Outer Banks 2014

Several weeks ago, we spent the week at our most favorite place {aside from home}--the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  We traveled down that Sunday morning and made our traditional lunch stop at Sonic.  After getting settled in, the kids rested.  We then went to the grocery store, had dinner, and headed out to the beach.  High tide left tide pools that we enjoyed that night and several other times.

 

 

We kicked off our Monday morning with yummy Duck Donuts then hit the beach.  Avery loves the beach, and her most favorite things are running up and down the sand by the water and jumping in the surf.  Sam enjoyed playing in the sand and loved buckets of water to scoop and pour.  Sometimes he liked playing at the water's edge, and sometimes he didn't.  He become a beach runner this year also.

 

One bucket of water had a fish!

 

That night, we got take-out then headed back to the beach to play in the tide pools.

 

 

We were back out on the beach Tuesday morning, running, splashing, and snacking.  That night we had a delicious dinner at one of our favorites, Black Pelican.  We had some fun on the deck after dinner.

 

We were back on the beach Wednesday morning as well.  With no morning naps to work around, we could be on the beach by 9 a.m. or so, beating the crowds and the heat.  When Sam grew tired of playing in sand, he "drove" and fixed the wheels on Ned's fishing cart.  A bungee cord also made a great Captain Hook hook.

 

 

 

We knew it would be hot that afternoon, so after naps we went north to the village of Duck and did some shopping.  Avery fell in love with Lilly Pulitzer and chose a romper after I unsuccessfully tried to convince her to get a dress that matched my shorts.  That just meant Mama needed a pair of shorts also. We came back and had dinner at Capt'n Franks then went back on the beach.

 

The radar looked like rain was coming Thursday, so Ned and Avery went to the beach for a quick run and splash {after some fresh donuts} then we went to the aquarium.  We enjoyed the inside and then took a stroll down the visiting dinosaur path and saw some big, realistic dinos.  Sam would jump and laugh each time they made a noise.

 

 

My parents arrived that afternoon and stopped by before checking into their hotel.  We had big storms before dinner with lots of lightning and thunder.  Luckily they stopped and Yaya and Poppa were able to meet us at The Lone Cedar for dinner.  That's my favorite meal at the beach, but it seemed to take a long time this year.  Luckily Sam did very well each time we ate out.

Friday morning was cloudy, so we had a lazy morning and then went swimming at my parents' hotel.  They enjoyed watching the kids swim, and we enjoyed the indoor pool.  That afternoon we made a quick trip to the outlet mall but walked away empty handed.  We had dinner at Capt'n Franks with my parents.  The kids played on the play set while we waited for Yaya and Poppa.  That play set caused two crying spells for Sam.  Once when we had to go eat and again when we got in the car.  He perked right up when he realized we were going for ice cream.  Ned fished on the pier that night, and I enjoyed the awesome views from our deck.

 

Saturday morning I delivered donuts to my parents and of course picked some up for us.  We spent the morning on the beach and then went back after naps.  Avery fell in love with the boogie board while Sam covered himself with sand.  My parents came for pizza that night and we ate under the cottage and watched the kids play.  Ned and I enjoyed some time on the deck after everyone went to bed.

 

 

 

 

We got up Sunday morning and got take-out for breakfast.  After last year's sleeping fiasco, Avery got a treat each morning for sleeping well.  We were out of treats and beach experiences to reward with, so her treat was pancakes.  After breakfast we packed and loaded up, reserved the house for next year, and headed home.  We got back home a little after 12, just in time for lunch and naps.  We had a fantastic vacation together this year.  Each time I'm sad about the kids getting older, I think about how much easier traveling is getting.  Easier…not easy!  We hope to get back in the fall for some sand, big water, and food.

5

Happy 5th birthday, Avery!  We have had a wonderful day celebrating you, so much so that I'm afraid you will wake up tomorrow sad that it's all over.  We started with breakfast from Bojangles, then after rest time, we went to Richmond.  Short Pump was the perfect place for a train ride and your first Build-a-Bear experience.  You requested Chick-Fil-A for dinner and had pretzel bites for a treat.  You have been waiting for your birthday a long time and were so pleased when I told you that you would still be five tomorrow.

