House Hunting, Van Portraits and Godbold Park

On Sunday morning, the weather had cleared up. We decided to go check out a house for sale that looked interesting, then go to a nearby park.

We didn't actually have an appointment to see the house, but we just drove by and I discovered a back door open (the owners had already moved out), so I looked around inside. The pictures online made the house look awesome, but in reality it was really run down and in need of a complete makeover. We're just a the very beginning of what is sure to be a long and fraught process of house hunting, but I've been looking at houses online for years in preparation. I guess this was a good reminder that there can be quite a difference between the pictures and reality.

While I was poking around, Zac was playing around taking portraits of the kids in the van.

We finally headed to the park. Simon swung on the big kids swing. They both played on the playground quite well. It is so nice that they can finally both play on their own at the playgrounds (except for the swings).

Then we walked down a path and spent the rest of the time playing at the creek.

"You just move your body to the rhythm." Alice explains dancing.

Hurricane Matthew

Hurricane Matthew hit North Carolina Friday night and hovered over the state all day Saturday. We didn't want to drive anywhere Saturday morning in case the weather took a turn for the worst and there was flash flooding or something.

Zac decided to just embrace the rain and take the kids out to play in it.

We actually got off quite easy in this storm. There were lots of power outages, flash floods, and quite severe flooding elsewhere in the state. We just had a rainy day.

Simon opens a package

Simon got a belated birthday present package in the mail from Cam today. He loved opening it!

Simon's work

Here is some work Simon was doing when Zac picked him up.

Kindergarten Work

In case you're wondering what sorts of things they do in kindergarten these days, here is some of Alice's work.

 

Simon climbs a tree!

I took the kids to red park on Sunday morning. Simon was so proud that he climbed this tree all by himself, and did it several times.

The Birds

Our plan for Saturday was to pick up our friends Rob and Kate, then drive about an hour and a half to Scotland Neck to visit Sylvan Heights Bird Park. We got some Chinese food take out on the way, and had a picnic at the park. The kids played on the playground while we finished eating, then we explored the park. It's basically like a mini-zoo, but for birds and waterfowl. Simon really liked seeing the owls.

 

The kids are really happy about gummies, every time.

The coolest area was the Landing Zone, where they sell little sticks with seeds on them, and parakeets will land on them and eat. Simon was super excited at the idea of catching a bird, but then a little nervous once he actually had one.

When the kids were tuckered out, we got them some ice cream, then headed home.

Morning Freedom

The kids are enjoying their morning freedom, where they can get themselves out of bed and have the run of the house before we get up. This morning, they apparently got hungry and helped themselves to some fruit.

Another morning, Alice selected cheese. And cut it with a butter knife.

On another morning, when she tried to peel and apple with a butter knife and cut her finger, I laid down the law and said they could only have smoothies from the fridge for a morning snack (since that just involves poking a hole in the top with a straw.)

Technically, Alice has been able to do this for a long time, but she was too scared to go around the house all alone in the morning. So now that Simon can go out with her, they play in the living room.