Eclipse-Mania: Raleigh Edition at 93% Totality

Brock working on his eclipse worksheets - a maze around the sun!

For at least three weeks prior to August 21st, Raleigh-ites have been caught up in the frenzy of the Eclipse - even if we were only slated to see 93% totality. The eclipse glasses have been sold out in the library, home improvement stores and science stores - our neighbor mentioned he even went to look for welders glasses to use to look at the sun and they had been sold out!

Brent was probably the only one more excited than me to watch this worldly phenomenon! He blocked out the three hours in the middle of the day so he could track the moon's movement.  We kept tabs on how bright the sun was at noon and then watched as it gradually got darker and darker.  The local crows were tricked into making an early run for their roosting spot just before we hit out 93% totality.

It worked out well that the eclipse occurred right at naptime! Kade rested inside while the rest of the family enjoyed it from our front walk.

The glasses totally made it. Yes, we could feel the temperature drop and we could visibly see a difference in how bright it was, but to actually look up at the sun (even through the clouds!) and see that it was blocked, was super cool! Good call on ordering those glasses a month ago, Brent!

I hope Brock remembers this day and how cool it was to witness this amazing event.

Here's a video about 6 minutes before our maximum totality (of 93%).

A little odd, but tried taking a picture through the eclipse glasses - you can just about make out the crescent of the sun in the middle of the shot!

No dogs' eyes were harmed during the eclipse event. ;)

Swimming & Lake with the Dogs

We love our lessons with Mr. Eric! It seems to work out several times that our group lesson turns in to a private lesson and we love that too!

This first video was taken at the very beginning of Brock's lesson - you can see he had mastered arms stretched out as he kicked to propel himself to the other side.

And then, just a short 30 minutes later, Brock's teacher added the arm strokes that go with it! Scooping apples to put them in your pocket is how he refers to it. I think Brock did really well putting it all together (for the first time)!

It definitely shows when we go out on the lake!

Of course, we have to start with our very nutritional Bojangles breakfast.

This time we decided to take Diesel and Oscar with us! We all enjoyed their company this trip! We ALL took a swim out to shore (sorry, no pictures - we forgot our GoPro). First, I headed out there with Kade and Brock on a float - roughly 80 feet from the boat. I stayed on land to call the dogs so they knew which way to start swimming and Brent lifted them up to put them in the water. Oscar is a great swimmer and made his way to me pretty quickly. We were a little worried about Diesel, so Brent ended up snapping his adult lifejacket around Diesel to help his buoyancy. He was wide-eyed when he started doggie-paddling and apparently overdid himself with his hind legs when he reached land. His back legs were spent and could barely hold himself up. We were a little worried that he did something really bad, but after an hour, he was good as new. Yup, our almost 10 year old, 93 pound husky is just a little out of shape.

More snacks and drinks to fuel us up!

Then Brent and I took turns jumping off the boat. Brock has been quite concerned about the depth of the water - obviously if you can't see the bottom, someone telling you it's 8 feet could just as well be 80 feet! Next summer, I am sure he'll be much more confident and adventurous!

Go Brent!!

We were all exhausted after that boat trip. Time for Kade's nap and Brock's first lesson with Othello. He lasted longer than I thought he would.... but we were not able to finish the game. It is designed for ages 8 and up!

How to keep boys busy?

Now that Brock is four, the summer completely opened up to him for summer camps! He was enrolled in three Vacation Bible Schools, two FULL-day weeks at Mega-gym, and one three-day outdoor camp with the Town of Apex at a nearby park. I had to entertain a two year old solo for many of those days!

 So..... let's go to a park and stomp on bugs!

It's interesting to see Kade's behavior when Brock isn't around. He is very confident with big brother - even sometimes moreso than big brother.... but when big brother isn't around, a little shyness emerges. He's not as prone to go venture out to the playground with the other big kids without Brock. For example, this particular day, he found his happy place climbing on a fence away from the other children.

Finally, I wore Kade out! Barbara, Brent's mother, tells me that her father slept like this all the time - with his hands behind his head. I find Kade in this position constantly!

Brock BEGS to go to the pool almost every day. He LOVES the water. This particular day was pretty awesome - we walked down to the pool while Kade napped (and Brent worked). Brock knows how to swim well enough (and is cautious enough to stay in the shallow end) that I was able to catch up on a little reading!

I can see future (loooooong in the future) pool days where I don't have to constantly have eyes on them and read and tan to my heart's desire!!

My silly Brock!

And then there's those other days that we use the babysitter on the wall.....

Time for some sugar? Yes!
Eat that blue and red candy-coated sugar cookie!!

Brock and I completed one Pinterest-worthy craft this summer! Pineapple pinecones! We have PLENTY of pinecones to do LOTS of fall crafts!

