College Friend Reunion #5

So, our last vacation of the summer was to Outer Banks, NC (again!) but this time with college friends. This is now the fifth year that we have rented a house with our college friends. Since this is the fifth year vacationing with friends, we settle into our routine pretty quickly. There are the early risers, the cooks, the shoppers, and the excercisers. The weather this year was not great, but we did have a few nice days on the beach and an amazing sunset the last night. Ian was lucky enough to have his own room, and this year Ian had another friend to play with!!!

Ian is exploring new foods these days. He recently enjoyed corn while on the Vineyard. I would say it was quite a success!

Ian's Striped Shirt Photo Shoot

Ian is developing quite a sense of humour AND he is now fully aware of the camera. I just had to share the photos below, in this sequence of course!

Martha's Vineyard- a trip of firsts!

Martha's Vineyard has always been a special place for Tim and me. This year we got to take Ian and introduce him to the wonderful island! We drove through the night to catch the first ferry at 6am. While there Ian got to experience a bunch of firsts!

Ian's first time on the Woods Hole ferry

Ian's first time at Mad Martha's. He loved loved the pistachio ice cream.

Ian's first facebook page! Yes, Uncle Pete set up a facebook page for Ian...

Ian's first time walking on the Lucy Vincent beach (our OWN private beach) at sunrise.

Ian's first time in a dog crate...

Ian's first time rolling in the sand on Lucy Vincent Beach. He loved it!

Ian's first sunset at Menemsha beach.

He kinda missed the sunset...

Ian's first time on a motorcycle.

Ian's first hurricane swells.

Ok, so I know this is so terribly long ago but such is life. Ian started walking in the Outer Banks of North Carolina while on vacation with my family and now he is fully mobile. We celebrated his first birthday while we were there and spent the many days playing with cousins Will and Cate, and spending quality time with Mom Mom, Pop Pop, and wonderful Aunts and Uncles. Ian got his first taste of the beach and more or less loved it. The sun however does not agree with his fair Anglo skin. He prefers to be playing inside, in the shade, away from the UVAs.

Top Ten Highlights from the Rotzell Outer Banks Vacation 2009:

10: Loved cooking dinner with Sally (we started at 9am in the morning and cooked all day!)
9: Every meal was deliciouso!
8: Ian and I had the best porch off of our room- two adirondacks and a swing. It was the place to be before 9am in the morning.
7: Walks, oh walks! Ian and Will made it about a block before crying.
6. Sorry Dad for cracking the glass table :)
5. 7 days, 2 puzzzles, dog eating puzzle pieces, priceless!
4. Becky takes the best pictures!
3. I actually finished a book, not bad.
2. Loved spending time with family- so needed!
1. Emily's homemade ice cream sandwiches rolled in mini chocolate chips, need I say more.

Hi, Bye...In and Out!

Early mornings with Poppy

Evenings on the beach

Ian learns to walk!

Cousins!!!

Gregs and Will..two peas in a pod.

Early mornings with Mom Mom on the porch!

Lovely ladies

This was right before they lost it at 7am.

Kitchen Update

We are off to vacation on the Vineyard but we left our house in pretty good shape. The kitchen looks amazing and we are so happy with how everything came together. When we return we just have some touch up painting to do and then we can move in and start cooking again!