Family Pictures

One of my favorite souvenirs from our summer at the beach is our family photos. The people I cherish most in one of my favorite places. Doesn't get any better, especially when you have a great sister-in-law who happens to own a nice camera and knows how to use it:) Thanks, Toni for working your picture magic. I know it took a good chunk of your "free time" to put this all together. We love you! Someday I will learn how to do a slide show on my blog, but for now you will have to do the old fashioned scroll down the page thing. Enjoy.

Favortie Places

We have a few favorite places that we visit every time we are at Grandma and Grandpa's: the aquarium at Fort Fisher and the ferry in Southport. Sometimes we do them both in the same day, but this time we made separate trips. The aquarium at Fort Fisher is awesome. Sariah and Zac remembered going from four years ago and they were excited to go again.

Of course, being the geeky English teacher girl that I am, I had to take a picture of this sign and include it in the post. I love it!


Of course, we really go to see the marine life. The touch tank is always a highlight. Brooklyn talked the whole drive out about touching a starfish at the aquarium. She was a little hesitant when she actually got the chance, but she did do it. I just couldn't snap the picture fast enough.

Sam loved the "fishies." And he loved being with his grandpa. We all had a good time, but we missed Joseph this time around.

Grandma and Grandpa surprised the kids with lunch at Chuck E Cheese on the way home. They were thrilled! They were too busy having fun to stop for a photo op. But Sam cooperated once. I sat him down on this ride and then put the token in. When it started moving, his whole face lit up. I wish I could have captured that look. It was pure delight. Bet you can't guess where he spent his tokens?

Joseph did get to join us for our trip to Southport to ride the ferry, as did Toni and the girls. The kids love the fact that our van can drive right onto the boat. And they like to feed the seagulls that follow the ferry looking for a handout.




After we used all the bread and were sufficiently windblown, we headed upstairs to sit in the air conditioned, quiet cabin. The kids enjoyed looking out the window and waving to the other ferry we passed. We saw a few yachts and dreamed about being rich enough to have a family reunion on one of those, but then decided it would be too crowded and we were content with our ferry ride.



On the way home we stopped near Old Brunswick Town to see if we could see an alligator up close. We saw a little one, but the big gator was hiding under the lily pads. It was HOT, but very pretty. Another great Carolina day.

Greenfield Lake

There is a beautiful cypress lake in Wilmington, surrounded by a neat park. The first few days we were there it was uncharacteristically cool, so we loaded up Grandpa's canoe and headed for the lake. The kids each got a few turns to go out on the canoe with Grandpa and Uncle Brian. We saw turtles, Blue Herons and a white Egret. It was gorgeous. I loved gliding through the quiet trees.




Sam did not show an interest in the canoe, so he waited on shore while we all had a turn on the lake. Even though it was cooler than usual, it was still plenty hot. It got too hot to play at the playground so he chilled in the stroller. It made both Mom and Grandma a little calmer to not have him on the loose so close to the water. Thanks for humoring us, little man.


The other kids were pretty good about waiting their turns as well. It did help that Grandma was there to keep them entertained.


When we were done in the canoe, we packed it up and had a picnic lunch. We took pudding for dessert, but forgot the spoons. Good thing we had bid pretzel rods. It was actually pretty yummy to use pretzel spoons. We might do it again sometime on purpose. Sam was excited to be out of the stroller. He had a grand time eating lunch and chasing squirrels.

No, we did not feed the alligators. We did not even see any. (Although Dad and Brian have seen them when they have been out in the canoe.) But before we left the lake, we did feed the turtles! The kids thought it was fun to feed turtles instead of ducks. And the turtles are obviously used to being fed. They all came as fast as they could when the first bread crumbs hit the water. I was surprised by how many came to get a bite.



We all tried to throw bread to the littlest turtles. One piece I threw landed on a turtle's back. Another turtle just climbed right on and ate it. We left some on the railing and a few birds came and helped themselves. We were all hot and tired by the end, but we left contentedly with another great memory made.

Grandma's House

Grandma's house is just the best, don't you think? It does not matter who you are or where Grandma's house is, it is just a special place. And why do we call it Grandma's house? Grandpa is there, too, and he just as much a part of what makes it special, but we will always call it Grandma's house. No offense, Dad.

One of the best parts of our vacation was that we were there long enough to have down days at home when we played and just hung out together. Grandma scored major points with Sariah when she put together a doctor kit, complete with a white coat and Rx bottles full of "medicine" (aka Skittles and Lifesavers) that she could dispense to her patients. There were also real Band Aids, a stethoscope, clipboard with patient information forms, a scrunchy blood pressure cuff and a "shot needle." Grandpa scored big points by patiently playing patient. My parents are cool.

Zac and Brian logged a lot of time playing video games. They did other things too, but this was definitely the activity of choice. Zac was Brian's shadow. He wanted to do everything Brian did, including eating everything he ate, right down to the peanut butter and Cheeto sandwiches. Thanks, Brian. Brian was even kind enough to take Zac along when he went to play basketball with some friends and the missionaries. What a great kid.

Sam became instantly attached to Grandpa. He gave the biggest grins to "Bampa." If Dad was in the room, Sam had to run over to him, giggling, and at least just touch his leg. Sometimes he wanted to be picked up as well. Sam also loved the dog. He even let Molly lick his fingers.

Of course, Sam also made plenty of messes. I found him asleep like this one afternoon. He had figured out how to reach the diapers on the bookshelf beside the crib. He also pulled a huge pile of papers off the shelf and stuffed them all behind the crib. But we were at Grandma's house so it was all OK. Good think he is so cute.

Ally and Brook were in cousin heaven. Katy came to play almost everyday and Caroline was down several times, too. For the most part they all played well together, but where there are four little girls, you know there will be a certain amount of drama as well. They about came undone when Grandma pulled the Barbies out of the attic. It was fun for me, too, as I remembered all the hours I spent with Western Barbie and Angel Face Barbie in the Dream Cottage. The kids also loved any chance to get wet. We filled the pool a few times and let them cool off. On cooler days they put Grandpa's new swing set to good use.

We just moved right in and made ourselves at home. I got the master bedroom while we were there. (Mom and Dad stayed in the "cave" which is our affectionate name for an additional bedroom/bathroom that used to be separate from the house, but is now attached.) At one point Sariah was talking to Mom and said, "Hey Grandma, you know that bathroom that you use when my mom's not here?" That made us chuckle. We did have a pretty sweet set up. Thanks for making our home away from home so comfortable.