Monticello

Several weeks ago Monticello, which is located just outside Charlottesville, VA, hosted Home Educators Day at a reduced rate.  We've never been.  The only draw back was, it is a little over 2 hours away and I had to tutor the next day.  After thinking about it for all of two seconds I decided no way. 

Then I felt guilty.  Why not be insane for a day and drive over four hours to take a 30 minute tour of a house.  But this isn't just any house.  It was home to our third President, Thomas Jefferson and author of the Declaration of Independence. 
After a relatively smooth drive, a bathroom stop at Sheetz (ooohhh yuck!) more coffee, slushies, and jerky (not for me) we finally arrive around 10:30.  I do have to say the drive was absolutely gorgeous. 

Here we are receiving instructions for the day from Lorri, one of our Classical Conversation Directors.  First item on the agenda was to watch a 20 minute film in the theater.  The film focused on Jefferson's achievements, ideas and influence on the country.   We left with a much better idea of his life and the activities of the people who lived and worked at Monticello. 

Next we headed to the Griffin Discovery Room, which is a hands-on activity room designed for children.  Children are able to touch and handle replicas of objects found in the actual house and around the plantation.

Rachel and her friend playing with a cipher wheel.  Decoded it should read "I love Eben Franckewitz".

Nicole playing with a polygraph.

I had no idea Monticello was situated on a mountaintop.  Hints the name, Monticello, which means "little mountain" in Italian.  Though this picture is not the best, the view is breath taking.  No matter where you were on the mountain you can see for miles. 

Jefferson's 1,000 ft. long and  80 ft wide garden terrace.  This fruit and vegetable garden served as a source of food for the plantation.

Today the food is used for tasting events on the grounds during Saturday and Sunday and then what is left is distributed to the employees of the plantation. 

Taking a break for lunch with Lorri and Diane and our children. 

Cleary, Jefferson wants nothing to do with Rachel.

I am thoroughly amazed this picture has no children in it, considering they were running around everywhere. I didn't even realize it until I got home. 

Students from both north and south Classical Conversations campuses.  

Thank you Lorri for organizing such a wonderful field trip.

I didn't sign up for this

I don't recall staining the deck as being part of the marital vows.  Dave made me do 98% of it, by hand, and with the smallest brush he could find.  Pure evil!

Someone, please rescue me!

Island Stylin' 2011

One of our favorite vacations to take as a family is to the Outer Banks, NC. We have been vacationing there since the year 2000. Typically, our goal is to go every other year, since the off year is spent either traveling to Utah or Cedar Shores, DE to visit family. In the past, while staying on the OBX we have been blessed to stay with friends in Kitty Hawk or Nags Head. But since that first trip in 2000 our little family of three has grown to a family of six. So this was the first year we rented a house. This is very exciting!
After spending numerous hours on websites we finally settled on a house in Frisco, NC, which is further south. Unfortunately, Hurricane Irene made her appearance during the last week of August 2011, wiping out portions of Route 12. Because of this we were forced to take a ferry from Swan Quarters down to Ocracoke Island. Then another ferry from Ocracoke to Hatteras Island, where we would then drive north to Frisco.

Problem #1 the only ferry reservation that was available was Friday morning at 10am and our house in Frisco would not be ready until Saturday at 3pm. What would we do for only one night?
Problem #2 the first ferry ride from Swan Quarters to Ocracoke would be 2 hours and 45 minutes and the second ferry another hour.
Stuck! On a boat! With 4 kids and no where to go!   aaaaaahhhhhhh!
I guess this really wouldn't be considered a true problem, I just knew it would be an extremely long day. Our trip would now go from six and half hours to over 12 hours. 
Problem #3 finding a place to stay for only one night. Good luck!

After placing 58 phone calls, well not really, maybe only 14.  I finally found a place to stay for just one night. Most places refused us because our family was either too large or there was a minumum two night stay. 
Since ferry reservations were at 10am we had to leave our house at the demonic hour of 2am. It is not normal for a human being to be awake at 2am.

Ready to go, at an hour I should be snuggled in bed. Yes, we are in Dave's truck instead of my van. Reason being, my van will not survive in the sand.  One of the reasons we enjoy the OBX so much is the ability to drive on the beach.

With time to spare before boarding the ferry we stopped for chocolate milk and donuts . 

Swan Quarter ferry. 

Joseph and Nicole checking out the horizon for the 726th time and there is still 2 hours to go. 

Even though we are on vacation we still have to accomplish some school.  Joseph attempted to do a math lesson also but became seasick.

After almost 3 hours crossing Pamlico Sound we are now on Ocracoke Island.   We then headed to the hotel we would stay at for only one night.  Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of this place.  It was Harley Davidson weekend.  Nothing against Harley Davidson.  We were just awake most of the night.  Listening to lots of partying.

Sight-seeing

Ocracoke Lighthouse

The kids and I experienced Howard's Pub for the first time.  Dave, his brother Joe and their buddies have dinner here during their annual fishing trip in November.

