September 2013

Football and Soccer

Jackson chose to take a break from soccer and try football. He found out it was a whole lot like work and wanted to quit after the first two weeks. He decided to stick it out and play the whole season.

Adam played soccer again on another team. Since Coach Todd decided to stop coaching he was put on a new team with a new coach. There were a few familiar faces on this team though.

Sarah's Fourth Birthday

Someone told me about a pumpkin patch in Gibsonville. It sounded like fun so I called to see if we could have Sarah's birthday there. I'm so glad I called because we had a lot of fun! It was a little chillier than I would have liked and a lot windier, but as the day wore on, the weather got a little better. Ivey remembers the balloons flying away. We had Chick-fil-a for lunch and pumpkin Rice Krispie treats for dessert.

 Sarah heading to her party with her basket of pumpkins.

 Sarah, Adam, and Jackson rode the tricycles around the hay.

 Grandma and Papa Jack chilling on a rock.

 Playing in the corn pit.

 Presents!

 Presents for Ivey too!

 Climbing on the hay.

 Everyone rode the cow train!

 We all went on a hay ride and learned about all the things that grow on this farm. They had more than just pumpkins!

 I'm not sure who liked the corn pits more- Kevin or the kids.

 Going for a ride Papa Jack?

Soccer Practice

You never know when you may need the rain boots and umbrella. They went everywhere with us- rain or shine!

The Big Birthday Bash

We gathered the whole family together at Dan Nicholas Park to celebrate Adam's fourth and Jackson's eighth birthdays. Gramma, Grandad, Nana, Aunt Jamie, Natalie, Philip, Philip's friend Val, Aunt Emily, Uncle Joe, Ivey, Grandma, Papa Jack, and Aunt Jeanne all came to help celebrate. Grandad left the hamburgers and hot dogs at home and had to go back to get them. Thank goodness they lived the closest! Grandma, Papa Jack, and Jeanne took the scenic route but made it just in time for Grandad's return with the food. We ate just a little later than planned which didn't leave us a lot of time to play. The kids (and several adults, too) rode the train, the carousel, and the paddle boats. Adam was a little upset about not getting to play on the playground, but heading for ice cream at the end of the day made it all better.

Sarah loved blowing bubbles.

Baseball and soccer was the theme this year. Baseball for Jackson and Soccer for Adam.

Sarah got some presents too! She was very excited about her purse.

Adam riding on the carousel.

Sarah refused to get on a horse so we sat in the sleigh to go round and round.

Kevin took Adam and Uncle Joe took Jackson for rides in the paddle boats. They raced each other all over that lake. The rest of us (Emily, Gramma, Grandad, Sarah, Ivey, and me) sat in the shade and watched.

Thank you to everyone who came and made the boy's birthdays extra special. We love you!

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.