The Baldwin Family: Goodness

Goodness: How I feel about how long it's been since my last post.
Goodness: What we've been experiencing in North Carolina for the past two months!

I can't believed I haven't blogged since the beginning of April. There are going to be a lot of pictures in this post, but that's okay because I want to remember it all...I cannot vouch for order :)

On April 6th 2013, Brian left me, Johnny and Galina in Massachusetts to drive to Virginia for the Black Belt Instructor Trainer Course. It's also known at IT (which means something different to the rest of the world, but leave it to the Marine Corps). About two weeks after he left, my Dad flew up to Mass to drive the kids and I down to NC. He stayed for three days and I can't even count the number of improvement/maintenance projects he tackled for me. Grateful. On our way down to NC, we stopped in Virginia to see Brian for the weekend. We all crammed into one hotel room (Brian+Me+Kids+Dad+Dogs!) and did just fine. The continental breakfast at the Best Western in Aquia, VA is awesome. No lie. While visiting Brian, we spent our Saturday at George Washington's boyhood farm; Ferry Farm. It was basically in Fredicksburg, VA. It was a beautiful, albeit crisp, day and the kids were ecstatic to be out of the car and able to hike around a little bit. These are the pictures of that stop.

Making Daddy smell wild onions. I used to love picking these in my grandmother's backyard on Dewitt street. It was a solitary challenge I gave myself, try to pull it up bulb and all in one yank. More often than not I just got the stems, but every once in awhile I'd score. We spent a lot of Sunday afternoons at Gram's house. Had to do something.

Brian introduced Johnny to his pockets.

He was in love.

I loved the layout of this garden. They had such mundane things growing, herbs, potatoes, beans. It was so cool to walk around the beds and not be in mud or weeds. My goal garden one day = a lot of work.

Okay, so then we said bye to Daddy again and finished our drive to NC. We were excited to see everyone that was there - but here's where the order gets messed up. We actually spent our first week in South Carolina with Molly and Nick. However, when we got back, we went to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium with Jason and Erin.

One of the skates was especially social. Lydia (and Galina too!) was not thrilled.

Got to meet Madilyn! Such a GOOD baby and so beautiful! Emily's kids are all little porcelain dolls!

Back to the Aquarium, fixing up a hurt sea turtle at the "lab."

There are two things you can always count on with Cavan: that he'll be moving and that he'll be smiling. He's an awesome kid.

This is actually Dad driving down to VA from MA. He figured out pretty quickly that if he drove he wouldn't have to spend the entire ride turned around in his seat to entertain Mr. Fussy Britches - who fought his nap BOTH days...but eventually gave in. Ahhh....sweet quiet.

Johnny asleep in the hotel room in VA. Brian had to lay down with him to get him to nap, but once he was out, he was out.

This is actually in MA, Johnny was looking at toys and Dad snapped this picture with his phone because it looks just like Jason from a picture that was in the newspaper in the 70s, I think.

Johnny tortured the cats at Mom and Dad's. This was a rare moment of snuggling with Larry.

Dogs. Hotel. VA. They did not sleep on the beds all night, but they were glad to get out of the trunk of the truck.

Bing. Bench. NC. He was not allowed to sleep on the furniture at Granny and Pops, but he couldn't help trying.

Ah, now were into our first week of vacation. South Carolina. Aunt Mimi has an awesome back yard and tons of toys. We only spent one week, but I wish we had gone back for another. We didn't do anything fantastic, but we had fun and the kids loved it.

What am I saying?! We did paint a fantastic tree in Molly's living room :)

...and we stopped at Broadway on the Beach in Myrtle Beach and I bought Johnny his first pair of Crocs. How awesome are those?!?! I love them! I think Kerriann loved them so much that she bought herself a pair of them!

We got back from Aunt Mimi's just in time to turn around and drive to Chapel Hill, NC for Madilyn's blessing! Johnny spent the majority of that sacrament meeting on the floor, whining. I was so unprepared for Sundays. Auntie Erin saved us with some busy games!

Back at the farm :) you could always find Julia doing hair, painting nails, organizing shows, etc. She's going to make a great JC at YW Camp one day!

After a few nights both Johnny had warmed up to being in NC and would give Pop lovies before bed. He'd ask to do it more often that not. Galina - well...she takes a little bit longer to warm up...but there were a few occasions where she'd hug or at least allow herself to be hugged. That's my girl...poor thing...

Rocking an Aunt Mimi braid. I am NOT a hair stylist. She loved this!

Aunt Kerriann claimed that the tree had been her idea first, so she demanded one of her own. It took quite a bit longer, but was eventually a success. Love the placement of it!

Our first trip to the beach. I love how much kids LOVE the water - well, except Lydia :)

He fell asleep with a lollipop in his hand, but kept his lips ready just in case!

A sunset through the old oak.

Strawberry Picking!!

Proof that we all exercised (at least a little bit) while in N.C.

Baby Maddy asleep on me :)

Same day of strawberry picking - see? Out of order.

I felt like sewing the day Emily went back to Chapel Hill (the first time) - so I made Gabby and Cavan a seatbelt pet. I had fabric picked out to make one for my kiddos too - but just never got around to it :( Oh well...one day!

I took this picture on one of my jogs - just couldn't resist them :)

We spent a lot of time with Squeakers!

Our second trip to the beach included Uncle John - our Johnny loved having him there! Uncle John built sand castles just so that Johnny could stomp them :)

Taking over Granny's piano.

Honeysuckle!!

Brian's IT class.

At Brian's graduation!! That was a long seven weeks, but it would've been even longer had I been in MA by myself...grateful for family!

PawPa and Gaga flew up for the Graduation! It was so wonderful to see them! We had to miss the family get together in Wisconsin this year :( so so bummed. Can't wait to get to see everyone together again!

We stopped at the National Museum of the Marine Corps while we were in VA. It was huge and pretty awesome. I could have wished Johnny was about two years older - but luckily Dad was willing to keep me and the kids company while everyone else enjoyed the museum. We enjoyed it - just on Fast Forward :)

Brian shot 'Expert' of course.

I'm afraid I only got 70% - but I'll take it.

Back in NC - Johnny really really enjoyed spraying the hose in the backyard. He washed all of the "cars"...

Johnny's 2nd Birthday party! We (translation: Molly made) made him a 'There's No Such Thing As A Dragon!" cake and he LOVED it. He was very upset when we cut it up to eat it!

In the book, Billy Bixby's mother makes him pancakes for breakfast - so that's what we had for lunch that day too, thanks to Dad!

Turtle Season! We saw a lot of turtles. This guy was gigantic, so we let all of the kids have a close-up look at him.

Pop bought a kite, and then the wind stopped blowing...the rest of the time we were there :) Poor Pop.

The corn started growing and growing!

We went on a hike at Cabin Lake. It was a gorgeous day, not hot or humid and all of the kids had fun!

Rollie girl :)

Aunt Mimi also made (with Aunt Emily) Galina's birthday cake. We had an early party, just so she could enjoy it with all of her cousins! So - it was a Rapunzel cake and it was awesome, and the pictures of it were on my phone, so you'll see it a little bit later.