Post fathers day blog

Hey all, this is my short post fathers day blog. We had a great weekend last weekend with a little pool action, playing together and relaxing. We are actually going to Greenville today down by ECU where Amy went to college. There are a few things we are going to try to do while there: see the old house, go by campus, eat at Sonic so the kids can play on the playground, just basic stuff like that. I am about to wake them all up so we can get started, but first, some pictures from last weekend.

First off, Steven and I got matching haircuts last week.

Yes, we had mowhawks...

We also had fun at the pool...

Amy and the kids at the pool.

Emma giving daddy a kiss.
Daddy chucking Steven across the pool.
Finally, for those of you that did not know, there are super heros in Johnston County. After we got back from Greenville today, the kiddos were playing around upstairs and dressed up and thjis was too cute not to include. I think we may have Halloween covered already of it is not too cold yet. We hope everyone is doing well. Be back soon.

The June update

Hello all. This is the June update as to our goings on. I just got over some funk of which I am not sure of. Monday morning I woke up with a sick feeling and body ache and left work after 1 hour. I was out yesterday and today with low temp, stomach issues and overall body aches. Amy thinks I got food poisoning from bacon bits, but who knows. I am just glad I am feeling better. Everyone else has been fine. Not much of record has been going on. Just working and playing on the weekend when Amy and I have been off. I must admit, I really do like her new schedule and her being off every weekend. Emma's birthday is sneaking up next month and it is hard to believe she will be 3!! Amy also has her 2 week vacation next month which will be nice. I don't know that we are going anywhere but that is OK by me. Over the past few weeks I was in a golf tournament, Steven was in a Tae Kwon Do tournament and we took them both last weekend to Pullen park and they had a great time. I will post a few pictures of our latest adventures: This was Steven practicing his zen pose before competingSteven running towards the target... A perfect split in mid air... Man that kid is flexible!!

Grandma with Steven and his trophy

This was one of my best golf shots ever. In the golf tourney I was in, I hit a 9 iron from 155 on the par 3 3rd hole to about 5-6 inches. I am placing my closest to the hole marker (which I won by the way) to show the way. Yes...I did make the birdie.

This was the signature par 3 at the Neuse where we played. Great hole.

Emma and daddy on the slide at Pullen Park

Steven, Emma and Mommy giving a poseThe kids ABSOLUTELY LOVED the train ride!!

That is all I have for now. Sometimes I wonder if I should make stuff up to make this more interesting. (LOL) I guess for now I will settle for normal and simple which is just how I like it. I hope everyone is doing well. Till Later~

