Memorial Day Weekend!

Dad and Mom have been trying to visit since March but the first weekend everyones schedules matched was in May. As time drew closer, things happen and they weren't able to make it. So we plan on the next weekend only to realize Mom had made a commitment to dog sit. That was a no go. I get my schedule for the North Carolina trip worked out and call to see if we could squeeze in a visit Memorial Day weekend. She checks..no funerals, no dog sitting, Dad could work it out. Yea! Wes even rode along so it was a two for one deal. I posted earlier, Ella and i met them in Jacksonville and the boys woke up to see everyone Saturday morning. Well, maybe Dad WOKE John up Saturday morning. John had the "bug" off and on through the weekend. Overall though it was a great time. We enjoyed the pool, out for a nice lunch, a stop by the beach and of course my self timer family shot. :) Got it on the first shot this time. I am getting good.

As i was going through the pictures i found a few reason why this Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Wes were good to have around.

Grandma is good for loving and pretending she doesn't notice Ben trying to bite Jack's nose off.

Grandma is good for teaching bad habits like crunching ice. ( i am positive that is what is going on here)

Grandma is good for receiving silly fish hugs

Grandma is good for teaching good habits like dish washing.

Grandpa is good for giving driving lessons

Grandpa is good for being silly

Grandpa is always good for watching tractors and combines at work.

Grandpa is good for making a killer breakfast that will keep you full ALL day.

Grandpa is a good pillow for a morning nap...

an afternoon nap...

or naps at the beach.

Grandma and Grandpa are good for lots of fun

and for finding seashells to decorate sandcastles.

Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Wes are great for trips to the beach.

Grandma and Uncle Wes are good for playing in the waves

Even when they fall down.

Grandma and Uncle Wes (and Mom) are good for turning a little girl into a mermaid.

Uncle Wes is good for turning Jack and John into super muscle men (okay so i helped with these too)

Uncle Wes is good for making a sad little John have some fun

and taking lots of pictures with his peanut

Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Wes are good for all these things and all the little things in between. Most of all they are good for hugs and kisses, lots of love and loads of fun. It was a wonderful but short weekend. My kids are very lucky.

More pictures to come.

Girls Road Trip

May 27th, Melissa, Ella and I headed out on our girls road trip. We were taking Melissa (and all her candles) home and had scheduled a visit to Ella's kindergarten class on Friday morning. We left after Ella got out of school and after a long drive arrived in Troutman at about 12:30. We were back up bright and early. Ella said her tummy felt funny. I think she was nervous and excited. We stopped for some cupcakes, dropped Melissa off at her car and then grabbed a cup of coffee. We arrived during recess and patiently waited for Mrs. Cronce to notice she was there. She noticed and so did all the kids. Ella was a little scared i think. It was like a hands on meusem and she was the exhibt. She is not used to being the center of attention so this was different for her.

She got settled in just in time for snack. We took cupcakes. :) Then the kids were off to Science lab. We had planned to leave and start our trip home but Ella was having such a good time so i let her go with the class. They returned for lunch so we stayed a little longer. Caleb stayed stuck to Ella like glue. He even shared with us when he got his yearbook and saw Ella's picture he kissed it. HA.

Friday was favorite story day. All the children brought their favorite books from home. After lunch Mrs. Cronce read a book and then allowed Ella to read a book to the class. Ella was very happy.

As the school day was drawing to a close, we handed out their gifts. A bag with some sand from here and a sand dollar and starfish. We attached a poem that read," Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. Circle round that has no end. That's how long i want to be your friend."

It was time to go home. So Ella bid farewell to Mrs. Cronce and we flew south. Well, as fast as traffic would allow on a Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend. We met up with Mom, Dad and Wes in Jacksonville, FL who were also headed to our house for the holiday weekend. It was a wonderful day and it meant a lot to Ella. 32 hour trip, 20 hours were in the car...worth every minute.

Sea World

The kids are doing better today. Ella went to the doctor this afternoon. Symptoms say maybe strep but initial test came back negative. Dr. Mallon started antibiotics and we will get the culture back on Monday. Everyone seems to be getting better. Now back to my blogging.

