Wednesday, June 27, 2012

OBX Vacation 2012

Well, another Swickheimer Family OBX Vacation has come and gone.  And like the previous two, this week went by all too fast!  Aside from getting a rough start - along with the usual family drama - it was a fun, relaxing, and much-needed vacation.  The kids had a wonderful time, which is the most important thing, and I got a glorious tan (2nd most important thing)!

So what was the rough start, you ask?  Well, some jacka$$ rear-ended us while sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the bridge to Corrolla. Aaaand, my bike was on the back of our Pilot.  My beautiful, worth-more-than-most-cars bike.  (Aside from my family) I haven't been attached to something so strongly since my blankie, back in 1982.  This bike means the WORLD to me.  Not only does it represent all the hard work I've put forth for my race happening in 2 weeks, but most importantly it represents a friendship that I've created with my dear friend Kelly.  To most, it sounds silly.  But that bike represents a love and passion that I discoved within myself - something I never imagined possible - and Kelly introduced me to it all.  So the fact that somebody so carelessly could have potentially crushed all that passion, blood, sweat, tears, emotion......well.  I wasn't going to let them get by without hearing (and seeing) a piece of my mind!

Miraciously, though - by the grace of God, indeed - no damage was done at all. To my bike or the car.  But that didn't stop me from becoming a crazy-lunatic for about 5 minutes.  I whipped open my car door, through a handful of profanities at the IDIOT driver who rear-ended us, examinded by bike inside-and-out, then threw some more profantities at him just to ensure he understood what I was trying to communicate to him.

Jacka$$.

I still get heated thinking about him.

Aaaaaaaanyway.  I digress.

It was a wonderful vacation, and we had perfect weather to compliment it all.  Can't wait for our next vacation!
In honor of vacation, I did a "beach nails" design on Emma!

Letting the waves crash into us on the first night we arrived.


My babies. Love 'em.

Soul surfing

Check out the crab we found. He lost a leg, which fortunately for us, was the only way I was able to take this picture. Normally, those little guys are faster than Usain Bolt.

Drewbert.
How can you NOT love him?!?


Family pic, Day 1

Beach Belly Surfing.
It's amazing the things that kids find, to make their own fun.

The annual "Emma buried in sand" picture

Dubie livin' it up in the sand!

Precious moment with my two men

Uncle Matt made Drew-Drew a hole to get "buried" in

If there's a truck or car or boat around, Dubie's playing with it!


Picture moment atop the sand dunds at Jockey Ridge State Park

That's the "kid crew" up there.
L to R: Brian's friend Olarec, Brennan, Emma, Brian

Changing out her earrings for the first time. She couldn't WAIT to get some "vacation earrings."

And there they are. Some flip flops, which was doubley appropriate.
Our house was called "Flip Floppin"

The Swickheimers never disapppoint when it comes to meal time.
As seen here, with the oh-so-delicious Cheesy Pototoes.
That we devoured.
The recipe said that it serves 9, with 2 days of left-overs.
We ate all of it in 9 minutes, 2 seconds.

Family pic, Day 7

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Goodbye, Kid's Kastle

Emma ended her preschool "career" earlier this month. It was bittersweet, for sure. More sweet for me, though, knowing what's in store for her (and Drew) this summer.

Because of Andy's new position, he no longer has the summers off. But it was still important for us to have our kids do "summer stuff," so we hired a nanny! As a first-year teacher, Kelly is super-eager to do all sorts of summer activities with Emma and Drew. She has plans to take them to different activities in the park, visits to the zoo, to the library, and of course, to the pool!

But before those adventures began, Emma had to say goodbye to her friends, teachers, and aides at Kids Kastle. And thanks to Pinterest, I found some fo the cutest gifts to thank them for their love, guidance, and education.
Left: Letter 'N' made out of crayons, for Miss Nancy.
Right: Cup filled with lemonade packets for Emma's favorite "aide," Miss Lauren.