Nags Head 2011

Oh. . .another wonderful week in Nag's Head.  The time flies by, and we are always so sad to leave this special family time and time with Bobby and Lanie. . .actually Uncle Bobby and Aunt Lanie.  Here are Madeline and Ryan playing in the Dunes with Uncle Bobby.  It was an awesome time EXCEPT for the horrendous mosquito infestation. . .thank you Lord for a bit of insight into what some of the Egyptian plagues must have been like. 

Uncle Bobby, Ry and Julius

Ry is a dental phenomenon in our house.  He grows adult teeth behind baby teeth, prior to the baby teeth becoming wiggly.  Because our little man is so tough, he lets Daddy help him loosen then.  Here's Daddy trying to pull out a very wiggly tooth with dental floss.

We were all laughing and having fun with Ry, as he was trying to be brave enough to pull his tooth out (it ended up falling out naturally).  He is so fun.

Aunt Lanie is so fun, and so amazing with our children.  She truly loves them, and we are so blessed by her outpouring.  What a special friend, and woman she is.  Here she is playing pick up sticks with M&R before even having breakfast!

You go, Aunt Lanie.

What better to do on a rainy day than play Sorry???  It was Uncle Bobby and Ry versus Madeline and Aunt Lanie.  Can you tell from this picture that Madeline adores Aunt Lanie???

Uncle Bobby and Ry WON!

This little girl is coming out of her shell and dazzling the world with her fun ways and silly comments.

The guys, chilling in the hot tub.

Our yearly hermit crabs.  Unfortunately, the both still remain nameless, and Ryan gave his to Madeline and now Madeline is looking for someone to adopt Ryan's hermit crab.  Not the year of the hermit crab!

How cool is this???  While in the bathroom during Sunday school, a girl in Madeline's class taught her how to blow bubble with soap and your fingers.  And wow. . .she's gotten really good at it.  We had so much fun watching her make these bubbles!

Madeline and Ryan are wave crazy.  They love riding the waves, especially Ry.

Check out my brave babies.  I love watching them enjoy God's creation!

Thank goodness for Uncle Bobby and Julius, who retrieved them from a strong current.  Ry and I also got stuck in one, and it was a bit frightening.  So grateful for the kids' life vests!

Gotta love the facial expression.

HEY!

Ryan had so much fun as Uncle Bobby threw him into the waves.

Oh. . .I just love this boy.  Look how handsome he is!

He loved riding the waves with his board.

Ry and Uncle Bobby.

Aunt Lanie and Madeline spent copious amounts of time looking for shimmer shells.  They then made a beautiful craft with their treasured shells.

Look at this girl!  How did she get so big???

Our pretty princess.

Julius and Ry, looking for sand dollars.  Ry followed Julius around like a lost puppy.  Julius is truly like an older brother to him.  Ry cannot get enough time with Julius.

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Bocci Ball. . .you go girl.  Through it with all your might.  They had so much fun playing this game.  They made it creative by coming up with silly throws and silly throw positions.

You go, boy!

Our babies.

Gotta' love the face. . .

Would any beach trip be complete without this?

She is so beautiful.  The outside matches the insdie.

Brother and sister, running up the dunes together.

I'm tearing up just looking at this picture.  Love my precious babies!

Madeline Plays Soccer

Both Madeline and Ryan are playing soccer this season.  We are so proud of both of them.  They are faithful to their practices and give 100% effort when they are out on the field.

Fishing

What did the Wells' family do on Labor Day???  We fished.  Mommy hooked the worms, Daddy and Julius taught how to cast, Madeline and Ryan caught, and Julius unhooked and threw back.  Both Madeline and Ryan caught fish, making it even more exciting for both of them.

Julius and Ryan just chillin'.  Ry LOVES Julius.  Everyday he wants to know when Julius is waking up, when he'll be home from work.  And Julius is so wonderful. . .we gladly claim him as our oldest son.  Though the poor southern, skinny guy might starve in our healthy house. 

Julius was so patient with Ry, who loved casting and then reeling the line right back.

Madeline and her daddy enjoying some bonding time.  Lilly Grace and I had to take cover in the car during a brief rain storm.  Never a dull moment with 3. . .and we LOVE it.

Millstone Creek Orchard

How can you not love this picture.  Even without words it communicates so much.  This boy loves his pooch.  I don't think a better dog has ever walked than planet than our dear Bobo.  The only thing we could do without is his gassiness.

What a fun beginning of the year field trip we had to the apple orchard.  We got to taste different varieties of apples, make and taste apple cider, go on a hayride, pick apples, and enjoy lunch together. 

Here are the sweet girls, trying apple slices.  Madeline had the most delightful time with girl friends on this trip.  She is sitting next to Madeline and Sydney.  Sweet, sweet girls.

I can never get enough of Ryan's expressions.  I love them. . .they say so much!!!

Look at my sweet children, cranking it.  We were making apple cider, old school.  They had such much fun, turning the wheel, and watching the juice of the apples squirt out!

Carowinds 2011

This year we said "bye-bye" to Kings Dominion and "hello" to Carowinds.  They are essentially the same parks, but it was fun to stay in NC.  Here are little MOW and Ry with Charlie Brown.  I love Ry's sweet, shy expression, and Madeline's joy.  Precious, precious, precious.

Madeline and Marissa get ready to ride the "hot air balloon" for the zillionth time.  Having Marissa there was such a treat.  It made for an extra special and fun day.

Up, up and away. . .

Hey look. . .it's the Mattdaddy and RyRy. 

Marissa and Madeline.  Mommy is, of course, sitting under a tree with Lilly Grace.

Check out those serious faces.  I think they are scared they might veer the wrong direction and fall from the tracks!!!

Okay. . .these boating faces are too funny!

It was an awesome, full day.  Though we have no pictures of it, we spent a large part of the day at the water park.  Everyone had so much fun riding water slides, floating in wave pools, relaxing on the lazy river.  Mommy was camped out under a huge umbrella with a sleeping Lilly Grace.  Love spending time as a family!

Ry Ry Lost His First Tooth!

Our sweet boy is getting so big.  My heart sunk and rejoiced when he lost his first tooth.  He has been our baby for so long!!!  This tooth has a story.  A few days before losing it, while brushing his teeth, Mommy noticed that a fully formed tooth had grown in behind his first loose tooth. . .how it took so long for us to notice, I have NO idea. . .I'm sure it just popped up overnight.  Matt and I knew this was a sure sign of braces in his future, though neither him nor I had them.  Since he's our tough guy, Daddy offered to help loosen it.  Ry was all for it.  Daddy would gently wiggle it, and without notice abruptly and forcefully push it.  After about the third time doing this, the tooth fell out.  It was awesome.  He was stoic, though blood dripped from his mouth.  We think he was proud of himself for being so brave and courageous.  So. . .here's our sweet boy, with one less reminder of his baby and toddler days.

Whoa. . .this boy is CUTE!

LOVE this smile. . .could eat it!