Monday, September 24, 2012

Up and at 'em

Our summer has been full of new experiences and lot of good times.  So grateful to be out here and see and experience new things.  We were able to spend some time in Outer Banks NC.   We had a blast.  My sister Jenna and he family made a 25 hour drive to be with us for the week.   

The week started off with a deep sea fishing trip for Josh and his best buddy Kurt.  They caught some fish and had a great time minus the seasickness felt by Josh.  They each started out with a half-patch of that sea sickness medicine stuck behind their ears and pretty soon Kurt gave his to Josh since he was a little green.  They had a great time though.



Smokin' hot Jenna, Ernie, and their adopted son Teag (glad he could pop himself into this picture).

 Cohen and Jenna.  Upon getting to the beach Cohen immediately put his sandy hands into his eyes.  The sand and him went round after round and I like the sand won.
 This was Kroy's position for the 6 beach days we had while in the Outer Banks.
 One day there was a huge downpour for about 2 hours.  After it cleared up, the playground across from our condo was totally flooded which my kids took that as an opportunity to have their very own water park.  This, of course, was one of the highlights of the trip for them.  They played here for about 2 hours.
 Visiting the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  We couldn't go to the Outer Banks without visiting this famous landmark.  For $7 each the girls and adults could have hiked to the top of it but we thought better of it.  No air conditioning up all those stairs did not sound like that much fun.  It was very cool to be able to see it and the lightkeeper's house though.
 Later that day we drove farther south and took a ferry to Ocracoke Island.  It was about a 40 minute ferry ride to Ocracoke.  The island is only 16 miles long and about a mile across in the town section.  We were able to visit the lighthouse below.  About half as tall as Hatteras but still very cool.  The little town was awesome.  They encourge you to park your car and walk around to sight see because the streets are so small and parking is sparse.
 This was inside one of the original owner's of the island's house.
 Ocracoke is known for its pirates.  This is where Blackbeard spent a lot of his time.  So we got some pictures with Teach the pirate head.
 Our condo was in Manteo NC which is on the Roanoke Island.  They had a place called Roanoke Island Festival Park which we of course had to visit.  My kids had so much fun.  They are learning about the native indians who lived in that part of the country when the settlers first came.
 They also had a ship we could explore to see what it was like coming across the Atlantic ocean from England.
 The ship had actors on it portraying sailors.  Full on accents and everything.  The kids were a little leary around them.

 Exploring the grounds
 Indians would make canoes by digging out the centers of logs.  The girls thought it stunk in there.  Teag apparently didn't seem to notice the stench.  That totally figures.
 Then they had a part that resembled what a settlement would look like.  The actors there helped the kids try the different tools that were used back then.  The kids really like the blacksmith.  He was really heating up metal and making little nails.
 The weapon tent.
 Then we went inside to the hands on children's museum part.  Here they were able to dress up in play clothes to be like the early settlers.  My camera died right after this but I was able to get a picture of Teag wearing what I can only assume is a mixture of little girl and little boy clothes.  Still not sure on that one.
 Kenady's outfit.
 Another day we were able to go the aquarium there.  I realize that this picture doesn't say much for the aquarium but really Teag?  What the heck?
 She was hoping it would turn into a prince I guess.
 Kroy being just as content as ever.
 A picture of the causeway you drive on to get from island to island.
 Josh and Kroy chillin in the condo.
 Back in Southern Pines, playing at the local reservoir.  "Teag do not get your clothes wet," said the mom that no one listens to.

Little lovies!

Congrats to me for finishing my medical transcription editing course.  My friends threw me a surprise luncheon at the park.  I have the best friends here!




Playing in the lake at Whispering Pines.  Trying to catch little fish.
 Josh's first time fishing in NC.
 And look, he caught something!


So much fun!
 Back at the reservoir with friends.
 Handsome fella!
 Watching football with Daddy.

So sweet.  Kroy is such a good little baby.  It makes me wonder what he is going to be like as a 1 year old.  Lets hope that he is not like Teag as a 1 year old or I will have my work cut out for me again.

Got off the treadmill to find this......That is my brand new diet coke from the fridge.  Little stinker!

Celebrating Presley's upcoming birthday at school.  She wanted Grannie's donuts.  Long, chocolate covered, with sprinkles, her favorite.
 My 3 little ones.  Teag with the GQ pose.

Beautiful children!  I wish Kroy would have cooperated on this photo.

We learned about B this week.  B is for bunny.

I guess next week will be C is for cool!
That pretty much brings us up to date.  The kids are in year round school so they just started their fall break and don't have to go back to school until October 10th.  I am loving fall break!  Today we walked around the gardens at the college in the most perfect fall weather.  Something that we never could have done in the hot humid summer.  More to come on fall break later I guess.  We have only just begun!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Some of summer


We have had a lot of summer adventures this year, even though you wouldn't be able to tell it by the lack of blogging.  Here is a recap of our summer.

We got to go to Pullen Park in Raleigh.  An awesome park with a train ride which the kids loved.


We went on a hot and sweaty hike in the Uhwarrhie Forest only to end it with an impromtu dip in Baden Lake.  The kids thought it was awesome that they were swimming in their clothes.  They though it was less awesome when they got out and didn't have towels or dry clothes to put on.  Still so much fun!




We had sparklers for the 4th of July.  This was a picture of all of them after all the sparklers fizzled out.

We spent a couple days at Sunset Beach NC and then drove down to Mrytle Beach to check it out.  We ended up exploring Broadway at the beach and Ripley's Aquarium which we LOVED.
 Us inside the aquarium.
 Josh holding a horsehoe crab.
 We also went back to the zoo in Asheboro, but this time we went with about 25 of our closest friends.  We had so much fun being there with everyone.  We bought a year membership so I'm sure we will be spending much more time at the zoo in the next year.
And since I decided to put the girls in year-round school, they got to go back to school starting July 16th.  It seemed like they just got out and were back already.  So here is a first day of school picture for Kenady.
 And for Miss Presley.
 And here is the chubby baby that we are trying to get as chubby as possible.  He is such a joy in our home.  He is distracts all of us from what we are supposed to be doing because we only want to play with and hold him. Such a cutie!
 Daddy on his birthday with all the kids.
 Checking out his new scope for his gun.
 Entertaining me with some funny facees.
 Kenady did her own hair and was very proud of it.
 We also got the opportunity to go the beach again.  This time with some friends and a beach house that was right on the water.  It was heaven!  Kroy didn't even have to leave the house while we were there.  So no sand in his chubby rolls and no sun in his eyes.  We had so much fun!
 I have decided that we have some beach bums at our house.
 No one wanted to go home!


 Catching crabs with Dad.  They ended up catching about 7 crabs.
 Kenady being a mermaid.  So lovely.
 And us and the Ramptons trying to build a giant sandcastle.  We didn't get too far before the tide washed it away but it was fun while it lasted.
We are having such a fun summer and we still have August left.  We are happy to be here in NC to enjoy what it has to offer.