Hatteras Island-2012

We traveled to the Outer Banks at the end of July with Andrew's mom, Diann. The kids had a wonderful time at the beach. Liam learned to jump waves, Colin and Eva body surfed, Andrew swam in the ocean, and Adria and I worked on our tans. We stayed in Salvo, south of Nags Head. The area isn't as built up and touristy. Not a chain restaurant in site! I would love to live closer to the beach and would love to go back with the kids. Now with friends in North Carolina that might be possible.

Sand dune before the beach

Liam on one of his many treks between the surf and the umbrella

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Apple Ugly from the Orange Blossom Bakery

Eva wasn't so sure about the crab legs!

We were lucky it only stormed one full day. Adria and Colin still enjoyed the beach.

My handsome boys.

Beautiful Coquina clam shells that look like butterfly wings. Some of the many we brought back.

One day a convention of ghost crabs visited us on the beach. They would pop up out of the sand, head to the surf for a bit, and then scurry back to their homes. I enjoyed following them to capture pictures.

One of my favorite pictures of Andrew. He enjoyed swimming to the sandbar and jumping waves.

Eva, the beach bum

Summer 2012- Oklahoma

Chokma! We just returned from ten days in Oklahoma visiting with family and friends. This was one of the more dramatic trips we have taken. My mom broke her arm at work the week before we came. Having the epicenter of our familial craziness out of commission was an unexpected and unwelcome event. Added to that, my allergies played tricks on me and I came home with an earache. Eva was semi-electrocuted(the driver of the four-wheeler she was on backed into an electric fence!) and hit in the eye with a sparkler. Thankfully, no lasting injuries there, just awesome stories to tell. Colin hurt his wrist playing basketball and burned a couple of fingers. Adria, Liam and Andrew were injury free, but surely tired of the grumpy wounded.

We did have some great times. We were able to visit with Grandpa Wayne, Grandma Clarice and Aunt LeeAnn. Liam caught a couple of fish with Grandpa Keel. Aunt April supplied us with amazing cupcakes. We visited the Chickasaw Cultural Center and would highly encourage anyone and everyone visiting this amazing place. Came away proud of my heritage and grateful my kids were able to see it. At the same time I visited with a cousin I haven't seen in a long time and share memories of a departed cousin.

And then there are all of the kid's cousins on my side of the family. It was great to have them all together. My sisters and brother sure have good looking kids!

Long and Winding Year

The past school year has been an exercise in change. Having one of your children leave the home, creates an empty space. Adria has had a great year at Dartmouth, but we have missed her. The dynamics of the house, patterns of conversations, the flow of events have been altered. Eva and I are the only girls. Colin is the oldest. One of my best friends has moved. We text or phone Adria daily and Skype once a week, but it doesn't make up for having her here. We love that she is at Dartmouth and having amazing experience. It has just taken us a while to find our rhythm without her.

Can a Tardis Get Me to the Dominican Republic?

Last week Adria was accepted into an alternative Spring Break program. She will be learning about the Dominicans(history, culture) and participating in service projects. She believes this year they will focus on clean water initiatives. I've sent my darling girl across the country to college, and now she will be traveling to another country. When did this happen? It feels like she was just dressed up as a bunny for her first Halloween.
Last week was also momentous for us. After almost twenty years of marriage we have a second car. In our driveway is a beautiful, Tardis blue Honda Fit. We needed a second car and one that is easier to drive with better gas mileage. I am still getting used to not driving in the van. I love that I can turn corners better and tighter. Parking is a breeze, but I miss the V6 engine of the van. If it really were a Tardis, I would be tempted to travel to the Dominican Republic with Adria ; )

"A Camp Chair in New Hamp-chair, That's for me!"

The Green at Dartmouth

Adria has officially started school. I flew up to help her move into the dorm and spend some time before classes started. New Hampshire is beautiful.

Andres part of the East Wheelock dorm cluster

In the dorm, looking over the many activities on campus.

She had a wonderful time during her DOC trip. DOC is the Dartmouth Off Campus group. They sponsor activities like hiking, canoeing, etc. They also host preterm trips for the incoming freshman. Adria stayed on an organic farm and according to her besides the dancing she "ate and ate and ate!"

Farmer's Market on the Green with Reed Hall in the background

 We all miss her, but are happy that she is happy. And thank goodness for Skype!!

Last Days of Summer...and childhood

While the East coast prepares for Hurricane Irene, we are preparing for our own climate change. Adria leaves for college in a little over a week. She has been packing up her clothes, her room. Andrew and I wonder what will life be like without her. There won't be a plethora of shoes, mainly flip flops, near the front door. The kitchen counters will be dirtier since she obsessively cleans one whenever she passes. We won't find her awake at 1 am studying or have to help her after she has hairsprayed her eyeball.

Adria will fly up early for a Freshman off-campus trip. I will come up a few days later and help move her into the dorm. Andrew has already finagled a conference at Dartmouth in October. We will get to see her again in December, but I'm not sure how we will cope with the Winter and Spring terms. She will be gone from January until June. Wish us all luck!

One Crazy Summer

Once again, I am under the wire as I complete my goal of blogging at least once a month. That's once a calendar month, not once every 30 days!

The last two months have been busy. Colin went to guitar camp, and Eva went to art camp. Adria has been working two jobs. In the mornings she is a counselor for 3 yr olds at a local day camp, and in the afternoon, she works at the local Great Harvest Bread Co. Liam has been busy "helping" me throughout the day. We are all preparing for our last month with Adria at home. She leaves for New Hampshire on September 5th.

