Visiting the North Carolina Sweats

We got to visit the North Carolina Sweats over Labor Day weekend and it was such a fun visit! Andrea has a beautiful guest room that is Andrew's office when they don't have official guests. But since we were official, she even treated us like we were on a cruise ship and put books and treats and cosmetics like lotion and shampoo out on the vanity for us....maybe we don't have to take a cruise.

We were able to see all three of the kids in their element doing the extra-curricular things they love. We got to watch Whitney's ballet troupe while they practiced some numbers. She has such beautiful lines and lyrical styling about her.

We also got to watch Caroline climb rocks like a gazelle. Or whatever species of animal climbs rocks. She is super strong. A feminine beast.

As is Brandon (but obviously not feminine). Here he is hanging by his fingertips for an insanely long period of time. Everywhere we went on the vacation, he would hang from whatever ledge was available. Brandon also teaches a class of younger students during the week. I am at a loss for words when it comes to strength. I do have strong fingers, does that count?

Andrew, Dennis, Caroline and I drove to Kuri Beach first since Andrea had to wait for the older two to finish their school day. It was raining in patches on the drive down, but not as bad as Andrea had later in the day on her drive where it was coming down in torrents.

We had an awesome three-story beach house! Here is the view from the bottom of the stairs where Dennis and I stayed, looking aaaaaaaall the way up to the top! Daunting, but doable.

Beach combers

Such warm water on the Carolina beach. We had perfect boogie boarding waves the next day and everyone enjoyed it, including me! I actually rode waves all the way in. It was raining at one point and my favorite memory is boogie boarding in the rain.

Digging for little muscles and crabs and enjoying the day. I love the colorful beach houses that dot the shoreline.

Kure Beach September, 2017: Brandon, Age 16; Whitney age 13; Andrew age 42; Andrea age 40; Caroline age 9.

It's so great to have 6' 6" Andrew as our built-in selfie stick. Here's proof that I got completely submerged!

And yes, the sun came out! And it was a perfect weekend.

Tony calls me a "crazy grandma" because I think everybody looks like somebody else in the family (they DOOOOO). Can you see a resemblance between Andrew and Ben? 

What I did for the rest of the day.

Caroline and I with "BEACH' hair!

We always get crab at the Deck House one night, and it was every worth minute we had to wait! We did the age-old "how do you measure up?" while we were waiting. Brandon's taller than Dennis, but look, Grandpa's shoulders are still higher than B's. If Dennis had a neck he would be 6 foot 4. He says that's why he was such a good rebounder, deceptive for his height. You don't need a neck to rebound.

Will Brandon ever catch Andrew? I don't think so, although who knows, he's only 16~

Will Whitney catch Andrea? Whitney has blossomed into a woman this past year. She is such a beautiful young woman.

..........dude..........

Beach babies!

Pretty sunset (even though the sun doesn't set on the East coast horizon Barbara, no matter how hard you try to find it.).

On the way home, Andrea asked if the girls could ride in one car and belt show tunes. And belt we did. It was awesome! Those girls have such sensational voices and Andrea has a whole ipod of show tunes that she can play in their shiny new van! This doesn't show any belting, but it was going on. I didn't take very many photos this trip. I think I have moved into a phase of less photographing it, but I still like to photograph a ton, and sure love seeing everyone elses.

Our last day of the trip, the kids went back to school, and since Andrew had taken the day off we got to have his company while we drove to Ashboro and toured the Biltmore Estates! Andrea had too many things to do back home, such as picking up children all afternoon and prepping the next day's Seminary lesson, or she would have come too.

Thousands of acres that were planted by a renown gardener and now 100 years later it looks like the forest primevil but it was actually all planned.

I hate to end this post with a toilet, but oh well! The Bible Belt is really rich with faith, let me tell you! Andrew took us to the Biscuit House for yummy breakfast, and this rib place called, oh I can't remember but it's an acronym for Lord Always Bless You or something like that (LABY it is not, but you get the idea). We are so grateful we can visit you kids and love you so much!
Love,
Mom