What do all these words have in common? Our summer in words. Since I haven't blogged in almost 2 months, I guess this entry will be a summer blog. I can't believe how quickly this summer has gone. It's amazing to me how fast time is flying. Grab a snack and drink because this one's going to be long....
July started off with a BANG!
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| In 4th of July garb |
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| "Thanks, Ms. Kelly!!" |
Charlie bought some fireworks locally for a show in our backyard. The kids didn't like the smoke or the loud noises, so they watched from inside the house. I wonder what the neighbors were thinking as they saw this grown man, outside alone, enjoying fire works?
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| Watching fireworks from inside! :) |
July 4th evening our family enjoyed downtown Wilmington's fireworks show. We had a "penthouse" view from the 10th floor at New Hanover Hospital. Don't ask me how that was arranged, let's just say that I have connections...
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| High rise seating waiting for the fireworks to start. |
The week after July 4th, Charlie went to Charlotte for the middle school mission trip. Jackson had basketball camp with Halo Hoops. It was difficult for me to drop him off the very first day. Usually, we sign up for camps with friends. We didn't have any friends sign up for this particular week of basketball camp, but Jackson wanted to participate. Although I know it's good for Jackson to be in these situations, I could barely make myself leave once he was in the gym shooting hoops. I did fine. And more importantly, he did fine and had a great week!!!
Beme and Pappy came to stay that week too. Boy, were they a huge help! The kids were busy each day, from making arts & crafts, to going to the "fancy McDonalds" and to the Fuzzy Peach. The kids (and grandparents) were exhausted each night.
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| At McDonalds with Beme and Pappy |
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| Good to the last drop!! |
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| It's all gone! |
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| Eliza's beautiful flower bouquet |
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| I came home to a lion in the house.... |
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| ....and an elephant! Oh my! |
Charlie returned home on Saturday at 1:30, and we were out the door by 3pm on the way to the beach for Lee family beach week. We had a BLAST!! This is the first year we didn't have a child napping. It was SO nice, liberating. We came in from the beach at lunch daily with a rest time after lunch while it was so hot outside in the afternoon. Then, we'd head to the pool for a relaxing afternoon.
We had a great time with our niece, Tatum. Eliza loved holding Tatum's hand leading her around like 3 year old girls do with each other. I would've called it "dragging" her around, but Tatum didn't seem to mind a bit. I think Tatum liked playing with Jackson and Eliza too.
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| Holding hands with Tatum |
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| BIG boy!! |
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| Crazy kids! |
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| Lovin' on Tatum. I wish Tatum could tell us what she's thinking..... |
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| Jackson reading to Tatum and Eliza |
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| Bro and Sis |
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| Our family |
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Party of 27 eating seafood...
Jackson going where the crab leg "extras" go... ICK! |
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| The pool was quite refreshing after a morning at the beach. |
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| "Scoot back Bailey." NO fear!! |
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| WILD woman killing the strawberry bikini! |
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| Silly faces! For every serious picture, we have 2 or 3 silly pictures. |
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| Jackson leading Tatum to the water. |
One of the funniest memories of the entire trip was when Jackson, Tatum and Eliza were pressing their faces against the sliding glass door. It was precious! I was inside seeing the action from behind. The people outside watching had a better show, I'm sure. Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of all three of the kids with their faces pressed against the glass, but as you can see, it was a hysterical moment!
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| THE funniest moment at the beach! |
I asked what Jackson what his favorite thing about being at the beach was...he said, "Spending time with my family." Sweet boy!
We had a such a fun time at the beach with the Lee family. I wish I could post more pictures. I only have 500 pictures for the month of July!! I'm serious....FIVE HUNDRED for 31 days! I'll add some of the good ones to facebook, so check there for more beach fun!
After such fun at the Lee family beach week, we came home to a camp week for Jackson and Eliza. Jackson attended aquarium camp at the Fort Fisher Aquarium. He loved it. Several of his friends attended with him. It was quite a rude awakening Monday morning after vacation. We had to leave our house by 7:40 to get to aquarium camp on time. Talk about back in the swing of things....
