Beach Caterpillars

We were blessed by a dear friend asking us to come spend a few days with her at the beach.  Otto had to work, so it was me and the three littlest Caterpillars, plus my niece – Princess Flower (PF).  We headed to Topsail Island on a Saturday, and stayed until the next Thursday (to make it home before the storms and to spend the holiday with Otto).

The view was beautiful, the weather was fantastic.

The view from our balcony – looking at the two older girls in the surf.

We spent two mornings at the beach, and took a few short trips.  The island was once a military installation, so we visited the local museum: Missiles and More.  What an amazing little free museum!  Not only was there no admission (we left a donation), but their exhibits were outstanding.  They made the most of their small space, including a large fossil dig outside for the kids (again – FREE – they even provided the baggies to take fossils home in!).  When we arrived, each child was given a Pirate Sticker, the two volunteers (I’m assuming they were volunteers) were incredibly articulate, letting us guide ourselves, but answering (in great detail) any questions we had.  I was suitably impressed.

My favorite exhibit

Inside at the Touch Table

Digging for Fossils

We also visited the Turtle Hospital, and saw the Turtle ICU and the large area where they housed turtles being rehabilitated.  GO’s one request was that we adopt a turtle, so we took home pictures of Kit the Turtle!

A turtle!

Went was fascinated about half the time…the other half he was bored senseless. Turtles in large blue tubs….over and over!

Listening to a volunteer talk about types of turtles and how they get injured.

Riding the Stone Turtle outside.

We only ate out twice – once at a fun Hot Dog place, then my friend and I had a grown-up dinner at a “fancy” restaurant (where I had the best steak I have had in YEARS)!

The Gang

We enjoyed the beach and the pool, and simply relaxed in the sand.

GO in her puddle jumper (for the pool).

One of the cool things we saw was the Navy practicing rescue missions in the ocean right outside our door!  That was so different and cool.  We watched for almost an hour.

The helicopter was dropping in a “victim”, then rescuing them.

We also visited two different playgrounds (and might have had a chocolate milkshake)!

The Atlantic Waterway (Inlet) where we got to see shrimping (with a net), during a playground break.

I’m so grateful to have had this chance with the littles.  I know GO and PF went home with great memories!

~Mummy Butterfly )i(

Graduation Night

Yes, there were tears.  Lots of tears.  My girl is growing up.  I am happy to see her becoming a big girl – and someday a woman – I am a little sad to know she is needing me less and less.  I am so proud of her.  SO PROUD!

Outside the School

Cousins came to see her graduate!

The three littles: 6 months, 7 months, 3 months

I have this picture/pose from the first day of school. They have ALL grown.

During the ceremony, GO was presented with the Character Award for “Creativity” in her class.  She IS a creative mind.  After receiving her diploma, she then stepped to the mic and said “When I grow up I want to be a doctor who helps babies be born”.  I’ve always talked about how B10 announced he was going to be an Entomologist at age 3.  In going through GO’s paperwork (the school gave us all her records since she was 1 and in the Wee Learn Class), I realized that apparently GO has been the same way – since (at least) August of her 3 year old class she has said she wanted to be a doctor who helps Mums have babies.  That has consistently been her heart!  It will be very interesting to see if she follows the same path and was able to recognize God’s calling on her heart early, as her brother did.

Singing and giving it her all!

“When I grow up I am going to be a doctor who helps babies be born.”

We had a cake reception afterwards for each class.  Everyone stayed to eat cake, goldfish, pretzels, and M&M’s (perfect Kindergarten reception food!).  So blessed to be with these friends and family!

Sweet Teachers!

Went having snack!

KB listening to the singing

Mummy loves you, GO!

~Mummy Butterfly )i(

An Adventure

There was a horrible wreck today on the road that leads to where I meet B10 and CW’s dad (they are going to visit him for Christmas this year).  It was on the southbound side, so the drive UP was fine, but I knew I couldn’t drive home that way.  (Literally, 20 miles of cars stopped, dogs being walked…people eating lunch…it was crazy!)  So Went and I proceeded to have an amazing adventure of an additional 45-50 miles.

Carters Lake – US Army Corp of Engineers

As we traveled the backroads of Georgia, we came upon a few really cool sites and rather than freak out, I took the time to stop and soak it all up.  This was my view as Went ate his lunch – there were gorgeous wooden chairs to relax in as I nursed.  And we had the place all to ourselves!

