Mega-trip: NC

Time to finish this thing off!  Last leg of our trip was NC, which we took in two parts.  Part one: quick stop in J’ville for a joint baby shower for Holly and I.  Part two: longer stay in Morganton at Holly’s house since she was approaching her due date (which should be evident from the last post).

Baby butt cake! 

Belly comparison at the shower.  I believe Holly was 36 weeks and I was 29.

Tickle fest in Morganton!

Not all was fun and games however; Logan decided that this would be a good time to get his two-year molars.  Jake tries to get a look without getting his fingers bitten.

In spite of the teething, Logan still found time to make friends with the multiple canine members of the household.

Quite frankly, I’ve lost track now of which day we did what, but somewhere in there we took a picnic lunch up to a mountain stream and had ourselves a grand old time clambering over the rocks, splashing, throwing sticks (in Logan’s case), chatting and generally cavorting like children (all of us, not just Logan).

  The first pic is Sam (my non-biological brother) and I, then Jake and Dad.  You should recognize everyone in the third shot by now.

      Okay, so in this set Jake looks handsome and I look . . . pregnant.  But that’s the reality: Jake IS handsome and I AM pregnant.

Holly got in some toddler training and looked super-cute doing it.  About that swimsuit Holly . . . you won’t be needing it anymore this summer, right?  ;)

It was a fabulous, fun day! 

 

Change of scenery: we took another afternoon and hiked up to a mountain waterfall.  It was a pretty decent hike for a couple of pregnant ladies and a toddler, but we managed to keep up with the rest of the gang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group shots!
Holly, Mom and I.

 

 

 

 

Holly, Sam, myself, Jake and Logan with the waterfall in the background.  Btw, Drew (Holly’s husband) and Jonathan (that would be my biological brother, in case you didn’t know) were MIA for both the stream picnic and the hike because they both had to work.

Photo op!  Everybody (Holly, Sam and Mom) snap the waterfall!

 

Jake and Sam take in the view of the falls; meanwhile, Dad takes Logan (cool dude with his hand in his pocket) off in more social directions.

 

Making our way back along the trail.

Logan found a nice place to ride.

  My parents! 

The hike made for another all-around wonderful day, but now it’s time for another scene change: 4th of July town parade, cook-out and family fun.

Avid parade watchers—Drew (sunglasses next to Holly) and Jonathan (red shirt other side of Holly) included this time.

Jonathan can’t figure out how we ever manage to get a decent picture of this kid who just will not sit still and face forward!

Every now and then, he decides to cooperate though.

Uncle Drew and Aunt Holly with their favorite nephew.

At this point, you could still reasonably argue that Logan was Mom’s favorite grandson.  Of course, now he has to share that title :)

Logan learns to play cornhole.  What?—You told him to get the beanbag in the hole, didn’t you?

Last group shot.  (Everyone is facing the camera and looking pleasant!  AND there are no dogs walking through the frame!)

Unfortunately Jake and I had to take a pass on the baseball game and fireworks that evening because we needed to get packed before waking up at 3:00 AM to catch our flight.  And the short version of the flight back is: approximately 29 consecutive hours of travel, 13 hour time change . . . we survived.

It really was wonderful to see everybody and a great trip, but it was great to get back home too.  And now I still have to get caught up on post-trip Okinawa events . . . including my new car!

Aunt Heidi!

We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin: for those who haven’t already seen pictures of Holly’s baby, here’s your chance to ooh! and ahh! over his newborn cuteness!

His vital stats.  Full name: Noah Jesse Thomas.

My awesome sister and her beautiful boy!

And my fabulous brother-in-law showing off his son.  (Where do hospitals get those hats from anyways?  It’s always the same hat, on every newborn baby.)

Noah seems to enjoy relaxing in the sun(lamp).  He definitely takes after Hollly!

Mom gets a turn holding her newest grandson.  Look how tiny he is compared to Mom’s hand!

Just look at that cuteness!  And those long fingers—maybe he actually got some tall genes!

I love this one!  Okay, so it’s not officially a smile, but it sure looks like one.  Hey, I’d be happy too if I were him—he’s got GREAT parents!

He’s got a good little crop of hair, great baby cheeks, and perfect little lips!

Congrats to Holly and Drew!  Welcome to the world little Noah!    Yes, it makes me eager for our own new little one to get here!

And now back to our regularly scheduled program . . .

Mega-trip: NY

For those who haven’t been introduced, here is the Wilde’s (Henry and Janet’s) house in upstate NY:

Now complete with porch!  and flowers! 

Our time in NY was a hodgepodge of activities—picnics, baseball games and some outlet shopping--but mostly just relaxing and visiting.  The only “big event” on this leg of the trip was the extended family get-together.  So, without further ado . . .

Emerson Park, where we played and picnicked after a trip to the agricultural museum.  The park was also the site of a moderately famous wedding 10-ish years ago :)
  From left to right: Uncle Erik, Aunt Rachel, Grandma (Janet) with Logan and Grandpa (Henry) at Emerson Park.

Logan spent a good deal of time here . . .

and even more time here. 

He also enjoyed “helping” with chores

and playing with the dog, Smiley.  He loved picking fresh strawberries out of the garden and eating them, but stubbornly refused to ride, or even sit, on the tractor.

    A very small sampling of the family, featuring Jake’s pregnant cousin Michelle (in purple), Rachel (in pink), and Aunt Joanne (in blue).  Then Michelle’s girls, Maddie and Lizzie, with umbrellas.

We were also able to visit with my Grandma McKie.

More fun for Logan—bike-riding with Uncle Erik,

and ice cream at Pete’s Treats.

It was great to spend a bit of time with everyone in NY.  We miss you all, but we look forward to seeing some of you again (relatively) soon!  Now onward to NC and the end of this crazy trip . . .

Mega-trip: DC

Logan goes for a ride in the airport.  We arrived in DC at 1:00 AM which is . . . something in HI time and something else according to the Okinawa clock.  We were pretty messed up by this point.  But that’s why Logan was traveling in his pajamas.  Check out his little pack that Jake made!  Logan got lots of comments about it from fellow travelers.  He carried his lamb and blankie inside, and bed bear, you can see, peeked out from an exterior pocket.  Two more exterior pockets could hold a sippy cup and a couple of small toys.

He was quite excited to get to the hotel and have his little bed.

Rach came up early to watch Logan for us while we went to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  Thanks Rach!  We really couldn’t have made this trip work without your help (or at least your car)!

The main event of this section: James and Heather’s wedding.  No pics were allowed at the ceremony, so we pick up at the reception.  Introduing the newly-minted Mr. and Mrs.!  Congrats and best wishes to the happy couple!

Jake looks somewhat self-satisfied after having completed his duties as best man and getting some solid laughter from the crowd during his toast.

I couldn’t decide which of these two pictures was REALLY the best shot of Jake and Rachel.  What do you think?

  The cake-cutting and James’ devilish grin as he kisses his bride afterwards.

Of course, we had a fabulous time dancing the night away.

Congrats again to James (who never really fooled anyone with his line about being “a confirmed old bachelor”) and Heather (the woman who finally called his bluff). 

Next stop: NY!  Coming soon . . .

P.S. Logan expresses his opinion on hitting the road again.