December 2015

What a great month!  Not only did Martin and I celebrate our 10 year anniversary, but we had one of the funnest vacations we have ever been on! From Thanksgiving to the end of January, Martin was out of classes, so we decided to use that time to make some fun family memories.  We booked a house on the beach at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  Oh my goodness.  It was the most soul healing, relaxing, rejuvenating vacation I have ever been on.  I know that it is cliche, but I think this trip we took, became a turning point in our lives.  My paradigm shift was not only for my family, but for my individual welfare as well as our relationships as a family.  It was beautiful.

We arrived at the Outer Banks late at night, the sun had set, but we could still hear the crashing waves and see the beauty even through the dark of night.  

We got settled in and I sat by the fire, soaking in the beautiful home we rented, while listening to the crashing waves.  I wasn't aware of the healing that I was needing, but it already began to heal and strengthen my heart from the first moments we were there.  

Martin woke before sunrise and took Audrie out to the beach to watch it together. We were the only ones around.  That kind of solitude, and beauty is just a wonderful combination. 

After we made breakfast, we let them open their first Christmas present from their Great Grandma Grace.  She is such a giving and generous woman.  The kids love her comforting soul.  She wanted them to enjoy their time on the beach.  We figured rain boots were a perfect gift!  Sloshing around on that winter sand, we thought would be cold...haha, much to our surprise, after our morning on the beach that this time of year is absolutely wonderful!  The water was warm, the sand soft, and after that fist day, we realized it was bare feet kind of weather!

Audrie was in heaven. The greatest joy in this life is when you watch your child re-emerge from a place that has been dark, lonely and hard.  I loved seeing that sparkle return to her eye.  She was determined to nail a handstand.  She felt free.  She let go. She remembered what it was like to be happy.  Any sacrifice can be made to help a child remember who she is.  And that she is in fact a child.  My heart began to take courage for her sake again!

Then there is this kid, who loves everything creepy crawly.  He had to find every living creature he could, and study it.  Often, I would watch him stop running along the beach and stare into the ocean.  After watching him a number of times do this, I wondered over to him and asked him what he was thinking.  His response was, "There are just so many animals in that water.  I wonder how many there are..." and proceeded to tell me about sharks and whales and squids and seals and jellyfish and starfish and frogfish (I am not sure if that one is even real, but I wouldn't put it past him) and how big some of them were.  I think he was feeling a little small next that that big wonderful ocean.  His mind was going a mile a minuet, with all the amazement a 6 year old boy has inside of him.

Another thing that makes a mom's heart beat a little faster and a little fuller is watching her children form friendships and relationships.  I was overly happy to sit and observe my children as they ran free and comfortable on the beach.

This is them, testing the limits of my "Please don't get wet" request. 

Carlee, Carlee, Carlee.  She is such a unique, beautiful soul.  She is an all or nothing kind of gal.  She is either right in your face, needed exactly what she asks for, or she is off in a world all of her own.  Being at the beach was no exception. However, I was surprised at how much solitude she enjoyed.  She did insist on putting on her suit to go to the beach.  The water was warm, but those riptides scare me to death.  Let alone the sea monsters that are out there.  

Oooops. 

Cameron isn't in any of these latter pictures because after 10 minutes of running wild, he got nailed by a wave, and this mom's heart just couldn't take it.  So he went back to the house to hang with dad and Baby Lemon

That night, after dinner, I took Andrue on a walk along the beach.  I was overwhelmed with the knowledge of the power of the ocean.  I felt powerless and insignificant. We attempted to walk out on the pier but the waves were huge and so powerful!  I had a little bit of craziness going, thinking that some giant tsunami type wave would reach up and snatch us and pull us into the depths of the ocean with all these crazy sea creatures that I know nothing about.  Haha. Andrue was in heaven.  So instead, we walked along the beach together in the rain, talking and sharing ourselves with each other. 

The next day we spent driving along the beach, the kids thought it was pretty cool that at one point we actually drove into the Atlantic Ocean!  

Andrie was quite the photographer.  I am still not very good at all, even though I am trying very hard.  I hope that someday she can surpass me.  I was bummed after looking at these pictures how many didn't turn out well.  I have no excuse.  but in time, maybe I'll get it.  I've only been trying for 4 years, that's not nearly enough time to actually understand how a camera works!  geesh.  She will be amazing, though, I can feel it. 

More handstands,  She was determined, that is for sure. 

