Easter Break - Part 2

So, the Smith's left Tuesday morning and that night Tim's parents came to visit for the week. We went over to the Outer Banks and stayed a few days. It was so much fun. We stayed at a really nice house that had a fun game room, a pool, and we found some bikes to ride including a "bicycle built for two." We went over and did some touristy stuff (like the Wright Brothers Museum), flew kites, ran and played on the beach (it was too cold to actually go in), swam in the pool, and ate at some great places. We had a fabulous time and wore ourselves out. It was beautiful there. It's so different from the Pacific Ocean. I can't wait to go back again. Thanks so much Abuela and Grumps. We so enjoyed spending the week with you and can't wait to get together again. Here are some pics of our fun trip.

GAME ROOM:

The Wright Brother's Museum

(This is the view from the top of the hill where they would start the gliders.)

Top of the hill. - Quite a nice little climb!

McKenna, Casey, Maya, Grumps, & Livie

McKenna, Casey, Tim, Maya, Livie

(no pics of Lynn and Alexa - they stayed back for some R&R)

Kite flying on the Sand Dunes

Livie's turn.

McKenna trying her hand at it.

I love this little Maya.

Tim and McKenna ready to run down the side of the dunes.

Alexa

McKenna

(She said she was making dinner - oatmeal)

So far, I haven't found a single picture with Abuela. Hope I find some soon.

How did she manage to stay off the camera radar?

McKenna taking a breather after all this fun.

I can't remember the place we went and spent the day. (Lynn, if you remember will you please put it in my comments.). Somewhere in the Outerbanks. The girls did an Easter Egg hunt, we got to go on a replica of an old ship and see some old Indian Native American stuff. The girls really like all that stuff. Then we ate at a yummy restaraunt. I think the service was better than the food. You know, that Southern hopsitality - I can't get enough of it.

Here's a little video of the girls impromptu "rain dance".

Beware:  I don't think this is politically correct.

Egg Hunt!

Alexa

The Ship

Alexa really wanted to eat here since she thinks it's named after her.

Mommy and McKenna

The Ladies!

?

The whole gang waiting for our grub!

The girls "playing in the waves". It was still pretty cool that week.

Although, I think they would have gone in if we let them.

On our way out of town we stopped for breakfast at a GREAT place called

Pancakes and Such. The Pancakes were huge and the Such was excellent.

Here's Maya after eating her choc. chip pancakes. The whole plate was

covered in pancakes and choc. chips. Notice the left over chocolate. WAY

too much for me.

McKenna - not having such a great time at Breakfast.

Here they are, Abuela and Grumps. Can you believe we had to wait til the last day

to get a picture of them together. What is amazing is that they are smiling after spending

the week with our little circus.

I put this picture in originally because it was of Alexa and myself, but

after looking at it, I love Livie in the background. She must have gotten a

little tired after all those choc. chips.

Thanks Abuela and Grumps for a fun week. We all so enjoyed ourselves and will have many memories of our fun time in the Outer Banks.

Easter Break - Part I

To begin our Spring Break some of our FAVORITE people came to visit

from Arkansas - Burger and Gramma Smith

We are so glad they fit us into their busy travling schedule. They treat us like family and we try to do the same for them - since they were our family in Arkansas.

They came Friday night and Saturday morning we went to Livie's soccer game.

Then we headed over to Costco (have I mentioned they don't have one in AR -So SAD!)

After Costco, Colleen wanted to treat the girls to new outfits at Old Navy so off to the mall we went.

The girls in their new "threads".

McKenna

Livie

Maya

The girls did a fashion show for us so here's a little video of the event.

(This is one of those, only a gramma would care about this video's.)

(BTW, you have to know what is on their t-shirts to understand why they are doing what they are doing.)

Then they took us to an AWESOME Japanese Restaurant:

Colleen and Maya

Randy (aka Burger) and Olivia

McKenna (before the chef came out and made the big fire.)

After the fire.

The FOOD!

YUMMY!
On Monday, Colleen and Randy took the girls camping.  One of the girls FAVORITE things to do with them.  They got to stay in their camper.  Tim and I came for dinner but went home and left ALL 4 girls.
I came back in the morning to pick them up and then the Smith's went on their way home.

Tim being manly!  Who wear's flip flops camping?

