OBX 2008

Maya's first trip to the Outer Banks was nearly perfect. Mike and I have been going to the Outer Banks about twice a year for several years now. Last year we didn't go at all. We've really been missing it. We love going because it's just such a beautiful and peaceful place and because we love taking Fisher. He has a blast. We have been staying in Avon the past few times that we've gone and so decided that we'd do the same this time. So far it hasn't disappointed!
We stop and spend the night at Aunt Judy and Uncle Chauncey's house in Chesapeake on the way down and it really makes the trip so much better. We can get up an leave at a leisurely pace and still get there with plenty of day to spare. Judy gave Maya a princess pumpkin carving kit so we had to stop at a produce market and get a pumpkin to carve.

I loved seeing this tiny strip of land surrounded by water on the Garmin.

We stopped at Bodie Island Lighthouse and had a little picnic lunch. We weren't the only ones eating...

Notice the big ol' red welt on Maya's cheek? It's a mosquito bite. The first of many this week!

How cute are those ears flappin' in the wind?

Maya doesn't like her syrup on her waffles. She prefers to dip. Nice dipping bowl, huh?

We had beautiful weather until Thursday evening. We spent a couple of days on the beach but not in the ocean. Fisher doesn't care much for the waves. But he could spend all day in the sound. Maya could dig and dig...she could dig a hole to China, LOL!

We took her tricycle instead of her wagon. Big mistake. It squeaked this horrible squealing noise. So we parked it and bought yet another stroller. That makes 4 now.

Momma and Maya carving the pumpkin.

Of all the stencils, Maya chose the witch from Snow White. By far the most detailed of them all. I had never used one of these kits. They are awesome!! I love the scooper and the saw. I thought she turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.

We had a great day for flying a kite or an umbrella. Shortly after the pic of Fisher setting under the umbrella, it blew out of the sand and rolled and rolled until it was totally out of site. I tried running after it. I ditched my flip flops (but not my mimosa) and ran as fast as I could but could not even come close.

Our house was way too big for just the 3 of us and we tried to swindle some friends into coming down with us but as usual, no go. It was a beautiful house and the pool was great. It was plenty warm even in October.

There was a playground...

and painting...

and naked foosball for players under 3.

Our boy. Doing one of his favorite things. I thought I was going to have to go in after him for a minute. He couldn't find the stick I threw and would not come back to the shore. I finally had to throw another.

My two loves on the ferry to Ocracoke.

The mosquitoes were bad in Avon but they were ferocious on Ocracoke. Driving around with the windows down, Maya got about 4 bites on her including one under her other eye in the exact same spot as the one in the pic at the lighthouse. Here are Mike and Fisher running for their lives back to the truck.

We are having computer issues. Sorry for keeping everyone hanging.

September

As summer came to an end we got busy trying to make the most of every last minute of warmth and sunshine. Now here it is the middle of October and it's still warm and sunshiny. We are certainly not complaining. It just makes for a little harder decision on what to wear.
Maya loves bubbles. I could blow them until I passed out and she'd still be asking for more. But how could I ever say no?!

September brought Maya's first shiner. Here it is the day it happened. I never took another pic of her while it was healing but it was just a little blue under her eye. The scrape healed quickly and we're putting Mederma on it now. You can hardly tell it was even there. Her cousin Bryce was showing her a new dance move and he bumped her a little too hard. Dancin'...it's risky business!


I have been slacking on the wildflower pics this year so we decided to have a photo shoot while taking care of Shadow and Sir Galahad late in the month. It has never been very easy to get good photos of our beauty. I know it doesn't seem that way from this blog but I have to take many, many horrible ones to get one good one. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Thank goodness for the digital camera!! Lately Maya has been almost refusing to look at the camera. I try every ploy to get her to look and not much of anything works. I just happen to get lucky sometimes. It starts the minute I pull the camera out. She will not look at me no matter what. Here's what I got from our only wildflower shoot this year. I bought this little dress while we were waiting for Maya. She's never worn it and it's getting too short so I had to try it for the pics.


Bobble-head Maya.