We then took the kids to Roanoke Island and learned all about the early settlers and the history of the place.  It all is so fascinating to me.  I love how rich our history is.  I also love, that the more I learn with my children, the more I realize how so many people who came before us may have had a different life than us, but the basics of who they were is exactly what we are today.  They were comprised of families, faced hardships and had to make hard decisions.  They were brave and determined to make a better life.  They had morals and stood for the right, amidst opposing forces.  I can only hope that we can teach our kids to be as brace and true as some of those we study in the history books!

They learned a little bit about why the pulley was invented and got to test their hand in it.  

Once a pirate always a pirate. 

Cameron!  Here you are!  This little boy was so much fun. although he didn't make it into as many pictures, he was a trooper!  He finally hit that stage in life where he can do "most" everything by himself.  He liked following his brother and sisters around,  he especially liked being a pirate. 

We also learned a little fun facts about Captain Black Beard.  That little stinkin' pirate.  He was shot and killed on the island of Ocracoke.  Anyone who knows my kids, they were loving all this pirate talk.  

The museum was fun as it was all encompassing throughout all stages of our US history.  

It was a rainy day, so we only saw the inside exhibits, but they did get to use their rain boots! 

Okracoke! What a beautiful little island!  We all loved the fact that we took a ferry to get there.  As we drove the car up onto the boat, it must have felt like Christmas to these kids!  If I could bottle the excitement and wonder of children, I would.  For now, I will live vicariously through them, and then we will live through our memories.

We arrived on the island after an hour long ferry ride.  It was so wonderful!  Dolphins swam along the side of the boat the entire ride.  Once we drove off the ferry, we didn't drive for very long before we found the path we wanted to take to get to the beach.  Because it had been raining all the day before we were told by a local that it was the best to go "shellin'" then.  So Martin did his research and discovered that this was the little island was world know for it's sells.  I brought my little camping chair and the baby and Martin took off with three kids to find some treasures.  I sat there all day, with the cold ocean breeze, and watched as Carlee played in the sand.  We didn't see a soul all day.  Shortly after we left carlee and I saw a lot of dolphins, jumping and playing in the water, not far from shore.  I think there is something to be said about slowing down, and taking time away from your normal life.  As I sat and watched the waves and felt the breeze, listened to the birds, and felt the warm sun on my face, I felt so at peace.  I remember the thought I had, that I thought it was wonderful that I wasn't thinking...about anything!  I was just "feeling"!  It was a beautiful moment to realize that in order to heal, you have to stop, and feel.  

Just a dad with his kids...

Hard to see, but the dolphins in the distance.

While dad was out searching with the kids, Carlee stayed busy, singing and dancing and writing in the sad by herself for hours and hours.  I tried to go join her but was kindly dismissed.  She was so happy to be in her own world.  I did bribe her for a picture though.  So there is that.

Checking out their spoils.

It just so happened to be our 10 year anniversary.  We always dreamed of going to Brazil or on some fancy trip to celebrate but this trip was better than anything we could have planned...This kid... is the biggest one of them all.

Some of this kind of behavior existed too.  We have to document that don't we?

But then...

She was the perfect little baby, all bundled in her car seat.  2 months old and enjoying all the warmth and comfort of her car seat

.

He loved collecting all the shells he could find!

This girl will never grow up.  I could almost hear her crow. 

We then ventured off to Hatteras for some more beach fun! Dad always liked taking looooooooong walks along the beach, and I would sit and watch my beautiful children as they played and were free to just "be".

She is still at it!

Those tiny little five year old fingers, drew in the sand almost all day, hold on to these moments forever!

If she wasn't writing in the sand, she was rolling around in it, or building nests for the birds.

Because it was raining the day we went to Roanoke, we were able to go back and enjoy the rest of the museum which was located outside.  We took a tour of an exact replica of the Queen Elizabeth ship that is fully functional!  They had employees dressed up and "versed" in the language of the times, and history of the ship.  Once again, we had so much to learn!  The ship was tiny!  I was overly impressed with the faith that the pilgrims had. Their morals were strong and the knew that there were certain things that were just right!  I liked this sign in the small captain's quarters.  

I think Audrie dreamed of climbing up there. 

Cameron liked the indian territory.  He wouldn't budge from this post.  If we had enough time, he would have weaved us an entire rug!

Hollowing out a giant log to build a canoe like the Indians.  They would burn a little in the log and scrap it with shells until it was hollow enough to hold up to 10 indians!

The blacksmith was hilarious.  She stayed in character the entire time!  If it wasn't for her nose ring I would have believed in time travel.  She sounded like Haylie Mills with a british accent.  She taught us all about dentistry, and how the blacksmith was the dentist, and the game of skittles! and how to shape legs for tables. 

We then took a little walk along the boardwalk...

