Vance Summer Vacation!

Right before Meili turned two and would thus be an extra plane ticket, we took a little trip to Florida and Biloxi to visit my grandparents and then to Texas to visit my mom. Although we arrived after the big, bad oil spill, the oil had not reached the beaches. While in Florida, we enjoyed almost a week of beautiful weather, white beaches, and delicious, mouth-watering seafood. We then headed to Biloxi for a few days to see my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We also went to New Orlean's really cool aquarium. Then Marshall flew back to Philly while I headed on to Texas to see my mom for a week.

We took a little trip to the Pensacola Air Force Base to see all of the airplanes at the aviation museum. Isaac was in heaven flying all of the fighter planes.

Fun in the sun!


Pensacola Beach skyline. My grandparent's condo is in the high-rise on the far right.

Meili finding seashells

A little turtle in my grandparent's back yard. Isaac with my Aunt Kim.

Isaac and my mom.

Our First Camping Trip Together!

I'm ashamed to admit it, but until now, Marshall and I have never been camping together. It's not for lack of effort - I've been nagging him to take our family for over three years (maybe that's why we never went). Some friends from our ward invited us to go on a one-night camp out about 1-hour away. So, I packed us all up - including our new tent I got for my birthday and we headed out. Aside from our air mattresses losing ALL of its air and Meili and Isaac tossing and turning all night keeping us awake, it wasn't too bad.

We made hobo dinners for dinner. Unfortunately, my dinner stayed on the fire a little too long.

We roasted marshmallows.

We went hiking down to the river.

The next morning we went on a hike to the "Ringing Rocks." These rocks have metallic deposits, and when hit with a hammer, they make the sound of a bell.

I hope we'll go camping again someday!