We painted four pinecones a bright yellow! (Brock was very particular about picking four nice pinecones from our backyard - several that I thought were perfectly fine were not good enough for him!)

Next step, Brock rolled the green leaves with a plastic straw.

I think they turned out pretty neat! Perhaps next time we'll use something better/brighter than yellow finger-paint. ;)

They make a cute summer display on our front table! Good job Brock!!

Lunch with the Kleins & Salamanders with Papa

Kade with a chip and Moana on the big tv

Aunt Carol and Uncle Jeff are BUSY BUSY people! We had to plan three months in advance to secure a Saturday with them! ;) We hosted lunch for the Charlotte Kleins and Papa & Ms. Phyllis. So lovely to be able to show them around our new home and know we all reside in the same state again!

Nice extended table!

With Uncle Jeff and Papa in attendance, you know there was a little horsing around!

Aunt Carol & Uncle Jeff brought these amazing chocolate chip cookies, which as he ate one for dessert the following day, reminded me of how much I love hearing Kade say the word "cookie!" You also catch him saying his new phrase..... "Ummm....no."  For example... "Kade, would you like to go take a nap?" "Ummm.... no." I guess at two it's still cute when they say no to you.

The following week, Papa took us all out to see the Holly Springs Salamanders game!

It's really neat - the Holly Springs Salamanders are a team in the amateur baseball league that recruits college players that live locally. The Salamanders' roster included colleges from James Madison to Arkansas to Coastal Carolina! The best part is it's super close to our home and not as pricey as visiting the Durham Bulls (which made leaving at the bottom of the sixth inning not so bad).

Brock had a great time watching the action (and the Mascot!) - the boys even scored a game ball! It was a late night for little Kade though. Next summer we'll have to go more often! Thanks Papa for suggesting it and treating us to a night of baseball!

Boating at Jordan Lake

We try to get out on the boat every other weekend. We're definitely getting our use out of it! These pictures are from July.

Brock's second favorite part of the boat is most definitely the hose. Everything gets sprayed with the hose - no bugs will get near our boat with Brock on hose duty!

Love to lounge! Totally multi-tasking - balancing Kade, paddling against the current, rescuing his play cup from sinking, and relaxing all at the same time! (Or three of those four...)

 Thumbs up from Brent that the fishing line was in the water. Spoiler alert - we didn't catch squat.

After our water play and lunch, time to cruise away!

Brock is going to be a pro by the time he is actually old enough to drive the boat! Here is Brent giving Brock another lesson on what does what on the boat! Notice Kade is watching too!

Sorry - as soon as the boat is in motion, Kade is ready for bed. Don't be alarmed - he was laying on me on the bean bag while I held a towel over his face and body to shield him from the sun! I wasn't going to let him bake out there! (He's laying there solo because we were at the boat ramp about to head in!)

A large field of sunflowers welcomes visitors to the boat ranch at Jordan Lake, but they needed a little water though.

Okay, I've thrown in a few pictures between the next boating trip that I just loved! Here's Kade being super cuddly on my bed! He even waited for me to run and get my camera so I could take a picture of his sweet face!

Brent picked up new Hanna Anderson pajamas for Kade - matching Star Wars themed jammies!!

Oscar wanted to cuddle with Brock before bed too! Oscar doesn't stay in Brock's bed long after I leave though....

Another boating trip, this time with not as many pictures, but a very cool video to make up for that!

Brock wanted to fish for the Loch Ness Monster!  .....it's a 3 minute video, but a gorgeous day to be on the boat!

Family Pictures - Summer 2017 Edition

I have been craving for some professional family pictures and as we had just celebrated Kade's 2nd birthday, I figured we could knock out both together! Mental note - do not take outdoor pictures in the middle of summer while living in North Carolina! It made no difference that we met the photographer at 8am, the humidity was still there!

Doing the mom thing and explaining the rules for the race!

We met Courtney, an old high school friend of mine that does photography on the side, at Crowder Park in Apex. It's a really lovely park with a boardwalk over the little pond filled with tons of turtles. Obviously, we affectionately call it turtle park! Brock had actually just completed a little 3 day camp here earlier that week that he LOVED. A real camp (for 4 year olds) as it was outside all day!

You can tell the turtles are trained well - as soon as you hang over the side of the railing, they swim right towards you looking for food!

While Brock was content to watch the turtles off the boardwalk, Kade was happy with running and picking up sticks!

THAT FACE!! LOVE IT! 

And you can tell the humidity based on how frizzy my hair was getting!

I got some sweet kisses from that cuddle bug that totally made up for it!

 

Brock was very throwing things in to the water - I will say he made every effort to be careful not to hit the turtles!

 

After all that, the boys were ready to let off steam on the playground! Even Brent managed to go down the slide with Brock!

What a big smile on this little boy's face!