beach time

It was quite a production to make a trip to the beach.  Step 1:  find the least wet bathing suit (times four).  Step 2:  sunscreen application.  Step 3:  locate towels.  Step 4:  load children into the bike trailer and listen to their complaints about who was touching who.  Step 5:  load a wagon with beach chairs, umbrellas, buckets and shovels, and either a) one beach bag or b) boogie boards.  Step 6:  walk a fair distance to the beach  Step 7:  have two people carry the wagon down the stairs from the boardwalk to the beach.  Step 8:  find a prime location on the beach.  Step 9:  carry contents of the wagon down the beach (since it was too hard to push the wagon through the loose sand)  Step 10:  set up camp.  The kids didn't like building castles nearly as much as in years' past.  They were always ready to leave the beach before I was.  We learned the first day that the sand gets HOT fast during the day, and planned our trips either mid-morning or after dinner so we wouldn't burn our feet.  The ocean was very peaceful until Friday, and then there were some crazy riptides.  We didn't see a lot of shells, but we saw three different kinds of crabs, some small beached jellyfish, pelicans, dolphins, and flounder and a sting ray a man caught while fishing on the beach!

We attempted to fly kites...not so much.

Thanks to Michael, the big boys got in some frisbee and football time.

On Friday night, Seth didn't want to go to the beach, but Amelia did.  Lisa took this fun picture on the beach:

My sweet husband wrote this:

That's the end of the beach pics, I promise!

Jockey's Ridge

Tuesday night we drove down to Jockey's Ridge to watch the sunset.  Mom stayed on the observation deck, but the rest of us hoofed it to the top.  Seth climbed both up and down the sand dune by himself...tough guy!

Amelia had a little help...sometimes she rode on her daddy's shoulders.

It wasn't castle makin' sand, but it was fun to dig for a little bit.

We got to see an amazing sunset:

Dad got a good picture of me and Nathan:

We took a sibling picture...

...similar to one we took in thirteen years ago:

vacation interruption, part 2

Seth had his 5-year-old check up yesterday, so excuse me while I squeeze this in before I forget.  Seth got a clean bill of health.  For the first time ever, they checked his BMI (a calculation of weight vs. height).  When I saw the reading, I laughed out loud, because I didn't know the number went that low.  When I googled it, I found out his BMI is at the 5th percentile.  He was 37.2 lbs (25th percentile) and 43 inches tall (50th percentile).  If you have followed the blog for awhile, he is still right on his curves.  He needed three boosters for kindergarten.  The new doctor's office has a prize box if you get shots, in addition to the usual sticker.  He wimpered a little bit, but settled down as soon as he realized it was done.  Amelia was so upset about the prize box, she was asking for shots, too!

posing

Having just returned from a cruise with her family to Bermuda, Bryan's girlfriend had to leave on Tuesday to go back to work.  We took some pictures before she left. 

vacation interruption, part 1

I am interrupting the order of the blog to recap Nathan's triathlon, because I've just scanned all the pics and want to get it out of the way.  Sunday, Nathan participated in the Triangle Triathlon, Sunday edition.  It was a 750m lake swim, 17.5 mile bike, and 5k run.  We drove the race route the day before we left for the beach, and drove back to Cary a day early so Nathan could do this race.  I was using a disposible camera (more on that later), so I didn't get zoomed pics, so this time I've give you the random shots that usually get deleted after a 5-year-old takes pictures. 

On Nathan's shouder, you'll see the only remaining booboo from his encounter with the gravel truck the week before (although he does still occasionally have a sore shoulder):

I thought this was funny.  There were "No Swimming" signs at both ends of the swim. 

I didn't pack the kids race shirts this time, but they were more than happy to wear their new Duck shirts!

Everybody is super friendly at triathlons (especially post-race).  One athlete offered to take a family picture when he saw Seth playing with the camera:

Harris Lake had a nice playground, so I had no trouble entertaining the kids throughout the race.  They even tolerated the hike back to the car okay!  (There was a shuttle pre-race, but we left before the roads were reopened to vehicles.)

4th and 5th

After we got settled at the beach house, we ordered pizza, played volleyball, and waited for Lisa and Michael to arrive(they couldn't leave Boone until after church on Sunday).  The big kids (and Seth) went down to the beach to see if we could see the fireworks in Corolla.  Fireworks are prohibited in Duck:

Or maybe just on paper they are.  As far as you could see in either direction, family fireworks displays were going off.  It was impressive.  We got our fill and headed home after one misfired close to us. 

