Spring Break, Charlotte, NC

For our second full day of spring break, we decided to visit Charlotte's children's museum, Discovery Place. And, to make the trip even more exciting, we took the Amtrak there! North Carolina has a fabulous train system and we were so impressed. The train was clean, comfortable, and super convenient. 

Ready to board the "Piedmont"

It was way more comfortable (and fun!) than car or plane travel, and the boys loved the snack car too.

Haha! (He was reading about Coach K. The only thing worse than Duke winning the championship was being in North Carolina when Duke won the championship. Their paper said something along the lines of Tarheels were cheering for Duke. State was cheering for Duke. Everyone was just cheering that Kentucky wouldn't win. Blah!)

We decided to take a taxi from the train station, even though it was only a little over a mile because I knew Luke wouldn't walk it and we wanted to get to the museum when it opened. The boys loved their first taxi ride!

Discovery Place was incredible. It was a hands-on, science based museum that the boys loved. Caleb would have stayed there all week!

Laying on a bed of nails

While Caleb and Peepaw went to an IMAX, Luke played on the giant water table for an hour straight.

We were at Discovery Place for around 5 hours and the boys were still content...we had to make them leave! Before catching our train back, we had an early dinner at a restaurant right next to the museum.

It's a small world... So on the way to Charlotte, we met a family that was taking their 7 year old son, Edwin, to Discovery Place as well. Turns out, the dad is from Elizabethtown and they visit family there every year. On the way back to Winston-Salem, Edwin asked Caleb if he wanted to sit with him and play games. They quickly declared themselves best friends, shared their candy and snacks, and made plans to meet at the Winston-Salem museum "on Tuesday next spring Break." Precious boys!

The train was pretty crowded on the way back, but I got to sit next to this (worn out) guy.

Back at home, Caleb and Hallie Girl spent a while running around the yard together. 

And, we all slept really well that night! Ha!

Spring Break, Winston-Salem, NC

The morning after Easter, we loaded up the car and I took the boys to North Carolina to visit PeePaw and Grandma Beth. It was extra special, because like last year, Marshma and Papa also met us there on their way home from Florida. 

The boys are FANTASTIC car trip kids these days. They seriously watched movies and played games the entire ride. I joked that Luke may have said 30 words during the entire 7 1/2 hour trip, and that included "press play" and "I need a snack." Caleb talked a little more, but only because he felt the need to describe what he was building on Minecraft. :) It really was nice- I had a big cup of coffee, and an extra travel mug full, and got to listen to the radio the whole way. 

Halfway there, we stopped in Charleston, WV to visit Papa Bill and GG, and as luck would have it, Grandma Kathy was there visiting too. We had a late donut breakfast and then got back in the car for the second leg of the journey. Once we arrived, we were pretty worn out, so we spent that afternoon and evening just hanging out around the house.

Since Krispy Kreme began in Winson-Salem, it was only fitting that we started our first full day there with hot glazed donuts. Yum!!! (Luke is still wearing this hat. This week he went to Wal-Mart with it on.)

Our first museum stop was the Winston-Salem Children's Museum. Caleb remembered it really well from last year and was so excited.

Climbing Jack's beanstalk to the second floor

Then they played Krispy Kreme workers. 

Next it was on to the Food Lion.

Luke also decided to try out being a veterinarian 

as well as being a fisherman.

Our last stop was the handmade climbing thing that was outside. Caleb figured out a way to the top.

Luke and I were worn out after spending the morning at the museum and took a nap together. It turned out to be the only nap that he had all week, yet he did really good!
Much more fun to come...

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter celebrating "Jesus rising from the dead," as the kids will tell you. While we don't do the whole Easter Bunny thing, the kids are always still excited to see what is in their Easter basket.

Two thumbs up for Minecraft t-shirts.

And, the highlight were these Snackeez cups. They love them, and I have to say they are handy!

After church we had lunch at Grandma and Grandaddy's house and attempted a family picture beforehand. 

Hugs for Grandaddy

The big kids (or teenagers as Caleb calls them) hid the eggs so the littles could hunt them.

They were so cute running around!

Sweet Caroline

Catching Up

I feel like we blinked and April is already halfway over! 

Our month started out with some warm, summer-like days. The boys and I walked to the back part of our neighborhood that is still under development and found that someone has made an awesome rope swing. The boys loved it!

There were also lots of rocks to be over turned and rolly polys to be found!

Then...it rained.

We made national news for the second time due to weather this year. Six inches of rain fell over the course of a day, and the field behind our house became a creek. While Caleb and Luke had school that Friday, JCPS was cancelled because over 30 schools were inaccessible due to flooding.

Having an extra day off work helped because I was able to do this... 

 On Saturday, April 4th, my mom and I hosted a shower at my house for Briana, or "Aunt Briana," as Caleb now calls her. My aunt Kim brought beautiful flowers, and I mostly decorated with pictures and monograms for Briana & Luke. The wedding colors are coral, aqua, and gold, so I tried to use those. (I also had my normal Easter decorations out as well.)

One of my friends made the MOST amazing cupcakes. I may have sampled some that morning with my coffee. 

Sandwiches, veggies and dip, and yogurt parfaits

Caroline & Baylee (Caleb was so bummed that he couldn't stay for the shower, saying he wished "it was a couple's shower" so he could be there. Ha!)

Ella is getting so big and was such a little ham at the shower!

We had a house full of family that afternoon.

Rachel (Bri's younger sister) and the Bride-to-Be, also known as Caleb & Luke's favorite babysitters. (And, also known as the two ladies that can make Caleb blush!)

The BIG day (May 9th) will be here before we know it...