The Sawyer/Sweigart Family vacation was convened at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. It’s been about 10 years since we’ve vacationed at this same beach… and if you didn’t think it was a small world already, it just so happens that Kate and her family vacationed here back in the day too.

Neither sand nor surf phased the little kidos’ enjoyment, which surprised us all, and save for a few toddler tantrums, a batch of biting flies, and a little rain, fun was had by all. Thanks parents for a fun week!

Still waiting for more pics to post from the rest of the fam, so in the meantime here’s some choice picks:

more photos…

This guy is a genius with Legos.

It was birthday no. 32 for me this past weekend, and we crammed it full of fun. Saturday Kate and I went bike riding in Lawrence, present shopping (Best Buy for me, Sarah’s Fabrics for her), mowed the lawn, and rented a movie. BTW, I highly recommend you see Stranger Than Fiction if you haven’t already.

Sunday I went golfing with my father-in-law and Dave Nelson while Kate stayed at the house and threw a shower for her two pregnant cousins. We’ve been having some beautiful weather in KC, so it made for some great golfing, besides my high stroke count. That evening we had dinner at McCormik & Schmick’s with Kate’s family, where we dropped our rather sudden surprise:

We’re moving to Colorado! (you thought we were having a baby didn’t you? Come on, admit it.)

Kate and I have been tossing the idea around of moving somewhere else while we’re still “newlyweds”… and Colorado has been at the top of our list since day one. The conversation came up about a week and a half ago so we checked out craigslist and came up with the perfect studio apartment in Breckenridge about 20 min from the slopes. We just signed the one-year lease last night, so we’ll be moving out there the first weekend in October… which, for me, isn’t soon enough.

There’s still some minor details we’re working out, such as who’s going to stay in our Gardner house while we’re gone… but nothing we’re worried about. Not to stir the jealousy pot too much, but thought you’d want to see some pictures of where we’ll be staying… you’ll see why we couldn’t pass it up.

Oh, and if anyone’s interested, the main house is available as a vacation rental… so save up those pennies and you can rent the 4BR/3.5Bath house and join us on the mountain. (the owner has gratiously offered a discount to friends and family)