July Happenings-a picture overload!

July was a crazy busy month for us! The last few days of June/first few days of July we headed to Nanny and Papa's for five days. Gray had his first real fishing experience, which was a huge success. He caught a total of seven, one being a baby shark.

This boy.

We spent a day in Wilmington visiting the train museum and wandering around downtown.

And we spent a lot of time on the beach.

We met my cousin and her family for a day at the beach. Gray loved surfing and playing with Cole. Walker loved hanging in the tide pools and playing with Ruby.

We spent July 4th hanging with family and eating all the food. My mom stayed with Walker that night and we took Gray to see the fireworks for the first time.

My Pinterest inspired, super easy July 4th dessert.

That Thursday we were back on the road again, this time to Raleigh for three nights. Paul and his dad got selected to coach the Men's Clash of the Carolina's game. You can only be selected to coach this team one time in your coaching career and of course many high school coaches will never get the opportunity. So it was a huge honor for Paul and SO special to get to do it with his dad, especially since he just retired and this was the last ever high school game he coached. Paul was busy a lot the first two days we were there and things were quite stressful with the boys. We were all in one hotel room and since the boys have never slept in the bed with us, this made things interesting. Walker was TICKED about sleeping in his pack n play right next to our bed. Besides the sleeping conditions, we had a great time. The day of the game was crazy, miserably hot. My sweet mom ended up taking the boys early in to the game so I could actually watch it. It was a close game but North Carolina won 4-3!

At the banquet the night before the big game.

The hottest soccer game I have ever sat through...but all worth it and so excited for a WIN for NC!!

Lots of family came to support the Hicks coaches.

We got home from that big weekend on a Sunday afternoon and Paul started his Reagan soccer camp first thing the next morning. It was an exhausting week for all.

Friday morning we were back on the road to spend five nights at the beach with my side of the family. We had the best week!

We met a family from KENYA and became instant BFFs ;)

Mugger and her beach bums

Up extra early for a sunrise donut breakfast

9:00 a.m. and mad because he was out of snacks 

Gray became best friends with the lifeguard, Ryan. He was so sweet to talk to Gray every day and let him sit in the stand,

So special to be on the beach with our most precious Gram!

Cousins. Love these boys so, so much!!

Date night with my main man!

Paul traveled working soccer camps and with his soccer team a ton the rest of July. We missed him and it made for a lot of long, challenging days. Soccer season is now in full swing and Paul will be swamped and gone a lot with coaching until November.

Somehow we are already halfway through August. Preschool is about to start for Gray and I have to say, I am ready for some routine and will welcome fall and the cooler temps.

Maybe I'll get an August update posted halfway through September ;)