Beautiful View

I found a new campground that I can’t wait to try out with the Royal family.  Then a chance encounter with a USACE Ranger may have set us on a course that could change B10’s life.  At the very least, we have the opportunity for him to have one of the coolest experiences of his childhood.  God was truly guiding my path today.

I promise, he was actually HAPPY to be out of his carseat (with a dry diaper and full tummy)!

Poor GO was feeling sick, but my Mum was wonderful to go pick her up from Aunt CC (where she had spent the night with her cousins) and take her home to give her a bath and another nap.  I was just too far away to fix the problem – but it is such a blessing to know she went from one Aunt who loved on her to a Grandma who could love on her in my absence.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Parties! (Of the Happy Birthday, Jesus and Grinchy Kind)

Today we had TWO parties to attend.  It was GO’s last day of Preschool before winter break, so she had a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” Party.  Then, Aunt CC and the Garden Girls invited us to join them at a “Grinch” Party – complete with awesome green food and drink!

GO was quite the well-behaved little girl at her school party.  Sometimes she gets pretty clingy when I’m in the room, but today she had a blast with her friends, and B10 was even able to sit next to her and eat his food (he was being an incredible big brother and taking care of Went for me during the party, so I could focus on GO).

Then we headed to Aunt CC’s Mum’s house – she and her sister did an incredible job of making the cool food.  B10 and CW (along with the big kid cousins) headed outside to jump on the trampoline and get the wiggles out, before coming in and designing their Green Christmas Trees.

They also had Grinch Santa Fruit Kabobs.

And Green Cookies.

And Green Drinks. (Notice the rim of green sugar in the picture?  How clever!)

They all sat downstairs quietly to watch the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.  Unfortunately, I needed to be upstairs nursing Went, and letting him fall asleep on me.  The movie was waking him up and even when I was walking him, he couldn’t get settled.

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After the movie, though, I was able to sit and have a nice chat with Aunt CC, while the Caterpillars went back outside to play (ah, the lure of the trampoline).  We headed home, just the boys, and GO stayed behind to spend the night with the girls (I am taking B10 and CW to meet their dad tomorrow, for Christmas with him, and this way GO won’t spend hours in the car).

LOVE my family and how sweet they are – especially LOVE how creative Aunt CC is coming up with these memory-making days and including us!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Bowling Fun and a Movie!

CW and GO

One of our local bowling alley establishments has free bowling during the summer.  I have signed up all the Caterpillars – and took GO and CW this morning.  It was the first time GO has been bowling (and able to understand), and it was SO cute watching her try to haul around the 6 lb ball.

CW did a great job.  He started out a little rough, but really listened to how to improve, and by the end was doing AWESOME!  It will take practice, but keeping his wrist/arm straight seemed to be his “big challenge”.  He bowled both games (GO only bowled her first), and even took over for some of GO’s frames in the 2nd game!

Lunch was at Chick-fil-a, we met Aunt CC and two cousins to eat some chicken and play on the playground.  It was a nice (and tiring) stop before naptime!  After naptime, GO went to have dinner with Aunt CC (and the rest of that side of her family), while CW had his friend come spend the night.  We ended up letting the kids stay up late – but at midnight it was lights out!

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We woke up early, in order to make it out to the movie theatre to see “Journey to the Center of the Earth 2”.  The current deal (on Tue/Wed) is $1 admission to the 10am G/PG movies.  I got a big bucket of popcorn which we all shared – Queen and Princess met us there.  Then we ran CW’s friend home, in order to get back for naptime. (GO is a bear if we don’t at least TRY to keep naptime on some sort of schedule!)

CW helped me make a Chicken Pot Pie for dinner, which turned out wonderful.  He’s a GREAT Sous Chef!  I had already told the Caterpillars they could lay out their swimsuits to put on after dinner (AFTER Otto came home).

We ended the day with more swimming – this time, GO took Strawberry Shortcake with her.  (She found one of her old burp cloths, the Gerber brand terrycloth ones, and insisted it was Strawberry’s towel…)  Hee-hee-larious!  Warm showers/baths and then watching the first two episodes of Storage Wars (NEW SEASON – YAY!) was perfect before bedtime.

A fast, but wonderful, two days!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Meeting Up With the Garden Girls

The Garden Girls were briefly in town for the birth of their new baby cousin.  GO and I were lucky enough to be able to meet up with them for an afternoon at the park.

