Tuesday, May 17, 2011

A Monkey Riding on the Back of an Elephant?


Something happens to people after they live with us. Sarah lived with us a year and then moved to California. Darja lived with us and moved to Colorado. Presently, Sue is counting down her last days here and heading back to Korea.

I didn't take it too personally until I happened to read a blog post recently written by Darja. (You can read it for your self by clicking here if you'd like.) She came to visit and then... low and behold I found ourselves part of her writing.




Sunday was spent with another group of very important people- the ever-growing Isaacs family. I swear they’re playing a sick game called ’let’s see how many living things can live in one house.’ They’ve got 4 kids, a foreign exchange student, a dog, and now a second dog. I won’t be surprised if the next time I visit them, I find a monkey riding an elephant in the living room. And April will find a way to make it seem so normal. Don’t know how they do it, but they’re great for opening up their lives to a bunch of shmucks like us, and I always enjoy visiting with them. It was such a beautiful day, too.


I have often felt like I was living in a circus. Come to find out, others think that too... and then they move... far away. Hmmm.....


Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Wild Turkey



I'm hitting the wild turkey!!!


Or should I say, we hit a wild turkey.

We've been home from vacation for a month now and I still can't get over the fact that while we were minding our own business and cruising through the state of South Carolina, a wild turkey decided to go on a suicide mission and use our van to carry out his death wish.

We saw him setting on the side of the road. He began to lift his wings and Paul said, "Don't your DARE START TO....." BANG!!!

I thought he hit our windshield until I got home and noticed the huge dent in our hood. A dent that looks exactly like someone threw a frozen turkey at us.

I also remember Paul saying, "Did you look in the review mirror and see it explode? Feathers were flying everywhere?"

NO I didn't see that! I was too busy trying to get over the fact that 1) a wild turkey was even on the side of the road and that 2) he had the audacity to his us. Jerk!

I am happy to say that that was the most eventful thing that happened on our vacation. And, why it even surprises me, I'm not sure. We all know that when I travel, things happen.

We had a fabulous vacation. We left on a Thursday right when the kids got out of school . We drove to Asheville, NC. Where I scored an amazing deal on a hotel and tickets to the Biltmore.
On Friday morning, we ate breakfast with the locals and then we toured the Biltmore (more on that later).

We left Asheville, Friday afternoon and drove to Greenville, SC. One of Paul's best friends in all the world lives there. Dave and his family took us to dinner at the Mellow Mushroom (my favorite pizza in all the world), and then we came back and celebrated Paul's 40th birthday with them. We crashed at their place! Nothing life a family of 7 crashing someone's house!

On Saturday morning we got up and drove to Hilton Head. Our great friends, Shawn and Bill (a married couple, girl and guy... haha!) gave us an unbelievable ocean front condo there.

We had awesome weather the whole time. It did rain one morning and so we headed to Savannah, Georgia for the day. I've always wanted to go to Savannah and it lived up to my expectations. I am now trying to decide which southern city is my favorite, Charleston or Savannah.

On Thursday evening of our vacation, Paul's very best friend in all the world flew in for his birthday. His name is Jon. There is no way to describe Jon Tice. I think he's one of the greatest men in all the world. His packed full of everything: Godliness, wisdom, humor, wittiness, kindess, etc... I could go on and on. He's one of those people that's like a breath of fresh air. One feels better just having spent time in his presence. Paul and Jon had a great time. They golfed on Friday and Saturday with Jackson hanging with the men. He got his first taste of golf and on Friday and declared that, "the best day of his life."

After spending a week in Hilton Head, I totally get the hype. It's one of my favorite places now. I love the low oak trees with the spanish moss hanging from them. I love that the whole island feels like an island. There's no commercialization there. There are no billboards or signs and the buildings, even McDonalds and Wendy's look like they are part of a plantation.

It had been a long time since our family had been on a vacation and we have one of the best weeks ever!


Eating breakfast with the locals in Asheville, NC.


The Biltmore





Shelby and her friend Bridget... being 12.






I swear they live to make Emme cry!

Our condo was in the center, one down from the top.


Harbour Town for dinner one night.











If you stood in the kitchen in our condo, you could see the ocean out of 3 windows. AMAZING!!!


Savannah for the day!











Emme spent many hours watering the cement at the pool.


















We saw lots of jellyfish.

and crabs. And we saw dolphins every single day!


Paul, Jackson and Jon getting ready to golf.



I loved this beautifully landscaped areas between the pools.

Emme was uncooperative during my photo shoot. She had just woke up.



Ah... so pleasant when she wakes up! NOT!


I can't wait to tell her what a jerk she was one of these days.

I hope they grow up to be best friends.... cause they sure don't act like it now.