Our thunderstorm smores

Before we moved out from our beloved Meadowsong, my dad and brother Jonathan came out to help us pack up and move. The first night Jon was there we told the kids we could go build a fire outside and make smores if they finished all their dinner quickly enough. I could tell that a summer thunderstorm was on it's way in by the humidity in the air and the way the wind was blowing but figured we could get in some roasted marshmallows before it hit.

This is what happened in pictures.Papa built a bonfire.Jon pointed out that the wind was not good for the tinder pile nearby.

It started to rain. (Jon has Cooper's little umbrella)The rain put the fire out, Jon handed the umbrella to Papa and headed for the tree under which I was standing. (PS, click on the picture to see Jon's face, it's classic)

The rain starts coming down in torrents, blown by the wind and people are still trying to roast marshmallows. At this point everyone except Papa is under a big umbrella and the marshmallows are melting in the rain instead of the fire.

We all run to safety. I get in first and turn around to capture a picture of everyone else running inside.Grammy and Catelyn are coming up the stairs under the umbrella.Catelyn is clutching the only smore made that night.Note Jon's soaked back.
PS. minutes after we got inside there was a huge "Crack" and a lightning bolt hit just outside where we had been standing under the trees.

What a crazy North Carolina adventure that Jon got to experience on his short trip out there.

Picture update

I uploaded some pics from one of the cameras this morning. As a result, you are now going to see a new picture of each of my children, and a baby turtle. Enjoy.


I took this picture of Lydia mostly to show the Great Blue heron in the background (he's standing on the dock). This was the same day we were outside and Lydia found the baby turtle. She just about picked it up before I saw it.

Cooper and Catelyn were obviously taking a bubble bath. I started laughing so hard at Cooper and ran to get the camera.
Catelyn tried to make a bubble beard too.


I love my family and am so glad we have been able to enjoy this great adventure we have had in North Carolina.

More photo's from today

Lydia and Mommy.
This grass stuff is a bit yuckie.

Picnic in the yard

Weekend update:
Lydia is walking full time now. It rained last night and a little this morning. Cooper wanted to go outside and have a picnic but the grass was too wet so I brought the kid's picnic table outside under a tree.

This was Lydia's first experience walking outside. I still can't believe what a big girl she has become all of a sudden. It has been a beautiful day to spend at home with the kids.

Spring showers

Today was a typical Southern Spring day. Highs in the lower 80's with scattered showers throughout the day and humidity at 58%. It sprinkled this morning and then the sun came out for most of the afternoon. This was our visitor earlier in the morning.
Right about 5:00 pm a downpour came our way and was gone in 1/2 an hour.

After the storm I was looking out my kitchen window and saw something crawling through the grass on it's way to the pond. This is who we found.

The grass was still very wet so I hiked my pants up to get closer to him.
He had beautiful colors on his shell. He pulled his legs in but was keeping his head out to keep an eye on me.
Evan picked him up to take him to the pond and Mr. Turtle was hissing at him.
Evan took him to the end of the dock and put him down. Mr. Turtle scampered off the edge into the pond.

Gorgeous evening out tonight!