FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

Well our vacation is winding down. We are down to 1 last full day tomorrow. We will be leaving early on Saturday morning for our 10 hour drive home. We had an amazing time in North Carolina with family and we are so thankful to Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Mario. Halainah is going to miss the beach and most certainly the attention that she has been getting every day.

We went to the beach for a few hours today. We are trying to squeeze in the most beach time as we can. It was a beautiful day again. We were so lucky on our trip that the weather has been gorgeous every day. We had a thunderstorm this evening but the afternoon was full of sunshine.

We took a long walk on the beach and came across a restricted area that was closed off. It was closed off because of sea turtle nests. We ran into a park ranger and he told us that 18 of the sea turtles had hatched last night. We wanted to go to the beach this evening to see if we can see any of them hatch but it rained. Oh well...I just think it's neat that there is a nest on the beach that we have been going to.

After the beach we went to a couple of shops that we wanted to go back to. We are trying to get everything done that we wanted to before we leave. The family ate crabs for one last time. And Nonna made homemade rice balls so Halainah and I ate those. So delicious!

Hopefully tomorrow we will squeeze in a few more hours of beach time but then we will be packing up to head home. It is just so sad to say goodbye to North Carolina. It is truly beautiful here.

Halainah running towards daddy

Halainah in daddy's arms

2 girls who were riding their horses on the beach

Sitting down for a sip of water

Sitting in a hole that cousin Billy dug for her

So beautiful even with crumbs on her face

Halainah always points backwards like this

Halainah's footprints in the sand. I have been trying to photograph them all week. It's not easy...her little body isn't heavy enough to leave footprints.

Halainah points everyday to the birds on the beach and says "birds"

Halainah getting tired

Waving Hi

TO THE BEACH AND FONDUE

It was a beautiful sunny hot day today once again. We are unsure if it is going to rain on Thursday and Friday so we took advantage of the day and went straight to the beach. We are hoping that we get one more beach day before our vacation ends. But if not, we certainly had fun today. It was very depressing thinking that today may be our last day on the beach.

Cousins CJ and Mikey dug a large hole in the sand and put water in it. Halainah thought it was the best thing in the world. She splashed and played for hours in this sand pool. She missed her nap today because she was having so much fun. She refused to go to sleep.

We made burgers on the beach since it may be our last day. I had one last amaretto sour on the beach. We went for a long walk to collect seashells for one last time. It's so very sad but I suppose all good things must come to an end.

We all went swimming in the pool once we got home to cool off since it was so hot today. Halainah loves the water and most certainly has grown very brave on our vacation.

For dinner we ate fresh Tuna and Tile Fish that the boys caught yesterday. I even had a little and I hate seafood. But this fish did not taste fishy in the least bit.

After dinner Alyssa and Billy set up the Fondue pot with melted chocolate and all the goodies in the world to dip. Tons of fruit and graham crackers, marshmallows, pretzels, and animal crackers. We had a blast sitting around and enjoying the fondue. I am so stuffed.

We only have 2 full days left. We are sad but we are hoping for sunshine to complete our glorious vacation.

Love to all.

Watching her cousins dig a huge hole

watching some more

Halainah thinks it's funny that CJ is buried up to his neck


Giving CJ a kiss...she is so sweet

This girl is quick...turn your head for 1 second and she runs straight for the water


Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Mario loving on Halainah


This was Halainahs sand pool that cousins CJ and Mikey dug for her

She LOVED it

Mikey putting the bucket on Halainah's head


Splashing in the sand pool

Looking cute

OUR MEMORIES OF THE OCEAN

“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.”

--Anonymous

We are nearing the end of our amazing family vacation in North Carolina. We have 3 full days left and hopefully we will capture some more unforgettable memories to cherish forever. Today, we spent the day at the beach. Sunday and Monday were rainy days. When we awoke this morning, I was in a blah mood because the sun was not shining. Aunt Bonnie said that we were going to the beach anyway and that she was positive that the sun would eventually come out. She was right and by noon the sun was in full force. The rest of the day was perfect and beautiful. But it was HOT hot hot. We stayed at the beach for 4 hours or so but came back home and jumped into the pool.

The weather here is calling for rain on Thursday and Friday so I am a little bummed about that. But I guess I can't complain because we only had 2 days of rain so far on our 2 week vacation. Which is not bad at all. I think we may go to the beach tomorrow as it may be our last beach day. That is just so sad to write. I don't want to go back to the real world. I want to live in the vacation world just a tad bit longer.

Halainah is truly going to miss seeing Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Mario and everyone else every day. She has been spoiled on this vacation. She has been a little on the fresh side lately and I'm not sure if it's because she is getting lots of attention. But we need to break her out of this stage because I don't like it one bit.

Some of the boys went fishing today on a large boat while the rest of us enjoyed the beach. They had an awesome time and caught 6 large Tuna, some Mahi Mahi and a whole heck of a lot of Tile fish. Nonno caught a 6 foot Marlin. We were all very excited for him as he didn't think he would catch anything today.

Enjoy our beach pics.

