"TRAVEL TO EXPLORE SOMETHING NEW". My goal for this year is to visit a new places (locally and abroad) to try eat, shop or enjoy an adventure.

Up first was a small togo place in Baltimore called Love Seafood. Folks were raving about their seafood eggrolls. I must say they were right.. those eggrolls were sooo delish.

I have a few "no destination travel dates planned". This is where you get in the car, select a direction (N<S<E<W) and drive until you find something new in an area that you want to try something you've never heard of or whatever tickles your fancy!

The major item on my list this year is my trip to Jamaica!! I am elated and can't wait to visit the island! The culture, the food, the history.. Anyone ask if I am read to go, I would say... Ya Mon (yeah, man)! giggles.

2.   🎨 DIY Tie-Dye Night
Olive has been asking to do this for months!

3.   🍿 Movies on the beach (Ocean City/North Beach)
FREE MOVIES at the beach! Who can resist that?

^🩴https://carouselhotel.com/free-movies-on-the-beach/

^🩴https://www.northbeachmd.org/special-events/pages/movies-beach

4.   🍓 Visit a Pick-Your-Own Fruit Farm
I believe there are plenty of farms in the DMV area that offer this. We have a garden of our own, but Olive has never been to a farm!🤯

5.   🌇 Stay in NYC (Queens & Brooklyn)
Olive has yet to meet my family in NYC, I think we are due for a long weekend getaway!

6.   🧁 Bake a Birthday Cake
As Olive and I are both Leo's♌ we love a good time! For our birthday this summer we have decided to bake our own cake! As non-bakers, this is going to be interesting! 😅

7.   🌌 Stargazing in West Virginia (Massanutten)

Light pollution has hindered the views of the last solar and lunar eclipse. I promised Olive that we would get back out to West Virginia to get a better look at the stars!✨

1. Culebra, PR (bio-bay to kayak)

2. South Padre Island, TX

3. Nassau (again)

4. Amelia Island, FL (a regular spot)

I also intend to read a lest three of my new books. I love books but barely find time to read. The books I fully intend to read are:

1. Lovely One by Ketanji Brown Jackson

2. The Complete Works by James Baldwin

3. Becoming by Michelle Obama

I also plan on turning my yard into a tropical oasis. I am adding more tropical plants to add to my King Palms, Elephant Ears, and Birds of Paradise.

As a wild card, I intend to eat at a few places to try new and authentic foods. The top choices are:

1. Ethiopian food

2. Nepalese food

3. Japanese souffle pancakes

4. Moroccan food

I'm also planning to make sure the vegetable garden is fruitful, and read as many books as humanly possible!

• Spend time with family and soak in every moment with my kids being home from college.

• Attend a variety of concerts (local talent, outdoor orchestra events, tribute bands, and local theater performances).

• Spend lots of time tending to my gardens - flowers, veggies, herbs, and lots of berries!

• Watching the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter movie series with my almost 21-year-old son.

• Try new recipes with herbs from my garden. I made Bang Bang Shrimp last night with parsley from the garden - yum!

• Read on our back porch as much as possible.

• Long walks, especially on nearby hiking trails.

• Coffee with friends.

• Visit my mom and siblings.

• Try new restaurants.

• Maybe find an art class to take with my youngest son.

Other than that, will try and spend as much time outside as possible, at the pool, the park, playing tennis, at baseball games, etc.

and this fall my son goes off to college, so we are having a low-key (read cheap!) summer. Doing a bit of "necessary" travel (home to Boston for my nephew's wedding; to Richmond for son's college orientation). But mostly just hanging out at home, maybe doing some day trips. Oh, and cleaning out his bedroom, pre-college!

1. Beach with my bestie, my mom, my bestie's mom!

2. 4th in DC!!

3. paddleboarding as often as the southern thunderstorms will allow

4. horror movie fest with my beloved with AC turned down, popcorn, cozy blankets

5. summer hang out with the niblings

6. complete online restorative yoga course (it's so good why haven't i done this yet??)

