On Eagles' Wings: Our Vacation....Finally!

Well, ok, so it has been at least 2 weeks since we got back from vacation and I promised a recap of the vacation. I am putting all of the blame on the Olympics. My usual blogging time is being taken up with watching beach volleyball, gymnastics, diving etc... go USA!!! I digress. My original plan was to do several posts over the course of a week highlighting various events - but at this rate, if I did that, it would be next year before I finished! So here is a mongo post with a bunch of pictures and stories to go along with. It may take a while, so if you have to pee, go now!

We spent a week with Bryan's mom, Melissa when we first got there. Emma especially had Grandma wrapped around her little finger! Grandma had all kinds of toys and puzzles ready for Alex and Rebekah - the puzzles kept them busy all week, we realized Alex is a bit of a prodigy when it comes to putting puzzles together. Rebekah was quite tickled with her grandma's southern accent and couldn't stop giggling when she told Rebekah to take a "pilla" (that's a pillow for you Yankees) upstairs to Aunt Ree Ree (Bryan's sister Suzanne) When she got upstairs she was giggling and said "Grandma called this a 'pilla'!"

The second day we were there we went up to Whitmire, South Carolina to attend Bryan's grandmother's funeral. Although we were sad to see "Goomy" pass, it was a blessing that the timing was such that we were able to attend her memorial service. She was a kind and loving, mother, grandmother and friend and she will be missed. We were also able to see family, most of whom I met for the first time. I have to say "hey" to Martha who reads this blog (SOMEBODY BESIDES GRANDMA READS MY BLOG!) "Hey Martha!"

So after a week with Grandma we headed up to North Carolina for Joe's wedding (Bryan's cousin). We stayed the night with Suzanne and the next day went to Carowinds, amusement park and had a great HOT time - here are a FEW pictures.

On Azul the train with Grandma
(the kid area of the park had a Nickelodian theme)

On a ROLLER COASTER!

Rebekah loved it, Alex liked it too, but there were some bumps at the end he didn't like, and just today he was talking about how he didn't like the bumps on the roller coaster - I guess it was traumatic enough to stick in his head. Check out Rebekah with her arms up (you can click to see a bigger picture) - she absolutely LOVED it - she will definitely be ready for the big ones once she is tall enough (Daddy can't wait!)

We were on our way out when we ran into Sponge Bob and Blue - oh the JOY! Alex just kept saying "Hi Sponge Bob! I love you Sponge Bob!"

Next came Joe's wedding and seeing all of the Shumway clan - which was SO wonderful. The best part was Grandma Shumway finally got to see her great grandkids. It was priceless. So here are a bunch of pictures with Great Grandma Shumway.

This is our absolute favorite shot!

This is at the reception, we decided to take Emma so everyone could see her - she was SO tired, but so content in Grandma's arms.

It took about 15 shots and at least three different cameras but this was the best shot of all three with Grandma.

This is my second favorite shot - pure SWEETNESS!!!

The morning of the wedding we decided to take the kids to a little park that had a bunch of stuff to do. Well, it was a fun time but it was HOT, so very HOT and HUMID!!!!! I was miserable the whole time, but the kids had a blast. There was a Merry go Round, and that always makes our kids happy.

We got back to the hotel and Bryan heard Rebekah say, "Ahhhhh, that feels GOOOOOD" he looked in the other room and saw Rebekah cooling herself by the air conditioner. LOL!!!

Rebekah made a new friend Casey at the wedding. Casey is 6 and these girls just had a ball dancing and playing both at the rehearsal dinner and at the reception. Rebekah still talks about her friend Casey.

When they are 16 we will all be together again and we will say "Don't you remember dancing at Joe and Jen's reception?" And they will look at us with the teen glazed look and say "huh?"

With the bride - Jen. Rebekah just wanted to touch her dress - it was "soooo BEAUtiful Mommy!"

This is the table they had set up the reception as party favors - a big table of candy!

Every time I turned around Alex had another piece of candy in his hand!

It turns out Uncle Tommy (actually Bryan's cousin) was keeping him in supply.

Bryan finally took matter's into his own hands and put a stop to the madness. Note the sign pinned to Alex's shirt. You may have to click to enlarge.

Thanks Uncle Tommy for hookin' me up - it was good while it lasted!

Of course everyone had to have a turn holding Emma!

Uncle Denny

Karen

Aunt Elaine

so I didn't actually GET a picture of EVERYONE holding Emma, but she did make the rounds!

One of the factors that made this time so special was that it was the first time ALL of the Shumway cousins have been together at the SAME TIME. So, of course a picture was taken of the event.