Getting Away Before School Starts

We had to take one last mini-vacation before school started. We headed to Swansboro to see Grandma and Papa Jack last weekend. Aunt Kara, Uncle Kevin, and Aunt Jeanne were there too. As soon as we got there we asked Papa Jack to take us out on his boat. We rode to a sandy beach and "parked" for a few hours. Sarah loved playing in the sand and in the water. Jackson got excited over catching fish and a crab with the throw net.

The next day we all headed to the beach for the morning and then spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool. There was a nice little carnival for kids at the campground that afternoon, too. Jackson slid down a slide, jumped in the bounce around, and got dunked in the dunking tank. Yes, the line to be dunked was longer than the line to dunk! They also had popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy. Poor Adam and Sarah both slept through it all. Thanks Aunt Jeanne for sitting in the car with them!

On Sunday Jeanne, Sarah, and I headed to the beach one last time while the boys went fishing. Kara and Kevin had to head home and Jan went to work. Jackson came back all excited over catching some sharks! I'm glad I wasn't on that trip. I think Adam was just excited to get to use his fishing rod.

Sarah splashing in the Intracoastal Waterway. Water always makes for a happy girl.

Look at the fish I caught!

"Come here little fishy. I want to play with you, too."
Those poor fish. I hope they lived to tell about their adventures with Sarah.

A girl's got to eat no matter where she goes!

Kara and Kevin were testing the waterproofness of their new camera case. They took lots of underwater pictures. Check out the bubbles coming out of Jackson's mouth!

Adam playing in the waves. Jackson would never stay still nor close enough to get a picture of him. Sarah would take a wave in the face like a pro. If we lifted her out of the waves she would cry to get back in. Crazy girl.

Thank You Aunt Jamie and Uncle Roger!

Adam and Jackson received tickets to Carowinds for their birthdays from Aunt Jamie and Uncle Roger. We decided to make a weekend of it and visit Aunt Emily and Uncle Joe. The boys had so much fun! Adam rode a roller coaster with Uncle Joe and kept asking to ride it again. I think he especially liked it because it was yellow. Jackson loved the Woodstock Express (formerly known as the Scooby Doo Roller Coaster). I think he rode it about 3 or 4 times. Sarah enjoyed riding the carousel, the train, and the helicopters. Kevin and Joe did get to ride the Intimidator several times. After we put the kids to bed, Kevin and I headed back over to ride a few more roller coasters.

Jackson and Adam on Snoopy's Airplane.

Sarah riding on her horse on the carousel.

We are waiting to get on the helicopters. Sarah did not like to have to sit down during this ride. She kept trying to get out of the seatbelt.

Jackson and Adam standing with Snoopy.

Adam fell asleep, and we all ended up taking turns (well, all except for the pregnant woman!) carrying him back across the park. That double stroller I left at home and almost brought with us would have come in handy.

We couldn't not go for a boat ride. Sarah had to miss out on this one though because she left her life jacket at the lake house. Luckily Aunt Emily volunteered to keep her at home.

A Day at Emerald Pointe

We all slathered on the sunscreen, grabbed our swimsuits and towels, and headed out to Emerald Pointe for the day last Friday. Sarah, Adam, and I hung around the little pools while Jackson and Kevin headed to the big slides in the morning. Sarah loved splashing in the shallow water. I don't think she ever realized she was in water as she tried to crawl around and stand up. Occasionally she would lift her head coughing where she inhaled some water but then would go right back down for more. Silly girl! Adam found three little slides that he could go down on his own. He must have run up that hill at least a hundred times. We all went on the Lazy River where Sarah tried to jump ship the whole time. She just thinks that she can swim!

Jackson and I headed off after lunch to slide down some water slides. We went down one normal one, and then he had me follow him up to ride the "blue one". A piece of advice- don't follow a seven year old to the top of the slide without first figuring out what type of slide you are heading to. Jackson went down first and then I went. This particular slide wasn't a long one but it had two big hills that went pretty much straight down. I prefer the curvy slides verses the hilly ones. I think Jackson missed that message or maybe this was his way to torture his mother. I landed at the bottom, skidding across the water to the steps. The force sent me under the water getting water all in my nose and dislodged my swimsuit in more ways that I want to think about. Let's just say it was not a pleasant experience and we headed back to Kevin, Adam, and Sarah where Kevin and Jackson took off to ride some more stuff.

Sarah's favorite thing to do was swing. Unfortunately because of all the water, this was the only picture I got.

Heeee's Baaaack!

I know it's not obvious in this picture, but Adam is back. Here, he was still feeling a little puny , but today, he's back to feeling great. He woke up in the best mood yesterday morning, and I don't think he has stopped talking since. Jackson was asking me what tonsils look like. This aroused some curiosity in Adam, so he asked where his tonsils went. I told him we would have to ask Dr. McQueen on Monday. He's also back to pointing out all the yellow vehicles on the road. Last week I missed the babysitter's house because I was in a trance and Adam usually announces our arrival. With his sore throat he wasn't talking. This morning he was loud and clear when we got close to Ivy's house. There are moments when I miss the quiet Adam, but I am so glad to have the "real" Adam back!

Ten Months Going on Two Years

Sarah is now ten months old. I know, I can't believe it either! She is going to be a year old before we know it. As you can see in the pictures below, the bathroom is her favorite place. We usually keep the door closed, but as soon as anyone opens it to go in, she stops what she is doing and zooms down the hall to make it in before the door is closed again. She loves opening the cabinets to pull everything out. Kevin was getting out of the shower when she saw her chance to go play in the cabinets. Then she discovered the stool. You would have thought she had been crowned queen for the hour sitting on that thing.

She has been forgetting that she is supposed to be a baby. She prefers the boy's toys over hers. She wants to eat what we eat and when we try and feed her the baby food, she insists on feeding herself. (The girl has got to get some more teeth!) She prefers a real cup over a sippy cup. She will not grow up, she will not grow up, she will not grow up. If I keep saying it, it will work, right?