Bowling and dart gun wars!

While my parents were here, we took the kids bowling. It was fun, especially since it was Noah's first time and since everyone of us is very competitive (the adults I mean!). I won the first game, and Justin won the second game.

Papa John with his "rally" cap on for the second game.

Justin and his perfect form!

Going for my first strike, I only got one!

My mom's still got it!

Some spectator picks:

Papa John and Noah watching intently.

Waiting patiently for our turn.

Noah eating a snack with Papa John.

We also had a dart gun war one night:

I don't remember who won. I think Noah quit before the game was actually over. Fun times!

Wiped Out!

After a whole day of outlet shopping this is how we found the boys after unpacking:

totally WIPED OUT!

Papa John and Amma visit: part I

My parents came to visit us for a whole week at the end of July early August. We have been so busy with soccer camp, Justin going to Texas for his Aunt's funeral, and our computer was out of use for awhile. I had already uploaded the pictures awhile back but never did anything with them.
Our visit with my parents was so relaxing, fun, and we all enjoyed each other so much. We picked up my parents from the airport on Monday and headed to the Disney and Lego store at the mall in Raleigh. Karis got some new Lego's, and Noah some new cars thanks to Papa John and Amma. We spent the Tuesday and Wednesday hanging around the house, eating at Dick's, going to Wal-Mart, visiting our local farmer's market, and (not allowing Papa John out of our sight, especially Noah).
Side note: Karis is not fond of taking pictures, unless she doesn't know you are taking them, thus the reason there are more of Noah.

At the Farmer's market

Watching a movie with Amma

(If you double click on the collage, it will make it bigger)

Two of my favorite people, I love you two!

Installment 2 of pictures will be along shortly, you can look forward to:

dart gun army wars

bowling

train riding

One Can, One Can't

When I was younger playing softball, one of my favorite things to eat was Sour Power. It is not the same as sour punch straws. It was really, really sour, and I used to get 10 for $1 and eat them all in a few minutes. (I can't do that anymore, after a few I get a stomach ache now). They sell the sour power at the mall, so sometimes when we go, I buy some. Karis and Noah got to experience the taste:

Noah ate it without making a face!

Karis couldn't handle it, it was too much for her!

Hanging Around at the Beach

To wrap up our beach vacation posts, I wanted to share what we did other than going to the beach. We played putt-putt for the first time, played Hulabaloo, watched some movies, and put together 150 & 300 piece puzzles. The most exciting thing for me was seeing the BLUEBELL sign in an ice cream shop window. Justin didn't believe me at first, but after we passed it again, he did. We all enjoyed our scoops of BLUEBELL (I had two scoops, mint chocolate chip and coffee).

Everytime I see the picture of Noah and Justin on the couch, I can't help cracking up laughing. While we were watching a movie, Noah sat on the couch crossing his legs like that and it tickled me so I couldn't stop laughing. Noah looked at me and said, "Is this funny Mommy?" I laughed until I cried after he kept asking me if it was funny as he would cross and uncross his legs.

The last morning at the beach we took a few early morning pictures.

My favorite little munchins!

Sweet siblings

My three favorite people!

See you next time

Beach FUN!

We woke up earlier than usual on Monday morning since the kids were sleeping in the same room, (we changed the sleeping arrangements the next night), and decided to head to the beach. We packed all the necessary things: lunch, snacks, drinks, snacks, sunscreen, snacks, towels, snacks, etc. Before we headed out, we took a family photo courtesy of our camera's delay start.

Beach fun here we come!

The wagon's all packed,

here we go!


We spent about four hours out in the sand and waves before we headed back to take a much anticipated nap! We went for walks, built sandcastles, jumped in the waves, and enjoyed God's beautiful creation.

My kids favorite books at the library are called, "Whose skin is this?," or "Whose nose is this?," etc. So to keep to their titles,

"WHOSE FEET ARE THESE?"

Off to the Beach We Go

A few weeks ago, our family went on our summer beach vacation. We went to a new beach this year, called Holden Beach courtesy of some church members. As usual, the kids had a wonderful time. We went unplugged for three days and it was fantastic. The house we stayed in didn't have a clock anywhere in sight, so we didn't even know what time it was, no time table was so relaxing. Here are some pictures from our first night:

We got to bring Calvin with us, he loved being with the family!

My big girl!

More to come.....

2nd Annual 4th of July Neighbor Cookout

Because the 4th of July is such a BIG day in my family, my sweet neighbors and I decided to have a cookout last year. It went great and thus this year we did it again. It was a very fun time with our neighbors, the Rusnacks, and some of our church family!


Me, Sheryl, and Suzie getting ready to eat!

The Lampheres, Glenna and Blayne, and Glenna's niece, watching the Frisbee game!

Suzie and Justin cooking the hamburgers. What a handsome man on the grill, and yes, he is all mine!

Karis filled her plate with what she likes best: a hot dog, not in the bun, Cheetos, fruit, and jello. At least there is some variety!

Joseph, another one our church family, playing Frisbee with the kids!

Steve Lamphere and "neighbor John" as my kids call him, enjoying some Frisbee too!

I made our annual flag fruit pizza this year. My favorite thing about the cookout, the dessert of course! Glenna made a ice cream sandwich lasagna thing, YUMMY!

The kids dressed in their flag shirts!

Karis loves helping "neighbor" decorate the tables, so when she finished, her and Noah got to sample some food before the guests arrived! Who knew fruit in a cup would be such a hit!

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful church family and neighbors. God is good to allow me to continue to celebrate the freedom of our country with such special people. I did miss my family, but not near as much!

Thank you to all who serve our country.

Sharing an Ice Cream Sandwich

Books are the BEST!

There has been a lot of reading going on in our house this summer, which is no surprise here. Both of my kids have loved books since they were old enough to sit and look at them by themselves. I often find them in their rooms looking at books. Karis can "read, recite books," that we have read her only a few times. I so enjoy listening to her read to Noah. He adores her and will sit and listen for a long time. Here are a few pictures of our book time!

Karis reading to Noah!

The "librarian" reading to Noah!

Looking at books together while Mommy makes dinner! The library is such a blessing to us! I so enjoy library day, getting them new books, reading every last one of them, and then watching them enjoy looking at them by themselves! Books really are the BEST!

My Silly Boy!

About a week ago, Noah was sitting on the potty trying to go (number 2), and he kept acting like he was falling in the potty.

"Be careful, Noah, I don't want you to fall in the potty." I said.

"I won't Mommy." he replied.

After a few more times of him doing the same thing, I said, "if you fall in the potty, you might get flushed down the little whole."

"We can just go buy a new Noah, " he replied with the cutest most sincere look on his face.
I spent the next few minutes trying to explain to him that we can't go buy new people, and telling him how special he is, one of a kind, no other Noah like you ever in the world! It was a great teaching moment for me, after I stopped laughing at his hilarious reply. I am not sure why he said that because if things break, we don't always go and buy a new one. It is neat to see how his mind works and what an imagination he has!