Summer is Here!

Our first "mini-vacation" has been taken. The boys' birthdays are close at hand. I've gotten my first sunburn of the season. Summer is officially here. As we were driving to North Carolina this past weekend, Kevin commented on how much more relaxed and energetic I was. Of course... I'm on vacation.

We planned our first little trip to have two purposes. Kevin had his first Nathan's Hot Dog qualifier (for those of you who don't know, my dear husband is a competitive eater) last weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since good friends of ours, Mark and Leah, have moved from California to North Carolina, we decided to pay them a visit while we were in their neck of the woods. Leah always enjoys when we visit with each other and Kevin can share tales of Mark from way back when. She always thanks Kevin for being friends with Mark all those years ago when he was a nerd. We get a real kick out of that.

Late Friday night, we left home to drive straight through to Charlotte. We arrived about 2 hours before the contest was to start. It was being held at a local mall, so we headed into the mall for a break. We walked around for a while, then Kevin left to get registered for the contest while the boys and I walked around, played in the play area, and ate lunch. When the contest ended, Kevin had had his "personal best" performance. Last year, he ate 11 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes. This year, he ate 12 1/2 hot dogs and buns. A definite improvement, but a ways to go to catch up to winner Hall Hunt's 28 3/4 hot dogs and buns.

Ater the contest was over, we headed for Newton, NC to our hotel. Over the next two days, we spent a lot of time catching up with our good friends and getting acquainted with their 8-month-old, Ben. It's nice to know how much closer they really are. Only a 7-hour drive. For a family that's driven to Alaska, that's nothing at all.

Yesterday was Liam's 6th birthday. It has gone so fast. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. Ben will turn 4 on Sunday. He's following in his big brother's footsteps with how smart and sweet he is. I've got a busy week ahead of me with getting ready for their parties. Liam, being a big boy who has finished Kindergarten, gets to have a "friend" party and we will have a party for both boys with the family on Sunday. On Monday, it will be all over and I'll only have to worry about day-to-day activities and then our big trip, a cruise. We are really looking forward to that.