Girls Only Roadtrip To Wilmington & Wrightsville Beach

A couple weekends back, Arabella had a her final cheer competition in Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington is on the coast and is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Charlotte...I actually forgot how big North Carolina is until we started to plan the road trip! We carpooled with Deanna and Cadence which was fun. Arabella and Cadence had a blast hanging out in the back! I did the driving and it wasn't a bad drive, but I am not used to 2 lane highways where the speed limit is constantly changing, especially when you drive through little towns! And let's not forget about when the highway has stop lights on it...and I thought the roads in Montreal were interesting!

We checked into our hotel which was is downtown historic Wilmington. I wish we had a bit more time to explore the area - beautiful old homes and gardens - the azalea festival was going on during our stay so I am sure the gardens were beautiful. Our hotel was located right on the Cape Fear River...remember the movie Cape Fear?!?! I believe some of it was filmed in the area where we stayed! Arabella and Cadence loved going crazy in the room before we checked out the river and then made our way to the beach.

We arrived at Wrightsville Beach late in the day. The beach is my favorite place and the late afternoon is my favorite time to be there. I love when it has cleared out and the beach is quiet. I remember during the Summers in Westbrook, when I would work during the days, as soon as I would get home, I would change and head out to the beach, even it was 4 in the afternoon...it was so relaxing. Arabella was so excited to be back at the beach and I was totally in my happy place!

Despite the wind, setting sun and the cold water, we had a great time at the beach. I loved having my toes in the sand and salt air in my hair. The beach is in my blood and I can't stay away too long. Arabella has already asked to go back...she is totally my daughter.

Before long, we made our way back to the hotel after grabbing a bite to eat. Arabella and Cadence needed to be up bright and early to get ready for their competition. Once the girls were settled into bed, Deanna and I grabbed a bottle of wine and went to the hallway (we couldn't drink in the room as it would have kept the girls awake and it was bad enough it took many times of us going back into the room to get them to finally settle down) - despite some awkward looks and random questions from other hotel guests, we chatted and enjoyed our wine while the girls slept!

Got Pollen?!?!?!

Since moving to Charlotte, my Spring and Fall allergies have been horrible. We have a ton of pine trees and the pine pollen is out of control. It also doesn't help that the Piedmont region (which is where we live) is much lower than the surrounding areas so it is hard for the air to clear out. It is like we live in a bowl and crappy air just settle here. Needless to say, yellow pollen covers anything and everything outside...

April Showers Bring Beautiful Sunsets

We had a rainy day last week and it cleared up late in the afternoon. The sun was only out for a little bit, but the resulting sunset was magnificent.

My Big Boy

I can't believe that Max is 15 months old!! He is just growing up so quick - I think it helps to have a big sister that he adores and wants to what she does. I blink and it seems like he changes. Sometimes when I get him out of his crib in the morning, he looks older, like he has grown up overnight. He is into everything, he wants to try everything and is very head strong. He now likes to go into the pantry and pick out his food. When he finds it, he will bring it to us to open for him. I am totally serious!

Deciding what to pick out...

Yum...MamaChia Squeeze! He is a serious eater and has a great appetite.

He is also starting to climb. I turned my back and found him here the other day.

Tonight we enjoyed our dinner on the patio. We grilled out and had fresh corn on the cob. This was his first time eating it and he loved it!

Spring Around School

Arabella has been so busy at school. I guess with Spring in the air, there is more to see and do. It seems like everything jumps into high gear the closer we get to the end of the school year...which will be here soon!

Arabella's school had an "art walk" in the hallways. We don't get to much of her art work sent home on a regular basis. The art teacher told me during one of the times I volunteered that she keeps it until after the art show and then sends it home at the end of the year. Interesting...as I can't imagine where she actually keeps the art work of over 1,000 kids! Arabella was very excited to take me on a tour of her school and to show me her art work. I like how the hallways are covered in the art - it was so colorful and bright.

Arabella was also excited to show me the flowers in her classroom garden that we planted in December.  I can't believe how well they are coming up - I was afraid that we had planted them too late in the season.  Her teacher is pleased with the garden and it makes the courtyard cheery.

Last week, I volunteered to decorate her classroom door. Her teacher asked that I come up with a theme that could carry the classroom through to the end of the year. I decided to do something bright and colorful and along the theme of Spring. Arabella even helped make the clouds. It was fun, but was time consuming. Her teacher loved it and so did her classmates.

And for Easter, her teacher had a math themed Easter egg hunt for them in the school courtyard last week. They each had to bring in a dozen Easter eggs filled with candy, stickers or trinkets. They were then given math problems in the egg carton and they had to solve the problem and then find the corresponding egg. Arabella had fun and was excited to share her finds with Max and I after school.

Springtime Happenings

The weather here has been so nice - warm days, cool nights, bright sun - the perfect spring...if you don't count the pine pollen. My allergies have been obnoxious...sometimes I just want to scratch my eyes out. Just down right horrible, but we try not to let that stop us from enjoying the outdoors. (Sometimes I have to force myself outside and I have to remind myself that before long it will be way too hot to be outside!) The trees are popping with leaves and flowers are bursting open.

Max and Arabella have been playing in the garden since we haven't planted any plants yet...that will be very, very soon.

The backyard is full of beautiful birds. I think many are building nests in the trees. I was able to catch a few pics of some of our visitors.

We have been creating art on the driveway. Max loves to do exactly what Arabella does and I am always surprised at how well he copies her. He had to color with the chalk too.

Our tulips and daffodils have opened. Arabella loves to check on them each morning when we leave for school to see if there are any new flowers and then she checks again when we get home. They are so happy and colorful.

The trees are full of buds. I love seeing each day how it changes.

Arabella and I spent a "Girl's Day" together. We went and used a gift card that Jay had given me for Mother's Day last year. We had manicures and pedicures. It was a ton of fun and we love our pretty fingers and toes!

We even brought out the water table. Both Arabella and Max are water babies so they love having it to play in!

April Fools!

April Fools Day always catches me off guard and I usually don't have anything planned in advance. Sometimes I totally forget but this year, I was gently reminded by a Facebook post to my wall by a friend (thanks Bram!). Since Arabella isn't too into the day just yet and Max still wouldn't get it, I decided to go low key for a little silliness...

Yes, you are seeing correct, I glued googly eyes to a bunch of food in the fridge.  Arabella wasn't sure she was actually seeing correctly when I opened the door at breakfast.  When she figured it out, she laughed and thought it was funny to see the eyes on everything!  It was a bit silly, but when you are last minute like me, you need to take the easy road!