Oak Island - Winter Edition

 

We booked a nice long weekend at Brian and Nancy's beach house in Oak Island. A little January get-away we were all very much looking forward to! On the way to pick up the boys (early) from school on Thursday, a rock flew up and cracked my windshield. Not a good start!

A little 3 hour drive later and we made it to the beach house! Brought our stuff in, let Moose have a little run in the fenced-in area, and we headed off for an early dinner at Shagger Jack's. The great thing about going to the beach in the winter - no wait at restaurants!

The boys' favorite activity was the foosball table! Many games played!! We did end up doing a foosball tournament the very last night..... I'll give you a hint who the winner was... she also had this very same foosball set at her house and played many times over her childhood... ;) (Hey! I couldn't go easy on them - Kade doesn't go easy on me for chess - nor Brock for swimming!)

When it was my turn to play, I noticed how scratched up the board was - not dirty, just scratched. So I tried giving it a little elbow grease. This set is over twenty-five years old - it's doing pretty good! (Apparently Brent thought it hilarious and wanted to snap a picture)

We let the temperature get a bit warmer, so after lunch we made our way down to the beach. Moose was so excited!! The boys too!

Not too many waves that day, but it was still a little cold with the ocean wind. 

Who was pulling who?

Shagger Jack's presents the children's meals on top of a frisbee - Kade was excited to bring his out to throw on the beach.

All my boys! 

Photo credit to Brock. I guess Moose was tired of posing for pictures and decided digging for shells/crabs was more exciting!

Kade was determined to build a sandcastle - no matter how small nor with any tools! 

Oak Island water tower in the distance. 

Brock, my little aquarian, had to at least touch the water. 

Friday night we headed to Southport for a nice dinner. We were planning to eat at the recommended Fishy Fishy Cafe, however they were closed for renovations (or something for a week), so we walked over to Edgewater 122. It was really good - highly recommend. I had grilled flounder and it was cooked perfectly! Brock said his burger was really yummy too! Brent stayed on the land lovers menu and opted for the 16oz ribeye. He said they cooked it pretty good for a fish restaurant. (Nothing compares to his own cooking)

It was gorgeous. We sat on the deck, enclosed with vinyl flaps so you can still see the water and boats - and right under the heater. A million dollar view in the summer!

After dinner, we walked around just a bit to get a better view of the water and sunset. 

Ah, we attempted a night picture. 

The next day, we wanted to do something a bit different. Brent and I were sitting outside on the 3rd floor deck sunning ourselves and threw out a few options. I suggested we weren't too far from Wilmington - and Brent decided he wanted to give us a little UNCW tour. Brent attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1991-1995 for his undergrad. There were many more buildings than from when Brent was a student, but the dorm buildings were still there - and the boys loved seeing which window was their dad's! 

After lunch at PT's Olde Fashioned Grill (Brock's third hamburger of the trip), we made our way down to the riverfront..... and spotted a Grandpa doppelgänger! Brock spotted him first - but we all agreed!

I've got to give kudos to Brock - he's becoming an amazing little photographer! And yup, I'm balancing my purse on my shoe. 

Here is Brent giving instructions on where we're headed and what we're going to see!

Two people were getting married right beside us during the taking of this picture!!

Back to the house - Moose was guarding while Brent went to pick up pizza. 

Caught the last of the sunrise after dinner. 

Brock playing chess on his computer. 

Last day of our trip - Brock and I walked over to the beach one more time. I think he's ready for summer so he can really jump in! 

I will comment too - there were some amazing seashells along the shore! They are not picked over from all the tourists visiting!

Goodbye Oak Island! 

Brock's 10th Birthday

 

Happy 10th Birthday Brock! He was in a good mood from the very start of the day!

After breakfast, he opened up his gifts from his family. Nintendo switch games and Pokemon - he was thrilled!

What a treat - Pokemon InfernapeV - whatever that means, he thinks it's cool. Thank you Papa and Nana!

More pokemon from us and Chess for the Switch from Grammy & Grandpa. (there's definitely a competition here between him and Kade!)

After Saturday swim practice, he had two school friends come over for arcade fun at Dave & Buster's followed by a sleepover party. 

The original plan was for us all to have dinner at Dave & Buster's, but it was insanely crowded. We opted for burgers and french fries at Cook-Out. Too many choices and indecisiveness for the drive-through, so the boys ordered at the walk-up. 

Happy bellies, happy faces!