The annual parade was held on the morning of the 5th, to not cause any further congestion over the weekend.  (I don't think I mentioned that people were jogging faster than we were driving into town on Sunday).  The end of the parade was a couple of blocks from the house.  Nathan and I took the kids on the bikes early to stake out a spot, and Dad and the other big kids met us there.  Don't worry, I washed the kids clothes between Saturday and the parade:

Seth freeloaded for most of the parade...I tried to get a picture of Amelia, and I ended up with our little family of four:

I think we had some beach time that day as well, but I know we used the pool and hot tub that afternoon and evening, because that was the last night Mo could stay with us. 

ps-Bryan got a fantastic hair cut Tuesday, these are the last "mad scientist" pics (for now)!

raspberry duck

We are back, after a quiet week on the Outer Banks.  Lisa asked us last year if we'd like to take a family trip to introduce Michael to the Outer Banks, and we all jumped at the chance.  The week was picked, and then Dad did an extensive house hunt.  And the winner was...

...Raspberry Duck.  This was unlike anywhere else we've stayed at the beach.  The owners provided almost everything, including a Wii, wagons, and pool toys, and it was so kid friendly (think toys, safety features...even a bumbo!)  The house had supplies for theme nights (fiesta, cowboy, toga, etc), but nobody else seemed to think that would be as much fun as I did.  This is a panoramic pic Dad took of the main level, from the kitchen.  Beyond the swordfish on the wall was my parents' bedroom.

The middle level had four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.  The bottom floor had the laundry room, a bonus room, another bedroom, and a bathroom.  It led out to the pool:

We spent a LOT of time in the pool.  Seth never put his swim belt on all week, and Amelia scooted all over the place in her float.   Above the stairs on the left, there was a tiki bar, with a clock permanently set at 5pm.  Below the same stairs was a hot tub.  Nice!

Behind the pool was a volleyball court.  We used it three nights, but we all ended up with sore wrists, and it was hard to play around Amelia, who liked to dig in the sand while we were out there.

The house was in the village of Duck, and we walked and rode bikes to get around town.  We rented a bike trailer to pull the kids along, which was really nice, since it was a little bit of a walk to get to the beach. 

early 4th parade

Saturday was our neighborhood Fourth of July parade.  The kids dressed up in their red-white-and-blue (Amelia was mad that she didn't get to ride a bike, too):

Seth decorated stars to put on his bike...he was very creative!

We were the caboose of the parade for a long time, but Seth biked the whole way; his mantra was "slow and steady wins the race", and he ended up passing a lot of his friends towards the end of the race.

All finishers earned a popsicle; and prizes were given to the best-decorated bikes.  We did not hang around for the festivities at the pool this year, but it was fun to see most of our neighborhood buddies at the parade!

book nerd

I don't know if you've noticed my little button above my book list.  Yes, I am a proud book nerd.  I have more books than I know what to do with.  I get lots of hand-me-downs and loaners.  And sometimes at the consignment shop, while I'm waiting to see which of my stuff they'll keep, I get sucked into the 75% off rack, and I score a hardback book for $1.50.  About a month ago, I received a chain letter that screamed my name.  One of those where you send the letter out to six people and send a book you've read to the person at the top of the list.  Now I've done these things for recipes, dish towels, and children's books, and I'm tickled if I break even.  So far I have received four books in the mail.  It makes my day when I see a manilla envelope with my name on it.  I tear them open to see what the title is.  I have read two of them already and loved them both.  Yes, I am book nerd, but there are worse habits, right?

what a week

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Our life is pretty plain, and I'm grateful it's that way.  But this week has been tougher than usual.  Monday, we went bowling with our little playgroup.  One round took an hour and fifteen minutes.  So we skipped the second game, and headed home so I could get ready for work.  Seth really liked it, so I think we'll go back on a rainy day.

Tuesday we took Colette to a new vet closer to our home.  The vet was so good with Colette (and the kids), and Colette got a clean bill of health.  In fact, they ran her "geriatric lab panel" twice because they thought they had mixed it up with a younger dog's blood.  We then ran some errands in town, and things were going fine until we hit Walmart after lunch.  The kids weren't nice to each other and Amelia had a meltdown.  I hate shopping when they are like that.

Wednesday we went to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with the neighborhood crew.  We were kind of pokey leaving the theater, and then I had to go to the bank and return some books at the library.  Nathan had come home to ride his bike on his lunch break, like he does most Wednesdays.  I passed him driving back to work on the road behind our neighborhood.  He called me a little while later and started the conversation, "Don't freak out, but...".  While he was riding, something on the side of a gravel truck hit him and knocked him down.  The speed limit there is 45 mph.  The truck kept going.  A good samaritan stopped and drove him home.  He got cleaned up, dropped his bike off at the shop, and went back to work.  His work sent him back home.  LUCKILY, he only has a scraped knee, elbow, and shoulder.  It looks like he fell in our driveway.  He must have had a guardian angel to soften his fall. 