Our visit to Kitty Hawk, Wright Brothers First Flight museum was inspiring to me! I loved learning about their determination to do this thing that was so hard!  It thook them YEARS to accomplish the first flight.  With so many different variations of planes, and change after change they finally accomplished their dream! If I could give my kids anything it would be the determination, imagination and confidence of those who have done so many great things before us!  In just 60 short years, we went from the first flight, to reaching the moon!  Amazing. 

The Wright Brothers and their supporters would carry their plane prototypes up this sandy hill, with almost a 360* view of the oven to get enough lift and speed to test their planes.  I can't imagine how in shape they must have been to carry the plane up this super sandy hill day after day.

Some parts of history will always sound louder than others as we learn about them.  This was the case for us.  We were all just amazed at the miracles that can happen when people work together, learn all they can, are dedicated, inspired and just flat out, endure to the end!  The simple facts of physics they had to understand and lift and drag and pull and speed....It goes on and on.  I feel that sometimes, when things seem so amazing to us and spiritual, that it may be because we were the angels on the other side, helping and cheering them on.  I felt like the ground was sacred.  Such a neat experience. 

 Next we went to some cool environmentalist forest...I can't remember the name.  It was so cool.  The water was covered in this green moss, and it was just so green everywhere!  we enjoyed a nice little hike and had fun looking at the neat bridges.  At one point Cameron was swinging on the railing and slipped.  I just envisioned him falling into the green abyss.  Me and the fear of water...who knew?  Not I. Until this trip anyway, that is for sure. 

Before we knew it,our trip was near the end. we loved the simplicity we had experienced.  We took things slow, we sat and listened to each other, we wondered at the world, and marveled at the men who came before us, we built and strengthened our relationships.  We slowed down.  It had been a whirlwind of a year.  So many trials, and hardships we had faced.  And faced well I might add.  But even still, I hadn't realized the toll it had taken on all of us.  It felt nice to stop, and listen to the quiet and be still. Together.

Our last day we spent hanging out on the beach. With nowhere to go and nothing to do but figure out how fast you can run and how far you can jump. With nothing to do but build memories and capture moments.  There is joy at the end of every journey, if you but endure to the end. 

 

We then made it back in time to work on some last minuet Christmas things.  One of which included Andrue being our "actor" where we wrote a short story depicting a little boy who found some magic power inside of himself, that he had the power to be happy and share in the joy that there is in this life.  He was a great helper.  It was so fun writing the words, and having my family act out the scenes.  Martin then uploaded the pictures and added effects in powerpoint.  It was a fun project for us.  We wish that we weren't so rushed. Not everything turns out the way it is intended to.  But that's ok.

martin had fun taking pictures of Porter Wally the Elf in our back yard.  I think they both had fun.

The traditional, sleep under the tree...

A normal site to be seen. Carlee cant get enough of Little Miss Lemon Lime.

And Carlee so nicely placing her in random spots.  She was the best gift we got this year.  So nice location picked my Carlee.  

Good Morning!  Christmas Morning was very small, as our trip was the bulk of our "gift".  It was the best gift, too.  I can honestly say we all had a great time that morning, as everything had more meaning and time given it.  Each child got a book about something they are interested in and something to go along with it.  For Audrie, she received a Rocks and Minerals Field Guide and a miners pick hammer.  Andrue got, everything BUGS, a Audubon bug guide and more parts for his framed bug collection.  We made Carlee a flower press, and a wildflowers field guide.  All of the kids have already but their gifts to use.  I thoroughly enjoy watching my children grasp onto the things in this world that are full of wonder and beauty.  The knowledge and connection to the world around them is so important.  We don't force or fight them over their interests.  We simply observe and serve them. And hopefully get it right sometimes.  cameron, being the little kid he is, got a basketball hoop.  We couldn't leave him out.  He loves slam dunking it! 

This bearded man got a beard bib.  It was much needed.  and he thought it was pretty funny!

Her dad took her on a fun hike during his extra long break.  He took them all at one point, but for some reason, this is the only picture I got!

Happy New Years Eve!  WE blew up 16 balloons, with 16 surprises in each balloon.  Most were tasks that needed to be done, but the kids really enjoyed this activity!  Like, "go collect firewood", "build a fire", "roast marshmallows", "build a fort", "go get pizza", "clean up as fast as you can", (moms favorite), "have a dance party with glow sticks",  "Finish reading Little Women", "watch Little Women in your fort", "play the drinking game" (where we read from our jar of notes from the year of all the funny things that happen, and sharing a fun memory of thought about someone in our family, and taking a sip of juice.)  It is the family favorite.   We finished at 9 with a countdown on netflix, and headed to bed .  A pretty good end to a pretty good year. 

Dance Party with glow sticks!