(Almost) All about Beth: Summer Holiday 2012

So, how'd we spend our family vacation this year? We headed to North Carolina to spend 2 weeks. The first week we were joined by my aunt, cousins, and their families for a "reunion" of the Tolar clan. First time we've all been together since my gramma's death in 2006, so it's definitely a long time coming! Great to see those we haven't seen in a while and so fun to see the kids interacting. Had a funny moment when I overheard my mom and aunt talking about "the kids" and realizing that my sister, two cousins and I are no longer they. Been replaced by 7 others! The reunion week was spent playing on Lake Norman with swimming, tubing, and fishing being done to a great degree. We spent on HOT day at Carrowinds amusement park riding coasters and lots of other rides. My sister, cousin and I spent a day shopping at the outlet mall. Others hit the furniture mart and Tom and my cousin traveled to Greensboro one day for some genealogy research.

The day my aunt's family left for home Abby and my sister's kids took a session of waterskiing lessons. It was difficult to really watch from shore as there were 5 or so boats and they had to spread out so that the water was smooth for the new skiiers. The kids each got up on the skis and reportedly had fun. After we got back to mom and dad's, Tom and I headed out for a much-needed r&r holiday alone. It's been a couple years since we've had an opportunity to be alone together for a length of time and we enjoyed it. We stayed at a hotel in Greensboro and partook of the spa services there as well as trying out and enjoying the services at Hand and Stone spa. Definitely a great way to spend time off! We headed back to mom and dad's to enjoy a day with my cousin Amanda who lives in Charlotte. She'd been to Carrowinds with us, but this was more of a relaxation day. While Tom and I had been gone the girls had tried out my parent's latest toys -- a kneeboard and a wakeboard. We got to see them do both and, for the biggest surprise of my recent life, TOM did the kneeboard! Meanwhile, I stayed safely in the boat.....

Here's some of the photos.....