Off Shore Fun Part 2

The island has a small park that the kids enjoy.  

I will be glad when Keenan can climb up the ladder to slide.  He is quite heavy to lift to the top of the slide.

This picture looks like he is going really high in the sky.  

Anyone up for playing ball?

More to come!

Off Shore Fun Part 1

We took Bailey's tricycle to the beach this time.  It is the perfect place to let her peddle, peddle and peddle since there are not any cars.  We would lather up with bug spray (the mosquitos were awful this time!) and off we would go.  

Little note to my brother:

Bernard, you would get a good laugh seeing her hop off her tricycle at the sight of a golf cart. Remember, how I would run up the curb on my pink huffy when I saw a car coming.

It's Not Just About The Beach

We just got back from the beach.  We have been spending our beach time this summer at Bald Head Island.  We really love it there.  There is not anything to do there and that is the beauty of it.  It brings our family back together after busy schedules.  Bald Head Island does not allow cars on the island.  We take the ferry over to the island and then we use a golf cart to get around the island.  There is one small grocery store and only a few retail shops and restaurants.  The kids love the golf cart.  In fact, Keenan learned to say golf cart this past week.  Everyone is so nice.  I love meeting people at the pool or beach and then running into them at the grocery store or restaurant.  Kids set up lemonade stands and sell homemade cookies.  It is just a very relaxed and extra casual place, which is so us.  I will be posting pictures over the next few days so you can get a feel of where we have been spending some of our time.  

This is the ferry we take to the island.

The nicest young guys work at the ferry.  They help you unload your cars and these are the carts that they load our luggage on.

Then we hop on the tram (blue golf cart as Bailey calls it) and the tram takes us to the house.

This is the main road that stretches across the island, which is only about 5 miles long.  It is so peaceful.  The trees form a tunnel effect.  This picture does not do it justice.  I took this from the back of the tram looking through a vinyl window.

This is a picture of the marina.  The kids love walking down near the boats.

More pics to come!  Always glad to be home.

One More PostFor Tonight

The kids and I spent the morning at a park with my friend Ginger and her little girl Ava.  We had a great time in the sandbox, going down the slide and walking down to the lake.  I can't take credit for all the pictures but thought you would enjoy seeing these.  Bailey went down the tunnel slide by herself for the first time and Keenan tried to go head first.  He is at the stage that he thinks he can do everything Sissy is doing.  I will be glad when he can walk and do all the fun things he wants to do.  It was a joyful time!

Ready Set Go

First time down the slide was with mommy

Keenan thinks he will go down the tunnel slide with no assistance

And she does it by herself!

Getting her toes wet

A Royal Tea Party

We had a Royal Tea Party the other day.  It was time to celebrate!  Announcement...our little Cinderalla has gone poopy on the potty!  Hurray!  It has definetely been a struggle with Bailey.  I will spare all the details of the past year trying to get her to go on the potty.  She finally did it and we are all excited.  A big answer to prayer.  We had to have a Royal Tea Party and use the special tea set.  We got all dressed up including Daisy Duck.  

The special tea set

The proud princess

Daisy all dressed up

Doing a dance

Tea Anyone?

Reunion

Many years ago I was a mentor with the Big Brother Big Sister program.  Ivana was my little sister.  We were matched up when she was 10 years old.  We met weekly and had lots of fun getting to know each other.  She was a cute outgoing little girl who just needed a little extra guidance.  She loved playing basketball and would laugh at my skills or lack of skills.  I would go to her games and she would tease me because I would clap when everyone else was clapping.  She knew I did not know much about the game but that did not matter.  I was just there to support her.  She has a great mom but her dad was murdered when she was a baby.  So you can only imagine that she has a whole in her heart from not knowing her father.  

