Newport 2013

We had another incredible vacation in Newport last week complete with 100 trips to the pool, a few walks on the beach, a trip to the mansions, lots of family bonding and way too much eating.

Ready for our 1st swim.

The little girls loved the pool and it was amazing to watch the difference in their comfort level compared to last year.

My goddaughter and her Martha Washington hair.

Tyler and Peter spent most of their time in the deep end but came in for a few minutes for a picture.

Annie Bananie is a little fish.

Watching the sun set over the ocean as the kids swim - heaven.

All warmed up and ready for dinner.

Our boys.

Papa very rarely had an open lap while we were in Newport. The kids loved waking up every morning and have their grandparents at the breakfast table.

Lizzie got her hair cut just before we left for Newport - it looks beautiful.

Sister Love

Molly and Abby got to sleep o the pull out couch in Grammy and Pap's unit.

Lizzie loved her visor so much she wore it to bed.

My little beauty sleeping on her first night in Newport.

The girls in their sailor dresses.

Ellie an not get enough of Tyler.

Making a sign for Auntie Pat's birthday celebration.

Daddy and his boy.

Papa Love.

This was the first year that the big kids could go exploring a little bit on their own. The loved not having to have an adult go everywhere with them.

My little beauty - I could not stop snapping pictures because the hairdo was brand new and she looked so cute.

Goggles were Lizzie's favorite accessory on this trip.

Another family swim!

Papa getting in on another picture.

Abby gets a lift from her Dad.

The night before the adults had played a drinking game upstairs. This is the hat they created - Peter thought it was hysterical.

Cousins sharing a towel.

The kids all lined up and chanted when Auntie Ann arrived with KK and Uncle Brian.

The boys heading out for a special lunch.

Dinner on the deck.

Goggle girl!

The littles ready for another swim.

Annie Bananie trying to get her goggles right.

Fun in the pool with Papa.

My Molly Girl trying to stay warm.

Surprise - Happy Birthday, Auntie Pat.

BFF's

Annie and Auntie Eileen

Fun at Auntie Pat's birthday celebration.

Cousins loving on each other.

Auntie Karla and Katie sharing a hug.

Cake time.

The twins came up with a poem for their BFF.

My little peanut loving her cake.

Sweet Brendan - always ready for a pose for Auntie.

Snack and movie night.

Ready for movie night with the cousins.

Blowing Mama a kiss.

My beautiful goddaughter.

Annie getting some cuddles from Daddy.

Uncle Pat and Katie.

Daddy and his girls snuggling.

Grammy and Papa headed upstairs for some highballs and fun.

Lila and Brendan on their morning walk with Uncle Tim.

The pool again.

My almost teenager jumping in.

Katie loved jumping in the pool to Papa.

 

Action shot of the jump.

Daddy and his goddaughter.

Goggles

Goggles

We love our Daddy and our goggles.

Ellie bean could finally stand in the shallow end this year. She was thrilled.

Action shot of Peter catching the Frisbee.

Papa's swimming school.

Papa's diving class.

Ellie loves swimming with papa.

Time for some hugs for papa.

Always time for more hugs! Especially when one of the kids gets scared or hurt.

Annie and Katie loving their lollipops from Grammy.

Breakfast on the couch.

Our trip to the Butterfly farm - it was interesting, to say the least.

Auntie Pat and Grammy saying goodbye to the cousins as we head out to the Butterfly Zoo.

The car is loaded and ready.

The Butterfly Zoo was a little bit different than we thought it would be - very small and the man who runs it was a little bit mean but we loved seeing the butterflies.

Ellie did not love when the butterflies tried to land on her and got accused of almost killing one.

Annie wore her green shirt in the hopes that a butterfly would land on her.

Blowing Auntie some kisses.

Annie and her missing tooth. I love that smile.

Lizzie Bug loved the butterfly zoo but not her Mama's constant picture taking.

Love this picture of Brendan and Lizzie - she never leaves him alone.

Papa and his lunch dates.

Auntie Emily came for a visit and to pick up Auntie Pat.

Papa and Auntie Meg.

Auntie Emily and Auntie Meg used to hang out together in Newport when they were little!

Papa had to get in the picture.

Another cousins party before bed.

Papa hugs - there is nothing better.

Auntie Eileen and Molly. Molly loved hanging out with Auntie Eileen - they watched teenage movies, went shopping and had lunch.

Crafts with Grammy - thank you, Auntie Ann.

Bob and the littles playing cards.

My princess is so much like her namesake - she could do crafts all day,.

I adore that little face.

MY amazing niece - that smile melts my heart.

Ellie Bean was not feeling good but she did her best to give me a smile. Poor baby picked a bad time to feel icky but she was a trooper.

