Weekend Recap: Lots of Photos!

Saturday we came home after a week of vacation at the beach (recap coming soon). We would have been home much sooner if we hadn't locked our keys in the car. Yes, we did that. Our car was packed and ready to go and I was about to go across the street to take pictures of the girls before heading home. I took out my camera and closed the door. The keys were on the front seat and Ellie had been playing in the car and must have locked the doors. Luckily the girls were not strapped in the car seat. It could have been a much worse scenario. We did have to wait over 2 hours for a normal 30 minute wait because of traffic. I spent about an hour at the beach with the girls taking pictures. Here are a few of my favorites:

 Outfits:

Ellie: dress- sold out, similar here / sandals

Summer: dress- old, similar here / sandals

We got home late afternoon and Nick took the girls to dinner with his parents. I went with my parents, sister and her boyfriend to a charming BYO restaurant called 19 Bella. It was tapas so we all ordered a few plates and shared. The food was amazing. We brought wine, but the restaurant also offered us red sangria. I had a delicious beet salad (I plan to recreate), Brussels sprouts with marcona almonds and bacon, cedar planked salmon, bacon wrapped dates, halibut, sweet potato gnocci, and heirloom tomatoes with mozzarella- just to name a few. For dessert I had a chocolate bread pudding with chocolate marshmallow ice cream. If you live locally you must try this place!

Sunday was my sister, Mia's, 30th birthday. She stopped over in the morning and I gave her my gift (Kate Spade earrings and gold bangle). I had taken the girls to the playground early that morning before it got too hot outside. We actually did not go to the playground once on our vacation- that was a first! Ellie instead wanted to play at the beach. It was nice to take a week off. Summer is now all over the place- running around and climbing all over the equipment- and that means I am running after her.

In the afternoon I food shopped and cleaned, then got ready for a family party at my cousin's house. She hosted our entire family for Mia's 30th birthday party. It was a beautiful night and it was great to catch up with everyone, including my cousin and her husband who just moved back from Texas after graduating from medical school. She had an amazing menu of food and drinks (homemade, of course) and an ice cream cake for my sister (her favorite). It was a late night for the girls, but they were great and we had a lot of fun. Lots of memories will be made at this house for sure.

Love this one of Summer!

 My sister, the girls and I:

 My parents and Mia:

 My Nana and her friend:

 Cute bumblebee cupcakes for the kids:

 My cousin, the host of a fabulous party!

 End of the night- complete with sparklers!

It was such a fun night celebrating my sister. Today she left to go visit her boyfriend's family before heading back to England. We probably won't see her again until Christmas. It was definitely hard saying goodbye to her although we were very thankful to have spent all of vacation with her. It was just too short and saying bye is never easy to someone so close. I miss her already, but thank goodness for Face Time!! Happy Birthday to my little sister! We are all so proud of you!