Indiana and Kansas

We spent Memorial Day weekend in Indiana with family. 

It was packed full of excitement!

Caleb was very excited to check out the motor bike Popo bought for the grandkids.

 A quick lesson on how to ride it.

 And he's off…

Just before he went full throttle, jumped the curb, ran up into the grass and straight for the tree, legs hanging out behind him.  Thankfully, he let go just in time, looked up and with a thumbs up, said I'm OK!

After that, he was over it and back to just riding his bike.

 Shawn decided to give it a try.

 Amelia wanted to take her training wheels off for a try in Grannie and Papaw's yard.

 She did really well, but after she fell off, she was done and wanted them back on.

 The following day was race day and we went to Grannie's uncle's house for the annual party.  Amelia and Caleb are always excited to play with cousins they only see once or twice a year.

Ava, Amelia and Calla.

 Caleb playing baseball with the big boys and Papaw.

 After a great cookout, we headed to Scott and Christie's new house for a little fishing and boating fun.

 Caleb loves to fish!

 All of the little kids got a turn in the seat and luckily, the fish were biting!

Zeke.

 Jax.

Amelia waiting patiently.

 She got one!

 Caleb and Jeremy fishing off the back.

 After fishing for a bit, we headed out for a tour of the lake.  They have a great piece of property and the lake is gorgeous.  If we lived in IN, we'd probably be there quite a bit.

The following day was Memorial Day, and we had the Nuckolls/Purichia families over.

 Grandma Purichia with all of her great grandkids.

 Cousins - Caleb, Summer, Braxon, Amelia, Adarrah and Elise.

 Mom and Dad with the grandkids.

 The next morning, we started on our cross country adventure.  Our first stop was in Kansas to spend a day with our friend, Kelli Campbell, and her kiddos.

The kids were all friends immediately.

I love this picture of Amelia and Kate already telling each other secrets.

Kate giving Amelia piano lessons.

 The next day we went to their neighborhood pools.  The water was freezing, but the kids didn't care.  Shawn played with Tristan and his friend for while.

 Kelli and Donovan.  Donovan is the sweetest little boy and always has that smile on his face.

 Kate and Amelia trying to warm up.

 Getting in a little video game action…and of course Amelia's doing crafts with Kate.

 Ice cream cones for dessert. I hate that this photo turned out blurry.  

 Our sleepy morning shot just before we got on the road.

We love this family, as I've said many times before.  They are still in need of prayers for their broken hearts.  But to see how God is working in their lives through this, is amazing.  To be a part of their circle of friends is truly an honor and a blessing!  

Last Days in North Carolina

Waaaay back, at the end of March, our movers came.  

Shawn was nice enough to stay home while they packed and loaded, and I took the kids to Raleigh.  They got to spend their gift cards to Build A Bear from Great Aunt Trina and we went to the children's museum with our friends, Emma and Sophie.  

 An empty house is lots of fun!

 After church one Sunday, we headed to Atlantic Beach for one last beach day.

 Rolling down the dune.

 After three weeks at our friends house, it was one to camper living.  We lasted 2 weeks in our extra tiny house before we upgraded to the larger, 2 bedroom model we rented from base.  It was so much better, but I'll be honest with you, it was tough.  Not just the camper living, but having drive around 45 minutes each way to get them to school.  Then I had to fill my time with things in New Bern, because driving back and forth another 2 times, while Amelia only had half days would have been ridiculous.  To say that tiny house living is out for us, would be an understatement…at least while there are 2 kids and a dog involved.  I think we all thought we would be "camping" a little bit more.  Relaxing outside, reading a book, the kids riding their bikes, grilling out, etc.  But no, we were really just living in a camper, not camping.  

We are able to see the Cherry Point Air Show before we left.  Friday night the kids and I headed to the night show to see Shawn fly and watch the decommissioning of his squadron, VMAQT-1.

 The 2 Prowlers ready for take off.

 Shawn's jet taking off.

 While they were flying around, the squadron performed the ceremony. 

 The CO and SGM retiring the squadron flag.

 Prowler fly by.  

 Shawn's jet taxiing. 

 Shawn's old squadron, from the first time we were in NC.

 The next day, we planned on going to the airshow, but Caleb woke up with an ear infection.  Shawn and Amelia went that day, while I took him to the doctor…..only to sit in traffic for 3 hours, just to get back on base (because of airshow traffic).  

 The next day, Caleb was feeling better and wanted to go, so we headed to our front row view.

Caleb and Emma.

 The following week, Shawn had his last flight.  This was more than likely his last Prowler flight and could possibly be his very last flight while in the Marine Corps.

Before the kids and I headed to the squadron, I wanted to get a couple of special pictures.  

This picture was taken on Amelia's first Easter at a pretty sweet spot on base.  

 So, we headed back to that very same spot to get pictures, 5 years later.

Shawn flying by for the last time.

 Shawn's in the front, far left seat.

 Tradition on your last flight, is to get doused with water.

 This flight was the last flight for all three of these guys.

 I love that he wore his Indiana shirt under his flight suit that day.

 Just a few of the guys from his squadron.

 Our Life Group friends - who we miss greatly already - threw us a surprise farewell party.  We walked into a beach/CA themed house.

 They all wrote us cards, which we kept and read on our last night in NC.

 Our names in stars.

 Amelia, Vivian and Piper.

 Our original group grew when we (all) changed churches.  

This is our original crew.  I want to write out their names, so that one day, if we forget (I know we won't, but the kids might), we'll have it in our blog book.

(front row) Vivian, Amelia, Caleb, Levi, Norah, Allison, Keller

(row 2) Silas, Mathis, Phillip

(row 3) Justin, Jordan, Isla, Piper, Elaine, Shawn

(row 4) Sawyer (in the carseat) Brook, Blake, Rebecca, Eva, Freddie

New and old groupie girls.

Hailey, Allison, Jordan, Abby

Me, Brook, Rebecca

 Original groupie guys.

Shawn, Freddie, Phillip

Justin, Blake

We threw ourselves a party and told everyone to meet at the park with their lunch, so we could do one big goodbye.

Sheppar, Taryn, Caleb and Heather

 Taryn, Amelia, Caleb, Trystan, A.J.

 Amelia, Norah, Piper, Vivian

And lastly, our last day in NC, was the kids' last day of school.

 Amelia and Vivian before their graduation.

 Amelia's picture up on the screen.

 Amelia's class.

Jordan, Aleck, Wesley, A.J., Lillian, Owen, Amelia, Hunter, Madison, Antonio (Antino, missing)

 Our preschool graduate.

 Our 1st grade graduate.

 After picking up Caleb, we headed for Indiana and the rest of our cross country trip.  We made a lot of great memories and dear friends in North Carolina.  I feel that sometimes I don't seem sentimental, but this is the life that we are accustomed to.  We live somewhere for awhile, make great memories and then we leave.  It gets no less easier to say goodbye.  Leaving friends we love is terribly hard.  We know that we are creating such a memorable story for our lives and each home holds a special place in our hearts!