Newport...

Good grief! Five weeks since my last blog post! Our last few weeks have consisted of baby and bridal showers, birthday parties, play dates, beach days...you know, the usual. The not as usual but certainly exciting, has been the new additions to our extended family and friends. Three babies born to dear friends in the last three weeks. We welcomed Ansley Grace Ostermann (my cousin, Rob's first daughter) on July 23rd. The kids, my mom, and I got to go meet her the next day. Such a sweet little mix of her big brothers, Jonah and Javan.

The next Thursday, on July 29th, Ellie Ruth Eastman was born. I'm yet to meet the first Eastman girl but I can't wait! Then the next week, on August 8th, Simon Patrick joined the VanderBeek family! I was able to meet Simon this past Sunday. He such a cute, tiny little peanut! =) Congratulations to all of the new parents and siblings!

This morning we got home from a week long vacation with the Irelands. We got away in not-so-far-away Newport Beach. Our 6 days and 6 nights at Marriott's Newport Coast Villas were such fun! We filled our week with good food, hours at the pool, arts & crafts, tide pools, and quality time with great friends! The hotel had soooo many fun activities for every age throughout the week, a couple of which we participated. We even joined in the adult pool game on Wednesday. It was so fun since we were the only 4 who showed up. Sarah & I raced Aaron & John in a game of putting on wet clothes, swimming to the other end of the pool, switching with our partner and swimming back. The girls came in a very close second but the hotel employees were nice enough to give us all a prize...a coupon for a free happy hour cocktail! =) Tons of pictures were taken during the week and it was too hard to narrow it down to a few so enjoy my nice long post...

On our first night, we made s'mores at the fire pit with a great view of the ocean...

The kids thoroughly enjoyed their treats...

There was even a playground on the grounds...

The girls loved taking pictures of themselves on "Photo Booth"

We tie-dyed shirts with the kids on Tuesday...

Oh, and Sarah's hands...

All four kids LOVED the pool...

so did the Mommies & Daddies...

On Wednesday, we packed up lunches, dressed the kids in their new tie-dyed duds, and headed up to Corona Del Mar to visit the tide pools. The kids saw a bunch of hermit crabs, a small sea anemone, and tiny fish. It was a fun hour or so but they soon decided they'd rather go back to the hotel and spend more time in the pool.

The Wednesday activity at the hotel was a Princess Tea Party in the Activity Center. The girls watched a princess sing along video while enjoying graham crackers and apple juice.

A definite highlight of the week was our date night at Mastro's. I can't say enough about the pretzel bread, lobster mashed potatoes, and warm butter cake! Such a treat! Thank you, Stacy, for coming to sit with the kids while we enjoyed some grown up time. =)

We had a wonderful time and it was so great to take such a nice vacation without having to go too far!