weekend in maryland {o.c. tuna tournament}

Last year, we discovered by accident, the O.C. Tuna Tournament. We really enjoyed it, so I thought why not schedule our getaway weekend around the tournament dates. After we ate, we went back across the bridge to wait for the boats to come in with their catch. The weather was so nice, much cooler than last year! What a gorgeous evening!!

Cleaning station: would love to have some of that fresh tuna!!!

This is the boat Logan fished on last year!

Top fish: 249 lbs.

O.C. Tuna Tournament

book club: week #2

Book Club Week 2
Chapters 3 & 4

(1) Have you lost your mother? I'm sure some of you have. How have you dealt with the grief of that? How has it affected your own motherhood?
I still have my Mom and I am fortunate enough to live just minutes away. We talk every morning for at least an hour, to chit chat and just to see what we each have planned for the day. :0)

(2) Lisa- JO shares about Colleen, a friend who showed her that motherhood could be fun and not slow her down and inspired her to be a mother herself. Did you have a friend pre-motherhood who showed you how great it was to be a mom?

My Mom was my inspiration. I was so fortunate to have such an amazing role model. I watched her and learned from her and hoped to some day be half the mother she was/is.

I also was fortunate to meet up with Wanda, my now friend of 26 years. Way back in 1988, we met while we were both pregnant with our first child {due date 2 weeks apart}. We immediately became friends and scheduled every doctor's appointment together {until she had Whitney 6 weeks early....I did eventually get over it}. We were both young mothers who were trying to do things by the book, yet have fun and enjoy our babies at the same time. We gave each other advice, and helped each other through the rough days. Logan and Whitney spent lots of time together, and Wanda and I enjoyed all the things we got to do with our kids {including the infamous beach day}.....LOL. We had our second child a year apart, and now, we are going through yet another stage in motherhood....empty nest.

It is very important to have role models and friends & family you can count on for support and advice. Motherhood is not easy, but the rewards are priceless.

weekend in maryland {ocean city}

We slept in on Saturday morning {we never sleep in} and after a leisurely breakfast, we hit the road. Today's destination: Ocean City, M..D.
The traffic was ridiculous!!!!!

Going 4.3 mph in a 55.....We did this for miles! Peter finally took a detour, which brought us through Delaware and on down to Salisbury. We stopped there long enough for Peter to get a haircut, and me to buy a couple of shirts and some flip flops. I wanted this trip to be fun and relaxing, and didn't plan to spend too much time in the mall or even worse, Wal-Mart.

Back on the road, we started talking about the rest of our day. It was now 2:00, so we decided to find a good restaurant in O.C. for a late lunch. I suggested Harpoon Hanna's, I had heard it was good, plus we were all about trying new things this weekend.

It was a gorgeous day to eat on the deck!

The atmosphere here is awesome, and the food was even better. 

I got the bacon wrapped scallops and lobster bisque and Peter got the Big Tuna

 {tuna steak topped with crab imperial}. 

We weren't in any hurry, we just sat and talked and enjoyed the view.

weekend in maryland {o's game}

Part of Peter's birthday gift was tickets to an Orioles-Yankees game.
I got great seats!! Peter was very happy!

Section 16, Row 2, Seats 5 & 6

The weather was gorgeous!!

The O' won in extra innings!!

The Simple Woman's Day Book: July

Outside my window.....another comfortable day. It's July, but the temps are so nice, no humidity! A little overcast this morning......rain??

I am thinking......how weird this summer has been. Normally, I would be crazy, busy at work,  but since the fire at the restaurant (July 3), we've had to do some improvising. For now, we are down 3 rooms and the restaurant is closed indefinitely. I'm running a 5 room inn, doing a continental breakfast every morning, answering calls and emails from home,  and other than a housekeeper who works with me a few days a week, I'm pretty much alone at work. 

I am thankful....I am very thankful that no one was hurt, and that the fire did not spread to neighbors homes nearby. I am also thankful that I can still work. Things are definitely not the same, but I'm thankful that I can keep the b&b going through all of this.

In the kitchen....We finally had our first pot of steamed crabs for the summer! They were awesome! I picked the leftovers and will make a little crab salad today! YUM!!

I am wearing....capris and a tee....and flip flops!

I am looking forward to....hopefully, the restaurant opening back up before the season ends!!

Around the house.....I'm pretty much just keeping it clean, laundry done, and dishes washed....nothing more! Hopefully, FALL will inspire me to get back into organizing and doing projects.

A favorite quote of the day....Hebrews 6:19

One of my favorite things....

Stole this pic of Logan from Facebook.....on his new boat! To make the switch from the Gulf to up north, he's pulling 4 weeks. He also is now on the opposite tour of Nathan, so it will be awhile before the boys are back together again. Logan gets home on Wednesday and Nathan will leave!!

Nathan's truck with new liner....like! :0

weekend in maryland {baltimore-inner harbor}}

Peter had a birthday a few weeks ago and I surprised him with a little getaway!!
On Friday, July 11, we headed to Baltimore, to begin day 1 of our weekend.

I had made reservations at Homewood Suites by Hilton (earned 2x points) and got a great rate. We really liked this hotel....clean, friendly staff, nice room, comfy bed, ceiling fan (a big plus), full breakfast, close to Inner Harbor/ stadium (and even closer to airport if flying). We checked in, then headed over to Inner Harbor for a few hours.

We debated on where to eat, and decided to give Bubba Gumps a try.

The food was pretty good,

and our waitress was lots of fun.

Peter and I definitely need to watch Forrest Gump again.....

we hardly got any of her trivia questions right! Peter started asking her some trivia and ended up stumping her. They both thought they knew more about the movie than the other. :0) :0)

Coming up....the game!

vbs week

VBS 2014

"Gangway To Galilee"

2nd & 3rd Graders

Standing: Me, Mackenzie, Wesley, Alona, Kylee, Will, Jaxson, Chase, Miss Lula Belle, 

helpers- Schyler, Isaiah, Sydney. {not pictured: Hallie}

Sitting:  Jayden, Anthony, Cassie, Nikki, Kiera, and Lily {not pictured: Wes}

                                                                     "Fish Scales" 
{let the kids draw colorful designs on flimsy paper plates. Cut in half and layer to look like scales}. Makes a nice tdecoration for your classroom.
                                     
I made this easy snack:

animal crackers w/ frosting & sprinkles for dipping

We decorated frames with sea creatures. We added a back and a magnet for hanging on the fridge or magnetic board.

 We made these cute turtle magnets with painted shells. Another magnet for the fridge.

              Helpers: Hallie, Schyler, and, Sydney (sweet girls & a BIG help this week!!)

Cassie & Nikki

                                                      The little ones at music time. :0)

Chase

Yummy FISH  Cupcakes!

(Thanks Andrea!!)

Cameron showing the class sea creatures. :0)

This was a fun game: put a paper plate on top of your head and draw the following...water, a boat, a person in the boat, some fish, and the sun in the sky. The helpers picked the winner. The kids loved this! :0)

We had a "sea" theme a few years ago, so I copied a lot of my ideas from that, including the glass ornaments filled with sand, small shells, and glitter.

This week's lessons were: 

Jesus Calls

Jesus Teaches

Jesus Calms

Jesus Walks on Water

Tonight, we will have a program to share all the fun songs we learned this week!

"God's Circle Is Wide" was my favorite!