There's no place like home

This is the first weekend Adam and I have been home in about 3 weeks.  Friday night we went to the new Batman movie. I thought I wasn't going to like it but I actually thought it was a good movie. Saturday we got up late and decided to go for a walk around 11 am. This was not the brightest idea since we live in Orlando and the average temp is in the upper 90s. Adam kept saying, "It is stupid hot!" I recommend early morning, late evening or going to a gym. When we got home I think Adam had about 6 huge glasses of water!! Then we went on the hunt for furniture for our outside patio. We went to every store you can think of and we still haven't found anything we like. I am attempting to create a small but quaint oasis in our backyard. Well it isn't a yard but an attempt at one. While we were out I found these trays on sale at Old Time Pottery. 

They are so cute. As you can see, I am already using it for my herb garden. Ashley, my sister-in-law, gave me a jump start with basil and mint. I just hope I can keep them alive. Saturday night we went to dinner with 3 other couples at Kobe. The food was delicious and of course we ate too much. Sunday we went to church and then we had lunch over at Adam's parents house. My brother-in-law's mom was in town so we had a chance to visit with her before she left for Birmingham. This afternoon I have been doing the daily chores of laundry, grocery shopping, etc. Although this probably doesn't sound like the greatest weekend to most people,  it was to me because I was home! 

Oh yeah...I can't leave out Bentley. His favorite place in the house is on the stairs. He likes to look out the front door and see me in the office. 

My Birthday!

Mom decorated our hotel room door. 

Blue Angels!  

I took all of these with my iphone!! 

Dad watching the acrobatic plane. 

Mom and Dad at dinner! 

Adam and I! 

Last Saturday, Adam and I went to Pensacola Beach with my parents to celebrate my 28th birthday. It just so happened to be the same weekend as the Blue Angels air show on Pensacola Beach. We arrived Thursday night. On Friday, they had a practice show. Then thousands of people (200,000 to be exact)  came by boats, planes, and cars on Saturday. I have never seen so many people on the beach. It was a beautiful morning and everyone was set up for the show to begin at 12:30. The start of the show began but was interrupted by a crack of lightening and roaring thunder. Now most of us just think, "It's a summer storm. It will just rain and pass over." But oh were we wrong. As soon as we could think about what was actually happening we were in the middle of an intense thunder storm holding tightly to a metal umbrella. (It is funny when you look back and realize that holding a metal umbrella wasn't the smartest think to be doing at the time.) After the second bolt of lightening, which seemed to strike next to us, my mom as well as thousands of others took off running for shelter. Adam, my dad, and I looked at each other and also began to realize that we needed to get off the beach. Umbrellas, tents, floats, etc were flying all around us. I picked up our bag, our float, and my mom's drink and followed behind the crowds of people. Children were crying and people were screaming. It was complete chaos. As I was running, I realized how hilarious this was and began laughing and thinking about how much I hoped none of us got struck by lightening! Once inside the hotel lobby, we regrouped and brought all our wet and sandy things upstairs while the crowd roamed the entire hotel just seeking shelter. Watching the news later on we found out that only 10 people were injured, which is a miracle considering the amount of people on the beach. 4 people were struck by lightening and others had fallen in the process of evacuating the beach. Although I was sad that the show was cancelled and we had to stay inside for the remainder of the day.  It was a birthday that I will never forget!

The 4th of July

Porter dunking...

Adrienne, Sophie, and me. 

Grandbeeb and her great grandchildren. 

Adam and I in our festive clothes! 

Uncle Hod grilling burgers. 

Cousins. 

more cousins.

Mike and Melissa with Bill and Fern. 

the birthday girls "July 12th" 

On the 4th of July, we packed our bags once again and flew to Albany, OR. We went to Adam's cousins house for a family BBQ. We had the chance to meet all the little ones that were unable to come on the houseboat as well as celebrate Grandbeeb's birthday. 

Houseboat

Reading at the bar...

Adam, Avery and me hanging out. 

Cousins

Adam and others jumping off the bridge. Adam 

is in the middle. 

Living quarters...

Captain Adam and his first mate Sawyer 

Morning workouts up top...

The Barnes stance "How should we hook these up?" 

Whee....

After a relaxing time in Montana, we headed to Lake Billy Chinook in Oregon. Adam's family still lives in Albany, OR and it is a tradition for his mom's side to gather all the families for a week "houseboat" style. I believe the total count was 34 on two houseboats for 5 days. It was a wonderful week spending time with aunts, uncles, and many cousins. We enjoyed laying in the sun, reading "The Shack", sliding down the slide, and just spending time together as a family.