The quality is a little poor, but here is a video of Colin's ensemble at camp. They performed at the Robller Winery in New Haven.

Eva's puppet from art camp. A Jamaican witch!

Typical Liam taking pictures of himself in church. At least he wasn't causing a ruckus.

Oklahoma Vacation
While Andrew flew to Liverpool to a conference, the kids and I drove to Oklahoma. Later, Andrew joined us.

Looking northeast from Mom's house in the Moore/Norman area. Several tornadoes danced around us. Liam was not excited about the cellar with spiders!

Vanilla with cream snocone from Roller Shaved Ice in Tecumseh. One of many we had during the trip.

Eva and Liam enjoying Grandma Kay's milk goats, Cocoa and Licorice.

Fishing with Grandpa Keel at Aunt Julie's pond.

Eva loved fishing as long as I baited the hook and released the fish from the hook.

Looking west from one of Julie's pastures.

Wide Open Spaces

Decisions, Decisions

After a LONG application process, Adria has finally decided on a college. Next year she will be attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. My little girl, my little bunnybear will be living across the country. Thank goodness for cell phones, texting and Skype! I miss her already and really don't want to know what the house feels like with out her. But(and this is a big BUT) I know she will be happy. It has been all her choice. She filled out those applications on her own, wrote essays, and most importantly spent a weekend fasting and praying about her decision. I'm glad she was able to visit last Fall, see the campus and attend classes. She is already mapping out courses and study abroad programs she would like to take.
I am excited, nervous, wistful, pleased, and anxious for her new adventure. And ours.

Martin Luther King Tree

As part of the this year's Martin Luther King, celebration the student at Eva and Liam's school made mosaic dream trees. Each student was able to create a leaf out of ceramic. There are two trees displayed on either side of the entrance doors at school. Students were encouraged to write messages capturing Martin Luther King's vision of peace, having dreams and harmony.

Both trees look like this one. This is for students Kindergarten thru 2nd grade.

I love Eva's dove in the upper left hand corner.

How sweet is it that Liam's "I luv mine Mom" will always be on display?

Welcome to the 21st Century!

Watch out world, the Browns have entered the 21st century, and we have multiple phones to prove it. I have been trying to convince Andrew that I NEEDED to be able to text Adria once she is in college. He has been resisting. Are you shocked? The beautiful man who loves technology is also a frugal man. Cell phones with texting isn't something easily covered by a work expense account. I was finally able to wear him down. And you know what? Last night he turned to me and said, "I love my new phone."

Wax Hearts

Originally, I intended this post to be about my favorite Valentine's Day art project. It involves melting crayons with a candle, smearing it on wax paper, and carefully ironing until the colors melt and mix. Adria, however, want this post to be about how much I love my children. Well, those children are trying my patience today. Adria has been asking endless questions about a book. Colin has been in a grumpy mood all day. Eva has been video taping death scenes heavily influenced by The Blair Witch Project. And, Liam has been jumping on the sofa with half of his hair sticking up and identifying everyone's imperfections as only a five year old can. They are now sitting in my room arguing about absolutely ridiculous topics. But I love them and wouldn't trade them for anything. I might be tempted to loan them out for a while though.

They are my Valentines.

One of Liam's best pictures. Smile wise.

Looked out the kitchen window one morning to see a flock of birds in the trees. Made me feel like I was in a Hitchcock movie.

Cookie time

Never let an artist decorate cookies. Nothing is ever perfect.

Midnight is never far from the action. Even when he wants to be.

He was truly puzzled by the packaging.

Contact

I have no idea what I came into contact with, but I now have a rash on the underside of my chin, across my chin, tip of my nose, across one eye and adjacent temple and most distressingly my lips. My lips were puffy, red and now feel like sandpaper. I spent the first three days of this week on major antihistamines in an effort to stop the itching. Did I mention I was itching? I try to keep from scratching. Thank goodness it is only on my face. Did I just write that? (Sigh). It has been a long week.

Whirlwind

Life is just too busy. Too many places to be and too few hours in the day. Adria has been busy with college applications. We, the parents, have officially been banned from discussing which colleges she gets in to and where she might be going. She wants to make her decision without any outside pressure. Colin has been busy composing and playing his guitar. He is excited for the possibility of a new guitar next year. Eva has discovered that math isn't so bad and that she might actually have a talent for it. Liam continues to make strides in his speech therapy and loves kindergarten. Andrew would love to spend all his time researching and writing papers, but his duties at church and work cut into his time. I feel more and more scattered as the children grow older. So many places to be! Here's hoping the next year will be quieter. Shhh! Don't dampen my spirits with trying to break this expectation.

Tales of a Kindergarten Apple Picker

Today I traveled to an apple orchard with Liam and a gaggle of Kindergarteners. The day was hot and sunny and any breeze was welcome.

Liam loved looking for and picking apples. He also loved poking and kicking at all the rotting ones on the ground.

We walked through the corn maze. Reminds me of playing in the corn as a kid.

This is Liam's "stop taking pictures and let me eat my apple" face.

A favorite had to be the pumpkin loader. This oversized, air gun rotated up like a rocket then shot small pumpkins across the field. All of the kids and adult males got a kick out of this one. Thank goodness they launched them into an unoccupied part of the orchard!

Finally, a bus ride home. School buses are just as uncomfortable and disgusting as I remember.