour Rome, Assisi, Florence, Zurich, Grindelwald, and Frankfurt, as well as experienced the magic of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour in Zurich!  The entire trip story can be found HERE, including a link to the photo album.  Finley did well with new-to-us neighborhood pet-sitter Camden. He didn't even need to use much of the special chicken and rice dog food that we had left!  

Upon returning, Bob had to turn right around and head to the Bay Area for work on the afternoon of the 14th.  He and Finley stayed home to do laundry and re-pack while we ladies spent a fun day in Concord for Elliott and Grandpa's birthdays!  Elliott had a fun family party, and the girls got to take a quick trip to their pool after the party before it started storming.  We had a fairly busy week after that from Monday to Friday, including Anna and I meeting up with old friends who had moved to Colorado but are now back in the area (the Frewerds), Erin attended her second of four teen group sessions for the summer, we hit the gym a few times, Erin did some driving, Erin helped with the final Gibbons Gateway freshman orientation day, Anna had her 14-year-old checkup, Erin volunteered at the library, and Anna slept over at Meredith's house.  Bob had an adventure trying to get back from California on Friday due to a nation-wide (or worldwide...?) technology glitch.  He ended up finding a flight on Southwest through Denver to Raleigh and got back only an hour or two later than originally scheduled.

Saturday morning, we all (including Finley) hit the road for our week in Hilton Head!  We met Grandma and Ansley there and had the most relaxing, fun, and overall fantastic week!  There was a bit of traffic getting there on Saturday, plus a stop at the overwhelming Buc-ee's in Florence, so our trip down was longer than expected, but that was not a problem.  We stayed at a beautiful, renovated 3-bedroom place in Shipyard, in the Tennismaster complex.  It was a bit further from the beach access compared to where we stayed last year, but was still a short bike ride and an easy walk.  Additionally, the place was bigger, nicer, and quieter, so we think this one gets the win between the two.  We have also stayed at Palmetto Dunes (further from the main center but also very nice), a hotel near the main center, and a third place in Shipyard that was nice but doesn't allow pets.  Finley took a day or so to get adjusted, but then was happy to be there and was able to be left alone so we could all venture out together.  

Highlights from the week include:  mass at Holy Family, many bike rides (including to mini golf, stores, ice cream/Coligny shopping, and Starbucks), mini golf at Pirate's Island, lunch at Salty Dog and shopping/touring at Sea Pines, Sea Shack takeout dinner, lots of trips to the beach and pool, and a super fun boat ride through our boat club membership where we got to swim and see dolphins!  It was such a fun time for all of us.

We got back on Saturday, and Erin and I went to see her friend Jeff's summer theater production of Our Town with the McGee ladies and had a great time!  Sunday was church and hitting the neighborhood pool on a beautiful, less-hot-and-humid day.  Bob went back to the west coast on Sunday evening for another week of work meetings.  The rest of this week should be fairly uneventful, with Anna sleeping over at Lyla's and Erin having her third teen group session tonight.  Erin will be at the library on Thursday, and Anna hopes to meet up with friend Bella on Friday or Saturday.  We are in the final weeks of summer, and, with the trips behind us, are now getting ready for the start of the school year.  Erin is excited and Anna is excited but also a bit nervous to be at a new school after 9 years at her previous school.  We are looking forward to a great school year and month ahead!