Last week, I got an email from my childhood friend (Dawn) about making an impromptu trip to NC. I immediately got her on the phone and learned that she and her husband (Jeremy) had a week off of work. I was overly excited for the possibility and wasn't let down.
Monday, the kids and I went to Jungle Rapids water park for a sort of "Kindergarten Kick-off". But really we just met some friends there and played on the different waterslides for 3 hours. Chase even went up one of the tallest (the "toilet bowl") with just a couple of friends. We made our way up also... the first time, Henri was NOT digging it... but once he went down... he was ready to go again. The time seemed to pass all too quickly and before I knew it, it was 2pm. I then had to wrangle the kids up to leave so that we could go to the airport to pick up Dawn, Jeremy and their two kids-- Dean and Dustin. As soon as the kids saw each other... it was like they've known each other forever-- maybe they kind of have.
Tuesday, Aaron took off work early so that we could take the boat out. It was so gorgeous-- as usual. The kids had so much fun playing together and Claire immediately took to Dawn. It didn't matter what was going on or where we were, we'd find Claire with Dawn. She even got Dawn playing cards!
Chase touching a skate that Jeremy found swimming around him.
Wednesday, while Aaron was at work, we went to the Battleship NC. Our kids had never been there, so I thought that they would be super excited. Henri wasn't really thrilled about it all. Not really sure what his deal was, but he had some sort of "fear".... not to mention that he denied a hand stamp, then decided that he wanted one once we were already inside! Indecisiveness... ugh! Typical of the Battleship... it's really nice outside, then you get on it and it's somehow scorching hot! We only stayed about an hour... with 5 kids... that's pretty good! We met Aaron for lunch at Elijah's downtown on the riverfront. Trying to show Dawn and Jeremy Wilmington in 3 1/2 days is a task! It's small here, but there is so much to see and do. After lunch, we came home thinking that we would have a little time to hang out and eat a quick dinner of leftovers before dance-- Dawn and I grew up dancing together and she was going to take my 2 dance classes with me, which I was super excited about. However, dance got cancelled. So we just spent the afternoon in the pool. Chase was having a blast with Jeremy throwing him in the pool. Chase is at the age where he likes to be dunked, splashed and thrown!
Thursday, we (minus Aaron) packed a picnic lunch and went to NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Now, we've been there what seems like a million times, but it's the only place that the kids don't go "ugh, not there again". They always get super excited and know what they want to see and always see something that they didn't see before-- I guess that's what happens with moving fish :) After the aquarium, we took our picnic lunch to the "leaning trees" at Fort Fisher. The trees look as if they are leaning away from the ocean... it's so beautiful... and it makes for a perfect picnic location. Once we had stuffed ourselves, we changed and headed to the beach. We spent almost 2 hours playing in the sand, surf and waves. We'd never been to the beach at Fort Fisher (ok, we went briefly when Audrey was little, but without proper attire... so for me it just doesn't count!). Henri kept digging up these little crab-bug-things... they burrowed themselves down into the sand... crazy cool. It was so much fun... especially having the extra eyes and hands with the kids. Chase always likes to go out in the waves and Jeremy was so great taking him out-- protecting him and holding on to him when a big wave crashed around them. Should've brought the boogie boards! Claire and Dean played almost the entire time together... jumping waves never seemed to get old! Unfortunately, we had to leave. On the way home, I took minor detours to show Dawn and Jeremy (ok, more Jeremy) a couple of houses that are used often in movies/TV (most notably Dawson's Creek, Summer Catch and Domestic Disturbance). They're big and beautiful, so they're worth the drive-by anyway :) Later that evening, we all went to Coldstone for ice cream-- have I mentioned that I really miss Kohl's Frozen Custard :( . Then they (D&J) needed to go to Wal-Mart, so I took another detour to show them part of the UNCW campus. Claire asked where we were going and I said, "Wal-Mart." She responded, "What's Wal-Mart??". Yes, she was serious. I had an immediate flashback to Paris Hilton saying that. So, we all went into Wallie World-- yes I was scared, but I was really hoping that I could get my chocolate milk and eggs (all organic) there. Wrong! Oh well, it was interesting nonetheless.
Friday, we took the boat out for about 3 hours, then everyone had to leave. Dawn, Jeremy, Dean and Dustin were heading back to St. Louis and Aaron to Vegas... all on the same flight out of Wilmington. It was a really great visit... I'm so happy that they came. The kids all played so good together... and for me, there's something "touching" about watching my kids play with the kids of a friend that I've had for nearly my entire life.
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