Family-Filled Weekend

This past 4th of July weekend was filled with family! Sweet little Abigail was baptized on Saturday, giving us a wonderful reason to get together.

I drove to Los Angeles to get Savanah and Cory from LAX, and holy cow was traffic AWFUL this 4th of July... No bueno. I loved getting them from the airport though, Nan and I talked the whole way home--I miss her so much!

>>>I seriously cannot wait to live in the same town as her in two months!! AHH!

So for the 4th of July we watched the Game (if you aren't familiar to my reference to 'the game', you must not be following the FIFA Soccer World Cup... But you should be.) Then after the game we went outside to play some volleyball and football, then we left for Avila Beach!

>>>please excuse the tacky cell phone quality. :)

Avila holds a farmers market every Friday night in coordinance with a few other places along the centeral coast throughout the week. We decided we'd all get dinner at the market. The fish tacos there are pretty good, but MAN are they hard to eat. Haha.

>>>a walk on the pier is completely mandatory at Avila! Loved spending it with my family, especially Nan and Cory!

Saturday was the day Abigail got baptized! Again we watched the games throughout the day, and then got ready for Abs' baptism. Mom made Abigail's dress, it's kind of a tradition in our family. Mom has made all of our dresses, so it was fun to see her make Abigails too!

Her baptism was small and intimate, and very sweet. The last of our family to be baptized, it was almost a little surreal. Haha. I felt so so much love and peace in that little room, I'm so grateful families are forever!

here's a little family photo for your enjoyment. :)

And this sweet picture of the only kids left in the Hulstine home... two gone, 3 left to go... Insanity!

>>>the three of us have gotten pretty close as we've gotten older. I love these kids with all my heart. Happy to be one of their big sisters. :)

When all was said and done, it turned out to be a pretty crazy weekend! But it was so much fun seeing some of our family there. I can't believe Abigail is 8! Time is flashing by so quickly, it's unbelievable!

Hope you all had a completely wonderful weekend, and filled it with family.

But I also hope we all remember the purpose of this holiday... There's meaning being the celebration we hold with fireworks, food, family, and vacationing. Our nation was given to us as a gift from God, and we celebrate that gift of freedom and love every 4th of July. Keep the purpose in your hearts forever!

love, megs. :)