While we were homeless

I should stop joking about being homeless. We actually were so fortunate. The infamous Zoey's grandma has a corporate condo that is seldom used; we were able to rent the condo for the duration of our homelessness. It wasn't a bad gig for a summer. The condo is practically at the base of the Ravenal Bridge in Mt. Pleasant, has a pool, and had a space out back where Pearly Girl was fairly free to roam as long as we were outside, too. 

Here was a major upside. We didn't live in a house this summer, which meant I literally didn't have any projects to do. There was very little cleaning, we only had 3 suitcases of clothes with us total, and we had no yard work. I kept the girls out of school, had fun with them by day, then caught up on emails and summer work during naptime and in the evenings. We went to the apartment pool. We had lots of dinners with the Groebers. We hit the aquarium with multiple friends, and we hit the kids museum. AND we went to the beach. A lot. Plus, there were the nearly 3 weeks the girls spent in Kentucky (I was in Kentucky for most of that, too).

We were anxious to get into the house we owned, and we missed some of our belongings, but it was a really lovely summer.

Our apartment.

Ali spent the night with us some. It was tough to take the girls to the pool by myself, but much easier if Ali was there to entertain, serve as an extra pair of eyes, etc. Cora LOVES Ali!

And Ali is a constant source of entertainment.

My little coppertone girl.

I had a great time doing quiet activities with Cora while Quinn napped. Workbooks. Tracing cards. Cora really grew this summer.

At the park. Yes - my kids are in their PJs. I'm not sure why...

Here, too. 

Quinn is such an easy child, but she is super independent. That makes her a tough kid to take into public. She wanders around, looking at all she wants to see. I hope she keeps this independence. 

One day, we hit the aquarium with Autumn & McKayla; their daddy works with Cora & Quinn's daddy.

Behind the fence?!??!?!

Quinn, McKayla, Cora, & Autumn

Every aquarium visit with friends needs a pic in the bird's nest.

The lemurs were really active.

Sisters!

Headed in from the beach with Brady. It's hard to remember why I took the pic now, but I think it's because Brady & Cora were holding hands.

Quinn isn't big on letting Cora sleep.

We also hit the aquarium with Reagan, McKenzie, Cole, & Brady.

And, I want to remember this photo. If you look across the aquarium jeep (below), there is a cute little boy with curly ruddy hair holding his dad's hand (Mike). That's Sam Lee. We didn't have plans to meet Sam at the Aquarium, but were excited to see him. 

A couple of weeks after this, Sam was diagnosed with a rare inoperable form of cancer. He previously was diagnosed with Ollier's disease (spontaneous tumor growth), but this tumor is aggressive and attached to his brain and resulted in a prognosis of only a few remaining. 

Sam was special to us this summer. Cora and Quinn grew up with Sam at Miss Aimee's (he was in a class between theirs). This spring, Mike and I realized Cora and Sam would be in the same preschool class at ECDC. There were many conversations at our house with Cora about ECDC (we weren't sure how she'd do leaving her beloved Miss Aimee), and all of those conversations included the statement, "And Sam will be there, too!". 

We're still praying for miracles and peace. 

We're changed by the reminder that these sweet babies are only on loan. 

We're a little more thankful at our house, as a result of knowing Sam Lee.