Vacation part 1

We packed a lot of fun into our week long trip and I didn't forget the camera this time so I have a lot of pictures. These pictures are the first part of the trip and also the longest part. We saw a lot of family, did some fun things and had a really good time as you will see.



We stopped in Delaware on the way to North Carolina to take a ride on the steam train that Sam has been talking about for years. They were having a small festival there which was a nice surprise. Here the kids are playing around in a helicopter that is used to train first responders.  




The train





Waiting to go





This lovely little area was the half way point for the train ride. You could stop here and picnic if only you had remembered to bring the food from the car. Those guys behind us were playing music and there were also magicians roaming around the crowd.  




On the way back the musicians came into our car and decided to start a sing along. Our car went along with the idea and we ended up singing all the way into the station.




singing




This is a thing Jeff does that I had never heard of as a kid. Holding up the tunnel as you go through it, so here they are "holding up the tunnel" (it's like holding your breath as you pass a graveyard)



Everyone knows that Pheenie LOVES Betty Boo(p) and so you can imagine her joy when we walked into the IHOP and saw her standing there. That joy was amplified by her discovery of sweet tea a few minutes later.



We finally made it! This is actually the next day because we didn't arrive until very late the night before. Here the kids are having a tea party with the cousins Mica and Caden.



Ahh the pool. The kids were in some body of water every day except for one. The noodles were quickly turned into weapons and it seems Jeff and Shelley beat each other up with them much more then the kids did.

Just a cute picture of Sam, Seraphina and Mica

Mica and Pheenie in Mica's dress up clothes. Seraphina is a week older then Mica and the two of them became very fast friends because they are very much alike.

Sam and Caden (most of my pictures are of the back of him because he was too busy to pose) Sam was very sweet taking care of Caden while the girls played.

The whole crew Tod, Shelley, Kerry, Jeff, Nana, Aunt Helen, Randy, Mica, Sam, Seraphina, and Caden,  facing the camera and sans shirt because I told Shelley he didn't need one :)

Quinn was off with his dad so Sam ended up being the oldest and not having a kid his age to play with. Tod made this all better by bringing this "toy" and giving Sam a lesson in how to play.

So of course Seraphina wanted to play then too.

Nana plays the zither so here she is showing Sam and teaching him how to use it.



A very big deal! This is Seraphina's first sleep over and as you can see from her face she is having a ball.



A quiet moment for Sam now that the girls are asleep.

Pheenie and Mica hula hooping.

Jeff put up a bird house

Nana teaching the kids how to knit.



Visiting with Gran who is 97 years young



Feeding the ducks (Sam is hidden in all of the pictures that I took here but I promise he was there)

We had dinner with Jeff's other cousin Jamie. (The only cousins we didn't get to see were Quinn and Josh)

Leaving messages for Nana



The final picture is fittingly the puzzle that consumed so much time. Jeff was on a mission to finish this puzzle before we left and we did actually get it done right before we loaded the car to go. These are pictures don't do justice to how wonderful the trip was and I promise there are more to come!