Our trip to the Outer Banks

Well it was a great last week as we ended it up at the beach. I had some back issues earlier in the week (again) and had to get on steroids again, but hopefully after some physical therapy, they can show me how to help prevent this from happening every 6 months or so. (It seems that way anyway) We were able to go to the beach though down at the outer banks for the weekend and had a blast. There was a little rain here or there, but mostly it was around 80 and sunny during the day and 60 at night. Most places were not too busy either, so we may start making mothers day weekend a beach trip weekend as things were not too pricey yet and it was not over crowded. The only bad things were that the ocean was like icewater and the outdoor pool was chilly too, but the indoor pool and hot tub were nice. We even had a full kitchen in our room with stove, fridge and microwave. The soap and shampoo were from bath and body works. It was just really nice. I will stop expounding on amenities and get to what we did there. (Duh)
When we arrived Friday morning, we got there just in time to eat breakfast at our favorite place, The Ship’s Wheel. Huge breakfasts, and very affordable. It is also VERY tasty. We then left there very stuffed and went to see if we could check in, which we did. Our room was very nice, and we were right beside the indoor pool and hot tub as well as beach access, so it was really good overall. We went out and hit a thrift store, (I know, I can’t resist) and then Emma came back for a nap with Amy. Steven and I went to Brew-Thru and 7-11 and then back to the room until nap was over. We went out to play putt-putt and made the mistake of not bringing the stroller in… (Big mistake). ** NOTE: children ages 2-3 will not be able to focus at putt-putt for more than 15 seconds and will want to run EVERYWHERE. Anyways, we survived that and went to American Pie for pizza and Ice Cream. (If you want the best homemade ice cream ever, go there) It was great. Then back for pool and hot tub, showers and bed. That wrapped day 1. Day two began with another breakfast at The Ships Wheel and then a trip to the NC / OBX aquarium. The kids LOVED it. They saw all kinds of fish, alligators, snakes, otters, turtles, ect. There is a ray touching tank as well as a place to touch hermit crabs, starfish and sea urchins. After a visit to the gift shop, we left there and headed out thru Manteo and the OBX for some more thrifting and general shopping. (Amy found a new coach purse…) We got lunch supplies at K-Mart and ate lunch at our room. Then we all napped except Amy, who went out looking around and found a great new swimsuit. We then went to dinner at an old favorite called The Jolly Roger. The food was excellent. Then we headed back to American Pie for ice cream and then to the beach until the sun went down. We then headed to the pool and hot tub again and bath/ bed. The kids were really good for the most part. I got up early Sunday and watched the sunrise on the beach, and then headed out for coffee and to gas up. We grabbed some continental breakfast and hit the road to get back in time for Amy to get a nap before work and Emma to get one in general. All in all it was a great weekend and trip. I could have used maybe 1 more day to just lounge the beach, but hopefully we will get to go back by the end of the summer. I will now give you some photos of our doings while on vacation. WELCOME TO THE BEACH!! SHOW ME THE WAY TO THE WATER

WE ARE RIDING THE TRAIN TO PUTT-PUTT GOLF

COME BACK KIDDOS!!

I LOVE BEACH PICTURES...

ON OUR WAY TO THE AQUARIUM

THE KIDDOS ENJOYING THE SIGHTS

WE ARE TOUCHING ANIMALS

YUMMY DINNER AT THE JOLLY ROGER

THE SUN IS PEAKING...

NOW THE SUN IS AWAKE!!!

JUST HEADING BACK HOME...

WE HAD A GREAT TIME!! MORE POSTS SOON.

Another wonderful family visit

I seem to be getting better as it has been about 2 weeks since the last post. I wanted to get one in because we are supposed to be going to the beach this coming weekend, but it will depend on how my back is doing. I tweaked a nerve again in my sciatica and had to go to the doctor today. It is pretty uncomfortable but the doc put me on rest and steroids again so I am looking forward (NOT) to some weight gain. I also have an appointment tomorrow with a back specialist so I am hoping that they will do an MRI and get to the bottom of this. About a week and a 1/2 ago, my parents, sister and Gabby came to visit and we have a great time. Steven and I took my dad to UNC Chapel Hill to get some championship paraphernalia. Here are a few pictures:

Steven and my dad on Franklin street

Steven at the old well
Steven on the table of many people...(LOL)

The girls went to the mall while we were out on campus. Other than that, we have been just going business as usual. We are just waiting for Amy to start her new schedule so she can be off every weekend. That starts this coming weekend with the coming possible beach trip. Steven also has a concert at school tonight that I will post next time too. I know it is short but sweet, but thats about all that has been going on. I will get some more this weekend and post sometime next week. Happy past birthday to my dad and upcoming birthday to my sis Melanie. Take care all.

Easter, birthdays continued...