Other than that, practice gratitude more, stay present in mind and body, fill up my spirit with the joy of sunshine, friends, family, and nature

On the (much sunnier) summer list:
☀️ Family pool time at least 3x a week
🚤 Lake days with friends — shooting for at least two
📺 Binge a new TV series: Zombies with my oldest or teen drama with my daughter? Why not both?
🐔 Add a second chicken coop (because one just isn’t enough?)
✈️ Book and take our Seattle trip — July or August, we’re coming for you!
🛠️ Redo the kids’ closet with built-ins — goodbye chaos, hello storage goals they can maintain themselves.

Here’s to a summer of balance: a little chaos, a lot of fun, and maybe just enough productivity to keep it interesting!

A Summer of Sports for Carson

Our son, Carson, is gearing up for a seriously athletic summer. His evenings will be dedicated to travel baseball, with practices and games keeping him busy under the lights. During the day, he'll be bouncing from one sports camp to another, honing his skills in a variety of activities. It sounds like he'll be sleeping well!

Sydney's Busy and Social Summer

Our daughter, Sydney (13), has a packed schedule that blends responsibility with fun. She'll be earning some money through babysitting, enjoying quality time with her friends, and giving back to the community by volunteering at Vacation Bible School. Of course, it wouldn't be summer without some dance, so she'll also be attending dance camp.

Jennifer and Me: The Chauffeur Team

With Carson and Sydney's busy schedules, my wife Jennifer and I are officially embracing our roles as the family's dedicated chauffeur team. We anticipate logging plenty of miles as we shuttle them to practices, camps, and social gatherings. It's a labor of love, though, and we're happy to support their passions.

Family Adventure to Niagara Falls

Amidst all the hustle and bustle, we're carving out some precious family time with a trip to Niagara Falls in early July. We're all looking forward to witnessing the majestic power of the falls, taking in the sights, and making some unforgettable family memories together. It'll be a great way to recharge and connect amidst our busy summer.

Blueberry Festival

Lavender Festival

Waterfowl Festival

Otherwise I am gonna do some pool days!

Early Morning Walks: We are going for weekend early morning walks with kids as my toddler loves water and airplanes. We are planning to cover most of the state parks in DMV area and our favorite beach at the bay.

Family Picnic: One of the top things on my Summer ’25 bucket list is to have a family picnic. Just being outdoors, sharing laughs with my nieces and nephews. I’m excited for baby girl's first picnic with some of fun pictures.

Baby pictures: I'm taking monthly pictures of my baby girl and I'm excited to capture future ones at places like an apple orchard, fruit farm, beach, waterfall, and many more beautiful spots!

Swimming classes: One of my other goals for this summer is to learn how to swim and I want to do it alongside my 3-year-old son! It’ll be a fun bonding experience and a great way for both of us to build confidence in the water together.

Connect with my friends: After welcoming my second baby, life has been beautifully busy, but I’ve realized how much I miss connecting with my friends. This summer, I want to make time to reach out, catch up, and nurture those laughs that mean so much to me.

• Hiking Red River Gorge- KY

  • As a Kentucky girl, I have always heard about the amazing trails in Red River Gorge, but I am not an outdoorsy girl! However, I am allowing this trip because I am with my BFF from College and her puppy AND I have reserved a glamping tent, so not total outdoors moment!

• Bridal shower- CLE

  • My sister calls Cleveland home (gross), so I will be heading out there at the end of June to do a cute little bridal shower to set her and her hubby up for success. This weekend is also my OLDEST sister's birthday, so it's a joint celebration that will get the whole family involved, not just the gals

• Bachelorette Party- FL

  • Now THIS is a CELEBRATION! I will be heading down to Tampa for some girly squirrely fun to celebrate my sister getting hitched! Should be nothing less than a crazy couple days in the sun!

• BF in town- DC

  • I am in a long-distance relationship and he will be coming to stay for a whole month! Send any date recommendations or DC Day trips my way!

• College Friends in town- DC

  • My friends only move in units, so I asked if anyone wanted to visit me this summer and now i have 8 PEOPLE coming to visit! Looking to give these girls and guys the classic DC experience, so drop any ideas for fun 20 somethings in August!

If I survive this summer, it will be a win in my books!