Life Lately - Sept 17th thru 22nd

Here is what we have been up to this week - 

Monday the 17th the kids were out of school for rain and flooding and it was our 13th anniversary! 

Corey and I had planned to go somewhere but with the kids out we made it a family trip and set off to explore Durham.

The visitors center was really nice but we had no idea Durham was flooding too with the Eno River so not much was open! 

We did walk down "Tobacco Road" which is usually very pretty with lots of places to eat 

Downtown view - we incorporated this in with Caleb's NC Project since we knew the due date was coming up!

Family Anniversary Lunch at Mellow Mushroom - it was hot and we walked a good way.  We had to eat kind of rushed because our parking meter was about to run out but it was good!   We had pretzel bites, pizzas, salads and spaghetti!

View of downtown Durham with kids and Corey about to cross the street 

I had a return at Nordstroms but this girl is always up for shopping - we just looked but she was sad we didn't do any shopping for her! 

Ice Cream break and some shopping for Corey - he loves a mall - can you tell? 

Kids and I were happy with our ice cream!  Dippin Dots for the kids and Corey and I shared Haagan Daas.  Nice treat on a humid day!

We stopped by NC State and got a picture by the Bell Tower.  Ella took a nap so we didn't ride around Meredith College, just NC State.  Corey did a little tour for Caleb but it has changed a lot since we were in college.

That night my mom kept the kids (and gave us some cash for our anniversary) so we could go to dinner.  We ate at Varee and it was good, just spicy!  We also got coffee and donuts for dessert.  Nice night out!  I wasn't that hungry and finally gave Varee a chance and liked it!

I am looking older but thankful that Corey is still by my side! 

Kids were out of school Tuesday too so Owen hung with us so Kent and Melanie could work. 

Kids got a bubble bath and also helped me bathe Oreo (in their undies!) 

We tried to make cake pops that Ella wanted to make from her Secretkeeper journal!

We didn't have all the ingredients but they were still good!

Caleb shopped online - he LOVES an RC car right now 

We also played outside while it was cool 

Sweet cousins - Owen looks up and loves both of them so much!

We were glad he had a day to play with us! 

Ella's artwork - she was drawing her unicorn bike helmet.

Beautiful rainbow in Wilson  

Wednesday I had chemo #5 - my HCG was down to 2479!  PTL!

We were on cloud 9 it was down 5,000!  Some of my labs are off but that is too be expected on this kind of IV treatment.  Even if my counts are off, we are so happy my HCG is WAY down!

Mammy drove me around since I was tired and not feeling the best and we took Caleb to guitar after we picked the kids up at school.  Mammy and Ella played the drums!  I got a nap on the way home from Greenville to pour thru the day after treatment.

This girl dances and sings all the time - this is while we were waiting during Caleb's guitar lesson! 

She is a hoot and we were trying to buy her a Christmas present but she was so nosey - just like her mama!

Oreo had her surgery to be fixed at 6 months and we all missed her! 

I am not going to lie I enjoyed a puppy free night but missed her too!

She came home all stitched up but wild as ever :)

Hurricane Florence Weekend

I wanted to document this but realized I didn't take a lot of pictures!

We began preparing for Hurricane Florence on Tuesday, September 11th and the kids got out of school early on Wednesday, September 12th.  Thankfully Corey and mom were both off on Thursday and Friday of that week so we had plenty of time to get our stuff moved and ready.  We got some things done around the house, hung out at moms a lot with Kent and his family and just did a bunch of nothing honestly!

Wed night before the storm started

Chillin at Mammy's house  

Snuggle/Movie Time 

Exercise Time for the kids - thanks to a library video we rented! 

Cousin Fun!  More movies to pass the time 

Brooklynn was worn out and fell fast asleep - don't think anyone else ever did but we all tried at some point!

When I was little we use to always have hurricane parties with lots of snacks so we had one on Wednesday night since church was called off before the storm even started - hot chocolate and a movie! 

There have been lots of triple rainbows seen in NC and I love this picture!

Friday night we got together with the Harrells for a little while and you could tell all the kids were stir crazy:)  We popped them popcorn and it was everywhere but the kids had fun!

By Saturday we were all stir crazy so we rode out to look around and ate at the Doughnut Shop and enjoyed dinner with friends that night - Hutchens, Guesses and Boltons.

I was worn out and in bed by 8:00 but thankful to have a warm dry house and lots of resources if we needed it.  New Bern, Wilmington, and the coast got hit really hard with a lot of flooding.  It breaks my heart and we are definitely praying for them as clean up and restoration for them begins.

We feel so blessed on how we weathered this storm - I was really worried it would be another big flooding event but thank goodness we never even lost power and bought a bunch of junk food for nothing!

Life Lately - thru Sept 12th

I hate these are out of order again but trying to keep my phone clear and download and update our blog as I can...

Ella's Birthday Weekend at American Girl

She had a blast - weekend before her birthday! 

They sang Happy Birthday to her the night we ate at the American Girl Bistro!

Ella's class schedule - I took this quick picture the night of Open House

She is loving school with her friends and Miss Brick! 

Caleb's class list in his homeroom

So far he is not loving school so pray he loves 4th grade - we love his teachers but its the first year he has been separated from a lot of his buddies.  Thankful he is making new friends - James Daniels has been a blessing to Caleb this year! 

Just one of my favs! 

Ella's class list - a little blurry but it was quick pic on the first day of school

The kids schedule each week - love that they have the same specials! 

Corey ate lunch with Caleb one day and this girl would not let him live it down - so thankful he went to lunch with Ella later that week and send me a picture! 

Pool Party fun for Haley's 7th Birthday!

Sweet friends with Haley, Aubree and LK 

 

Love this lifelong bestie who is always taking care of others!

I enjoyed hanging with her, Staci and D'Shay that night as well as Talia and some other Wilson Prep mamas! 

Jamie took these sweet girls to get pedicures and lunch for Leah's 6th Birthday 

These girls are her church BFFs - Leah and Cat 

Look how sweet! 

Ella loved it!  They tried a new place and I can't wait to go back with her. 

Jamie took them to lunch at Pizza Inn and got their face painted.

This was right before we headed to Greenville to see our new baby cousin Micah!

The kids were so happy to finally meet Micah and I was so glad to finally get to hold her. 

The kids were in a play on church for Grandparents Day!

Jackie and Wendy were the lead role and did a great job! 

Some of my church BFFs performed and did a great job but made me laugh :) 

Meridith sent me a picture of the bunny the kids took Micah with her a few days later! 

Ella first SeeSaw post with her class

2nd grade selfie :) 

Caleb celebrate Charlie and Stone's Birthdays this past Sunday at Stone's house after church 

I love the first 5 app! 

 I also love getting pictures of my sweet boy when he is at school!

He is loving his Math and Science class - his teacher makes it fun and those are his favorite subjects! 

At Caleb's guitar class this week the kids were so sweet playing together while we waited for his scheduled lesson 

He was playing the chords and letting Ella strum 

Look at the look on both of their faces - sure do love them!

Caleb with his teacher Dale at Fat Cat 

He has learned so much!   

Ella did a little Christmas shopping while we were there - this airboard was fun! 

She also wants a little guitar like her brother.

This girl sure looks up to him and loves him! 

Another picture of Caleb enjoying the party

Stone is his buddy from school/STRIDE and is in 5th grade at New Hope and Charlie is one of his BFFs from school and church.  We are thankful for Charlie and his whole family!

That's it for this week so far!

The kids got out at 1:00 on Wed and are out of school on Thursday and Friday.  Merck is also closed for the rest of the week so we are starting hurricane prep here and praying for all of those that will be affected by the storm!