Children's Museum

The kids were out of school the week after Easter.  We spent half of the week at the lake and the other half doing fun activities for the kiddos.

Our first stop was Marbles Children's Museum in Raleigh with The Kirk Family.

The kids loved it!  It wasn't super crowded like I thought it would be either.  

After the museum we had a yummy lunch at Panera in Apex.  I was reminded of their expensive sandwiches.  They are proud of those things!  :)

Final Easter Lake Day

Nanny left relatively early that morning.  We made our way to Lowe's to purchase some boards for Richard to attach the swings and such that the girls had gotten for Christmas.  (We have since had to make some adjustments on the design)  They have really enjoyed having a little more entertainment there when we aren't able to boat or swim.

We roasted marshmallows that night and they fished from the dock.  My view was pretty sweet!  We have definitely been missing the lake.  It's a place of relaxation for all of us.  It's our calm.  Our place without a schedule.  It's wonderful and I am so glad that it's lake time again!!

Karcie got a hula hoop for Easter.  Her sister was using it and Karcie tried to "take" it from her.  She ended up with a terrible busted lip. Lesson learned!

They love their new orbit swing!

Even Mommy had a bit of fun on the swings!

Kamdyn enjoyed flipping on the trapeze bar.

I think she flipped over 100 times that day!

Roasting some marshies.  

Sweet girl!!

Beautiful view!

Easter Morning

The Easter bunny almost gets out-done every year by their baskets from Nanny and Georgia (ha!), but the girls still enjoy going on a scavenger hunt to find their baskets.  The Easter bunny had his work cut out for him at the lake house.  There weren't nearly as many places to hide baskets.  He did ok though!  

Karcie's class made Resurrection Eggs at school this year.  My heart was full when she came home telling me all about how Jesus died on the cross for us and how the tomb was empty on that third day.  She loves Jesus with all of her heart and I am so thankful to Apex Baptist Preschool for giving her such a strong foundation in faith.  

Kamdyn also has a store bought set of resurrection eggs that Nanny bought her many years ago.  She told Karcie the story of Jesus' journey to the cross in her own words.  I love hearing her sweet voice and she explains those horrible, but wonderful moments in her own words.  Precious, precious moments!!

Nanny Visits the Lake for Easter

Nanny came to visit us at the lake for Easter Weekend.  We started our weekend "dyeing" Easter Eggs.  I decided to cut a corner this year and I bought fake eggs so I didn't have to transport two dozen eggs to the lake, boil them, cool them, etc.  They said on the package that you could dye them just like regular eggs.  I'm not very good at following directions so I mixed the dye incorrectly and it didn't stick to the eggs.  OOPS!!  Luckily, I had also purchased paint.  We spent the afternoon painting eggs and soon discovered why people dye them.  It's much easier and faster!  Lesson learned!

Nanny brought lots of big plastic eggs filled with all kinds of goodies for the kids.  The golden eggs had large bills of $ in them.  I wanted to join in the hunt, but I was only allowed to hide them not find them.  This was our event for Day #2.

After finding their eggs they divided up their loot.  They were most excited about the squishy pops that Nanny brought.  If you are thinking lollipops, think again. They are in those surprise type eggs things.  They are ponies that had a suction cup on them that would stick to surfaces and make a popping noise.  Crazy the things that will entertain kids these days!!

Eggs #1 for each of them.

Can you tell how tedious this was?

Kamdyn had a pimple on her nose and thought the band-aid made it less noticeable.  Ha!

Check out the photo bomber in the background!

Sweet picture of all four of my faves!!  Even the one on the couch!

Sweet girl wanted two french braids.

How did they get so big???

 

Sorting the loot and happy as can be!

Old Salem Field Trip

One of my most favorite things about being a work-from-home Mommy is that I get to attend school events without feeling guilty about shirking other responsibilities. I was so happy that I got to go with Kamdyn and her class to Old Salem in Winston Salem.  It is truly a remarkable place.  A city that the Moravians started back in the 1800's.  

The houses and buildings are still mostly the original structures.  George Washington actually stayed in one of the taverns as he was passing through.  The kids got to see how people lived long ago.  They were minimalists which I could completely get behind.  They didn't have a lot of stuff.  Their rooms literally had a bed and one truck for clothing.  We got to see a presentation by a shoemaker.  She explained how the shoes were made with molds and leather.  She told the kids that their shoes would have been made a couple of sizes too big so they could wear them for several years.  One. Pair. Of. Shoes.  She also told them that one pair of good shoes back then would cost the equivalent of $300-$400 in today's time.  But they kept their shoes for years!  

We got to see a tailor in action and a woodworker.  We also got to visit the town bakery for some delicious treats!!

Sydney got to be in our group so the three of us had a super fun time walking around Old Salem.

Kamdyn's teacher asked me to ride the bus so I could help with distributing the snacks that I brought for the class.  She didn't know that my motion sickness was so terrible!!  Nah, I did find, but  that bus was no joke even as a charter bus....it was still really bumpy!

Sitting on one of the not so soft beds!

How the Moravians painted Easter Eggs.  They used coloring from different foods.  It was really neat!

This lady was showing how to make paper flowers.  She said they couldn't get fresh flowers all season for decorating their homes so they make them out of paper.

Woodworker making a dovetail stool.

They were helping him put it back together.

Making and decorating books.

Making artwork that could be seen when hanging in a window....almost like a window catcher, but they punched holes around the outside of the picture so that light could shine through.  Very neat!

We had to pause for a picture with their buddy, Wyatt.  He's not in their class this year, but was at Olive Chapel.

We ventured down to the cemetery.

Pumping water down by the fire station.

Silly girl!!

Pausing for a photo in front of the bridge that connects the visitors center to the town of Old Salem.

Kamdyn and a few of her sweet classmates!