Over the past several years we have not seen each other for various reasons.  The last time I saw her was right after Bailey was born.  The other night we had a chance to catch up.  She came over for dinner and we had  wonderful visit.  She is 19 years old and is about to start St. Augustine College.  We laughed about old times and days at camp.  Bailey enjoyed looking at pictures of us when Ivana was a little girl.   So it was a wonderful time to see how she has grown up even in difficult circumstances.  

Here are a few pics of Ivana wit the kids.  They really enjoyed playing with her. 

Who Taught Her To Write Her Name?

It is amazing how kids learn.  A few weeks ago, Bailey was writing and she says, "Look Mommy, I wrote my name."  I looked and sure enough she did.  I asked Scott if he taught her because he is the teacher in our house.  He didn't so I am not sure who did.  I asked Bailey who taught her and she said, "Bailey".  It is amazing how God wires us to learn.  We learn in all different ways.  And these days, I learn so much about myself from my kids..good and bad.

So here is a picture of her name.  She wrote it the other day while playing with side walk chalk.

Two more pics

Two more of my favorites from the weekend.

Bailey with Uncle "B Ard"

My mom and Keenan.  K loves to give kisses!

Visit with Uncle B-Ard and Aunt Tyree

We had a great visit to Florida to visit my brother and his family.  Me and the kids flew to Tampa.  You can call me crazy for traveling by myself with 2 little ones.  But it was so neat to see how God put the right people in my path.  I was a little anxious about traveling with the two of them but I really wanted B and K to see their cousins.  So picture this....car seat strapped to my back, camera and diaper bag on my shoulder, K in stroller and B walking along beside the stroller.  Anyway, I had to feed K and B in the terminal.  This sweet young girl who did not speak English befriended K.  He was giving her lots of smiles and high fives.  She even threw my trash away for me so I would not have to walk away from the kids.  She asked for a napkin and wiped K's runny nose.  She was so kind and it was quite obvious to me that God was in the small details of our travels.  So we start to board the plane when they call family boarding.  B is doing so good with following instructions and being my little helper.  I take K out of the stroller so I can fold it up for them to put it on the plane.  My foot gets caught and down we all went.  We knock B over.  I hear a man coming down the tunnel saying "Oh Sh_t!" as we are falling.  He came running down there to see if we were ok.  Poor little B was so upset.  Thankfully, we were all ok and I just had to swallow my pride.  I look up and the tunnel is full of people trying to get on the plane.  Make an appearance like that and everyone starts to help you.  A nice guy helped me strap the car seat in.  Turns out I knew his wife.  The flight attendant held K while I got everything put away.  Another way that God showed me He was in the details.  So that is how our trip got started.  Thankfully, we can laugh about it now.

It was great to see my family.  Ellie and Ava are growing up so fast.  They are such sweet girls.  They totally entertained Bailey and Keenan.  Bailey would sit on the pool steps while Ava would do tricks.  Bailey would say "Do another one".  Ava keeps us all laughing.  Ellie has grown up so much.  It is hard to believe she will start 4th grade next week.  

Here are a few pics from the weekend.

Ellie and Keenan in the pool

My sweet, sweet, sweet, sister- in- law treated me to lunch at a tea room.  It was great to be able to chat and catch up while my mom and brother took care of all the kids.  It is wonderful to have a sister-in-law who I can call a great friend.  Thanks Tyree! 

Ellie taking a break from the pool

Ava and Keenan looking at a book.  They look like they can be brother and sister.  I can already tell they have a special bond.

Ava being her funny self.

Our Ordinary Days

It is always good to be home when we have been on the go.  As much fun as traveling is, there is nothing like being home.  So here are just a few pictures around the house.  I got a new camera lens and I was testing it out.  We just got back from visiting my brother and his family in Florida.  So there are more pictures and stories to come.

Oatmeal and cheese toast...a morning favorite!

Little guy loves to scoot around with his cars.  Uncle Bernard (or as Bailey says B Ard) would be proud!

And what is it with the toilet? 

Daughter like Father....We call her Scotterien!