We went to Tennessee for a visit on the way to Atlanta for the Autumn Moon Festival with the Lazars. We finally visited the Knoxville Zoo. Maya loved it and still talks about the animals. She sat right up there beside of this gorilla. She was very slow moving and seemingly sweet behind the glass. Pardon the flash.

Maya and Grandpa riding the lion.

It rained at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Something we have seen very little of around here. There was this great little puddle in their yard. It was very deep and clean. If it had been in our yard, one step in it and it would have become a mud hole. Maya jumped and splashed around in it for a long time and it never got muddy.

Then we were off to Atlanta. We had another great time with the Lazars and thank them so much for hosting us in their beautiful home. This adoption has blessed us in so many ways. First and foremost of course is being given this fantastic child that makes us smile and has created so much more love in our lives than we ever thought possible. Second is the forever friendships that we have made with our travel group and in particular the Lazars. We love this family!!
Maya and Ella got along just fine. Like they have been buds forever! I was pretty lame with the camera but here are a few shots from our weekend.
The girls playing a little beauty shop.

And being the smiley, happy, beautiful girls that they are.

The whole gang (minus Evan as he's behind the camera) on top of Stone Mountain.

Dad, on top of the world...in more ways than one!

Maya and Momma in front of that giant rock sticking out of the ground.

After dark with their glowsticks.

We just got back from the Outer Banks this past weekend. I will try to get a post up for that trip soon.

First Haircut

I finally gave in and got Maya's hair cut. It had gotten really long and it's so thin that it just looked scraggly when it was down. During the summer she and I both have a ponytail all the time. But now that it's becoming fall I'll be leaving it down more and I thought it was time. This picture was just taken a few days ago and you can see how long and thin her ponytail was.

We cooked out at my sisters house yesterday. I called my niece and asked her to bring her clippers home from work so she could cut Mikes hair while we were there. I decided it would be as good of a time as any to cut Maya's too. She'll be going to see her Grandma and Grandpa and the Lazars next week with a new do. Here is the before shot.

And during, being such a good girl for her Aunt Sarah. Mosquito bites and all.

How cute is the back of that little sweet head?!!

A big cheese from two new haircuts.
Just for the record, Maya does wear pants contrary to most of her pics lately. She had a little accident and I forgot to bring a backup outfit for her.

August

Well, I sure am glad that this month is over! I usually cling to August like Linus to his blanket because it is the last month of summer. And I LOVE SUMMER!! But this August was a bummer for the most part. There were some good parts so I'll share those with you.
We saw two fantastic Mountain Stage shows. The second one featured bass player extraordinaire Mike Gordon and Mike had his brush with fame. He couldn't have been happier.

Our good friends Jonathan and Mindy got hitched. At their reception Kelli and I showed up in the same dress totally unintentionally. Neither of us were surprised. It's just so typical of us. We said we were the bridesmaids.

And now, without further ado...Little Miss Trouble.

We gathered up a little hand me down playhouse from our neighbor (Thank you Jaylee!). Maya loves it. Mike swore we would never have any of those "damn plastic toys" after helping move some once. That was obviously before he had a little sweetie that may like one of those big ol' plastic toys.

She loves the doggie door and wants Fisher to go in and out of it. He prefers the front door and uses it. He actually couldn't fit through the doggie door if he scooted on his belly. So Maya just uses it herself.

We've been having a terrible time with mosquito bites. This evening I thought Maya's eye was so swollen from the bite on her right eyebrow and the one on the bridge of her nose right between her eyes. Not to mention the three on her cheek one on her chest her shoulder and two on her arm.
Then we got up the next morning...Her poor little eye was almost swollen shut. How pitiful is this pic?!

Just looking too cute in the setting sun!

How bout a "piggy ride"?

Or a swim.

Or an evening on the playground.

It's all fun and games until the big kids show up.

Mom, Maya and I went to visit my sister in VA last week and I never even took my camera out of the bag but that was a good moment in a not so good month too. We are really looking forward to getting together with the Lazars for the Atlanta FCC Autumn Moon Festival next weekend in Stone Mountain, GA. And a quick visit with Grandma and Grandpa in TN. We may even try to visit the zoo while we're there. See you next month!