I decided about a week before we left that I wanted to do maternity pictures. A little too late to budget or schedule a beach photographer. So, we made do with our own.
Getting Ready for Tobin
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Tag Archives: Adventures
Family Beach Trip ’17
Earlier this year, we started making plans for the eclipse. We knew we wanted to be close to totality and started out planning a camping trip in the mountains. Then Tobin came along and we realized, camping in August at eight months pregnant would not be fun. For any of us. So, we went with plan B. A weekend beach trip and a drive down to totality.
We went to Myrtle Beach. It’s close and slightly more affordable since all we ever do is the beach and pool.
We ate out the first night at River City Cafe (it was directly in front of where we stayed). Ya’ll it was really, really good. One of the best burgers I’ve ever had.
Ace got this huge Pizza Burger.
And put the whole thing in his mouth!
Tried to stay with low carbs but the onion rings were calling. So, I compromised and ditched the bun on my chili cheeseburger. It was still very good.
The next two days were full of sand, sun, and pool time. I’m not kidding.
As soon as the kids woke up, swimsuits went on and didn’t come off until we were back in for supper.
Sand castles were built.
Races to the ocean were had.
We ventured out one evening and got some family pictures. Since it was August, it was still very crowded and so we got some other friends in our pictures…oh well.
Beautiful sky!
Quick maternity pictures which I’ll do on another blog post.
And Mark and I managed to get pictures with each of the kids. I love each of their silly personalities shining through.
We left out early morning to try and find a spot for the eclipse.
Step On It
We set July for our biggest project to date…removing and installing new floors on our first floor. Our engineered hardwood was holding up okay (could have been better) but the carpet and the linoleum in the great room and kitchen were showing the wear and tear of eleven people plus animals. We had been saving money and doing research and this month was the month to start.
First of all, we went with luxury vinyl wood look planks. Scratching your heads yet? Yeah we did too. When we started our research, I spoke with a sales associate at Lowe’s and gave her our demographics. She introduced us to vinyl plank floors and I went home to do the research. The more I learned, the more I knew that these floors would be a good fit for our family. They are around the same price as engineered hardwood and laminate flooring. Durable is an understatement. Waterproof is a definite. I ordered a ton of samples from Build Direct and finally landed on one that I loved. However, in my pregnant brain, I ordered a different one. To save money, we picked up the flooring in Atlanta and when Mark brought it home, I just sat and cried and cried. However, I seriously did not want Mark to take another day to drive to Atlanta and back to return and pick up flooring. So, I pulled up my big girl panties (as the saying goes) and decided to be happy with what Providence (and my negligence) brought us.
Installation was easy…but we did learn a lot. First of all, do not start in the middle of the room and make sure you are staggering (don’t have two long pieces between a short pieces). A vinyl floor cutter would make the process go smoother and a little faster. Keep a tight fit on the pieces but also leave a small gap by the walls to allow for expansion.
Mark and his dad got the carpet pulled up. All of us worked to get the linoleum up.
The biggest chore were the hardwoods. Glued to a concrete slab and not wanting to permanently damage the concrete to where no one could glue anything down again, Mark had to work hard. We tried everything. In the end,the best was renting a “stripper” and good ol’ elbow grease. 
Mark worked one Saturday for eight hours. A couple of weekends later,our pastor/friend came over and worked with Mark making the process go a lot faster.
So, here’s how we did the installation. I will admit I spent the first week every night in tears. We were trying to learn how to install. My ever expanding belly and standing and sitting to install were getting to me. And I was just convinced that we wouldn’t be able to finish before school started or Tobin arrived. Mark was ever so patient. The kids were amazing and little by little we were able to finish a few days before we planned to start school. So, Mark and I worked late in to the evening. The kids and I worked an hour or two in the morning and then an hour or two in the afternoon. When my back couldn’t take much more and our school deadline approached, Mark came home early and got the big work done.
This was after the first night and my first panic attack.
Zoe and Ace were invaluable! We figured out the underlayment and they were my backbones to get it installed. Then when we worked big spaces, we quickly came up with a routine on how to lay/cut/install while Silas ran planks between us.
Rearranging furniture brought in more organization for me.
See the pantry door? I figured out…on my own…how to work around it.
The dining room went fast but we still had to get quarter round down and then realized we had to paint the trim…my trim looks brand new now though!
Dining room/School room all done. Now to get ready for school 2017 to 2018!
Mark got the quarter round around the island painted a few days before Tobin was born. Now, I can officially say our island is done!
Everything is finished!
While I didn’t get the rustic look I originally wanted, I’m thrilled with the end product! Mark and I learned, that while this project was a little draining, we can actually work together and our kids are super about working with us! It feels great to know we did it!
Camping and a Confession
May and June were just plumb busy ya’ll. We had something every weekend and pretty much every day. So, when we realized the girls may not get to go to an AHG camp planned for June, Mark and I decided to give up our only free weekend (which also happened to be our anniversary weekend) for the girls and our whole family to participate in an AHG family camp. And then a week before, I got an email asking me to plan and grocery shop for the meals for camp. I agreed because I felt the Lord was telling me to do it. But I didn’t agree with a joyful heart. I grumbled and complained the whole week. Got my ducks in a row, got the groceries for around 50 people and we loaded up and went.
