Guilty

The other morning after breakfast, Carly got off her chair and whispered something to Chloe. She did it right in front of Harper and myself as if they were saying something really sneaky. I asked Carly what she said, and she REFUSED!!! I gave her sad eyes, but still the girl would not budge. They were excused and went outside to play since Daddy was out mowing the yard. About 5 minutes later, I was in the bathroom taking Finley and in comes Carly. "Mom, I want to tell you something." She then whispers in my ear the secret. It was nothing spectacular, she just wanted to put on Harper's new costume and she didn't want him to know, because then he would want to wear it. I just said oh and thanked her for telling me - it was not a big deal. Carly had a huge grin on her face and she turned to exit the bathroom. And then she turned around and said, "God will forgive me!" She felt she had made a bad choice by not telling me the secret, the guilt ate her up inside, she told me and felt the weight of her choice lifted after she told me. We then had a whole conversation about God's amazing grace and forgiveness.

Whitewater Adventure

Yesterday I surprised Matt with a trip to the National Whitewater Center. He had no clue! I just told him to get in the car (which I had packed and ready to g0). He didn't know until he saw a neighborhood right before the entrance that was called the Rapids. And he was so excited about his day of adventure. He also didn't know that our friends Courtney and JT were coming too. They pulled up next to us in the parking lot and he was thrilled. It was such a fun day to get away together and have an adult day (Courtney and JT have 4 kids too, so they had just as much fun away).
The first adventure was the mega jump. We suited up, went up to the top of the 50 ft. platform and jumped off!! It didn't seem that high until you stood at the edge! It was so fun. (And yes Matt is smelling my helmet. I have an aversion to wearing helmets and they just didn't smell good - so Matt is trying to freak me out!)

Matt after a safe landing.

Me taking steps of the edge!

I got all the way to the top

Matt helping JT get all the way to the top of the self climb wall

After these two we went on a Kayak (therefore the camera didn't go with us any more). We paddled on the Catawba River. We saw a water snake and a turtle. Then we saw a rope attached to a tree (not affiliated with the whitewater center). So of course we had to take a stab at that. The first round, success!! Matt, Courtney and I all had a great swing out. JT was opposite, he tried 3 times and only on the last time he got out all the way. Me, well it just got worse every time. The second time I got rope burn on my armpit from slipping off. Then the third time, I looked like I was a circus act. I slipped off the wooden handle, slid down the rope onto the other wooden handle, where I sat for a split second and then did a not so graceful front flip off the rope - OUCH!! Yes, I got wounds from this. So after we all got beat up, we decided to leave and paddle back. That is when JT realized he lost his wedding ring! This was their 13th wedding anniversary and Courtney even told him not to loose it! (He lost his first one in the New River) We got back and ate lunch. Then we rafted!! Not one of us fell out - close, but no swimmers. Our first guide did some cool tricks with us - tons of fun. Our second guide was fun too, but not as wild.

Then, as if we weren't sore enough, we had to do the climb to zip and the obstacle course. The climb to zip was like a telephone pole with climbing rocks stuck to the side. We had to shimmy up this pole, stand on a 32 ft. platform and then zip line off the top. It was so hard to climb to the top - not one of us had the strength left, but managed to get up there. Matt said he was going to go down, but he saw that I was almost to the top and he couldn't let me do it and not him. Then we did the obstacle course. You walked on a tightrope cable all across and had various rope obstacles to help you get across.

And here we are at the end of the adventures ready to pass out!! We were there from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm and our bodies were ready to give out. I was braver than I thought I would be - I think I am ready for Survivor now!! We will definitely go there again - maybe in a couple of years :)

You can check out some of the whitewater photos online at: www.photos.usnwc.org/rafting

Go to 6-21-10

Click on 3:30-5 and pictures 256-259, 301-304, and 337-343

Also

Click on 5-6:30 and pictures 3-5, 35-37, 40-42, 71-75 (this is where we lost our guide), 82-83, 118-123

Pond Talk

We went to Rachel Bell's wedding tonight. I cannot believe she got married!! Matt and I used to baby sit her and Lindsay! She looked so beautiful and I realized once we got to the church that I forgot my camera - GRRR!! The reception was at her now father-in-law's house. It had a really cute pond there. After Chloe ate her food, she asked if she could go look at the water. I agreed. She stood there for a while looking so cute just gazing into the water. Matt went over to her and asked, "What are you looking at Chloe?" "Bugs" she replied. Matt says, "What do you think those bubbles are from?" "A hippo" - Kids have the best interpretations!

Fun Times

The "fun pool" is now open and we are there for the season! Preston came with us one day and he helped give them the courage to go down the green tube slide. They love spending time with Preston!
Today Finley was crying so I brought her into my room for a little Baby Einstein movie. The girls had these bean bags out so I put Finley in the bean bag while I turned it on. I left the room and figured she would just crawl out and play. I come back in 20 minutes later and she is still maxin and relaxin in the bean bag chair!!! It was so cute. Thumb in the mouth and feet crossed. She is so funny!

Carly's Night Time Line Up

The past two nights when I go into my room to go to bed, I find this. This is Carly's medicine line up. She sets it all up before she goes to bed so that if she needs anything at night it will be all out. I guess 4 sticks of chap stick, 2 tubes of cortisone, 1 tub of cortisone rub, and nasal spray will work magic for my 5 year old.

Potty Time!

On Tuesday, June 15th, Finley was working on a shewie. So I quick grabbed her and took her to the potty. And low and behold the 9 1/2 month old went potty and shewie immediately. Luckily I was babysitting Reilly, so I had her hold Finley for a photo shoot. (Which is kind of cute because she is actually on Reilly's potty seat from when I used to babysit her - my first trainee became the trainer). I am so proud of my Finley! And since then she has gone almost every time I have put her on the potty. Way to go Finley!

5 yr., 3 yr., 9 months, and Family

It was time for a good photoshoot and our lovely Deanna did a simply marvelous job as usual!! You must check out the album of everyone. I do not have enough words to describe how great Deanna is and how much we love her work!!

www.deannadevine.smugmug.com/portraits