Alexa being a teeny bopper!

We had to get a shot of the fake flowers around the tree at the camp site. 
Aren't they lovely?

Here we all are trying to roast marshmallow's on a fire that wasn't starting.
(I don't want to name any names, BUT someone didn't haven any fire starters.  I'm just sayin')

I LOVE this look on McKenna's face. 

(Notice the two people she has wrapped around her finger.)

Last but not least, here is our sad little fire that we tried and tried to make last. 

I should put a disclaimer, that ALL the wood around was soaked because of all the rain.

Thanks so much, Randy & Colleen.  We love to have you visit
and can't wait for the next time.

GO ANGELS!

This year, Livie decided she wanted to play soccer. Not only did she want to play soccer but her dad decided that he would coach. The sceptic that I am, I was a little concerned. First, Livie is my most timid child and I worried about her being afraid on the field. Second, if you know my husband, he is NOT timid and VERY competitive and I didn't know how that would mix with 8 and 9 year old girls. I am pleased to say that I was MOSTLY wrong. I wasn't wrong that Tim is not timid and VERY competitive (some things are just predictable.) Livie, however, has NOT been timid and has gotten in the game and even scored a goal. Tim is great with the girls and has really been taking time at practices to teach them. They all seem to be having a great time and the parents have enjoyed Coach Tim along with his asst. coach, Joe. One parent said that she was so glad that Tim yell's so loud in the game because all the parents know what he is saying and don't have to yell to their own daughters - he does it for them. Here are a few shots from one of the games.

Tim

Livie (notice the socks pulled up over her knees - it was COLD that morning.) You can't see Livie very well but she is the one in front of #8 going for the ball.

(I'm definitely not a photographer)
Tim
Looking Coach-like!

After the game! BIG WIN!

I hate to say this because the girls have one more game to go but they are undefeated so far.

They are a good little team with 2 good coaches that have taught them to work as a team.

GO ANGELS!

My Motivational Speaker!

I just shared this story with my mom and she told me I should write it down. I figured if I wrote it on a piece of paper I might lose it and why do that when I can blog it right here for all 3 of you to experience also.

I think I have mentioned before that my little, Maya is full of confidence. I don't know how she got it all except I think she was born with it and I'm glad that she's got it. As a child, I was as shy as they come and so this girl teaches me something new everyday. She loves to bear her testimony at church, loves to be called on at school (we have told her numerous times that she needs to let the other kids answer also.) She LOVED being in her school play and having a speaking part (more on that later.) She is so anxious to dance in her dance recital. She is my polar opposite.

Just a few minutes ago I was reminded of how we should feel about ourselves from this little wealth of knowledge. Livie was folding up a drawing that she didn't like and was going to throw it away. Maya pipes up and asks her why she's throwing it away. Livie responds with that she doesn't like it.
Maya: You shouldn't throw it away. Even if someone makes fun of it or something. You should keep it.
Now at this point I'm thinking, "great, another piece of paper to keep. Maya, don't encourage that, I'd much rather have it thrown away."
But I simply asked, "Maya, why do you say that?"
Maya: Because, you should be proud of what you draw because YOU did it.

What? What 7 year old has that kind of wisdom?

Now it may not seem like much to some but as I listened I realized that this girl is here to teach me. It's definitely not they way I think or look at things and I'm so glad I have her around to remind me of how important even a simple drawing is. No wonder she enjoys life so much.

Do you know where your tea party's at?

April 15, 2010

-Winston Salem, NC-

Wake Forest Univ.

5:30pm

See you there!

The Chosen Land! (This is for you, Jean)

Many of us have been watching how the politicians have been failing us this year. Last night was one of those moments. I waited all day wondering if I wanted to post anything - my emotions have gone from FRUSTRATION, to OUTRAGE, to FEAR, to HOPELESSNESS. When I talked to my mom she said that she was sent this quote that was uplifting to her. I thought it was just what we need to hear at a time like this.

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through."


Harold B. Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World, pp. 350-351

Don't you love that? All of us that have been fighting this battle - going to Tea Party's, writing and calling our representatives, staying informed, and educating ourselves truly believe that "this is the greatest country in all the world." Knowing this brings comfort to me but blessings like this don't come without hard work. We still need to do our part to help KEEP this the greatest country in the world!