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| The campers performed a skit during the parent's show. |
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| Eliza getting eaten by a shark while we waited for the parent's show to begin. |
Eliza attended Fairy Princess Camp at a local ballet school. She also loved it VERY much. The girls practiced ballet, dressed up, had arts & crafts time, ate lunch and headed home. She was happy to see some of her friends at Fairy Princess Camp.
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| All dressed and ready to go! |
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| Killing the leotard! |
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| Madame Butterfly |
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| Performing at Fairy Princess Camp |
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| Friends: Carrington, Eliza, Analise and Isabella |
After a week at camp, we headed back for ANOTHER week at the beach with our friends, the Kivette's. We loved the additional week of relaxation...who wouldn't???
We spent nearly every morning at the beach and every afternoon swimming at the pool. Mixed in with the beach and pool time was time at the arcade, Wonder Works, video gaming and a family photo shoot (courtesy of Kelly Kivette).
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What is it with the glass door??
This will be used for black mail in the future...just FYI! |
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| "I'm ready to boogy board." |
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| Riding the lawn mower because who doesn't do that at the beach?!? |
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| Putt putt |
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| Arcade games.... |
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| Tired, tired princess.... |
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| Eliza is brave enough to swim under water. |
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| Hand in hand |
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| Secrets, secrets.... |
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| Our "E" girl |
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| The fam (again) |
The beginning of August brought in the ending of any toddlers at our house. Eliza turned 3 on August 6th. It's so hard to believe that she's 3?!?!!?
I have to share a couple of pictures of Eliza in the early days....
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What will it be... a boy or girl?
We didn't find out until the birth. |
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| It's a GIRL! |
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| Love this pic!! |
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Jackson meets his sister for the first time!
He's 3 years old in this picture. |
The evening before her birthday, we took Eliza to see her first movie in a theater, Winnie the Pooh, and she LOVED it!!! After the movie, she chose Red Robin for her birthday dinner.
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There was more whipped cream than ice cream in the bowl.
Eliza LOVED it!!! |
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| Because Jackson became a big brother the day Eliza was born! |
After attending a party at a local gymnastics facility, Eliza decided she wanted to have her party at the same place. The ironic thing is Jackson had his 3 year old party at the SAME place!! We had a blast! Several of her friends were able to attend. Eliza is such a blessing in our lives!!
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| "Eliza, how old are you today??" |
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| One picture before we cut the cake. |
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| Of course Eliza had a birthday shirt! |
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| Jumping in the foam pit |
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| Jackson swings from the rope... |
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| ...and lands in the foam pit! |
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| Cole having fun! |
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| Eliza and Carrington getting ready to jump from "a high place." |
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| Somersault |
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| Making a wish and blowing out the candles. |
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| LOVED parachute time! |
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| Free play |
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| Papa trying to catch the birthday girl |
With school on the brink of starting, Jackson and Eliza wanted to spend some time with their grandparents. Jackson stayed at the beach with Beme and Pappy from Saturday to Wednesday. They played arcade games, shopped for books, went to an upside-down house (Wonder Works Museum), and played video games. While Jackson was away with Beme and Pappy, Eliza stayed a couple of nights with Nana and Papa (so, Charlie and I had two nights "kidless"). Eliza had fun feeding the birds, going to the library, eating at McDonalds, playing the rice and bean box and "sleeping in the 'bacation' bed with princess sheets."
Jackson was home for less than 24 hours and went with Nana and Papa to their house...he ate at McDonalds (for dinner and breakfast...what is it about McDonalds and grandparents???), went to the nature center (twice, his choice!), went to the library and watched TV. Jackson had a GREAT time with both sets of grandparents for the week. He came home exhausted, and I know his grandparents were exhausted too! :)
I know the summer isn't quite over, BUT....it seemed very close today as we attended Jackson's school oreintation. He's starting 1st grade in a new school on Thursday. Today, he was able to tour his new school (Charlie and I toured in the spring), and we met his teachers. He's very excited about starting a new school, and I think he really likes the fish tank in the entry way. Eliza was able to go with us "to see Jackson's new school." She was sorely disappointed when we didn't stay long enough to have a real day of school.
So.... I know this was a very long blog. Thank you for sticking with it! Since we're getting back to "normal" (whatever THAT is....), I'll try to blog more often.
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| Had to include this one... She has fun dressing up in my shoes! |
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