Quotes of the Day: North Carolina Trip By Leah

April 9:
"Sometimes I end up playing by myself." ~someone who caught up to Emma and me on our way to the beach

April 10:
"She's the reason I barfed!" ~Andrew, commenting on a contestant on the Voice (he had thrown up in the car earlier)
"I'm the Lost Colony. Where did I go??" ~ Daddy, pretending to be the Roanoke Colony
"I was all tangled up." ~Daddy, explaining his kite-flying skills on the sand dunes
Observed on the Piggly Wiggly Sign: "No" animals involved "except" seeing eye dogs, etc. (sorry but misplaced quotes are kind of a joke in our family)

April 11:
"But it had a red bottom!!" ~ me saying that a picture of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse in the lounge of the ferry was drawn incorrectly
"Why..... did it have a rash??" ~Andrew, responding to previous quote

April 12:
"The top looks like it's wrapped in Saran wrap." ~Daddy, remarking on the top of the Bodie Island lighthouse
"I didn't know they had Saran wrap back then!" ~random dude walking by, right after previous quote
"You guys are just WONDERFUL..... so who's your favorite movie star? Bridget Mendler? Mine too! We have SOOOOO much in common!...speaking of common, do you have the common sense to be awesome?" ~someone being creepy in the crow's nest
"YOU GOT ICE CREAM?!!? What kind?" ~someone
"The kind with your face on it" ~Emma

North vs. South

There is a great tradition at the junior high for the 8th graders.  After a year of studying U.S. History, it all culminates with a huge Civil War Ball.  There is a grand march,

there are hoop skirts, there is dancing,

 (please forgive the breaks in the video...it was the only way I could get stills and still record)

there is a lovely a capella rendition of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," there is a drill team,

there is drama, and there is pageantry.  But despite all the gaiety, we sometimes found ourselves on the other side of the battle lines.

Those who made appointments at the salon to get their hair done vs. Those who had their hair styled in their bathroom by a clueless mother who had done extensive research about Civil War hairstyles on youtube and used copious amounts of bobby pins and hair spray.

Those who purchased a professional portrait package and had a sitting in the makeshift studio at the school vs. Those who reluctantly smiled for their mother as she snapped away in the front yard, drawing the attention of onlookers as they drove by and some friends who were at the church.

Those who crowded the narrow yet trendy streets of Crocker Park vs. Those who smartly chose Friendly's and had the whole restaurant for themselves and their friends.

{no pictures allowed}

I am glad that we were not held slave to the going social norms of the day.  The girls looked beautiful and did a lovely job dancing the Virginia Reel.  They had a fun time with their friends, and I didn't sweat in the hot, crowded gym nearly as much as I thought I would!  Glory, glory, hallelujah!  It really was a special night.

Music a la Mode - Emma and Leah

Music a la Mode - Brooke

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina...

If we had known that the Outer Banks had...

long stretches of gorgeous beaches that we could have all to ourselves...

opportunities to zone out while the kids played in the sand...

cute little beach houses...

with fun crow's nest lookouts...

gorgeous sunsets...

and sunrises...

both within walking distance...

fun lighthouses to explore...

miles of sand dunes to climb...

perfect kite-flying conditions...

kite sailors to give us some entertainment while waiting for the sun to set...

the site of the first airplane flight...

the site of the first colony in America...

endless seashells for the kids to collect...

a free ferry ride to another island...

and gulls that would come eat bread out of your hand...

warm sand that felt like you were walking on a cloud...

and DOLPHINS!!!

...we would have gone a long time ago!

If I had a Facebook account these would have been my status updates.

How come the day before and the day after a track meet we have gorgeous weather, but the day of there are gale-force winds and the temperature drops to the 40's? 

Do I REALLY have two 14 year-olds?  Happy Birthday, Emma and Leah!

It is really unnerving to be able to look your child in the eye.  Yes, three of my four kids are as tall as I am.  And I'm sure the fourth isn't far behind.

First Glenn, then his niece, and now my sister.  Can the need to have brain surgery cross family lines?

Almost lost it when I got the text that Jill was out of surgery and all had gone well.  Unfortunately I was walking down the hall at school at the time.

Completely lost it when I called mom after school to see how Jill was doing and she said, "You want to talk to her?"

Really wish the girls would let me post the video they made with the Young Women for New Beginnings.  It's not every day that you see them reenacting "Tangled" with their friends.

CF Fundraiser tonight at Max & Erma's! Bring in your flyer and 20% of your order goes right to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

Got a call from Glenn while I was at Max & Erma's that his car had broken down on his way over and that he was going to call a tow truck. I said I'd be there after I finished eating.  I mean, it's not like a tow truck shows up immediately, right???

The best thing about a car breaking down on the busiest night ever?  I got out of going to pack meeting.

Glenn is the proud owner of a new (to us) Hyundai.  And all I had to do was drive him to Elyria to pick it up.

How come it is ok to conjure up some fictional story about Mitt Romney bullying a (supposedly gay) classmate but no one blinks an eye at Obama's habitual (by his own admission) drug use in high school and college?  I love the double standards of the liberal media.

Parent's meeting for the 8th grade DC trip tonight.  They get to stay in a Doubletree.  I don't think I'VE ever stayed in a Doubletree.

Emma and Leah modeled their Civil War Ball gowns for Grandma Brooks and Aunt Jill.  Jenna and Callie thought they were princesses and wanted to dance with them.

Brooke was nominated for a theater camp scholarship from the Beck Center by her acting teacher!  Makes sense as her teacher is pretty much Brooke in an adult form.  She is very honored just to have been thought of.

No swim team for the girls this summer.  Focusing instead on running.  It was hard for me to give this one up.  Me, not them.  So what is that saying?  Proud of my kids for making their own choices, and proud of myself for letting them.

So glad that I don't actually have a Facebook account as I am sure I would have to see disturbing pictures of myself from the recent Activity Day Girls Mother/Daughter activity.  For all of Brooke's many talents, putting makeup blindly on her mother's face is not one of them.

Another round of laser surgery for Emma and Leah.  Missing school until the bruising goes down.  They are going crazy being cooped up in this house with each other.  Hoping that Mary Kay can help them get back to school on Friday.

Baseball has started back up!  Andrew pitched his first two innings ever --no walks, and he only gave up one run.  Great first showing, Andrew!

There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about attachment parenting.  I am sure glad Heavenly Father didn't practice it!

Music a la Mode today...camping out at the high school from 10 till 4.

Three different graduation celebrations next month.  All four kids are moving up to new schools.  I think I liked it better last year when everyone stayed put.

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Wow, I just covered four incredibly crazy weeks in just a couple of sentences!  Maybe there is something to this whole Facebook phenomenon...