All Aboard

We spent our second week with my parents at their house in western North Carolina.  One of my kids favorite places to visit there is the Tweetsie Railroad just outside Blowing Rock, NC.  It's a unique little family place with a train ride filled with bandits, cowboys, sheriff, Native Americans, etc. and they act out a robbery.  They also have amusement rides such as the Tilt-a-whirl which was a Chunko favorite.  At one point during the day, my munchkins rode it 6 times in a row!  They also have shows including clogging dancers, magicians, and singing as well as Deer Park where you can feed deer, llamas, goats and sheep.  

Here's a snapshot of our visit to Tweetsie:

Here's Kendall showing off her riding skills

The stage coach behind is one of Kendall's favorite things to climb on.  She made it up to the driver's seat all by herself!

Who doesn't love a carousel ride?

Riley was gripping the handle with all his might while Kendall was taking her hands off to wave at me non-stop

Flying in a plane

Much easier flight than our one back to SLC!

They had a sky ride there - my kids are pros at this and it cracked me up listening to the workers worry about us getting on and off!  If they only knew how well I manage two kids, poles and a backpack while all of us are on skis and  snow all by myself!

Kendall, Nanny and I went to Deer Park to feed the animals while Riley and Pappy went to ride the cars and the Tilt-A-Whirl again.

Mrs. Llama was so sweet.  She had a baby so we didn't get to spend much time with her because she was being an attentive Llama Momma.

My mom made the mistake of placing her cake cone filled with feed on top of the fence rail - one of the sheep snatched it before my mom even knew it was in danger!

Kendall wanted to get on stage with the dancers - and she did - but since she didn't know the "moves" she got back down and just watched.  She didn't hesitate to go right up by herself afterwards and ask for a picture though!

After a long day of fun at Tweetsie, we headed into Blowing Rock for ice cream at our favorite Kilwin's!  You can smell their homemade waffle cones and fudge from blocks down the street!  Blowing Rock is such a cute mountain town with lots of shops, a great park for the kids and plenty of fabulous places to grab a bite to eat.

Life's A Beach!

We just returned from a 16 day vacation to visit my parents.  We left SLC and flew into Charlotte and spent the night at my parents' house.  The following morning we woke up and packed up the car to head to their place on Kiawah Island, SC to spend a week at the beach.

We had such a blast jumping waves, riding boogie boards, skim boards, playing in the sand, etc.  The kids took to the water as if they had never left.  I swear Kendall is part fish!  She use to be afraid of the waves when we lived in Florida, but in typical Kendall style, she charged in with NO FEAR at those big waves this year.

Our first night at the beach - had to go check it out after sitting in the car for 5 + hours!

All smiles while riding her boogie board

Catching waves

Asking Pappy to help her "surf" on her boogie board - I see surfing lessons in her future

Waiting for the perfect ride

Daddy came to visit us for a few days!

Jumping waves with Pappy

Trying out her new skim board

Having fun playing in the sand

Life is Good at the beach

After a day of fun in the sun

Happy 4th Birthday Kendall - her birthday was our first full day at the beach which was her request for her birthday present.  Lucky kid got what she wanted!

Making a wish

So happy to OFFICIALLY be a four year old!

Hoping it comes true

Roller skates!  She also got knee & elbow pads, fingerless gloves and a board game for her birthday from my parents

Pappy rented golf clubs for both kids so he took them out for a little lesson.  Riley and Pappy went to the driving range, but it was too "sweaty" for Riley.  Guess he got too use to our dry Utah climate!

Kendall getting her private lesson with her Pappy.  For some reason she wants to hit the ball as a lefty.  That's not going to work well for her if she becomes a field hockey player someday.

Ahhhh!  Love the beach!

We found lots of starfish on our morning walk on the beach

Kendall thought they were pretty cool and was determined to save them by throwing them back into the sea.  Love her heart for God's creations.

Sending another starfish back to the ocean

Chasing the sea gulls was a favorite beach pastime too!

As tradition, whenever we are on Kiawah, we head to The Sanctuary for pictures.  We haven't been there in 2 years, but the kids remembered it - Riley remembered our Thanksgiving dinners there from when we lived in Florida.  If you want to vacation in the lap of luxury, The Sanctuary is the place for you!

My new family favorite picture - you may see this one again in December!

Classic Chunko kid shot at The Sanctuary!

We love sitting on their chairs while looking out to the ocean

Can't keep them away from the beach!

Nanny and Pappy with their oldest and youngest grandkids

The kids had so much fun showing off their belly flops at the Sandcastle pool.  This is an ocean front pool (along with fitness center, grill, playground, etc.) open only to property owners.  

Look at me Mom!

While Andy was in town, we headed in to Charleston for a date!  We had a fabulous dinner at Poogan's Porch.  Isn't this place so adorable!  The food was as good as the atmosphere.

After dinner we walked over to the Pavilion Bar atop of the Market Pavilion Hotel for drinks.  What a view!  Wow!

Isn't this view fantastic?  What a fun night. 

Another family favorite activity at Kiawah is to ride bike.  There are paved bike trails all over the island.  This year we rented a "trail a bike" for Kendall and even though she looks scared in this picture, she really did love it.  She worked hard helping me pedal and it has made me want to get one for her now more than ever!

Our last morning as a family.  We rode our bikes to the River Course where the Kiawah River flows along side the golf course.  We had fun looking for gators and watching the fish jump.

We had a fantastic time at the beach.  I read 2 books while basking in the sun.  What a joy it was to read without interruption!  It was so relaxing to float in the ocean, jump waves, sit in the sand, feel the sea breeze on my face and watch the joy on my kids faces.  My parents have a way of making me feel at home no matter where we are and I was in need of a little "home" this summer.  It was a much needed trip!