The Burgin Bunch: Summer Fun!

This summer has been quite a busy one! Besides having a baby (see the previous post!), we have had a pretty busy and very fun summer. Summer started with our first family camping trip for Father's Day. We drove down to Cape Hatteras National Seashore and camped right on the beach. It was also one of the first opportunities for Stephen to take out his Father's Day present - a kayak! We decided to only spend one night, not wanting to be too crazy for our first camping trip ;). And how did everyone do? Leah slept through the night (helped out by a sleep aid), Bekah woke up several times (totally thrown off by being in the same bed with the whole family), Stephen and Pippin slept like logs, and I tossed and turned the whole night (I was in my third trimester of pregnancy, sleeping on the ground, totally consumed with keeping my girls asleep all night long!). After it was all said and done, I can honestly say it wasn't that bad, and camping is something we will definitely do again... maybe next year!

The girls had a lot of fun playing in the tent.

Bekah's first kayak ride with Daddy.

Outer Banks Beauty

Daddy and his girls at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

Our other major trip was for Fourth of July. We went to Washington, D.C. and to Philadelphia. We spent a couple of days with Sarah and Dustin and the Hanks boys, enjoying their new house, splashing at the Yards park, going to a parade, and a special time for Leah and Daddy to see fireworks on the National Mall. We made a quick stop in Baltimore, at Ft. McHenry, to see the place that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to the Star Spangled Banner 200 years ago. Then we went onto Philadelphia to see and learn about some of our Nation's history in the place where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed.

At the Jefferson Memorial

Cousin cuties watching a parade

Listening to a concert before the fireworks start

Our lover of the light celebrating with Daddy on his favorite day of the year


At Ft. McHenry, watching the Star Spangled Banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave

In front of Independence Hall

Waiting for a tour of Independence Hall

Daddy and Bekah at the Liberty Bell

He's got the eye of the tiger!

In the midst of these big events, we managed to find time to have fun in and around Norfolk. We took many trips to the splash park, the zoo and the Virginia Children's Museum, went to lots of free concerts, picked peaches, and had fun right in our own backyard.