You are still tiny, but you are growing right along.  You weighed 34 pounds at the ENT a few weeks ago.  I can't remember your height, but we will get that at your check-up soon.  You are wearing size 4 and 5, but I will be buying 5s for fall.  You wear a size 10 shoe.  Your tiny size is not due to lack of eating.  You have not lost any teeth and do not appear to have any that are loose.  That may be good, because after reading the Berenstain Bears book where Sister loses a tooth, you seemed very unsure about the tooth fairy.  I feel certain she won't be allowed in your room.

You finished your first year of school in June, but you have gone to several camps at the Y this summer.  You love school even if you would always choose to stay home if that was possible.  You have learned and grown so much this year, and preK was a great experience for you.  You also took swimming lessons this summer and were so brave in the pool, even going under a few times.  It's hard to believe Kindergarten will start in just a few weeks.  We got the exciting news last week that Mommy will be going to Kindergarten with you!  You are so excited about being in Mrs. Everett's room with me across the hall.

You continue to be such a loving child.  You want to cuddle, hug, and kiss all day.  You still love to be carried.  You are quick to tell your family that you love them and you are very free with your affection to Mommy, Daddy, and Sam.  We love you too!  You and Sam have such a special relationship.  You try to mother him and love on him, and he wants to do what you're doing.  In the mornings he will start calling for "Abey" when he gives up on Mommy and Daddy.  You are even {mostly} patient with Sam when he wants whatever you have at the moment.

There is still no shortage of imagination in your head, and there is never any way to know what you will think up next.  You still love Pioneer Woman and cooking up a storm.  You also enjoy puzzles and games, coloring, Bitty, dancing and singing, and the many fun things you play with Sam.  You have become a bit of a reality TV junkie, loving old Jon and Kate Plus Eight and Table for Twelve episodes, in addition to Pioneer Woman.  Playing outside is still fun with riding your bike, playing soccer, baseball, and golf, and playing on the swing.  I finally pulled out my huge Berenstain Bears collection, and now that's all you want to read.

You are quite a thinker and a rememberer.  You ask lots of questions about new things or things that make you nervous.  I'm afraid you may be much like your mama, wanting to know exactly how things are going to go and wanting a picture in your mind.  Daddy spent the day at a big church fire last Saturday, and I made the mistake of telling you which caused lots of worried questions.  People who think you are shy would be amazed at how much you talk.  I love to listen to what you have to say, but sometimes your talking jumbles my brain.  I find myself "mmhmming" through some conversations and then have to ask you to repeat yourself to make sure I have not agreed to something bad.  You also are always having conversations in your brain, and sometimes your verbal conversations start in the middle of a brain conversation.  You have picked up so many funny words and descriptive adjectives at school {all good, thankfully}.  Things are "easy lemon squeezy" and you eat juicy fruits and vegetables.  I need to write down more of the things you say.

Avery, you have filled our lives with such love and light over the last 5 years.  Everyone who knows you loves you for your sweet personality and kind heart.  I pray that those will be the things that you continue to be recognized for and that you will value most in yourself.  It's no need to be sad about you growing up, because each stage is more fun than the last.  We look forward to what this next year has to hold and can't wait to experience it with you.  We love you to bits and pieces!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue

We have had a fun few days celebrating the 4th of July!  We started our festivities on Thursday with Avery's camp at the Y.  The kids had a bike parade at a nearby nursing home then sang some patriotic songs for the residents and were treated to Popsicles.  We then had a picnic lunch back at the Y.  This is Avery's 2nd year doing this camp, and I think it's one of her favorites.

Our fun continued on Independence Day with a community picnic at the home of one of our church families, complete with rides on the fire truck.  Sam decided to pass this year, so I know Ned will soon be working hard to acclimate him with the trucks.  Avery, however, went twice.

 

After the fire truck rides was a short program {that my two had no patience for} and then a hot dog lunch.  Lunch is much later than our usual time so we had some happy and grumpy faces in the mix.

 

 

We rested after lunch then packed up lots of yummy food for our trip to Newsoms.  We enjoyed the annual parade, one of only a few that you get to see twice.  Avery collected candy and Sam tried to eat it.

We then had a cookout at Yaya and Poppa's and let the kids play for a bit.

The 4th of July is one of my most-favorite holidays and has been for a long time.  My earliest ones were  spent in Newsoms at my best friend's house, where there was a community cook-out, games, and a fireworks show on the railroad tracks put on by Carrie's dad.  I pray that Avery and Sam will always remember our family 4th of July traditions and remember all the fun we had.