And….

We’re back!

Our two, one-week, back to back vacations have come to a close and while it’s sad to know our next vacation is a year away, it’s nice to be home.  We’re settled in and starting back to our old routines.  We came home to foot long grass and a feisty welcome from Cali.  With no milk, bread or fruit in the house grocery shopping was on today’s agenda and as you’d guess within hours it felt like we had never been away.

But, despite how it may feel, this past week we relaxed in Harwichport, Ma, a quaint little town in the Cape with the entire Hopkins clan.  Great beaches, yummy food and company that we only wish to see more often.

You all know it wouldn’t be a trip without a good story and this year, at my expense…. the ultimate test of how much my in-laws love me as we each took a night to cook for the family and I nearly burned down the house.  True story.  No exaggeration unfortunately, we’re talking a full on grease fire in a kitchen {with a stove worth more than my entire house}, alarms blaring and soot covered cabinets and ceiling, charred stovetop and a burnt pan.  My “simple” idea of using a funnel cake kit was far from simple and I am oh so grateful that things turned out as well as they did.  The fire was put out, the kitchen restore with the exception of the ceiling and most importantly no one was hurt.  I on the other hand will never attempt anything fried…. ever… again!  Blessings counted and a lesson learned the hard way.

On the bright side, we enjoyed cooler temps and no sunburns, a first for our family.  Jake loved the beach and warmed up to the water in no time at all {he was well seasoned from our previous week in Maine}.  The big boys loved that the warmer water and loved catching crabs, referring to Maine’s water as the “artic”".”  We cherished our time with Rose and Ivy, our two year old nieces, Mikes parents and all of his siblings.  The house was gorgeous and we were spoiled with our own wing.  Aiden, Chris, Mike, Uncle Jerry and Grandpa enjoyed a boating trip where   they caught over 15 fish {none big enough to keep} and experienced trapping crabs as well.  We spent many lazy mornings playing in the yard and enjoying the gorgeous gardens and harbor across the street. We explored new ice cream venues and eateries.  It was a week unforgettable in many ways as you can see from this handsome crew…..