Changes...

It has been a very long time and we have had many life changes... divorce, graduations, jobs just to name a few. No one wants to know the bad and the ugly that happens so I refrained for a very long time from posting. That is not to say it has all been bad since the last post. It certainly hasn't, but that was the reason I stopped initially and then just never returned. Now we have had something happen that I think is going to be worth documenting, but before I get to that let's do a general update. Both Case and Amelia have graduated from High School. Case attempted college, but it just wasn't for him at the that time. He currently has a good job that he likes doing fire and water mitigation. He has his own apartment not too far away and we get to see him regularly. Amelia is currently a junior at USC- Columbia majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management. She wants to be a wedding planner and is very excited about a wedding planning class she has this semester. She and Conner have been together now for about 3 and half years and are still going strong. Ainslee is currently in 8th grade. She stopped dancing 2 years ago after having been on the competition jazz team for 7 years. She chose to take up horseback riding last year and is in full fledged teenagedom. The biggest change in our life recently that has brought me back to this is the decision to travel. We have taken the requisite family vacations each year, but now we are going to do it as a lifestyle for a while. With Case and Amelia out of the house, it will be just me and Ainslee on the road. It was actually at her bidding that this has come about. She saw me looking at travel nursing, which has been a dream for me since becoming a nurse, and encouraged the pursuit. So... she is being home-schooled so we can take off after some preparation. We plan to use an RV for a roof over our head and I have currently taken a "local" travel assignment with a friend who does the same to get my feet wet and learn the RV lifestyle. I am going to try to post here and Facebook to document our adventures. Stay tuned...

I can't keep up...

As I have said, life for the last 2 years and been a bit dazed and confused. Lots of things have happened that I should have posted and lots have happened that just kept me from doing it. The first year isn't even worth rehashing so I am just going to forgo that one completely. It's a big blur anyway. This last year... a bit of an improvement and here are a few occasions from it: ............................................................................................................................ Ainslee had to make a literary character from a pumpkin for school:

........................................................................................................................... Halloween:

............................................................................................................................... Christmas: Topping the tree:

Wonderment:

presents of Christmas Eve:

Case's discovering the keys to his truck:

Christmas Morning:

I always told they were getting coal for Christmas:

It was really candy- hehe .............................................................................................................................. St. Patrick's day and Ainslee's Leprechaun trap:

........................................................................................................................... Easter gifts from the Easter Bunny:

apparently I lost some pictures from Easter. ........................................................................................................................... Ainslee's 8th birthday party:

Dance, Dance, Dance

Ainslee made the Jazz competition team at UCDC this year. She is on what they call the "Mini's". That is the youngest group. They had practice this summer culminating in an intensive with guest teachers and a showcase at the end:








They had formal pictures taken today and I got a few for myself:





The Minis Team:



All the Competition teams: the minis, majors, megas, juniors and seniors:

Yurts and Whitewater Rafting

This week is spring break and the kids wanted something to do. I thought about camping but Case didn't want to go since he just went this past weekend with the Boy Scouts. I have been interested in Yurts for quite some time and found this yurt village attached to a rafting company. It was a mix between camping and staying in a hotel. The yurt was very comfortable with a queen size bed and a futon. It had various creature comforts like a mini fridge, an alarm clock, and a radio/cd player. All linens were provided with towels refreshed daily if needed. There was a typical campsite grill available for cooking with a picnic table to eat on and a fire ring for the quintessential campfire and smores. The bathroom facilities were communal but very nice with individual rooms just like home. Each one had a shower, sink and toilet with towels and mini soap and mini shampoo provided in each one. There was a hot tub, which the kids enjoyed thoroughly, and a laundry facility with a kitchen sink and dish drain for washing dishes. They even provided the dish soap and towels there.
The yurt itself was very similar to staying in a luxury tent. You were inside and safe from the elements but heard all the outside sounds... the rain on the roof, the crickets and frogs, the birds chirping, the wind blowing, the waterfall...
It was really wonderful. Soothing and peaceful. The yurt would close completely from the elements or you could open the dome and windows for a nice breeze. I LOVED it! The kids like it too and want to go back. Ainslee said she wants to have her birthday there!
We went whitewater rafting on the Nantahala on Tuesday. We decided to go in two man duckies without a guide. Ainslee and I were in one and Case and Amelia were in one. The water stays at a cold 50 degrees year round on the Nantahala so with the sometimes cool spring weather we also has wet-suits for the ride. They helped a LOT! Ainslee started out in fron , but didn't like to be splashed that much, so we switched. After that she enjoyed it for a while and decided we were heading down the Mississippi to California. Then we sang some rounds of Row Row Row your Boat. Case and Amelia fell out once but got to shore and got back in and did great. Case got to shore right away but Amelia went downstream some. However, she did exactly as she was supposed to and floated feet and head up with feet downstream. YEAH Amelia! It's good to know your kids can follow directions when it counts. They all did great and had a... well, you decide if they had a good time. Here are some pictures of our adventure:




After rafting everyone was hungry and a guide family ( yes, a whole family- mom, dad, and 6 yr old daughter) recommended The River's End down by Nanatahala Outdoor Center. While we were there we discovered the Appalachain Trail crosses right there! We ambled and found the actual trail and Amelia has decided she wants to do a thru-hike when she graduates from high school. She says she wants to start training now. We stopped by The Frugal Backpacker and got her some hiking boots because her converse just aren't going to work (hehe). I told her I think it is a fantastic idea and I would support her in it, but she had to do the leg work. She requested to go to the library when we came home to start her research, so we did. We will see what happens...

Random Pictures- yes, they are over many years...

Playing in the leaf pile in fall:




Carving Pumpkins for Halloween at the cabins in NC/VA:




Our Papa who passed away this past summer:

Our Gingerbread house from one Christmas( I never realized how much gingerbread was like bread and not cookies. We made it from scratch and had to kneed and kneed and kneed...):


A really old Cemetery in Coastal Georgia ( yes, we like to visit cemeteries and this was was really beautiful):



Georgia Aquarium (one of the many visits):


Jimmy Carter Library in Atlanta:



Centennial Park In Atlanta:


At the Children's Museum in Atlanta:

A little bird and a fascinated little girl:

Amelia and Ainslee Ice skating:

Case in his woodworking class. He made pens with a Lathe. They were very nice!:
Ainslee's birthday (3rd) at Grannie-Nannie's house:


Amelia at the Cheetah Girls Concert:

The Model and the Woman behind the camera:


Case and his target he made for Archery:

Case and his best friend, Zack:

Amelia's hairstyle for Ainslee:


Brian And Amelia ready for the Father Daughter Dance for Girl Scouts:

One of our Hikes to Twin Falls (and one of my favorite pictures of Amelia!):



Playing at a rest stop on one of our many trips:


At grandfather Mountain:



At Edventure in Columbia:




Just cause it's so cute!

The renaissance Festival in NC. They love going to this.


Amelia in girl scouts