A camping we will go.....................

Maybe I should say a camping we went.

We decided it was time to take the boys camping (again), it's been a while since we've camped and the boys loved it last time we went (the lake last time), our drive was a nice one.............

This time we decided to go to the Mountains, near Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. We packed up our gear and headed out on thursday morning (about a 3 hour drive), Hickory Nut Falls Campground:

Our Campsite:


Once we unpacked and got the tent up Rob decided that since our campsite was right on the River, really I mean it right on the river see........................


he needed to jump in (into 60 degree water, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr). Crazy, eh?


We also took a walk around the campsite, we took a walk around the campsite, saw some groundhogs (lots of them). Rob took some pretty closeup pictures of them (they didn't seem to mind)

There was plenty of rock climbing and playing, making mommy nervous and daddy proud.
I managed to take some cool pictures:

Soon enough it was time to prepare dinner (sorry no pictures here) to busy getting the fixings for hot dogs and hamburgers.
Rob lit the fire:
We cooked and ate and pretty soon we were tired and ready for bed, we listened to NPR for a while and went inside, the boys and I played UNO for a while while daddy picked up the remainder of the nights dinner (putting it in the car, safe from critters)


See those tired faces...........................bedtime it is!
It was really nice that night and we had the wonderful sound on the river to lull us to sleep.

Early the next morning the boys were ready to play and climb some more while we prepared coffee and breakfast.

They played nice (most of the time ) and at least neither one of them ended up in the water.

Not sure what he was playing here, but I though it was cute.

Just because it's cute.....................

And yes Rob jumped in the water again (if you don't believe me) look here:



After we cleaned up from breakfast and got dressed we decided we would go to the tiny town of Chimney Rock, but when we tried to start the car (DEAD) so we had to call AAA (yep they rescued us, because believe it or not there were not many people at the campground).
We got the car started and decided to drive around to charge the battery and then stop to visit the shops.

There was a little "waterfall" by the campsite.

We could see Chimney Rock from the entrance to the campsite. Yep we were that close...

I just had to take this picture (while we drove around) He looks to concentrated and so QUIET!
We walked around the shops and along the trails behind the shops, just exploring (we saw a DEAD snake YUCK!)


Not sure why this picture came out a little blurry, need to reset me camera settings?

We also drove by Lake Lure and I had to make Rob stop so I could take this picture.
I just couldn't resist, it looks so peaceful. We finally decided it was time to head back to the campsite, it was still a little early so the boys and I played Monopoly for a while.
We climbed rocks again, acted goofy until dinner time.
We had dinner, then roasted marshmallows for SMORES.



and hung out by the fire until it was time for bed.

The next morning we headed to Chimney Rock, this is the sign that greeted us after we took the shuttle to the elevator.

Yeah, we took the elevator (we planned on walking all the way down so we saved our energy for that) and we got a bit of a lesson on the way up.

Before we headed to our climb, we made a "potty" break and Patrick insisted I take a picture of the inside of the bathroom because he thought it was soooooo pretty.

The whole inside of the bathroom was painted to mimic the outside.

That's where we are headed all the way to the top and then ALL the way back down...

On our way up, little by little.

We made it, we are at the top.

Here is the view form the tippy top , thank goodness it was a clear and wonderfully warm day.
We walked to all the nook and crannies taking pictures when we could.

That's the view from the other side, taken right before we head to Hickory Nut Falls and then to the clearing where the car is parked (ALL THE WAY DOWN DOWN DOWN)

A little tunnel called the SUBWAY, we kept walking, and walking until we could hear the sounds of water falling ....
We made it to Hickory Nut Falls (I guess some movies have been filmed here among others "The Last of the Mohican's"
Goofy boys in front of the not too impressive falls...

One of the few pictures of all 4 of us (a nice lady offered to take it, and even though Rob said NO I said YES!)
From there we walked a 5 mile hike down to the bottom of the mountain. I took no pictures (I was to concentrated on catching my breath and making my legs would keep on going). the boys did it with no problem (Rob and I on the other hand...)


We finally made it to the bottom of the mountain, climbed in the car and drove back to the campsite, of course relaxed until it was dinner time.

Rob lit our last fire, ate dinner and smores and went to bed early (by them even the boys were tired, it had been such a long day.) We slept like babies.