Thursday, I took Amelia to the doctor.  She has a sinus infection.  Still lovin' the new office.  Appt at 10:15, nurse left the room at 10:20, PNP left the room at 10:25 to write the prescription, in our car at 10:30.  Amazing!  During naptime, Amelia made a mess of her carpet.  She was almost potty-trained, and then she got jealous of Seth's birthday and mad about being in the nursery for VBS, and we've taken multiple steps backwards.  I am going to have to call in the professionals.  This is not the first time she's done this, but this time she was non-remorseful.  Seth wisely stayed in his room for some extra quiet time, as he's no stranger to this situation.  Argh!

After yesterday, I decided to put Amelia in underwear almost all day.  First hour, fine.  Grocery store, fine.  Another hour, fine.  Driving to Bounce U (where I was going to put on a Pull-Up)..."Oops.  I sprinkled."  AMELIA!!!  She got overly tired playing wiht the big kids, and had a fit about a juice box before it was time to leave, which turned into a hissy about Seth getting a postcard in the mail, which turned into a tantrum on the kitchen floor because I let Seth pick out which box of mac & cheese to have for lunch.  And then...we could not find lovey.  She napped okay without it (she was exhausted), but I didn't really like the thought of not having it.  I looked EVERYWHERE.  Nathan came home, and he looked around...nothing.  I had a neighbor ask her where lovey was, and she said under Seth's bed.  Nathan found it hidden under a book on Seth's extra bed.  He saved the day!  I had literally called the local shop that has the same ones, I was that desperate.  Phew!

Charlotte is 3!

Little Miss Charlotte is Nathan's cousin's daughter, and like Amelia, she only has male cousins on her branch of the Huss family tree.  Besides Homecoming, the girls have never really gotten together to play.  In fact, Amelia thought we were going to see a spider.  The kids quickly befriended their second cousins and had a great time at Charlotte's third birthday party.  You really can't go wrong with a water play theme.

Alex and Seth and the doomed water ball:

Amelia not quite getting the slip 'n slide:

My college roommate's son, Oscar, lovin' the whale pool:

Hugs from the birthday girl!

Thanks for inviting us!  We had a great time!

Baobab Blast

This year's VBS theme was Baobab Blast.  I just re-read my post from last year, and boy, did I sugarcoat it.  Last year was rough.  I was caught at a weak moment this spring and agreed to teach VBS again and Sunday School in the fall.  We missed the first day of VBS because Seth had an eye infection.  Tuesday morning, I walked into my class of 3/4's and counted....15 kids.  (Last year I had 21-23 kids each day.)  I then met the women from the daycare who were helping me (and being paid to take their kids to VBS, mind you), and within five minutes, I realized I had a whole lot more help than I did last year.  It was a great week.  Seth really enjoyed his class, and the kids learned praise songs in African, which was pretty entertaining.  Amelia thought she was going to class, too, and did not enjoy being in the nursery all week.  She will be one month shy of the cut-off next year, but I think they will let her participate anyways (Besides, if I teach the same group next year, she's my problem, right?).

rained out

We were supposed to go to the pool yesterday afternoon.  An unforecasted extended shower changed our plans.  The boys were playing the new Wii game they got for their birthdays, and Amelia asked to go outside.  I humored her, and snapped away while she slashed around on the driveway and deck.

I would say at least 80% of my pictures were fuzzy, which is why I'm sending that blasted camera back in (for those keeping track, this will be the refurbished camera's second trip for fuzzy pictures...I think a refund is in order).  I did keep this one, though, because sometimes I feel like Amelia moves at warp speed!

double whammy

This year Father's Day and Seth's birthday fell on the same day...twice the reason to celebrate! Seth opened his family presents, and spent the morning building his new castle. We headed back to the theater WAY across town, and watched Toy Story 3 as a family. We all loved it! The afternoon was spent doing puzzles and playing with other new toys. Seth took an afternoon siesta and we went to the basement for measurements:

Seth is 43" tall, and weighs around 37 lbs. He doesn't have his official check-up until mid-July.

I have loved Seth @ 4. This year he has developed his creativity, mastered writing his letters, and become a whiz at mazes, color-by-numbers, and dot-to-dots. He usually doesn't nap, but plays quietly in his room for quiet time. During the month of May, he listened intently as I read a chapter of Charlotte's Web each night. He conquered the monkey bars and other climbing feats. He learned to swim without a float. He lost his first tooth. He is (usually) nice to his sister, and I love to listen to their little giggles as they play together. He has a very optimistic outlook, and tries to find a bright side of every situation ("but it's good that..."). He is a dancing machine. He loves to help his dad do yardwork. One of my favorite things this year is that he can actually hold my hand now, not just a finger or two. I love to hold hands with my Seth.

