Sharing our life - all our adventures and bumpy rides. Family of four with two young boys - moved back home to allow them the similar experiences and opportunities we had living in North Carolina. Come explore with us!
While Kade was at Wrestling camp, Brock asked if we could go on a hike. I thought August was a bit too warm for hiking, but agreed on the 1.6 mile trail at Hemlock Bluffs.
It was very peaceful - and always happy when my oldest wants to actually do something with me!
Kade had some exciting news to share. He was named Wrestler of the Month for his Fundamentals class!
We made the most of the last Sunday of summer with a perfect day on Jordan Lake with Big Mabel!
After watching the boys get towed around, we found a cove for all of us to swim. Can you believe when Brent pulled up the anchor, he pulled up a huge freshwater clam too?!?
We spent the rest of Sunday resting and getting ready for our big day the following morning.
The whole family was able to spend the weekend with our Huntersville family! Brian and Nancy reserved a lake day for us and we made the most of it!
Kade got right to work lounging away!
As did his Dad!
We were able to spend a good amount of time playing in the water while anchored up alongside an island before the rains rolled in. They we high-tailed it away while everyone scrambled for cover under beach towels - me included!
The boat sure is peaceful and put almost all of them to sleep!
With bad storms still on the forecast, we opted to turn in the boat and drive up to our intended destination.
All the boys!
And one of just these two!
.....So we could try to replicate this old picture - they do grow! Brock & Maddox from July 2022 to August 2026!
We said our farewells to Brock as he was staying with his cousins for the week and Brent and I drove Kade up to Camp Cheerio. It felt strange to do this with only one vehicle and no Moose (Moose was home with a dog-sitter)! After Kade was all settled in to the Tuscarora cabin, Brent and I made our way back to Apex for a kid-free week!
We thoroughly enjoyed our time last year, so first on our agenda was skeet shooting at Deep River Sporting Clays - complete with golf cart rental, of course.
I wrote to Kade every night (through the camp's online portal) and told him we were going skeet shooting - when we finally received his letters in the mail, he asked why we "always" go skeet shooting every time he goes to camp?! Because my husband loves it - look at that happy face!!
We spent some extra time with Moose - he was extra clingy to both of us after a dog-sitting weekend and his whole family not being there. We took him for walks downtown Apex after dark - the photo isn't the best due to lack of lighting, but Moose was excited to check out the dog hydrant by the fire station! Sadly, this longtime fixture of downtown Apex, built in the 1950's, is no longer an active fire station.
Once we wrapped up a few days of work, we had our Adults-only Boat Day!!
We (okay, mostly I) talk about this photo all the time! It was taken from Brent's old boat and we decided to try to recreate it. The angle was a little off, which gave us a big shadow, but I’d say it still turned out pretty well!
Summer 2009 vs Summer 2026
And for the full present-day photo! (I took it from the water VERY carefully holding my phone with two hands!)
Meanwhile, I know Brock and Kade were having great times at their respective places! Brock was thoroughly enjoying cousin time, baseball camp - and even a water park day!
Picking up the boys was a puzzle. Brock was in Charlotte and Kade in the mountains and Moose had to stay home. I volunteered to drive - staying over at Brian and Nancy's Friday night so I could be closer to Camp Cheerio for the 8:30am pickup on Saturday.
I didn't mind one bit - I got to see these two cuties again!!
Even though I had to get Brock up early (and early Brock is grump Brock), I was treated to some pretty cool scenery and unexpected, yet absolutely extraordinary flying objects!
The next day called for rain (and even hail!) so I decided an indoor activity was in order! We spent a nice afternoon at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.
Kade finally remembered this was the same aquarium he visited for his fourth grade field trip when we got to the otter exhibit. They were just as cute and just as fast. They would not stay still for a photo!
I think the boys were in awe that Brent could name almost any fish without looking at the description plaques.
A baby sea turtle in rehabilitation.
Checking out the nurse shark and sand tiger shark!
Brent had his heart set on Sanitary Restaurant - we go early enough that we beat the crowds - also, a benefit of a bad weather week (no wait at restaurants).
The boys enjoyed their meals - no french fry or crumb left behind!
After dinner, we enjoyed a little stroll along the waterfront. Brent recounted how he and his Dad took the Carolina Princess charter boat fishing when he was younger.
Kade had to touch the water, of course.
The next day, I was determined to get the boys to the beach! 20mph winds and red flag be damned - we were going to the beach! (Okay, in all seriousness - I explained to them they were only allowed to go so far deep, etc. And I parked my beach chair closer than usual to keep my eyes on them!)
I found a very nice beach spot at Fort Macon State Park that included free parking, restrooms, and lifeguards! We brought the boogie boards, which the boys used for a little bit - the wind made it so difficult just to hold on to!
As it was just after low tide when we arrived, I told the boys that we would head out when the water got to our chair.
Meanwhile, Brent and Moose were having a different sort of outing - he brought Moose back to the Morehead waterfront so he could smell all the smells!
He's such a good boy!
Brock and Kade dropped off their boards and opted to jump the waves themselves. As you can see - they weren't that deep at all, but that current was strong! You could feel the wave push and pull you as it went back out.
Alright, water has arrived - time to pack up!
The boys are so funny about things - they begged me for a chance to feed the seagulls. Fine - when we were all packed up, I allowed them to "share" their snacks with the birds.
On our last day, we finally made it to downtown Beaufort. Poor Brock somehow ended up with another piece of glass stuck in his foot. No clue if it got into his Croc while he was there or how it happened, but he let us know while we had stopped for ice cream. General Store for the win and some $3 tweezers made him happy (and able to walk) again!
As we made our way down Front Street, Brent suggested we stop in to the Sea Bags store again since I ogled it last year. Some cool new designs - like this map of the Crystal Coast (Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Beaufort, etc).
I decided to treat myself. :)
No fishing understandably made Brent very sad, but we made the most of our beach week with lots of quality family time. We enjoyed meals together, played several board and card games, and enjoyed a few days away from work, busy schedules, and all the usual distractions. The beach is definitely our happy place.