We got to camp and were about a 1/4 of a mile from bathrooms (don’t forget I’m pregnant ya’ll). There was no running water on the site. And we thought that we were missing a pole to a brand new tent. I about had a two year old temper tantrum at the campsite. Mark made the sleeping arrangements work with our small four person tent and other large tent. After calming myself and chatting with God and friends, I decided the self-pity needed to end and I had to just enjoy it. We found out later that the camp coordinator was told there were bathrooms right near the site and that running water would be onsite. And as we loaded up the following evening to beat the rain, we realized the missing tent pole wasn’t missing. We had just misread the directions.
God blessed us with an amazing sunset! Just seeing this made it all worth all the headache.
Watching the kids get filthy….trekking in pitch black dark to the bathroom and making new friends. Once my attitude adjusted, it was a wonderfully fun trip!
A Night at the Symphony
Last year, we planned our beach trip the same weekend as the local symphony’s annual free performance, Pops! Under the Stars. We made sure not to miss it this year though. We were blessed to be able to meet up with several of our church families…which meant our kids stayed entertained, we enjoyed music and there was enough food to feed a small army. Church people don’t starve.
It was pretty sunny and some of our friends needed to protect their delicate skin from the sun!
Emmie and selfiies…yes thank you!
Of course, we had to get one in. 
Tot wanted one too! He loved all the pets but the fireworks were not his friends. He made it through though.
Plotting, planning and playing.
Our littles were super glad that some church members were home from college and literally, attached to their backs!
And Ace really got into the music.
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Cruisin’
We love where we live. Not only are we three hours from the beach or mountains, but there is always something to do. Especially in the spring and fall, before and after the humidity. There are swamps to explore, rivers to walk on. We can go to baseball games or kayak the canal. Or, in this one date night, take a beautiful open air cruise…with music…on the canal.
It was probably one of the most memorable and beautiful date nights we have had. There was a great interpretive museum before we went on the two hour or so cruise. We had no idea what to expect with the music and all we knew was that it was bluegrass. The music did not disappoint.
Another treat was we were able to watch the sunset.
This is Butt Bridge. I know what you are thinking and you can snicker all you want. But (no pun…okay, yeah it was), Sir Archibald Butt was a hero of the Titanic sinking and an ambassador for the United States. He is credited with saying “Women and children first.” So, this bridge may be called Butt Bridge but there is a reason for it…besides the obvious.
Bonus treat was watching the sunset.
Mark and I agreed that this would definitely not be our last canal cruise!
My advice: Don’t just sit around complaining there is nothing to do…go out and explore! You may very well be missing out on a true hidden treasure.
Way Back Home
We stopped at a rest stop for lunch on the way home from our Ohio and Kentucky. Turns out, some Tennessee rest stops include their own adventures.
And beautiful views.
This was a wonderful trip for our family full of lots of learning and some pretty unforgettable adventures!
Close (Ark) Encounter
The Ark Encounter is not anything that I can really post and share a few family pictures and expect you to really experience it. It is a true personal experience that you really can grasp the enormity of unless you are actually there. Ya’ll, there are just no words to describe how amazing it is.
I’ll do my best to share some highlights from our trip to the Ark. We got there before just before it opened and our achy feet and tired kiddos were ready to head home by around 4. But, in the time, we managed to see and read as much as we could.
The woodwork and craftsmanship was just astounding. I believe over 200 Amish craftsman had a part in this and their amazing art and talent definitely shown through.
This was a great infographic that laid out the plausible way the ark could have held “all” the animals and 8 people. I can’t imagine the amount of research that went in to this.
Taking a quick break on a wooden beam!
The door to the ark. Just one example of how Christ is the only door to Heaven.
After exploring all day, ya gotta take a break. Ya’ll Bryant just went and sprawled out like this.
There is a small petting zoo on sight and the highlight for our whole family were the goats. They were so sweet and we all enjoyed petting them all.
This girl was a trooper through the whole trip and by the end of it, I realized I could turn the back seat of our double stroller around and she could easily climb in and out. This saved my back from a thousand pick up and put downs and she loved talking to mommy when she wasn’t knocked out cold.
Creation Museum Adventures
This was our third trip to the Creation Museum and it was just as good. T
The last time we were there, we had a miscommunication with Ace and he missed out on ziplining. We made sure to get him in to this trip. He had a blast.
The petting zoo…of course, was a big hit.
Emmie loved the duck which they all named Cucumber. She would squeal each time he gave her a little nibble on her hand. 
And there were chickens! She really wanted to give them hugs but they weren’t having any of it.
Ceili Rain and Emmie each choose a fox for their souvenirs!
Quick picture before we head to our next great adventure…the Ark.
At the Convention
We sat through a lot of sessions and all of us learned a lot.
And also got some silly pictures in.
The treat was hearing Andrew Peterson sing on Thursday evening and hearing him speak on Friday morning.
The most we saw of Cincinnati was the rooftops of several beautiful buildings near the parking deck.
The kids were thrilled to meet some new authors but also one that was familiar to us. S. D. Smith wrote a book about rabbits with swords. I grabbed it up for free on the kindle, read it to the kids aloud, and we were hooked. We highly recommend The Green Ember and the whole series! Seriously…rabbits…swords…who could lose.
