To the beach with the grandparents!

My parents made their first journey to NC this week.  We have been counting down the days until their arrival.  I can't believe how fast the visit went and now they are gone:/ The first day was pretty layed back.  The kids were in school and my parents flew in pretty late the night before. We did make our way to the NC Museum of History. 

We spent the next four days at the Outer Banks.  

In Avon and Hatteras Island to be more specific

We saw and climbed the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  

By "WE", I mean all but Eli and me.  He was two inches to short:/  

 From there it was all Beach!  The water was a little harder to play in than the last two times we have been.  The waves were crashing really close, so it made it hard to jump or ride.

They spent more time running from them

The rest of the time was spent searching the beach for shells 

and tiny little oysters buried in the sand

Chill'n...watch'n the waves roll in

And don't forget building a sandcastle and mote!

 They also had fun watching the little crabs scurry from one hole to another.  It was fun to watch them bury down into to sand and disappear.

The last night we went out to dinner and then walked down below the pier.

I don't know what it is about seeing the old wood with the waves, but it is my favorite!

Great company, Great memories!

And the countdown starts again!

I Not a Baby

 Eli has always LOVED my loves and kisses.  He has also loved being my baby!  Today he told me "I not a baby, I Eli"  Ironically enough he said this today on his 3rd birthday!  Kind of broke my heart :(

We went to a bounce house, and he Ran and Ran and Ran!

 The girls were at his every call, this little man was SPOILED ROTTEN!  

I was going to say tomorrow will be rough brake back into reality, but then I realized we are talking about Eli and spoiled rotten is his reality :/

The favorite was this slide, it had a nice steep slope and went FAST!

 Afterwards we went to Pizza Hut for dinner and then home for presents

 This is the new smile when in front of a camera, isn't it great!

 He has been SOOO excited about his birthday.  To him the cake IS the birthday.  We have him on video crying in the background of both Ry and Abby's birthday song and candle blowing because he wanted to do it.  Ahh, the Sweet Little Brother Memories. 

My baby you will ALWAYS be!

Topsail Beach

We decided that we needed to make another trip to the beach before school starts.  

I LOVE this picture!  It was SO fun to watch them helping each other.

 I know it looks like they are drowning here, but they thought it was GREAT fun.  

The recovery

 I didn't get much of the older two, they were up on the beach while the camera was out. (The salt water takes some getting use to) They are super excited about these pictures, hehe!

A few things checked off the list

This was our laptop this morning

 And this is it after I replaced the screen with the help of an online tutorial.

I am very proud of myself!!

AND excited to be able to see the whole screen again:)

 This piece came from the garage of our first house.  We have moved it with us and used it as a storage shelf in our garage for the last 13 years.   As we were moving this time, Rylie suggested painting it and using it in the house.

It was hard to get a picture that shows the real color.  It is a blue gray and is now in my bedroom.  I am really happy with how it turned out

 Abby slept in on the floor the first week in the house. We had to wait until we were moved in before we could look for her bedroom furniture.  I found a Thomasville bedroom set which included a desk, headboard, nightstand, and a dresser with a hutch for $325 on craigslist.

 I painted it all white

 Then painted her bedroom blue

 I have painted my share of walls, these were by far the hardest I have done.  They have no texture and so they are all painted with flat paint.  I don't like flat paint, so I was convinced that I was going to make satin work.  Two of the three rooms I have painted were satin and the third was flat.  I will not use anything but flat from now on.  I have no idea why it is so different than a textured wall, but it is not worth the work.

 Rylie's room purple.  

The girls wanted to paint sooo bad.  I wouldn't let them with the satin paint.  Syd's room has the flat paint, and so I let them go for it on the big wall.  Syd is so excited she can hardly stand it.

Brave or Not so Bright?

This little monster loves to run around with Rylie's hamper on his head while we are sorting laundry.  He usually finds his way into walls and furniture, but he thinks it is great.  I just figured it was a boy thing.  Laundry has always been on the second floor, but now it is right off  the stairs and soo rumble tumble down the stairs he went.

Once I got him calmed down from the fall, he started up again because we had put the hamper away and he wasn't finished.  Off he went again!! (already downstairs this time)

I am having are hard time figuring out whether to put him in the "great you got back on the horse" category or "wow, learning the hard way still doesn't penetrate"

And then she was 11

OOOH My Sweet Sweet Ry!  

I seriously couldn't ask for a sweeter, kinder, more fun or helpful and responsible kiddo.  

Birthday #2 in corporate housing, which meant another store cake

We told her that she got $3 from us since we didn't know what to get her. She knew that wasn't true, but didn't have a clue what she would be getting. She got one present with $3....and the note telling her where to find her real present. The shock of receiving an e-tablet!

In earlier discussions we had told her NO WAY and given our reasons. We got no argument from her, she said she understood and that was the end of the discussion. (She seriously IS the Best kid Ever) We have found ourselves  in uncharted territory with technology and how fast it is changing. Trying to find the balance between safety, control and Trust.  

Look at that face! 

We went to Red Robin and then Madagascar 3 On her Bday, sadly no pics. BUT the next day we were invited to go Roller Skating.  We had never been before, so it was an Experience! 

Ry &  Alisa

She had just fallen, I guess she wasn't in the mood to say CHEESE!

Abby and Cailey

 And you can't forget Sy the kid, my little spaz!

What a week!  Happy Birthday, luv U kiddo!!