While Melissa was here we planned a trip to Sea World. Eric had finished the job in Tucker and Ella was learning about the ocean at school so we looked at it like a celebratory field trip vacation. :)

Melissa purchased the movie Free Willy so the kids were prepared for the trip. They didn't seem to understand the whales at Sea World were called Shamu. They called them Willy all day. We got a late start and it didn't help that John threw up on the way there. I did catch on when he was sitting silently in the back. I moved him up with me and got a blanket spread out. Luckily i was prepared and we all stayed clean. We had already mapped out our path and shows. We arrived just in time to catch the dolphin show, Blue Horizons. It was a fabulous show. However one whale dolphin thingy was busy "talking/socializing" (according to the trainer) and did not want to perform. Sounds like me. HA! Dolphins jumping, divers, birds....it was amazing.

We saw some alligators,

manatees (who poop a lot),

penguins,

Sea lions,

and took a ride through the shark and stingray aquarium.

Took in the Clyde and Seamore show. The seals were so fun to watch and the walrus was just creepy.

Also saw the Pets Ahoy show. I thought it was great that all the animals were rescues. So many cats and dogs, a rat and even a pig saved from slaughter, pun intended. :)

Our finale was the killer whale show, Believe. Given the tragic accident early this year, we knew the show would be different but we weren't sure what to expect. The show was amazing but since the trainers don't' get into the water with the whales anymore it was kinda a let down, especially if you were lucky enough to see it before. I understand that it is the safest route for the trainers but i don't mind risking someone else's life for the sake of entertainment. Joke. It was still good to see.

Rode a roller coaster and skipped the acrobat show in order to get home early to prepare for our trip to North Carolina. Kids LOVED it.

Infirmary Update

Assistant admitted. Infirmary at full capacity.

Patient 1, still running fever. Eating and drinking small quantities (and keeping it down now).

Patient 2 and 3. My assistant is up and down. Resting should do the trick. Patient 3 is down for a nap. Still running a fever and whiny. Not a big appetite but wants his milk. I am afraid i might be covered in it later. I would say he was clingy but that is normal these days. :) He even tried to smile for the picture.

Patient 4, still running a fever. Head and throat hurts. Asks for water and occasionally some food.

Off to Lysol and wash...everything. Send prayers.

Infirmary

The infirmary.....

And my little helper. :) Eric was a little late leaving for Augusta because of the amount of patients admitted to the Infirmary in the last 24 hours. All blogging will be put on hold until my shift is over.

Melissa visits...again

I didn't completely overlook a blog about her first visit, i simply got to busy and never posted (or put pictures in ) the one i wrote. Her first visit was in March. She accompanied us to Disney World. See, she is a FANATIC so she made a great tour guide for the trip. She also watched the boys while i went to the zoo with Ella's class. They had a great day. She took them on a Maflingo (or flamingo to everyone else) hunt. Lots of fun and she quickly planned another trip. She kinda had to since she sold a ton of candles for Ella's fundraiser. While she was here she gave the kids swim lessons, ate lots of food :), we went to the beach, and took a trip to Sea World. She is just nice to have around. She is great with the kids and they love her. She also rode back to North Carolina with us to see Ella's kindergarten class. Thanks Melissa for coming all this way, twice, just to see us.

Making faces and a microphone are a must on a maflingo hunt.

Swimming

The kids LOVE the pool! They have been working very hard to learn to swim. Over the last few weeks Ella and Jack have really gotten the hang of it. Thanks to Melissa, Jack is swimming underwater and both Ella and Jack are working on their diving. They love to be thrown across the pool, do flips underwater, dive for water sticks, and jump in the deep end and touch the bottom. John still wears swimmies but jumps off the sides and loves to go under and touch the bottom. Ben loves the water but does not love to be in his float. He likes to kick around and be free. It should be a fun summer.

Jack upgrading to some new goggles

Trying to touch the bottom of the deep end

Jack getting a swimming lesson from Miss Melissa

Taking a break

John catching some air