We squeezed in a trip to the Cape!

It has been such a busy summer for all of us!  As you know, once the kids got out of school, we headed to Italy.  It was a dream trip and I am so glad we got that time together in such a beautiful place.

Immediately upon returning home, Peter started his internship at the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh and Sarah started her internship at The Bethesda Center for the Homeless in Winston-Salem.  Both kids learned a lot and had really good experiences at each job.  

I have spent the summer working at my job and I think I may have mentioned it, but took a new position now.  I think technically it's called Inventory Specialist.  Basically everything that comes into the store goes through me first.  I open the box, price it, put it into our point-of-sale system, insure the invoice matches what is in the system, send back damaged items, etc.  

I think I picked up on the  new job pretty quickly and as soon as I learned my job, we got a new point of sale system and I think I've learned that pretty quickly too.  Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?!  :)

It's our buys season now as all the fall and Christmas inventory is pouring into the store daily.  It can be a little overwhelming as we have a small stock room and there are many very large boxes to be worked through.  I normally work 10-5 M-Th but have been getting there at 9:00 and staying until almost 6 most days as well as working some Fridays and Saturdays and I'm still not caught up.  But it will be like this until Novemeber.  I'm not complaining though because I really enjoy this job and the people I work with.  And having a little paycheck is nice as well. 

Sarah was able to spend over a week with her boyfriend Joe and his family traveling to a family wedding.  The wedding was in Colorado and then they headed to visit more family in California.  She had a great time with him and his family and was very excited to get to meet his extended family.  

When the kids were done with their internships (well technically Peter had to end his a few days early to make this happen) we were able to squeeze in a quick trip to the Cape. I say squeeze it in because literally we picked him up an hour after he got off work in Raleigh and headed up there and then on the way back, we dropped him off on a Friday evening, got home with Sarah, packed up the car and headed to Charlotte the next day to move her into her new apartment.  All because classes started that Monday.  

Old dogs may be able to learn new tricks but all that traveling and moving sure made this dog tired!  But it was all worth it because we got in another family vacation (I will always be thankful for time spent with my people) and got everyone where they needed to be in the nick of time!  

We were able to spend some time with Dan's brother and his family as well as Dan's uncle.  We got in a Red Sox game.  Sarah's boyfriend Joe was in town for a different Red Sox game and was able to join us on the Cape for 24 hours.  We relaxed on the beach a lot and just enjoyed time together as a family.  After all the going, going, going, in Italy, it was so nice just to relax and hang out with one another.  And other than a little rain at the baseball game and a lot of rain on the way home from it, the weather was absolutely gorgeous.  

With the kids back in school and  Dan and I  back at work, we are adjusting to the empty nest again. I enjoy my time with him but I do miss my babies.  Thankfully they both text every day and keep us posted and up to date on everything so that makes it better.  They both seem to be happy and thriving where they are so that makes me happy.  

Here are some pictures from our summer....

Peter's still living with his fraternity brothers this year but only 5 guys live here instead of 12.  It's much nicer than the other place and so far, he's very happy living here.  Hoping and praying for a great senior year!

This is always a beautiful sight to see after two days of driving!!!!

Peter and his friends have discovered the movie Good Will Hunting so when we were in Boston for the Red Sox game we stopped by the L Street Tavern which is in the movie.

Peter in front of the L Street Tavern

At the game.  They lost but we still had fun!

My little family enjoying the afternoon on the beach.

Joe joined us for 24 hours.  He had met a friend in Boston for the Red Sox game that was the night after ours.  Then he took the bus from Boston to the Cape and Sarah picked him up at the bus station in Hyannis.  

Dan and I were up before the kids every morning and took nice long walks along the beach and around the neighborhood.  Such a great way to start the day.

So peaceful.

Of course, we had to take Joe to Captain Parker's so he could try their famous clam chowder.  It is soooooooo good!

Clam Chowder with Clam Cakes and a Lemon Dill Aioli.  YUM!!!!!

At the JFK Memorial Park in Hyannis.

AT the beach with the Best Day Ever.  He even has the koozie to prove it!

My sweet girl.

After our nightly ice cream...the views are lovely.

Every year, we allow Peter one Lobster Roll.  They are very expensive.  This year we went to Brax Landing in Harwich Port.  The food was delicious and the view was great and Peter said the Lobster Roll was the best one he's had yet.

Look at Sarah's giant plate of nachos!!!

We always try to make it to Grey's Beach for the sunset once during our visit.  It never disappoints.  Bring your bug spray though!

Me and my favorite girl.

Dan and the kids took a bike ride one evening while I was preparing dinner and he sent me this cute pic.

And this one.

Another selfie from one of our walks.

Dan and Peter decided to go to Hyannis one afternoon while Sarah and I were on the beach.  They stopped to pose with Iyannough, the Indian whom Hyannis is named after.

And then just like that, our Cape trip was over, we drove the two days home and got up bright and early the next day and moved this beautiful girl into her apartment.  

 

 

And the day after that, we celebrated my brother's birthday at Mom's house.  It was just Mom, Brad, Dan, and Me but it was nice to be home and back in a routine