Pumpkin Carv-- er, Decorating.

Valentine Visit to the Farm and American History Museum

When the Valentines come, we try to keep things interesting. This visit, we explored the newly-renovated Museum of American History. The Valentine girls are gaga for Revolutionary America, so they got to see some really neat things like the star-spangled banner and the first ladies' dresses.


The hands-on area was more Addie's speed - she built, adjusted, leveled, lifted, and observed.

We also swung by a small farm near our house that the girls loved. Animals everywhere! and plenty of space to run.

Of course, any time Bekah and Sarah get together, there will be sweets...

Aaron and Sarah in New Orleans

Audrey and Brooke Sleep Over!

Addie's and Nora's BFFs came over for a sleepover while Aaron was traveling. We had popcorn, read books, played games, watched TV, and had a great time.

The girls took a while to settle down to sleep, but eventually they got it together.

We have a new kitchen!

We planned a trip to the beach to allow time for our contractor to do his thing. Though it was more stressful than we hoped, and took longer than we planned for, we are really pleased with how it turned out (and that our guy stuck to our budget like glue).


Here's the before:
One set of cabinets, no dishwasher, old stove, AWFUL counters (maybe original to our 1952 house)





























Here's the after:
Dishwasher! New stove! Cabinets, cabinets, and more cabinets! Counters that can be cleaned well and look clean!



















We'll paint soon, and hope to get new floors sometime next Spring.

Addie starts preschool

It's official - Addie has started her educational journey.
Four days a week at a church a few minutes away...

The front stoop of our house before we rushed to get to the orientation at 8, only to realize it wasn't until 11. Hm. Mom's fault.

Who wants to go to preschool?

Walking right in.

She found her little cubby. Her starfish happened to be her favorite color! That made her happy.

Right at home after just minutes.

That isn't a hand in the mouth indicating anxiety. She's holding a sucker. Actually there were no tears (by either party) except when, having discovered we were way to early and got in the car to leave, Addie was upset because she wanted to go to school and thought she wasn't getting to.
She's so big!

Official summer vacation to OKI

We are so fortunate to have Aaron's parents living at Oak Island, NC. It's a beautiful, classic NC beach where Aaron and Sarah both grew up visiting. This summer we were able to spend a little bit more time visiting - two weeks.

We ate muscadines and scollops, napped, celebrated Grammy's (Aaron's mom) birthday a whole week, went to farmer's markets, rode ferries, and bathed in the outdoor shower.

Love those NC beaches and piers.

Aaron had the chance to go deep-sea fishing with his cousin. He and Addie present the dolphin that Aaron reeled in.

Nora loved her hat. She picked it in the store and wore it all summer. She pretty much sat in Grammy's lap at the beach. Grammy had snacks.

Addie on the other hand was busy, busy building, digging, or 'cooking.'

We took the ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher to see the aquarium.

Sweet Nora on the ferry.


The girls loved every little part of the aquarium.

Outside the NC Aquarium.

Addie shows Granny some of the shells she picked up.

Nora loves the beach!

The Valentines for a day

Bekah and her kiddos drove down from MD to visit for the day - unfortunately the outrageous rainstorm knocked out the power. The girls got creative in their activites. Sarah and Bekah got creative with dinner: off to Chick-Fil-A so the kids could expend that cooped-up energy.


Coloring by lamplight in the evening.

Silly faces

The youngest: Jenna's 3, Nora's 19 months, and Silas is 7 months.

Pack&Play faces

Definitely deserves its own posting.

E = m c 2

Where m = mealtime and c = children.
E must then equal 'entertainment necessary.'

(Yes, Addie can successfully and with confidence operate the iPhone)

Nora can climb

Silence is not a good sign when kids are involved. I remeber sounds of Nora playing with toys. A minute later, I didn't hear anything. I peeked around the corner from the kitchen to see this:


Yes, that is the dining table. Yes, that is salt.

I relayed the event to Aaron who asked, "gracious, what did you do?"

I answered, "I took a picture, of course."

We now keep the dining chairs pushed in all the way, all the time.

Sister Fun - June and July

There were so many fun things happening for the girls this summer. Parks and playgrounds abound, but sometimes hanging around at home can be just as entertaining.

New tradition - the slurp'n'stroll. A favorite outing on hot summer evenings, just a few blocks from the house. Is it a bad thing that Nora's very limited vocabulary includes 'Slurpee?'
Addie and friend Cora check out a peacock at a nearby farm. Addie made peacock sounds for the next two days.

Flowers from the yard.

Who knew simple things like scarves and mirrors could keep toddlers busy for so long?


After a picnic at the playground near our house.

After much wiggling, she finally fell asleep. And she slept hard.

Of course, Target can be a fun outing.

What you can't see in the picture below is the piece of pizza in Addie's left hand. Pizza, bathing suits, coloring all at the same time - now that's a playdate.

Oh my.

Clemyjontri - the biggest, baddest, hottest playground in the area.
Addie's steed at Clemyjontri is named 'Pony Boy.' She picks him every time.
Mom's sunglasses. Big is the trend.