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I loved having a bit of time with Aunt CC, and GO loved running around the playground calling for her oldest girl cousin!

B10 was camping, so he missed the park, but got to spend the day with them at the Atlanta History Center.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

A Visitor!

Actually two visitors.

Cousin Princess Flower and her Mum, Aunt CC, came to visit yesterday.  Aunt CC had an appointment, and originally I was suppose to watch all the Garden Girls.  With all the schools closed their Grammy (a teacher), was able to watch the three younger girls.

Princess Flower hadn’t gotten to see B10 and CW for very long over the Christmas hols, so she came to stay with us for a few hours.  (And Cookie was able to stop by and give her a hug, too!)

I love their genuine smiles in this picture. LOVE them!

I was able to see Aunt CC for a few brief moments before and after, and it was nice to have a moment to catch up.  I wish, so very much, that we lived closer!  (I can’t imagine if it were the 1990’s and we had to pay long distance by the minute!  SO THANKFUL for cell phones!)

Their visit certainly brightened up our week, though we all missed Butterfly, Ladybug and Dragonfly.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Lunch

Sister Sheep chowing down on lunch

Hubby worked from home today (a fitting start to his four day weekend), and we decided to do an early lunch for B10’s birthday.

Family Photo!

BooSheep, Brother Sheep and Sister Sheep joined us at Stevie B’s, the last place left to take B10 cheaply…since they will let him eat until he is full!  (And that, mind you, takes a lot of food!)

B10's Nifty Keen Star Wars Book

The Sheeps (I love Sister Sheep's Boots....btw)

Brother Sheep never fails to make me smile.

The Caterpillars and Sheeps also played in the game room for a bit.

Sister Sheep checking out the basketball game

GO looking cute for Boo Sheep

Racing on the Arcade Games (I rarely give them actual tokens, so that was a big deal today!)

CW and Brother Sheep

GO missing the entire point of SHOOTING a basketball

Sister and Brother Sheep on the Dancing (Stomping) game

SKEE BALL!

Brother Sheep wins at Skee Ball!

Aunt CC and the Garden Girls were able to stop by for a minute on their way home to North Carolina.  B10 and CW hadn’t seen them during this trip, so it was nice they got a few minutes together before they left.

Quick Photo of the Cousins who were there.

B10 is getting a “special surprise” later for his birthday – and gets to have friends spend the night in March/April (when school is back in session and people are traveling less).

But this was a nice little lunch.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Christmas Eve Traditions

Since we spent last night in the ER, Hubby and GO spent today resting and we didn’t make it to a Christmas Eve service.  Just in case GO has something contagious – it’s not very Christmas-like to share those germs!

Cookie and I had gone to pick up her medicine (which the doctor at the ER wrote wrong, but that’s another story for another time).  I also bought her two new pairs of shoes (brown boots and black boots) and a few new outfits in the next size up (size 9-12 months).  They are still a little baggy on her…

GO ready in her new outfit and awesome brown boots.

…but she looks cute!  Then we headed out to meet the Garden Girls at our Christmas Eve Pizza spot.  We ate great food, had great conversation and missed Uncle Marine very, very much.

Then we went ahead and opened gifts.

Aunt CC's Christmas Present

Opening her present - handmade hairbows!

GO received three handmade hairbows, Aunt CC is getting VERY good at them!  And GO is getting very good at leaving them in her hair.

Showing off her hairbows!

Dragonfly and Aunt CC

We let GO get out of the highchair and she wandered around the table visiting her cousins and “chatting”.

GO talking to Princess Flower and Ladybug (you can only see Ladybug's arm...)

It was a brief visit, but a nice one.  I wish Aunt CC, Uncle Marine and the Garden Girls lived closer, but that’s the nature of the job.  We’ll see them again before they leave for home!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Uncle Marine

Between our Cub Scout Pack and my Girl Scouts last year – we have managed to raise money to purchase A LOT of popcorn and cookies for Uncle Marine to share with his men and women.  He is currently serving our country on a ship on the other side of the world – and we are so proud of him.

To show you HOW BIG the pile is – this is GO standing next to the pile.

I know she's small - but it's still a tall pile of boxes!

And this is GO “calling” Uncle Marine on the phone to tell him how much popcorn and cookies are coming (plus – our Christmas present to Uncle Marine – that might be a little late!).

Calling Uncle Marine

We LOVE you, Uncle Marine!  Thank you for serving our country and keeping us safe!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(