Daddy was only with us at the beach for one night so after his class was finished we drove to pick him up for the rest of our trip. On the way we stopped at the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington, NC.  I saw this big Battleship on our way to the beach and I knew we had to stop there when we left. What an awesome opportunity for the Blessings (homeschool mom ya' know!!!) I climbed up and down ladder like stairs with my Blessings and my niece all over this battleship, in the hot, humid NC weather! I am thankful for Grandparents who stayed on the main deck with my baby Blessing and my 2 year old nephew.

After the Battleship we headed to pick up Daddy and we were off to meet up with more family and meet more cousins!!!!!

On the lake! I got a little sun that day, fun stuff ya'll!  I love this man!

OH, and this baby! I am so thankful for this Baby Blessing, he is a real special little guy!

Blessing #3 and Pop, this is the first time they had met. Family is family from the start.

Arriving in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Blessing #1 had a birthday while we were traveling and he requested a trip to Dollywood, so we went.

Being as we were near our hometown again we had Pa-Pa, K, and Pa-Pa's neices, and my husband's aunt and cousin and her blessings come meet us for a day of fun. Arriving at the park.

My blessings, a cousin and K, we were thrilled to get to see K, we hadn't seen her in such a long time!

Baby Blessing and Pa-Pa

The old schoolhouse at Dollywood!

Winning a football, Tennessee, of course!

We had to stop at Bass Pro!

After this we headed to our home town to spend leisurely days by the pool at the Grandparent's house. We had planned to go to the Creation Museum but we just decided to stay put and do that on our next trip. We had a wonderful cookout one day, to which many friends and family came to spend the day with us. It was fantastic to see all those people. If you are one of those people thank you so much for coming to see us so we didn't have to do anymore traveling.  And Pa-Pa, please email me any pics you have I don't have the class of '88 from the cookout!

We were glad to get  home and get back to our norm.

Now that this monkey is off of my back I can finish getting things ready for school. We begin September 8th!

 May the Lord find us faithful.

I have finally found time to post more lower 48 pictures. We visited a friend of the grandparents who had horses.

Poppa getting kissed

Blessing #3 feeding the horse a mint.

Riding the golf cart around the property after visiting the horses.

After a few days in Mom and Dad's hometown we went to meet Daddy at his class location and then it was off to the beach for a few days with some other  Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and Cousins!

First time walking on the beach and stepping foot in the Atlantic Ocean. They had seen it but not been in it. We prefer to travel outside of Alaska in the winter to give us a break from the winter weather.

Baby Blessing and I on the beach. We were tired that evening from driving and other travel related tirednesses.

Daddy and Baby Blessing on the beach.

Our family enjoying the ocean. I really forgot how much I enjoy the ocean, the sounds and smells and sights of the beach! Also, we kept all the Blessings from getting sunburns but Daddy got a little burn on the shoulders after a day in the pool with the Blessings and I got a little pink on the legs near the end of our trip.

A beach creation.

I love this picture of my Dad and the three older Blessings.

Our time at the beach was short but most of our little visits with family were short, three or four days here and two or three days there.

May the Lord find us faithful.

I have a moby wrap which I love....BUT, I have been recently introduced to the Ergobaby carrier and this would be grand for my little fellow as he gets a little older and for carrying on the back. I didn't use a carrier with my other little blessings except for a couple of times attempting to use a sling (didn't work for me). But with older blessings to keep up with we need a carrier more than ever that is why I am entering to win an Ergobaby over at  dealectiblemommies. I hope I win one as I don't think I will be purchasing one any time soon.

May the Lord find us faithful.