Visiting the Kinards and Totaro Wedding

On our way from NC to my sister Kate's we stopped by the Kinard Family's house to meet their newest addition...precious little Lainey (Lu Lu).  Isabella loved holding her.  

She wanted to know where her feet were, since they were tucked in her gown.  She loved her little feet.

After the visit with the Kinards we headed to my sister's and she watched the kids for us Saturday so that we could head to JJ Totaro's wedding.  Before the wedding we headed to the Cooley Gallery to check out Jenn's paintings that were hanging there.

At the reception

 Weddings on this side of the family are always fun on the dance floor.  The groom dancing with his friends.

 Here is our groom...J.J.

 Here is my wonderful husband with the too small fedora on. :)

It was a great time and Nick and I enjoyed getting a hotel for the night and having some relaxing time without the kids.

Summer Explosion...Final days.

The final days we spent time at the house.  There were really big nearby wildfires and the smoke and particulates made it unsafe to spend much time outside.  We spent time indoors watching movies and playing. Mom was kind enough to offer Nick and I some time to go to a matinee.  It was nice to go to a movie.  We hadn't done that in so long. 

Mom and I spent some time shopping and Nick took the kids to Toys 'R Us for some indoor play time.  It was really crazy outside.

We picked up a coloring book and colored pencils and Isabella enjoyed coloring dinosaurs.  

Grandma got this super cute outfit for Isabella.  

 I also got to squeeze in a visit with my friend Mary from high school.  She lives in Newbern with her husband Courtney.  It was so nice to see her.  Thanks to Mom and Dad for watching the kids.

Jack enjoyed helping Grandpa make smoothies in the morning.

Grandpa worked on a birdhouse for the kids.  We didn't have time to paint it while we were there, but we painted it when we got home.

When we got home...

We had a great trip and our only complaint is that it was too short!  I absolutely love our trips to NC and I wish Nick had unlimited vacation time because I would love to spend a couple weeks there.

Summer Explosion...Part 3 (The aquarium and Beaufort)

On our 3rd day we headed to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium where we learned once again that Isabella is afraid of nothing and Jack is afraid of most things...including waterfalls, fish, otters, sharks, rays, etc.

This was Grandma explaining to Jack that there was a wall between us and the fish, that the fish couldn't get him.

We got a great picture with my parents.  I love it!

 Touching the rays

Jack liked watching them swim around from the side (where is was safe).

Jack did warm up to the turtles.

and by the end of our visit he was much more comfortable with fish tanks. :)

Gotta love Nick and Dad's stickers.

Isabella the crab

Grandma Crab

What a shark!

 After our fun visit to the aquarium we headed to Beaufort for lunch on the water.  It was wonderful, especially the crab dip.

We walked around Beaufort and took a boat trip by Carrot Island and Shackleford banks where wild horses live.

We are all looking a little worn out. It was pretty hot that day.

Our first sighting of a wild stallion.

He was absolutely beautiful.  It was so amazing to see something completely in its natural element.  These horses feed on the grass in the marsh.  That grass near the horse should be super tall, but it stays low because the horses eat it.

One tired little girl..

This was a view of Shackleford banks.  Those are all horses on the far shore. Also, got a military helicopter in the view.  I forget how little the kids say things like that.  Every time we visit NC they are so excited to see all the aircraft flying overhead all the time.

We ended the day with ice cream at the General Store.

Isabella needed blue ice cream, at least she was wearing a blue shirt. :)

She had ice cream all the way down to her toes.

It was an awesome and exhausting day!

Summer Explosion...Part 2 (A day at the beach)

Day 2 we headed to the beach.  See that enormous wood bee?  There were bunches of those following us when we first got there. It was kind of freaking us out a bit.  Jack still has his undies on here.  I hadn't put his bathing suit on yet.  :)

Jack had to bring some dinosaurs with him of course.

Isabella loved the beach and didn't stop moving the whole time we were there.  Grandpa was once again a wonderful playmate.  The played in the water and the sand.

This was about all Jack did at the beach.  At first he played a tiny bit in the sand, then he and I sat by the surf and just let a little water wash up on us.  Jack hated it!  He cried and asked to go back to the blanket.

Jack enjoyed sitting on the blanket and playing with his dinosaurs.

He did like the seaweed and used it to play with the dinos.

Grandpa let Isabella bury him in the sand.  I think he took a little snooze on the beach here, but it didn't bother Isabella.  She kept playing with Grandpa. 

Then I spotted a crab on the beach and so I grabbed Isabella and we followed it on the beach and down to the water.  He was really neat.  It had little eyes that popped up and down like periscopes.

Grandma was also a great entertainer.  They danced around...

...and ran away from the waves, trying not to get caught.

Video of Grandma and Isabella playing in the surf:



We are so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents for our kids.  Thanks mom and dad!

After a long day at the beach Isabella came home and crashed.

After a little refreshing nap it was back to play time.  Rockne was happy to see her up and about.