Little Artists

Recently Five Oaks Academy hosted an art show where they displayed some of the kids' best art work from the year.  I love the way they do it because they actually mat it and hang it so it looks so professional.

This was G's favorite animal (a chambered nautilus) done in Eric Carle style.  

G's Audubon style bird

My favorite - "The Boat Men"

Grady also did this self portrait, which was Eric's favorite

Anson's flowers

I really enjoyed seeing their art displayed in this way, and I hope to display some of it on our walls once it is sent home!

Spring is in Bloom

Several weeks ago everything was really in bloom around here.  Everywhere you went there were blooming trees, tulips, and every sort of flower.  As usual we spent plenty of time outside enjoying it all!

Anson picked some flowers for Mama at Grady's soccer practice

We have had many nice warm days - lots of 70s and 80s.  This was weeks ago, and it was plenty hot enough to run through the sprinklers!

We have been doing some more outdoor art

A beautiful afternoon at the park

Then we went out to eat and sat outside!

We are so thankful for a warm and sunny spring after one of the worst winters in history!

Loving the Great Outdoors

Recently we have been finding out just how much our children enjoy being outside, especially in the woods or by a lake or beach.  They love nature!  Hiking, fishing, camping - it's all so much fun with them!  So we decided to take a big plunge and buy a 33 foot travel trailer, complete with beds for each of the kids (as well as for us!).  They were so super excited, especially Grady!

Here we are on the day we found our camper!

One door goes into the main living area and the other goes into the master bedroom

It's quite roomy, and they are listening to the sound system.  It's cool because there are 3 zones of speakers - front, back, and outside, so you can control where the music goes.

Kitchen, with island (of course) and Corian counters

Dining area (seats us all with plenty of room) and pull-out couch, if we had additional guests

Bunk room - there is another bunk and another pull-out couch on the other side

Hi Camille!

So many fun adventures await!

I have to include one of the day it was officially ours and Eric brought it home!

The following weekend we did not go camping, but we certainly got out to enjoy the beauty of nature.  We headed to Caesar's Head State Park, which was so much more amazing that I imagined it would be.  Grady chose to go there as part of his homework assignment that week, in which he needed to do an outdoor activity with his family.

This is from the overlook - looking towards Table Rock (where we have hiked before) and the reservoir there.  It feels like you are at the top of the world!

Wen we first arrived, after a VERY windy drive to the top of the mountain

We headed down into this crack in the cliffs, basically

On our hike

Yes, Anson is in the hiker.  He got tired and swapped off with Camille

Grady loved the drip waterfall and the cave behind it

Grady at the overlook 

Mama and the boys

What an amazing place, and since it is only about an hour away, we will be back soon, I am sure!

The next weekend we decided to make our maiden voyage in the camper!  We were smart and stayed close to home.  We headed to the northern side of Greenville to Paris Mountain.

Our setup

Gathering firewood

Grady roasting marshmallows the first night

Watching a show on our big TV while we made breakfast that first morning

Fishing in the lower lake

On our misty hike to the hidden mountain lake - very cool and peaceful

Saying hello to some snails

Happy birthday Dada!

Making s'mores again that evening

The trip was not without its bumps along the way, and we definitely had a few kinks to work out.  But all in all it was a lot of fun and everything went fairly well.  We are so excited about all of the many trips we will be taking and memories we will be making in our camper!

Girlie Girl Time

Camille recently got to have some girl time for a haircut, shopping, and even a tea party!

She had been asking about getting her hair cut for weeks, and she was so excited.  Many kids get upset (Anson used to) but not her - she loved it!

Her "before" shot

She thought she wanted to sit in Mama's lap, but then decided on a race car!

Getting a blow-out :)

Pretty!

She got a little French braid - so cute!

She was thrilled to get jellybeans and a balloon!  She also got a certificate and we got to keep all of her little blonde locks!

After that we went to Target, where she decided she was a big lady.  I was looking for a gift, turned around, and she had found a purse, cart, and phone, just like that!

That weekend she got to be girlie again when she went to Ashley's tea party birthday.  I don't think anyone had better manners than her, and she was the littlest one!  Everyone was very impressed :)

Excited for Ashley to open her gift!

One last girlie shot of Camille.  Here she is at the park yesterday - she picked her dress out :)