Next morning we woke up early and we were going to drive to Grandfather Mountain but Rob woke up not feeling too good (probably from jumping in that freezing cold water) so we decided to pack up and call it a day...
we took down our tent, packed up our gear and said goodbye to our campsite, until next time.
We had a good time but it will be nice to get home and sleep on a real bed.

'till next time

Birthday bash........................

Come join us........................

As promised pictures of Robert's birthday, but you'll never guess what we had besides a water slide and junk food............................

A surprise guest Abuelita and Abuelito came to celebrate with Robert (let me tell you the funny story about that).............................
We had it all prepared, gifts were bought, food/snacks prepared and inflatable slide was being delivered all I had left was to go get the "cake" and maybe pick up some balloons................so I head to the local grocery where I ordered the cake (yep ordered I do not bake very well) and it's right next to a Dollar Tree store and I thought I would pick up some balloons..........................I park next to a car with the door open and a "lady" smoking......................when I turn off the car and look more closely at the "lady" in the car I parked next to ...................can you guess who it was....................................Abuelita! My mom sitting right there in the parking lot of the grocery store I was about to go into.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! They had planned this to be a huge surprise and the ones surprised were them.......................... needless to say I went back home and pretended I hadn't seen them and all of a sudden they know on the door and I tell Robert to go open that it's probably one of his guests and SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were hidden behind bunches of balloons.

Of course the boys especially Robert were delighted to see them.
Since the slide was set up the boys started to enjoy it even before the guests arrived......

Shortly the guest began to arrive (we had some coming early and some coming mid party) so it was non-stop kids, water and fun.

Enough said I have pictures to prove it................

Everyone (well except abuelito and abuelita) had a great time. The boys thought it was hilarious the Rob was sliding down too! (I slide down as well but I can't seem to find the picture to prove it)

They all behaved and for the most part followed all our rules. It was up and down NON STOP!

Here's a cute picture of all the boys (yeah NO GIRLS ALLOWED..................except ME!

They did take a break to eat some pizza, drink some soda and chomp on some chips, but got up right after and continued the fun..........................

Just so you can see the size of this monster alone and with the boys for scale......................
The only other time they stopped was to eat cake and open Robert's presents (I took several pictures but they are very good, they were all huddles around Robert so all you see is the boys hovering over the presents)
This was the best I could do..................see all of them just trying to sneak a peek at what Robert got or checking to see if he opened theirs....................
After that the played around a little more and it was time to wrap up start taking down the slide
Everyone had a blast and after the day was done we went out for dinner and the boys stayed the night at the hotel with abuelito & abuelita.

The next day the boys wanted to go to Target (to spend the money they had received Robert for his birthday and Patrick as a treat from abuelita & abuelito). When we got back we put them to work


Nothing like seeing the boys enjoying their grandparents...................
We had a awesome time
Thank you for coming................................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I just cannot believe I now will officially have a 8 year old!
I am so happy and proud of my big boy, he is making lots of new friends and they will all be joining us today for a fun filled, water sliding day!
I will incude pictures later.

All I want to say I HAPPY BIRTHDAY Baby! Mommy and Daddy love you so very much and hope you have a wonderful day

1st day of school

So finally the school year begins and now we have 2 in school ! yeah !
I went and bought all the needed materials before our trip so all we had to do is get up in the morning and decide what to take for lunch (easy right?)

Well deciding and making the lunches was easy, we all get dressed and head out the door ready for the brand new day........................oy what surprises this day holds.

1- Patrick's first day is not today (but I have a picture of him anyway) it's the next day and only the next day (staggered entry they call it, he won't be in school full time till next week)



2- Robert is in what the call "The cottages", they are detached buildings way, way in the back of the school............



I drop Robert off, say hello to his teacher and Patrick and I head to my office. Like I said interesting day I walk in, boss calls me to her office and tells me that unfortunatley the Housing market is slow and they have to let me go.................NOW! (for those who didn't know my job revolved around the housing market and I was a part-time employee, 'nough said)

So I proceed to pack up my stuff and head home, call Rob and stay with my boy the rest of the week until his "Official" 1st day of school.

Like I said it was a interesting day.
Robert had a good day , saw lots of his friends from last year and some new ones too.

That's all for now. For now I will be unpacking the remainder of the boxes (yes I still have boxes to unpack) and rethinking where to go from here.

'till next time
Mo

Dance Party

So my little baby is getting ready to graduate (yep you heard me GRADUATE) and of course with this comes the PROM.

