Maryland!!!

In August we flew off to Maryland to visit Grandma and Grandpa M. It was really nice to have this trip to look forward to all summer and it ended up being one of my favorite weeks of the season. We hadn't been out to Maryland since Christmas of 2011 which seems crazy and it was so fun to be back. We loved being there in the summer and being able to swim in Ben's parents beautiful new pool and hot tub. The girls loved perfecting the skills they learned at swimming lessons this summer and  Rosie was brave enough to jump off the diving board. We did have one rough afternoon where Gwenie toppled out of her floatie right in front of me while I was comforting Evie and I looked down and saw her looking up at me from under the water! So scary! She was fine but my heart was racing a million miles a minute and I took her inside to snuggle her. Ben was busy getting the girls out of the pool and had to run Evie into the house to go to the bathroom. Then Rosie went and jumped off the diving board and had forgotten she wasn't wearing her floaties anymore. Luckily Auntie Cindy scooped her up right away but she had a good scare. It was too much drama for one afternoon and a good reminder of how fast things can become very dangerous. Besides that incident, it was so fun to swim and play games and sit out there and read everyday. 

I loved that Rosie and Evie were finally old enough to really play with their older cousins. They would disappear for hours at a time in intricate games of school and house. Hannah and Callie were so sweet to them. All the little girls got to go to a princess day camp for three of the mornings which they loved and then they would come home for swimming and playing and wienie roasts and movies. It was a kid dream week. We also spent a day on the river tubing and wake boarding and playing on the muddy shore. All the cousins played a very involved game of mermaids and mermen under the dock. We spent one evening out at a candy candy shop and eating dinner on the beach. Becca and Daniel blessed sweet Maebelle while we were there and it special to get to be there and get to snuggle tiny baby Max too. I'm so glad everyone ended up coming out for the week. It was so good to see everyone and be all together in a very full house.

Ben has such a fun family. There is a such a wonderful spirit in their home and I love being there.