Awesome Beach Vacation 2025
We had a great time in Corolla, NC with some of our favorite people. The views were excellent and the wildlife was amazing!
We of course had great days at the beach.
We have never been to Corolla so we put it in four wheel drive to get off of the beach and head into town to explore a few times.
We spent some good time playing some games, but only have a shots of a few, Hess family fave: beach soccer!
The week was memorable because we got to spend it with some of our favorite people! 10/10 Highly recommend, take the friend group vacation!
Charlotte is 14
This is our last year with one teenager. Oliver will be 13 next year and we’ll begin a 6 year stretch of two teenagers. This is also Charlotte’s last year before high school begins. In a few months she will start her 4 year journey as a high-schooler and everything that comes along with that stage of life. Oh boy!
Charlotte was our first kiddo, so I remember when she was 14 days old and that was crazy. We had no idea what we were doing. I remember when she was 14 weeks old and that was still a little crazy. 14 months was fun and full of new things every day. But 14 years comes out to 5,110 days and that is a big number to think about. In the blink of an eye, we have a young woman on our hands and before we know it she will be driving, graduating high school, going to college, and if she’s like her mom, going to college a couple more times.
Our lives are made up of small moments and memories and every year that goes by I’m thankful for the ability to remember some of those moments and memories. Pictures and videos help. I’m thankful we took a lot of those. It is amazing to see how far Charlottes has come. But…… I’m even more excited to see where she is going. God gave her just the right mix of me and Melissa, but at the same time, day by day, she’s becoming her own person.
I’m grateful for the story so far. But the best chapters are ahead for all of us.
We love you Charlotte Gray!
Oliver is 12
This past year has truly been an incredible and exciting time for Oliver. Middle School has brought him new experiences and challenges, and he has embraced them all with enthusiasm. He has enjoyed participating in band, traveling to various places, playing soccer, and spending quality time with family and friends. If there is one thing Ollie knows how to do exceptionally well…it is having fun. He has such a joyful and happy spirit, and he really enjoys trying out new things, while being outdoors as much as possible. With his great sense of humor, he has a unique talent for making us laugh and brightening our days.
As we approach another year, it is hard to ignore that our little boy is maturing; it feels like only one more year until the teenage years arrive. Depending on the day, I find myself wondering what to call him—little boy or little man? It has been amazing to witness him navigate Middle School with confidence, transforming into a student who genuinely cares about his own progress and grades. He has taken on the role of a little percussionist and can often be found tapping on anything and everything within reach. This year, he also tried futsal for the first time and is eagerly looking forward to the spring soccer season with his team. He has developed great friendships at school, and we couldn’t be more proud of the young man he is becoming.
Happy 12th Birthday, Oliver James!!!
Beach 2024
This year our beach experience was a little different as it was just the four of us that ventured down to the Outer Banks. We had a great week and enjoyed our time in one of our favorite places. We first hit Morgantown, WV for a little hiking, made our way to the Hess Lake House in NC and then to Atlantic Beach.
Here are some snippets of our adventures!
Charlotte is 13
Weren’t we just teenagers? It blows my mind to grasp the fact that Melissa and I now have a teenager. Melissa and I started dating at the age of 15, and so consequently, that is a point of reference for me. How can Charlotte be 13 already? Possibly two years away from meeting her husband…whoa…haha!!!
Charlotte was a handful as a baby. Sure, some of that was because it was our first time being parents and all, but some of that was because of the strong will and zest for life that Charlotte has. It has been so much fun over these past years to see those how those challenging traits as a toddler have turned into real strengths as a young lady. We are so proud of the things that Charlotte does. She does well in school. She plays the trumpet and piano well. She makes really cool art and has tons of creativity. She loves animals, is a great friend and she even likes her brother. But more than that, we are even more proud about who she is, and who she is becoming.
Happy Birthday Charlotte Gray. Every day with you is an adventure and your smile and kind heart are some of our favorite things about you.