Welcome to Island Stylin'!  After another hour on the Hatteras ferry we are finally "home".

Our first day on the beach.  As you can see, it was overcast and it ended up raining.

Second day on the beach.

It also was overcast, windy and rained, again.

Yes, we are stuck, bad.  First time ever!  In the 17 years that Dave has been traveling to Hatteras with his brother and friends, he has NEVER been stuck.  It took us over an hour to dig the truck out.  I use "us" loosely.  It was Dave that dug us out, BY HAND! I love that man, he's my hero. Next time we'll remember to take a shovel with us. 

I think Nicole is very happy.

I'm only posting this on a dare from my kids.  They didn't think I'd do it. This is what I look like after a day on the beach, greasy face from sunscreen and frizzy, unruly hair from the salt air. 

Joseph, eating one of his favorites.  Soft shell crab.

Our one and only sunny day without rain.  We stayed on the beach all day.

A new use for a boogie board.  Let's pile seaweed on this board and build a dam.

We spent our last evening with a walk on the beach.

We've come full circle.  Early morning eating S'mores Poptarts and waiting for the Swan Quarter ferry.  Out of the entire week, we only had one day of good weather and the rest was rainy, cloudy and windy. 

Though the weather wasn't the best, I am so thankful for:

A week straight with my hubby, love it.

The truck, thank you Kohler.

Vacation days my husband has so we can go to the OBX.

The foosball table during the rainy days. 

A completely stocked kitchen, and I'm not talking food.

Safe travels.

There's something in my ear!

Posted by Rachel

Finally, for my 13th birthday I got my ears pierced.
I'll be honest, standing outside of Claire's Boutique in Apple Blossom Mall I began to chicken out. Since I wanted both my ears pierced at the same time, we had to wait an extra 15 minutes for another employee to return from her lunch break. When she arrived, we looked at the earrings and decided on a small pair of 14kt white gold diamonds (not real, do you think my parents would pay for real diamonds?). Eventually I pulled up enough courage to do it, well really my dad made me do it, I just like to make myself sound heroic.:)

My Marine dad made me do it, hmm, why does that sound weird? Maybe because he traveled to Kuwait to fight in a war, had to get 7-10 shots (he doesn't remember how many), but for the life of him refuses to donate blood or allow his finger to be pricked for a glucose reading. Good heavens. So he promised me that if I pierced my ears, he would prick his finger. Even though that promise was lost in all the excitment, I held it against him.

So I jumped into the purple chair and when the employee made dots on my ears, I started freaking out on the inside. Then both the ladies lined up the ear "gun" and counted down from three. 3, 2, 1. No turning back now. To be honest, it didn't really hurt that much. Just like a tiny pricker bush. Once the earrings were through my ears, I started to get shaky. When I was supposed to twist them, I couldn't grab the tiny earrings, since I was trembling.

February 11th I hit the six week mark of getting them pierced, since I had them pierced on New Years Eve. One of my best friends gave me pearl earrings, silver studs, and diamonds. From my two other best friends, I received gummy bear earrings. (I love gummy bears!!)
Here are some before and after pictures.

Summer Fun 2011

I know! I am way behind on posting so here is a slide show of our summer. Pictures range from Mother's Day to Labor Day weekend. Enjoy! Look for a future post of our family vacation to the Outer Banks.

Make a slideshow

He's Mine

Today is his birthday.

He's 44.

He's older than I am. I like it that way. Although I won't tell you how much older.

On our way to church he comments, "I'm half-way to my death."
"Do you plan on dying by the time you're 88?" I ask.
"Ya never know," he replies.

This morning he took his family to church, of which I am so thankful. He then spent the day watching football, eating clam dip with Utz potato chips and feasted on one of his favorite meals for dinner, ribs on the grill, baked beans, and cole slaw.

He doesn't ask for much. Well maybe a gigantic bowl of cookie dough ice cream.

Beloved, my very best friend, my husband, I adore you!

Happy Birthday! I love you David Gay! And yes, you are mine!

Double digits and a Teenager

I am officially the mother of a teenage girl and a son who entered into the world of double digits. I'm scared! Pray for me!
We just celebrated two major milestones just a day apart.
Joseph turned ten years old and Rachel turned thirteen.
"Mom, I can't believe I'm a century old," commented Joseph.
"You mean a decade?" I corrected.
"Yes, that's it."

Joseph at 11 months. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Those brown eyes are the only thing that keeps him alive.

4 years old. The dimples also add to the cuteness.

6 1/2 years old

9 1/2 years old. What happened to the smile?

Rachel 7 1/2 months

Kindergarten - Rachel never liked this picture. She thought her bangs were too "poofy".

7 years old. This is probably one of my all time favorite photos of her.

12 1/2 years and she is growing into such a beautiful young woman. On a side note look for a future post of Rachel getting her ears pierced. Her thirteenth birthday gift.

Happy Birthday Rachel and Joseph!