Make sure to read all of my posts! I have put up 6 new posts within the last few days! Portland and the beach are up, as requested! Enjoy!

Museum of Life and Science

On Tuesday, I took the boys to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. I LOVE this museum and it has always been my favorite. It has changed some since I was a kid but it still has a lot of the same things that I loved! And they are continually adding new things! It is a great learning environment! We were there for 2 hours and didn't even do half of the things in the museum. We will definitely have to go back sometime because they both seemed to enjoy it (and me too)! The picture above was of the boys and the cloud machine. John was really into the lights though! Nicholas and John in front of the space exhibit.

John crawling through the tunnel in Toddler land.

And Nicholas trying to fit through....

John really liked this Donkey!

In the train!!!

And they were COMPLETELY exhausted on the way home!

Fishing Tournament

Nicholas, Leonard and Leonard's dad were in a fishing tournament on Saturday while we were at the beach. Nicholas caught a 9.9 pound King Mackerel (I think).

AND he won first place for the King Mackerel!!!!

Way to go, Nicholas!!

Surf City!

The day after that I got back from Portland, I headed to the beach! The Thagards were taking their vacation week at the beach so I got go along with them! I had so much fun and absolutely love spending time with them there!

John and Donna on the beach!

Nicholas, John and Leonard on a huge Grady-White boat!

I think this picture is so cute of sweet little John John!

Thank you for having me again!!!! I had SO much fun!

I am headed back to their beach house this Sunday to spend the week with the boys and their grandparents! I can't wait!

Portland!

FINALLY, here is my post about Portland! It took me forever to upload my pictures from Portland so I hope you enjoy them!

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Here is a recap of what I did:
Friday: I traveled 10 hours to get to Portland to visit my best friend! She picked me up, I freshened up and we went to a cookout at her friend's house. It was awesome. They built a firepit in their backyard. We watched a documentary called 'Baracka' on a projection screen in their yard. We made s'mores! I was exhausted afterwards. We headed home around midnight but really it was 3 am for me!

Saturday: I still woke up early despite the time change. We went to brunch at a really cool place called the Tin Shed. We took Sawyear (catherine's dog) and she enjoyed breakfast too because they had a dog menu! We did a little shopping and then visited the part of town where catherine lived when she first moved there. We had crepes in a french restaurant for lunch and had an afternoon snack at the pied cow. We headed home for showers and then went over to another friend's house for another cookout. We only stayed for an hour or two and then headed to doug fir for a concert, which we got into for free. I have no idea who the band was but they were good! I got to meet and hang out with several of catherine's friends. They were super nice and fun!

Sunday: We got up fairly early again for brunch! Then we went to see the waterfalls. THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL. This one definitely one of the major highlights of my trip. We saw 3 different waterfalls and then went to an overlook. We went back to her neighborhood and walked to one of her favorite restaurants called The Matador. We went for happy hour so all the meals were 4 or 5 dollars! Then we walked probably 15 blocks to Powell's.... this is the biggest used bookstore in the US. They have new books too but it is 4 floors and each floor is HUGE. I got lost. It was so cool though and I could have stayed in there for hours. I bought 4 books for about $18. Then we went to a few more shops and Voodoo doughnuts. We took our doughnuts and sat by the waterway and read our books then walked home. We rested for a little while and then got a late dinner around the corner. I don't remember what the place was called but it was neat.... it was a sandwich place that stuffed their fries in their sandwich!

Monday: Catherine had to go to work! :-( I slept in a little bit. Then I ran errands with cate's neighbor and good friend, Jackie (she is the one who has the dog that looks like Sierra in the pictures). She then left me then I went shopping and explored the city on my own! I didn't have a car. I just walked all over the place and found some really cool shops! Catherine got off of work a little early so we went to get Gelato. Yummy! Then we headed to the Mississippi Pizza Pub for the Spelling Bee! That was fun! There were about 20 contestants and it was a real spelling bee. Then we left for the Joseph Arthur concert! That was another highlight, read the post below!

Tuesday: We got up super early so Catherine could take me to the airport and get to work on time. I traveled all day again and lost 3 hours! My plane was delayed and I got back to my apartment 3 hours later than I hoped.

My trip there went by way too fast. I loved seeing Catherine. I hadn't seen her for almost 6 months! That is definitely the longest that we have ever gone without seeing each other. I had so much fun and it felt right being with her. She is family to me and I miss her so much already. She is coming home in October for a wedding so at least it won't be another 6 months before I see her again.

Thank you Catherine for letting me come and visit you! I love and miss you!!!

Joseph Arthur

So, while I was in Portland, Catherine and I went to see Joseph Arthur. A lot of people don't know who he is but Catherine and I have both liked him for a long time. She is one of my only friends who knows who he is and loves him too! Some of you MAY know or recognize his song from Shrek 2 "You're So True." My favorite song of his is "Honey and the Moon." It is definitely worth downloading or buying!

Anyway, it was such a fun concert! Catherine and I got to stand in the front row. I took a lot of pictures and even some videos. I can't get the videos to load. And what is even more fun is that Catherine and I got to meet AND hang out with him after the concert. I got his autograph and we hung out with him for probably an hour!!!!! I was definitely one of those annoying fans though. Catherine kept her cool - her and Joseph Arthur really hit it off!

We went to his concert my last night in Portland and it was the perfect way to spend the night! I had so much fun!
This is a picture of his guitar up close. I accidently kept my flash on for this picture. I was embarrassed when it happened but I think his guitar is awesome!



I will have more up about Portland hopefully soon. I am trying to upload all my pictures on Bubbleshare but it is taking FOREVER. I have too many good pictures to just pick a few. And then I also have posts coming about my time at Surf City!

Happy Birthday John!

This is over a week late but I wanted to make a post for John's birthday. He turned 1 on July 18!!!!!!! I can't believe that he is already 1. He has changed so much since I first met him. He is just soooooooooo much fun to be around! He is on the verge of walking (he has taken a few steps and can walk while holding onto something). He is also saying a few words, waving to anyone and everything, clapping and giving high fives! I was in Portland on his birthday so I missed the celebration but I got to spend some time with him at the beach, which I will post more about later!