I made a card to send into Sprout for Seth's birthday, since he worked so hard in February to make one for his sister. It wasn't as fun for me to do it without my little helper, but I'm glad I did...it was picked to be on TV!

Calling All Vikings!

Nathan took Seth to see How to Train Your Dragon this spring and ever since then, Seth wanted that to be his party theme.  Bye-bye, easy Lego idea.  Maybe next year.  I had to order a lot of supplies online, and when I started looking up cake ideas, I came across a template to make this:

It was actually the easiest cake I have made to date.  The cake only used one box of mix, so I was afraid it wouldn't be enough...we were expecting a LOT of kids (and parents).  I saw a cute idea for Viking cupcakes:

Saturday morning, Nathan and I headed to Seth's favorite playground early to stake out a spot.  The kids played, and we had pizza delivered.  Another thing Seth REALLY wanted for his party was a pinata.  He spent a long time last week stuffing that bad boy until he could not shove one more piece of candy inside.  The daddies rigged up a system over the swings, and the kids took a whack at it.  Next time, we will bring something stronger than a plastic bat!

After all the kids had two tries, some of the daddies helped things along and then Seth finished the job:

Seth requested the "Cha-Cha-Cha" version of the Happy Birthday song:

We gave all the kids little Viking hats, and I made braids for the ladies.  They loved them!

Other than a little more of a breeze, we couldn't have asked for a better day.  Seth had a fantastic time celebrating with his friends and family!

guppies

Warning:  content of this post may not be suitable for those under the age of 13.

A week or so ago, I noticed a little guppy while I was on the phone with Nathan.  No longer than my fingernail, it was hovering close to the tower.  We then spotted a slightly smaller, darker guppy, who liked to hide behind the heater and filter.  Nathan did some research.  We have three females and one male guppy.  It takes a month for the female guppy to incubate the egg, which hatches inside her, and she then gives birth to a live baby.  She can immediately get pregnant again, as she kept the um, effects, of the original rendezvous.

Flash forward to Saturday.  I was showing mom the babies and talking about how little they used to be, when *pop**pop* Tiger (Seth's orange guppy) pops out two itsy bitsy teeny weeny babies and turns around and eats one.  A third baby was born and eaten a few minutes later.  The survivor scurried to the bottom of the tank.  (Nathan read that baby guppies have an instinct to hide...I'm pretty sure the first two had hidden for a couple weeks until they felt they were no longer small enough to be a snack, because they are WAY bigger than the new ones.)

Saturday night:  Speedy (the snail) hadn't moved.  All day.  Nathan prodded him with the net to see if he'd react, but no such luck (Seth, if you read this later, we apologize, but we're trying to trick you.  You haven't noticed Speedy is missing, and we don't want you to notice on your birthday weekend, so if you do, we're going to tell you Speedy is in the tower, and Daddy is going to try to sneak Speedy II in without you noticing).  One of the newest guppies was hiding under Speedy, and the commotion caused it to scurry into the tower.  Good for you little guppy.  I hope it's a safe haven for you.

for the man who has everything...

(Alternate title:  for the man who shops whenever the mood strikes him...)

Nathan is hard to shop for.  Historically, he goes MONTHS without making any purchases, and then he will get an itch and do some heavy-duty shopping.  This past year there have been a lot of purchases, all triathlon or training related.  He seriously foiled my Christmas ideas twice last year (Garmin and trainer).  His gift list were repeats of things he already had.  So I bought him these:

These are vibram five fingers.  When we first saw them last fall, Nathan told me they were a running fad.  As the year has gone on, Nathan has learned there is a place for them in your training.  Running shoes are made so nice these days that our feet are getting weak.  These shoes help strengthen your feet back up.  So I did some consulting with our friend, Greg, who runs half marathons and he recommended this version of the shoes.  Then it took me over a week to find a retailer online who stocked Nathan's size.  I'm just glad he didn't go out and buy them in the past couple of weeks!

great minds...

This week is the first week of the kids' summer movie series, way across town.  This week's feature is Monsters vs. Aliens.  You may remember that Seth loves this movie.  We went with Nickolas to the movie, and I had to leave the theater three times with Amelia, but the boys loved it (Nickolas's mom was there, too).  When we got in the lobby after the movie, we saw that three girls from school were there as well!  The masks were left over from Seth's party last year.  We already have plans to have a movie date again in two weeks!

questions of the day

Amelia, when I picked her up at the YMCA:  "Mommy, if I was lost in a cave, would you miss me?  I would say, 'Mommy!  Mommy!  I in here!'"  (What the heck had she been playing in the nursery?)

Seth:  "Mom, want to smell my money?" (from the tooth fairy.   I obliged.)  "No Mom, do it like twenty times!"  Huh?