The fourth grade boys play soccer at recess almost every day, therefore Brock has been all about soccer lately (even though he doesn't play outside of school). Soccer themed with white vanilla cake and strawberry filling. (Brock picked out the writing on the cake)

Blow those candles out!

The rest of the night was pretty low-key. Played pac-man on Brent's mini arcade in his office, then settled in with Roblox in the playroom. 

True to typical sleepover, a late night playing games, talking & laughing; followed by an early morning of more of the same! He was a happy birthday boy!

Some notes on Brock at ten years old. He's still tall on the growth chart - 58 1/2" (94th percentile), but don't talk to him about it - he gets a little anxious thinking he's going to stand out from most kids. Brock is still progressing really well in his swimming - hitting more goals and working towards beating swim records in the 9-10 year old category this summer. He has a great imaginative side and loves to write mini stories - he's currently working on a comic book about a gill-less shark. Math is his favorite school subject and favorite colors are cyan & red. We are so excited to see what else he accomplishes this first year in double digits! Love you Brock!

Polar Plunge Meet at TAC - January 2023

 

On January 14/15, the Triangle Aquatic Center hosted the Polar Plunge Meet. TAC brought out their A class swimmers and Lifetime had been preparing so hard for this....however, Brock was getting over a sinus infection. The kid who never gets sick has been sick since Christmas practically. 

Saturday was a tough day for him, but he managed pretty good times overall. 

Brock raced in the last heat for 50y Breaststroke, with a finish time of 48.75. 

Then he raced in his 50y Freestyle, with a time of 33.73. That Robbie Ge kid from TAC was amazing - he's definitely one to watch!

After two full days of antibiotic, he was feeling much better by Sunday. He bested his time in the 50y Butterfly with a 38.11 (entry time of 38.50). 

Captured Brock's turn! (Second from the right)

And finally, his 100y Freestyle, he killed it - 1:15.73 (entry time 1:17.40) - placing 8th overall out of 49 swimmers. 

I introduced Kade to scrabble this weekend as we had some time after Brent took Brock to warm up at TAC's swim meet. We finished a whole game and he did pretty well for his first time!

Asher's First Birthday Party

Kade and I traveled down to Huntersville for a very special birthday party for my little nephew Asher! Asher was turning one!! Brent and Brock stayed home this trip - Brock was surely bummed to miss out. 

Check out his cute selfie below!

Babbling baby while eating some finger food. 

Dinner by tablet for these two the night before the party. 

Happy First Birthday baby Asher! Look at those proud parents!

So good to see Aunt Carol and Uncle Jeff - it was Uncle Jeff's birthday too!! So sad I waited to take a picture literally as they were driving away! Oops!

Kade was very content to play with the "little kids". He really loves hanging out with his little cousin - fascinated at the baby stage!

Cousins!

Aww so sweet saying goodbye! 

Christmas 2022

Finally Christmas Eve - and a cold Christmas Eve it was! A high of only 29 that day, but not a cloud in the sky. (no white Christmas here!) After a 4pm Christmas Eve church service, we returned home for yummy Rao's sauce & homemade meatballs simmering in the slow cooker. 

The boys got in their pajamas and right to work setting out milk and cookies for Santa. (Even Moose got in his pajamas!

After our holiday movie tradition of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Santa arrived! (And yes, there's no star or angel on this tree)

Christmas morning and the boys are checking it all out!

They each picked one present before breakfast. 

After a nice blueberry waffle and bacon breakfast, we returned to opening gifts. Matching drones from Grandpa and Grammy!

I guess at some point, it got really exhausting.....

Brock got a new holder for all his swim ribbons. Kade also got a new 10-belt holder for his taekwondo progress - he already had two holding out for his new rack! 

Kade has been ALL about chess lately and was thrilled to receive a chess timer! (He was also excited about an earlier present - new Minecraft themed tennis shoes - and decided to wear them through the rest of the unwrapping)

Cornhole - Carolina themed! 

Look at those happy faces!

The following day, the boys ventured outside (it was a bit warmer) to try out their new drones. 

Moose says he's tired from this cold weather!

We had a lot of epic breakfasts during the holiday break - including pancakes made with this adorable pancake mold by Aunt Katherin! 

It's a lion - just turned on its side!

After a lunch at Maggiano's with the family, we stopped by an outside fountain to let the boys finish their ice cream. We asked Brock to take a nice photo. Thanks Brock for the picture of your parents!

Happy New Year to all! Here's to a better 2023!