Fall sneaked in while we were away

David & I have just returned from our annual Rehoboth Beach vacation which we both really needed this year.  We had a great week away and even though the weather wasn't the best...it was still away and that is what's important.
When we left to come home on Friday morning the temperature in Delaware was 76-degrees. When we arrived home to Pittsburgh the temp was in the 50's. Yeesh!

On our way to the beach we were able to visit with Eric, Jane, Charlie & Miles for a little while. We had been hug deprived but got almost caught up on hugging and cuddling our sweet boys!

I can't believe that Charlie will be 4 and Miles will be 1  in November.

Both boys have more energy than we could ever keep up with but we tried.

One of the highlights was going to Charlie's very first basketball practice.

Imagine that...maybe 12 or 13, 4-6 year olds all dribbling basketballs at the same time.

My camera isn't equipped with the ability to photograph objects in the warp speed of motion that those kids were in. You can get the general idea though...

Please note that Coach Billy is about 6'8" tall. That alone was a funny picture

compared to these future hoopsters!

Of course, after all of that running and dribbling...a guy needs a cold drink...

Miles was looking on in envy at Charlie's new team jersey....mid-calf  length is making a comeback this fall!

A scene later that afternoon...

When he's tired...he can sleep anywhere...in any position!

On Sunday morning, we kissed everyone good-bye and headed to the beach.

I didn't realize until I got home and uploaded my pictures that there were none..nada..zippo...zero  picutes of Eric and Jane. Sorry guys, but you understand who the stars are :D

When we're in Rehoboth, we always stay at the Bellmoor Inn and Spa.

It's a beautiful facility with wonderful amenities...

a great breakfast buffet...

Afternoon tea...

and beautifully appointed rooms...

The public areas are great, too...

While in the area, we were able to meet up with a wonderful woman who I have become friends with through blogging. If you don't know her, you can find her blog on my sidebar or just go here.

P.J. Johnston is a delightful, warm, funny woman who deserves a blog post of her own so I'll be back again tomorrow with some details of our visit with her and her charming husband, Stu.

xoxo

Joyce

An amazing opportunity for a wonderful gift from a generous friend!

I have spoken many times on this blog about the friendships that I've made through blogging. I have sort of a blog bucket list....a hope to be able to meet, in person, some of those women who I've come to know and care for through this crazy "hobby/obsession". One of the women who I hope to meet...maybe this year, is PJ Johnston of Seens From the Back of My Eyelids. PJ is one of the most humorous, kind-hearted and generous women I've come to know and respect. If you read her blog, and I hope you do, you know that she is often a "seed planter". She plants seeds of thought that you carry around in your head until they take root and grow. (She sometimes also plants the tune of a long-forgotten ditty that you can't get out of your head all day no matter how hard you try!) She has been a wonderfully supportive friend throughout my trials this year and I am deeply grateful.
In July, PJ's brother Henry, lost everything to a fire. She wrote about it on her blog, here, and suggested ways her readers might be able to help. Maybe you said a prayer, maybe you sent a gift card or maybe this is the first you're hearing about Henry. The response was overwhelming and now she would like to say thank you with a random drawing. You only need to hop on over to her blog, leave a comment and sign on as a follower. Oh, and if want to read some really good, common sense advice for kids, read her "Letters to My Kids" posts. There is a link to the archives of these posts at the bottom of her blog. I've copied and sent many of these to my kids. So...enough from me, here are the details for PJ's giveaway!


On next Wednesday evening, September 7th, PJ will have the computer randomly select three names from her Wednesday blogpost this week.

The first name selected will win a $100 e-certificate to Amazon.com.

The second name selected will win a $75 e-certificate to Amazon.com.

The third name selected will win a $50 e-certificate to Amazon.com.

All you have to do to enter my drawing is be a follower, leave a comment and MAKE SURE THERE IS A LINK TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT. Easy peasy, right?

Before the end of the day on Thursday, September 8th, PJ will contact the winners and before the end of the day on Friday, September 9th, she will have the e-certificates sent from Amazon to the winners.

xoxo

Joyce