I was trying to take a picture or Patrick with his brother when one of his little friends just jumped in with his brother too! Still cute!

In Patrick's school the director has been for the past 3-4 years celebrating the graduating preschoolers, by celebrating their move to KINDERGARTEN with a Mini-prom.

Everyone got a chance to dress up, the teachers closed off and decorated a part of the school with balloons, a disco ball and lights. Snack and juice was served and music played.

Everyone had a blast and I have the pictures to prove it.............

Here the music has started and some have arrived and started dancing (they loved being the STARS!!!
Dancing with the stars, here we come..................

Did I hear CONGA!

As the night drew to an end we just had to get a picture with our favorite teacher (she has really help Patrick open up, when he started with her he didn't like writing or participating in "small group" activities but now that the year comes to an end he is an eager learner and can't wait to go to kindergarten.
THANK YOU MS TAMI (by the way this is probably the last time we see her, in the picture she is 9 mths prego and about to pop, she will be on maternity leave from now on and we will miss her!

GROUP PICTURE

Thanks for joining us, Graduation is up next....................
Stay posted!
Later

SO MUCH.............

Oy so much has gone on since my last post in March !
I had mentioned mom was coming to visit and we had a blast (Robert was Tracked out and Pat's school is flexible so we took them out of both for the entire time she was here).

I of course had to work, but mom stayed with the boys and I always tried to make it home a little after lunchtime.
We did lot's of goofing off, talking , cooking (we really eat well when mom is here, right Rob?............Sorry still can't cook but I am trying)

We also got quite a bit done in my craft room (we went shopping for extra storage got some very cool stuff I will reveal later) and of course again we did lot's of talking until the wee hours......
Most of all the boys got to enjoy abuelita and she got to enjoy them...........
I have a few pictures (not to many as I was using a new to me and borrowed camera) but I did get a few and here they are.

I should mention Easter was the Sunday after she arrived so many of the pictures are from Easter.

First thing Easter morning (still sleepy boys , opening their Easter Baskets).

Ready for action, water guns and goggles (smells like summer!)
Of course there were Easter Eggs to hunt.................
With Abuelitas help, finding all the eggs the Easter bunny hid was a cinch.............

There were eggs to dye ............
We dyed over a dozen eggs................yeah that's a lot of hard boiled eggs to eat!
My little An artist at work................

We spent a good part of the day outside, it was a perfect spring day.

We also took out a OLD favorite (we haven't let the boys really play with it until now) They are big enough and acted very careful, loving every minute of it

The boys help mom make a desert for our anniversary (10 years!!!!) It was delicious!
Thank you !
There they are helping abuelita put together the desert, below is the finished product.

Cute picture, isn't it?

Much fun was had, lots of cleaning up (mainly of my craft room, I show you that later) along with lots of talking and an incredible food, but mom had to go home (I bet abuelito missed her), so we took here to the airport and lots of hugs and tears and promises to get together very soon.........
Here we are headed to the terminal (with out little helpers)

One last shot with abuelita. Thank you mom we had a awesome time and we will see you soon......................
Sorry for such a long post (and I only added the highlights, or it would have been the worlds longest and picture heavy post)
Thank you for joining us.
Later

OH no!?!?!?!

No pictures to post here just me venting...............MY PURSE WAS STOLEN!
Yep you read right, it was stolen out of my car & of all places, right in front of the house..........

My fault, I forgot I had left my purse in the car and then on top of that forgot to lock the car
(double whammy!) Anyone with 2 wild kids (may understand how that happened............or not!)

They took my purse and my project bag (that contained my magazines to read , some addresses I wanted to add to my planner etc.) and my purse OH NO! They took MY CAMERA! MY IPOD!, and MY PLANNER (with all my addresses and all my dates and all my membership cards and credit cards )

Don't worry, by the time I have posted this I have already called and cancelled the cards and of course ordered new ones), but what hurts the most is MY CAMERA and MY PLANNER
they are both a big part of me and anyone that reads this blog knows me and knows I am usually carrying one or the other or both.

As for my planner, you will be receiving at some point an email asking for all the vital information I have lost (please be kind as I have lost all addresses, phone numbers, birthdays and anniversaries............) you will receive cards and gifts when it's time THANK YOU !


Edited to add on 04/11/09: As for my camera (dad has been gracious enough to lend me his camera until I can decide and buy a new one.................I want to upgrade so it's a big decision), but at least I will still have pictures HURRAY!!!!!!!