Today was my original surgery date, and while it had been discouraging to have the surgery postponed, I can see how waiting has been helpful. We just returned from a family mini-vacation, and I'm thankful we had time to enjoy it before my surgery prep begins. 

Our generous neighbor gifted us a long weekend at her beach house in Rockaway Beach, and it was such a happy, restful time! The kids adored her house and it was fun to have a private hot tub and walking access to the beach. The older three kids were excited to each have their own bedrooms too. The first morning, Brynn looked out her window and caught a mama deer and her baby fawn foraging right outside.

Rockaway is the birthplace of the corndog, known as "Pronto Pup," and it was delish! We shopped for treasures, licked ice cream cones, tried a Sand Dollar hand pie (yum!), and even picked up boiled crabs fresh from the marina. The weather was perfect--which we were especially grateful for in mid-October. All of us, including our lab, Annie, had a blast in the sand and sun.