Daddy's girls.

Ellie and Annie doing more crafts.

Annie and her godmama.

Best Friends Day didn't start out perfectly but...

It ended just fine.

Abby - sitting on Lizzie's lap.

Molly Girl and her Daddy.

Molly loves her Griffith Academy shirt - I'm pretty sure she puts it back on every single time it comes out of the wash.

Abby loving her Daddy.

Off to the mansions while the rest of us headed to the "Rocky Beach".

Papa and the kids loving the warm beach and walking on the rocks.

The boys!

Sister hugs.

The littles hanging out on the beach.

Papa and his girls.

Looking for sea creatures and stones.

Papa took a work call while we were on the beach but he looked adorable sitting on the rock.

My little nature girl loved the rocky beach - we had to drag her away.

Our princess on her rock.

Annie could not have been happier than being on the beach with Papa.

Lizzie Bug was not feeling herself but she made the best of it and found lots of special rocks on the beach.

The 2 Peters!

Annie found some mussels.

Heading back up the ladder.

Daddy and Annie

Yep - we're back in the pool.

Abby sat this one out but watched from the deck.

Molly and Tyler trying to warm up after their before bed swim.

Brendan and Lila loved coming to our unit downstairs to play with their cousins.

Hugs for Lila.

Lizzie getting hugs from Lila and Brendan - she loved spending time with them and even got a sleepover at Auntie Meg and uncle Tim's the night we got back from Newport. She told Bob and I that she loved us but she still wished she could live with Auntie.

Bugaboo

Brendan loves his hat.

I love this one because Lila refused to get in the picture but there she is smiling in the background.

We watched Brendan and Lila one night so that Auntie Kake could go out to dinner with her kids. They came home laughing hysterically so I think they all had fun.

Movie night.

Uncle B getting some Tyler time.

Abby and Molly ready for bed.

I have given up on getting a good picture of Uncle Pat - he always makes funny faces!

Feeding the birds.

Auntie Karla gave everyone manicures - including Papa.

Uncle Bob and his beautiful goddaughter.

Lila and Brendan on the porch waiting to go to the beach.

The twins looking very cold on the beach.

We went to the beach on the last morning - it was overcast and a bit cool but that didn't stop the kids from having a blast. And the adults.

Lizzie Bug loves the beach no matter what the temperature is - she was the first one in the water and then ran back for a towel and a hug.

My sweet baby girl.

The boys getting wet. Peter ran right into the surf and never wanted to come out. he loved the waves.

Brendan loved the toys that Papa and Queenie brought.

Lila certainly doesn't look cold.

I love this one - Lila loved how the wind blew her hair around.

Still loving the toys.

A little break for Lizzie Bug.

And a break for Tyler.

My boy coming out of the water to get papa to come in - they had so much fun.

Our big girls went in the water and played but were a little but less enamored by the cold.

Annie running through the surf. The waves were pretty big for New England.

Patrick and Tyler doing their best Baywatch impression.

Lila running away from the waves - she was fearless.

Molly practicing her Irish on the beach - that girl dances everywhere.

Loving the beach and the waves. I had such a blast watching the kids play in the ocean.

Father and Son

The Lawrence Family loving the beach.

Abby and Brendan playing ball.

Annie loved running through the surf and jumping over the waves.

Abby's handstand for Mr. Andy.

Auntie Meg helped Lizzie with her handstand.

The kids loved the toys Grammy and Papa brought.

Molly wrote Lila and Brendan's names in the sand.

Lila doing a handstand.

Our big girls posing for Papa.

Kate and Auntie Karla.

Ellie is so little that she gets cold the instant she gets wet. She warmed up quickly with Auntie Eileen.

My beach baby getting warmed up.

A little nap for Tyler.

Papa and Auntie Karla.

Auntie snuggles.

Lizzie getting warmed up by Grammy.

Grammy with her hands full - Grammy sat in the car for much of the trip - she was freezing.

Lizzie and Grammy.

Lizzie getting snuggles from her godmother.

Grammy warming Abby up.

Molly with her two favorite people after a quick romp in the ocean.

Doesn't get better than this for me - snuggling with my girls.

My gorgeous baby girl.

Grammy and Daddy enjoying our beach day.

Karla and Kate enjoying one more snuggle before we left the beach.

Auntie Eileen and Peter

One last swim before we packed up the car. This was the same day as our beach trip - I have no idea where all of their energy comes from.

Elle Bean so excited to go swimming.

We had a terrific vacation - it was warm and sunny most of the time and even when it wasn't we made the best of it. The kids got to play and swim with their cousins and wake up to their grandparents and aunts and uncles. We made lots of memories that will last forever.

GNM - ILY!