It is finally time to fly to NC!!! Can you tell I am excited! Just a little bit. Sorry Jim, we love you and all but it is time to go back to the promised land!!
Of course he had a few tricks up his sleeve before we departed. He found a really awesome place for us to stay our last night in AZ. We got there early enough that we could spend some quality time in the lazy river!
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| Mixing a little business with pleasure |
There were tons of wild rabbits or hares or something small rodent shaped outside our room. The kids were chasing them this way and that and then out of the corner of our eyes we saw something BIG moving. Much bigger then a rabbit. Or at least some of them were bigger. A whole herd of porcupine looking pigs that we later found out were Javelinas. This guy seemed to be asking us just what we were thinking. I was just thinking time to back away, far far away.
The next morning we were all ready to get to the airport and begin our all-day journey east. The kids were great and we had minimal drama and squawking. Thank goodness! Momma needs a little peace people.
We arrived into Charlotte LATE and basically we just got to the hotel and passed out! The next day we were up at the crack of dawn (considering the 3 hour time difference) and on the way to Cary to meet up with our first cousin stop with the McOwens! This is where I left the kids to have a week of Wellons family fun! Boy did they ever. Multiple days with multiple cousins. William, Tom, Sam, Joe, Sully, George, Josephine, and Kemble ... and even Abby and McLaren! Lots of swimming, golfing, farming and visiting occurred. So I can't give a day by day account of their week, but I can share some of the pictures that were shared with me.
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| It's not all fun and games, sometimes you have to do some WORK! |
They didn't seem much worse for wear when I picked them up, and couldn't stop talking about what a fun time they had with Mamama & Gaga. Meanwhile I had a full week to myself in Swansboro catching up with some friends and doing some work for my parents both at the marina and at the house. I hadn't even been home one day and Mom had me looking at the door on the dryer. She was using duct tape to keep it shut. Within about 5 minutes of me looking at it, here comes Daddy. He took over - shocker! But I still get credit for the repair because I found the spare part and ordered an additional one for back up.
Gigi thought that the kids would enjoy going to Fort Macon and taking the walking trail from the beach access lot. My kids are always up for taking the long way to anywhere if it allows them to run around. So off we went. The trail opened up earlier this year and it is really breathtaking in spots. So worth it.
Another cousin joined us once we got there! Fort Macon may never be the same again. I know it withstood the Civil War but it may not have if my kids had been there. That and apparently it takes thirty minutes to reload a musket (according to the ranger's technique)! That may have been the real reason why the South lost the war.
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| Ben and Wesley systematically destroying the Fort's defenses |
What is a trip to Swansboro without going to find some shark's teeth! We are rarely disappointed. I think the total for that day was well over 300. Several of them are teeny tiny. We need to think about getting a bigger jar!
Another cousin bonding opportunity with Tyson & Wells! This time the parents got to get in on the fun by dragging the kids behind the boat on the tube. Papa Dub took great pleasure in trying to fling them off on the turns. Too much pleasure me thinks.
It wouldn't be a successful summer without some bloodshed. Usually Lilly takes care of this requirement for the family. She happily let her brother take one for the team this year. I gave the kids their water shoes to wear while they played/swam on the little beach at the marina. So when I hear the screaming goat cries I am thinking they did not put them on and have stepped on an oyster. Well I was half right. An oyster got him, but it grazed his thigh has he swam over it. The cut was superficial (just a deep scratch really) and we did consult a doctor to see if stitches were needed. We all agreed the butterfly closures would suffice. I think he will live.
One of the coolest things we saw while we were home was the Strawberry Full Moon. By the time we could corral everyone into the car and drive down to the river, the moon was no longer pink, but it was still really cool. This picture doesn't do it justice. That, and it is kind of creepy in a Shining sort of way.
This one however is AWESOME!!! I wish I had taken it. Sigh. Beautiful.
Even though we have lots of family and friends in town while we were home, the kids did spend quite a bit of time together and somehow managed to not injure each other. In fact most of the time they actually enjoyed themselves. A fact they will probably deny.
Since we had arrived in NC the kids have been begging to go surfing. Unfortunately the waves had not cooperated until the morning that we were leaving for camp! Even though we really didn't have time for it, we did it anyway and boy were we glad! The kids struggled for the first couple of waves.
But then something clicked! We have some surfers people! While our friend Justin was still basically putting them on the waves by the end they were actually trying to ride the waves instead of having them waves push them to shore. Maybe we can try to do some surfing in San Diego later this summer.
Finally, it is time for CAMP! I am so glad all three love Camp Don Lee as much as I do. They were sooo excited to be there and even though we might have been some of the last campers to arrive, they fell right in and ran to catch up with their respected groups at the pool. Below is just a few of the pictures I found on the Bunk1 website and a few that Gigi and I took at drop off. I even had an "insider" keeping an eye out for them. Hopefully one day we can do family camp!
While the kids were enjoying their week at camp, Gigi and I were busy busy busy doing some projects around the marina. I am so glad Gigi decided to help me, otherwise I never would have finished them!! We were able to fix/repaint the parking barricades, painted some safety post, repainted a safety strip on the docks and power washed the jet ski docks. Whew! I am exhausted.
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| Hope she is still talking to me when this is all over |