I wanted to finish my blog last night, but could not, and then woke up too late to finish this morning. I wanted to make sure that I got to work early today because they were supposed to be letting some more people go and I was nervous because now days, you never know. Fortunately, I did not lose my job and everything is ok...for now. The economy just needs to pick up soon. It is scary. Anywhoozer, back to the posting. I forgot to mention that I took Steven out to golf with Doug and I the day before my birthday. He did not play, but did really good at watching, taking pictures and behaving. It really got him even more interested in it. I have some pictures and a video from our golf outing: (pay no attention to my fatness(lol))

Steven hanging out in the golf cart at the first hole

Me driving a ball on a par 5

I had to put the video on because of how Steven reacted. It was pretty cool that I did that with him there. I only wish I would have holed it out. That would have been really cool. Just this past weekend, my sister and her boyfriend of almost 7 years came to visit us. We had a great visit with cooking out and a trip of course to NC State's campus. I also took the kiddos who had a great time as well. Below are some pictures of that:

The kiddos and my sister Emily with her boyfriend John

The NC State belltower

Daddy and Emma at the stadium wolf statue

My kiddos at the game checking out the sites

Daddy at the wolf pride statue at the enterance to the stadium

Those are some pictures of our recent happenings here in good ole Johnston County. I will try not to wait another 3 weeks to post again especially since my folks will be here this coming weekend. Hope all is well with everyone.

Easter, birthdays, and more...

I am feeling good. It has only been about 3 weeks since my last posting, so I guess I am improving. We have actually been having alot go on those weeks, so there is a little to mention and many pictures to show. First was Easter and my 37th I mean 30th (LOL) birthday. Time sure does fly when you are having fun. For my birthday, Doug and Trish watched the kids, so Amy and I got to have a grown up date at Outback Steakhouse all by ourselves. It was nice even though we always miss the kids. We could have made a late night of it, but got home just in time to tuck the kids into bed, which is a good enough birthday present for me. We did get some time alone so that was nice too. The next day we had Easter lunch. Doug and Trish were still there, and Emily, Jody and Thomas came over to for a great Easter lunch and egg hunt. Here are some pictures of the kids playing:

Our little Easter flower

And our wascally wabbit...

Look at all my Easter eggs!! It took a little convincing that the Easter Bunny was not bringing "Easter Leggs..."

I will be hoarding my eggs here if you need me...

Princess Emma blowing out Daddy's birthday candles.

Something has come up and I will finish this post soon. Eveything is ok by the way. :>)

Well what do you know? It has been another month. I guess I should stop attempting to get on here as much as possible and get here when I can with relevant new stuff. Things are just going to be pretty mundane I guess until summer gets here and we plan vacations and such. We are in the process of planning that now. We know when we are going, we just don't know where. We were thinking of Hershey Park in PA, but checked the prices and thought again. We can do that after Emma can ride everything and then it will be worth it to go. I know we are going to do at least one OBX weekend, and hopefully two. I have loved it there since I was a kid. I did run to VA to do Christmas with Chuck (in March) one of the weeks I was out of work this month. I got to eat at my favorite place there: What-a-burger. Here is a photo.If you ever get the chance to go there, I highly suggest it. The burgers and fries are great. Just grab a drink at the 7-11 on the way. Also, we have been doing alot of yard work, especially one of the weeks I was out of work. I know in 3 days we fertilized and seeded the yard, I cut the grass first, we also threw 45 bails of pine straw, moved 3 yards of playground chips and layed just over 200 lbs of flat stone. Below are a few pictures of the yard:Amy and Ginger working in the yardFlat stone pathway in the backyardAnd the front yard flowerbed

Other than that, a pretty boring March. I am just awaiting some consistant golf weather and the pool opening for the kiddos. Steven is doing great in school still and little princess Emma still says new cute things almost every day and very rarely has potty accidents. Every now and then she has a pee mishap, but I can't remember she went poop other that in the potty. She really is becoming a little lady, but she also has a firey side that is for sure. Here are a few photos of us and the kids playing:

Emma swinging in the big girl swing

Steven also in the big boy swing

Emma and daddy taking a break

Steven dancing with Ginger

And here is Amy, Steven and Emma looking at some bugs...

That's all I got for now. Hopefully something really exciting will happen soon, but if not, I will still give you the skinny. I hope all is well with everyone. Have a great weekend.