Amara's jr. golf camp at Foxfire

A work friend had told me about Foxfire's jr. golf camp several years ago and I was looking forward to Amara being old enough to try it. Grandma and Grandpa Young got Amara clubs for her birthday, so we got her signed up and ready to go. She did have to miss the first class (we were on vacation) but Brian the pro assured me it was mostly administrative :)

The first day, Cora and I took her and she was SO excited! We got her signed in and she took off up the hill after they were separated into groups.  The class was an hour and a half and when Cora and I came back to pick her up, she was glowing.  She was hustling into the pro shop and came out with a gatorate. 

When she got into the car, she told me that she won a contest--they told her to get the ball in the bucket--no idea what that means, but she was thrilled! We called daddy for her to tell him about it too, then headed to Carissa's for her first day there.

For the 2nd day, Eric was able to take her--he said she was just as excited then, and came home telling me all about it too ;)

The session is only 6 weeks, but we have SO many cousins and family who play, I really hope she takes to it. I think the last week is a "tournament," so I'm hoping to stay for that one and watch her--she tells me she hits the ball the farthest, lol.

happy father's day daddy

Amara has been asking to go fishing for a while now, so when i asked her what she wanted to do for daddy--I knew what was coming.

Dad arranged for us to go to Stoer's pond just down from their house, so we had a private spot all to ourselves. The girls LOVED it! Everyone was still in a fog, having just gotten home from Hilton Head at 3 that morning, but it was low-key and really great.

We stayed maybe an hour or an hour and a half, but it was really nice and I'm sure we will be back.

Later we had cake and dinner for daddy--we got his hammock while in Hilton Head, so we will have to work on that later, but I hope we made dad and daddy both feel special with the time we all spent together.

Hilton Head June 14

The time for summer vacation this year fell at a critical time. We had just finished our last week with Sarah, Amara's party was over, and we had a week off till Carissa was staring as the girls replacement sitter. We decided on Hilton Head--largely b/c we had a great time at the beach in OBX last year, but the water was too cold, we wanted to go a bit more south.

We were not disappointed. We got there at 7 in the morning and the hotel already had our room--but it didn't matter, the ocean was ready for us and was warm and perfect.  For the next 5 days, we visited the beach and pool after breakfast each morning. We also explored several restaurants with fun new food options, shopped, and just had a wonderful time together.

Lucky for me, I have LOTS of Hilton Head vet friends who referred us to several places. Great seafood, a pizza joint, even places to take the kids for live kids music shows and Amara sang on stage!

The pool was by far everyone's favorite though--we spent several hours a day there and when asked, Amara preferred that to ANYTHING else to do. We got snow cones by the pool each day and the resort had a craft hut where the kids got to do various crafts that gave them a much needed break from the sun several times in the week.

We were all sad to leave, me especially--I had enjoyed watching our girls explore and grow, the meals out, even the driving (well, not the part in the night when they couldn't sleep and were frustrated, lol), but it was a great island with lots to do and lots for us to grow with as a family.

irelyn's 6th bounce birthday

Irelyn was sweet enough to invite both Amara and Cora to her party this year and both girls were so excited to go! Her invitation was Frozen and the party was at world of bounce--two of their favorite things :)

We shopped and wrapped and got ready when the big day came--unfortunately it was in the middle of a bout of strep threat for both girls, but on some antibiotics and rest, we went.

The girls played in the bounces houses and slides till they were about played out. Amara played with some of the teenagers who worked there while Cora kept Natasha busy running through the obstacle course with her. Amara kept begging for dinner, so by the time we went in, the girls were ready!

Dinner was pizza and chips, juice boxes, and cupcakes. I think the girls had 3 drinks each! Irelyn got to open her presents  (the girls got her an art set and a mosaic stone set). Even though we were there 2 hours, it went fast and the girls were tired.

We headed home to continue our prep for Hilton head the next day, but had a great time celebrating with irelyn!!

Ms. Sarah's last day

A day i've been dreading for over a year now, finally came to pass--Sarah's last day.

Friday June 6 marked the end of a 3 year relationship with Sarah and I have been bawling all week over it. The reasons are endless, but most importantly, she was a second mom to our girls, a loving, Godly surrogate to them who raised them as her own. We had our ups and downs over the 3 years like any friend or relationship would, but I can't believe it's over.

On the way in, we stopped to get a few things to shower Sarah with her favors--Coca Cola, chocolate,   flowers, and balloons, and Amara suggested her "mocha" from McDonalds--a treat for her too :) The girls have come to know her so very well too, I'm not sure she even realizes how much.

When we got there and the girls started showering gifts on her, Sarah and I were both crying. The girls were looking at us like we had three heads, but we knew why. I know they don't get the entire impact of all of this and for me that is part of the sadness. The first day I left the girls there. Nursing Cora when I came to get her from work, and chatting with Sarah. Watching Amara grow up with a  "brother" like Jonathan--and I wonder, "how much will they even remember?"

Sure, Sarah took a lot of photos and we will get together and Skype, etc. but I feel my heart will break if the girls forget even a second of the time they all spent together. I know I won't. I can't.

The outings, the pool time, the swing set in the yard. Making the girls favorite breakfasts, getting Sarah goofy presents whenever we wanted--all of that is over. I'm not sure really where to go--I feel an emptiness both for the girls and me (selfishly). I know we have a great person lined up to watch them in Carissa--but it will never be the same. The only person I ever trusted to watch Cora when she was too small to tell us what she needed is going away. I can't go over, we won't be able to visit (soon), and I am afraid of the memories fading.

At the end of the day, Eric and I drove separately but both met there. He loaded up their 3 years worth of belongings while the kids took me around the house "one last time," showed me the basement, their crafts, and all the projects they had finished this week. Saying goodbye was hard. Really hard--and I get a lump in my throat every time I think about it even now. There probably will never be another person on this planet who knows those girls the way she does, and I am and forever will be grateful for everything Sarah is, has been, has shared, taught and given to our family, forever.

Love you, Sarah.

Ms Sarah last week: Scioto mile splash pad

For the girls last week at Sarah's, she planned a week full of fun. Monday movie day, Tuesday Amara's birthday party day, Wednesday splash pad, Thursday Naz play place and Friday Cosi--BUSY!!

Well, Amara decided to come down with an upset stomach (that ended up being strep) and had to miss a few activities, but it all worked out. While Amara stayed home to rest one day, Jonathan got to go to the Scioto mile splash fountains and play!  Sarah told me it was chilly and it was overcast, but she said they ran and played for 3 hours!! good grief!!

I'm sure Cora and Jonathan had a blast--even though they missed Amara, and it was for the best really. Amara wouldn't have been much fun the way she was feeling.

By the end of the day, it actually did finally start to rain a bit, so they had to head home, but Cora was a zombie by the time I saw her. Sarah said she took a little cat nap, but I don't know that i've seen her so tired. I am so glad the three of them got that day together and good weather to enjoy each other outside.

another tooth gone!

After pulling her first tooth just a month or two ago, Amara  quickly realized another one was going to be following along. This time, there was no tooth behind it pushing it out, so I think she enjoyed wiggling and playing with it just because she isn't scared by it now.

Sure enough, getting ready for Sarah's, she and I sat on the bed, while she wiggled and twisted and all of a sudden said "I got it, mama!" and she had! Cora and I clapped for her and daddy came running in to see--she couldn't want to surprise grandma and grandpa and ms sarah that morning. She kept saying "it doesn't hurt at all!" and showing anyone who would look :) 2 down!  she's keeping the tooth fairy busy!