Playing in the sand

Running towards daddy

Happy with daddy in the water

They both had so much fun

Halainah and daddy sitting in the sand

Halainah's name written in seashells. Alyssa and I collected the shells and laid them out on the sand.



Halainah had fun picking up the seashells and putting them in her bucket. She kept doing this before we could take the pictures.

BLOG HOP - ENCOURAGEMENT

"And Jesus said unto them ... , "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to younder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."

~Romans 1:17~

My husband and I hold tight to this verse. Our journey to our daughter Halainah through International Adoption was a rough road. Our vision was blocked a hundred times. Obstacle after obstacle and mountain after mountain popped out of nowhere at times. We never doubted the Lord's power, but at times we were so very weak. Looking back at our journey now, it is clear that it was the most miraculous journey. A journey made possible by the Lord for it was he that moved our mountains and brought our daughter into our aching arms. Our daughter Halainah Grace is his miracle.

ON DECK WITH HALAINAH AND SOME OUTLET STORES

Today started off beautiful, the sun was shining like it has been for 8 straight days. We decided it was not going to be a beach day because we all have had just a bit too much sun. So we sat around trying to decide what it is we wanted to do. It was unanimous...we all wanted to head to the outlet stores that are about an hour away from here.

As we headed towards the stores, the sky grew darker and darker. And the rain began. It poured and poured for hours. Luckily we were at the stores already and made the best of a very yucky day. We are just hoping that we don't get hit with all the rain that Jersey has been getting. Hopefully tomorrow will be a beach day.

The outlet stores were good. Not overly exciting. And to tell you the truth, I have found better deals at home at our outlet stores than I found here. But it was fun to look around. We did find some great deals at Wilsons Leather store as they were having 70% off. The four of us, Tony, Alyssa, Billy and I found jackets we liked and for the most part they were about $30.00 each. You really can't beat that so we felt like we scored a bargain. I also found a pair of really cute summer shoes at the Gap for $7.00...another great bargain. I love shopping. I really wanted to buy Halainah a pair of Nike Shox but couldn't find them...so unfortunately Halainah was the only one who didn't get anything. Good thing she is too young to notice.

On the way home, while crossing a bridge we saw about 30 or so dolphins swimming in the bay. It was such a beautiful sight to see. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love dolphins. They looked so peaceful swimming in their large group...like one big happy family. It truly was breathtaking. It was just another beautiful memory to add to our scrapbook of the first family vacation we took with Halainah. So even though our sunny day turned to rain today...it still was a lot of fun and chock full of memories.

Halainah and I spent some time this afternoon on 1 of the 3 decks we have in this house.

Here she is running from one end to the other. Halainah is just like the energizer bunny...she keeps going and going.


Sitting in the chair making funny faces.

More funny faces that Alyssa taught her.

My little China doll. Uncle John called her a little doll all week.

She's talking here...not sure what she was saying...but I'm sure she wanted to go to the beach.


Waiting for Uncle Mario and Aunt Bonnie to come back home.

POOP THERE IT IS

Today started off cloudy for the first time in 7 days since we have been here. We decided to go to the beach any way as we thought at some point it would clear up. So we got to the beach, unloaded everything and set up camp again. About 1/2 hour later it began to rain. Most beach dwellers packed up and went home. But not us...we decided to stick it out. So the rain cleared after about 10 minutes and the sun peeked out a few times.

Alyssa, Halainah and I went for a long walk searching for sea shells and sea glass. Halainah walked right beside us or behind us the entire walk. She would get tired after a little while but she kept on walking. At one point I felt something hit me. I had thought that it was a giant bee (they have been harassing us at the beach since we got here). Anyway I turned to Alyssa and asked her if there was a bee on me. And she began to hysterically laugh. I mean she was practically rolling in the sand. Apparently a bird pooped on my head. So of course I freaked out and yelled, "get it out, get it out." After she continued to laugh for another 20 minutes she finally got it out for me. I guess I am going to have good luck since that it what a bird pooping on you is supposed to mean. Great for me I suppose.

During our walk back to our spot it began to pour again. We were just about ready to pack up but than we saw in a distance that the sun was coming out. And sure enough once the clouds went away the sun came out and it was another gorgeous beach day. The wind was very strong and after a few hours we called it a day once the sand started to pelt us in the back of the legs. Halainah was getting hit hard with the sand and she was not a happy camper. So we packed up and went home.

The boys decided not to go to the beach with us and went to the movies instead to see the new Harry Potter movie. Which I have to say that they were the smart ones. I got fried today at the beach. You would think that I would have been alright since I had a base tan from being here for a week. But there was something about the sun today. It was so very strong and I am hurting. I am staying out of the sun tomorrow for sure. And I am looking at the positive side of things...we still have 1 week left of vacation. Yippee!


Digging in the sand!
No fear...running straight towards the waves.

Sitting on Nonna's lap stealing her hat.

Asleep with Uncle Mario on the beach!

Walking with Aunt Bonnie

Handing Aunt Bonnie a seashell

Putting them in her bucket

So cute...laughing together


Making a funny face in the water

Showing Uncle Mario the birds. She was very fascinated with the seagulls today.

Mikey and Halainah


Me kissing Halainah while the sun was setting