Spring Break: Day 3

We arrived at Chincoteague Island at 3:00 in the morning after a long drive which didn't begin until well past bedtime.  It was an easy drive because the kids slept the whole way.  We left so late because it was difficult (to say the least) to get all the bikes on the car but after a couple of hours, we figured it out.  It still was a challenge while we were on the island to fit all the bikes on our bike rack which was clearly not designed to hold five bikes.  Finally, on the way home, we actually bungee corded two bikes to the top of the van which meant we only needed to put three bikes on the back of the van.  It did make it a little easier.  Too bad we didn't think of it earlier. 

The first day on the island, we slept in until well past 10, had breakfast and went to the beach.  The weather was rainy, cloudy and the wind at the beach was bitterly cold so after a couple hours of walking and wading, we decided it was a good day for bike riding.  The kids and I rode all over the island.  There are trails everywhere and lots of wildlife to be seen--tons of unique and beautiful birds and we even saw some huge turtles on our ride.  The kids did a great job bike riding.  Only Caitlin fell and she recovered quickly.  They children had ample energy and it made for a fun day!  After a very long bike ride, we called Paul and he came with the car and picked us up.  We loaded all the bikes onto the car except mine and Rachel's.  Rachel and I then rode our bikes off Assateague Island over the bridge and all the way to the other side of Chincoteague to our hotel.  We didn't realize what long bike ride that was until the next day when we drove back to Assateague Island and thought, "Wow that was a long way!"  The nice thing about the island is that it is mostly flat so it's easy riding the whole way even for the smallest kids. 

The view from our balconied hotel room was magnificent!



A bitter wind and cold temperatures greeted us at the beach!

So we took a bike ride all around the island

We saw stunning birds

Even this gigantic turtle!

It was absolutely beautiful!

Exhausted but happy after a day of bike riding

Caitlin sweeps up!!

Sunset at the hotel





Spring Break, Days 1 & 2

The day we were leaving for spring break, Paul's foot and leg hurt like crazy and had visible red streaks of infection.  We were worried he'd have to be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics.  Luckily, the doctor determined that the infection could be treated with oral antibiotics but banned Paul from getting into the water and encouraged him to stay off his feet.  This provided us with a bit of a challenge as we were going to a water park and the beach but we decided to go anyway and Paul would simply sit and observe and I would get in the water with the kids and do all the active things with them.  And so the spring break commenced a little later than planned.

We began our trip in the Poconos (our nearest mountain range) at Great Wolf Lodge.  It's a massive water park with tons of water slides and pools.    We spent two days riding the water slides, waiting in lines, swimming in pools, floating in the lazy river and body surfing in the wave pool.  It would have been easier with another adult to accompany one of the little kids but I would often leave one kid to sit with Paul while I took the others on a water slide and then switched.  Rachel was a big help to me taking a little one with her.  Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely.  It was so nice to be somewhere warm with water while the temperatures outside were still bitter cold. 

The girls on the deck outside our room.  It was a bit chilly!

The girls can swim but I kept them in life jackets for all the water slides, just to be safe!

Spencer loved walking on water.  He did it over and over again!

Corn doggy dog!!!

Inside our room.  Now these are the TV stars I like to watch!

The kids love Daddy!

Exhausted after an exhilarating couple of days at the water park.

Guess who was at Great Wolf Lodge?  The kids were excited!

When we arrived home to pack for our next trip, we found our neighborhood blossoming.  Beautiful!

Random pictures. . .

Courtney and Caitlin love to sit in front of the fire on cold wintry days.

Spencer's currently enthralled with all things war related.  He checks out books about different wars and builds authentic looking lego tanks, world war II boats, war planes, etc.  He can tell you about many different battles, weapons, soldiers, heroes, villians and is becoming a real war historian.  He found this hat and fake gun at the dollar store and had to pose for a picture with his Dad. 

 Here's a World War II scene Spencer set up in the basement. 

He loves this tank.  We found it at the thrift store for a couple of bucks!  Lucky thrift store find!

Rachel, looking pretty after doing her makeup in the car after on the way to a church youth super activity at the stake center.  We had to drive directly up there from her basketball game because her game didn't end until the rides left.  It takes about an hour and a half to get to the stake center but it's worth it. Rachel loves being with the youth of the stake and had a wonderful time as always!