Annapolis HO!!!

ALL YEAR LONG our family looks forward to this…

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COUSIN-PALOOZA 2015!!!

Made awesome by these 4 fabulous Little Philadelphians…

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We heart them.

And their parents too!

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(Uncle Joe was there in spirit.)

(Brief Pause For a Moment of Self-Lauding: For it was the parents
who did the work that MADE POSSIBLE the whole crazy venture.
Yeah, parents are all just so super.)

Okay, back to the heart-ing stuff.

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Our annual summer tradition with this boisterous group is to meet at Nena and Pops’ house in Annapolis for a week of family hysteria.

I mean fun.

And hysteria.

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Since the mixing of 7 spirited kids under the age of 11 in one house creates a concoction that’s highly dynamic and combustible, we filled our days with as much activity as possible.

Including beach time…

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Treasure hunts…

(FULL DISCLOSURE: Nena will not, I repeat, will not ever be able to survive as a pirate.  Despite burying her loot with an “X” marked on top AND having Caleb draw a map, Nena and her troop of Lil Marauders were never able to locate her treasure.  It lays buried, still, along the banks of the Chesapeake…just waiting to be discovered.)

(The Little Mister’s face says it all…)

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Where was I?

Oh right.  Hysteria.  Combustion.  ENERGY BURN.

Otherwise known as…

Grand performances!

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(Including Ellie and Cousin Alex.  We heart them too!)

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(There were roaring ovations, of course, even for those with a “widdle bit” of stage-fright.)

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And finally…Birthday Celebrations!

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The cake was created by Chef Haley.
Food always tastes so much better when someone else makes it!

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And Miss Emily took the best care of my silly babies.

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Cousins are the BEST.

After we bid them adieu, and they headed back to the land of
Benjamin Franklin and the Liberty Bell,

Daddy arrived!

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(I swear the Little Sir wears clothing.  Just maybe not in Annapolis…
Or when it’s hot outside…Or on any day between Monday and Sunday.
Or…
Oh whatever.  The kid’s a free spirit.)

AND we were able to have a super fun visit with our old DC buddies,

the McSwiggans!

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(So technically this just shows 2/3 of the Lil McSwiggans and 1/3 of the Lil Wrights, as all male members of the family duo were napping.  In the words of my favorite Preschool Teacher, “you get whatcha get.”)

It’s just so wild to think those sweet Little People came from this crew!

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(Pardon the blurry photo…I was too lazy to find the digital file.)

Sigh.

Summer trips are so great.  Especially when cousins and grandmas and friends are involved.

Relaxing?  Nope.

Fun?  They sure ARRRR MATEY!!!

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(Sorry.  I couldn’t help myself).

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The Littles’ Birthday Bash ~ 2015

At the start of summer I have this amazing work-out routine that gets me totally ready for bathing suit weather.  It’s my annual Wright Family Birthday Marathon, which involves stuffing my face with as much cake, ice cream and frosting as I can muster…all in honor of Yours Truly (May 4), the Hubs (June 9), the Little Mister (June 15), and the Little Miss (July 9) turning yet another year older.

We should really swap the sweets for some carrots and cardio, but where’s the fun in that?!?

It’s always a highlight to celebrate the Little Mister and Little Miss with family and with friends…even if my waistline is “augmented” in the process.  This year we whooped it up with some great pals at Pump it Up.

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It was such a great group of kids, which included cousins and pals from preschool, church, playgroup, and our neighborhood.  We love them all, and all their silly ways!

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The (many) Littles kicked off the party by burning their (boundless) energy in the play arenas…

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And then they refueled in the party room with some snacks and cupcakes.  All this to say that the kiddos started the morning pretty keyed up and ended it completely wired and batty!

To all my parent friends out there who attended, all I can say is…you’re welcome.

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But with faces like these there’s no way you can be mad.  Can I hear an “Amen”?!?

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I just love those sweet cheeks.

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We love birthdays.  And this one was pretty darn fun.

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Especially when I came home to a clean house and put my (very HAPPY and very TIRED) kids down for a nap.

Amen!!!

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Beachin’

In early June our ragtag crew enjoyed a week at our happy place – Emerald Isle beach.

BLISS.

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Well, except for all of the child-related WORK we still had to do…the word “vacation” certainly takes on a whole new meaning when children are involved.  But in all honesty it wasn’t so bad.  The Littles were crazy thrilled to be at the beach AND we were joined by Nena and Pops who always give us lots and lots of help.

WIN!

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We had such a nice week, full of beachin’, birthdays, and so much sugar- and sun-induced silliness.  Just the way a summer vacation ought to be.

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves…

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And note (as I do every year) that I want (need!) a beach house…STAT.

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I’d also like to note that we did not, in fact, get attacked by any sharks.

WIN AGAIN!

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The beach trip also marked the Big Man’s 34th birthday, thus ending the 1 month + 5 day span I have to endure each year, when he reminds me (often) that he is a whole 2 years younger than me.  To which I remind him that women live longer than men, so I was just hedging my bets.

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Happy birthday, Mr. Sassy Pants.

(Love ya!)

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It was a great week that kicked off the summer and left us with three very happy (and very tired!) children.

WIN, WIN, WIN.

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(The Lil Sir’s “cheese!” face)

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We can’t wait to go back.

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