A North Carolina Gathering

Chad and Janet's Family was headed to North Carolina to spend a few days with Kyle's family...and we decided to tag along.  So glad we did...it was a great time.

We flew into Atlanta, rented a car and drove up to Kyle's.  Why Atlanta?...a cheap flight and we love a road trip through new countryside.   Chad family did the same but stopped along the way to visit Janet's cousin.

 The grand kids are growing up.

 Charlie practicing tying his school uniform tie.

Friday before Chad's family arrived was spent shopping and getting ready for the fun.

Saturday when Chad's family arrived they couldn't get to the pool fast enough.

  Charlie doing the ol' football catch.

Sunday was

 ...church with some of the grand kids.

Cousins

 Grampa Karl watching the fun

...or is he just on his phone

 Lots of cannonballs

 and helicopter tosses

and trains.

  The Treasure Hunt

There was $21.00 in coins buried in the sand pile.

Pa counting the each child's "finds"

 to know how much treasure is still buried.

Chad cooked up some mighty fine ribs.

 More pool time.

 We finished out the evening with a little piano recital

 

 Charlie keeping one of the more rambunctious ones focused.

 Even Grampa Karl played a piece.

Monday 

Grampa Karl had to fly back to Vegas.

Saying good-bye to Pa.

 Lucia and I looking for more treasure.

Chad and Kyle took the kids and their sandy little cups of money to a store...for candy.

So much to choose from...so many decisions.  They were all so excited about their purchases.

Tuesday we headed to:

Of course most of the kids wanted to ride with Chad and Janet

.. in the van with the DVD player.

 I loved driving through the North Carolina country side.  Then what was suppose to be a quick stop at McDonald's...turned into going back for a cell phone left in the restroom (I'm guilty...thank goodness someone turned it in).  Then getting separated from the Kyle and Kim's van (they now had all their own kids) and going to the wrong beach.    We finally made it to the beach!!!

 

 It was fun...but the jelly fish were out in abundance and anyone that got in the water for any amount of time got stung...minor injury but not fun.

After a couple hours and several sand creations later

...Chad's kids said "can we just go back to Uncle Kyle's to swim?"

   So we did..back to Kyle's for pizza and one last pool time.

 Wednesday was back to school for Kyle's kids

...and they were pretty excited about it.

...except for Margot.

Shortly after the kids were off to school I loaded up with the Chad Tobler family for a ride back to Atlanta...and my spirit flight home

I must be dreaming

Going sailing has always been on my bucket list.  Now being conservative and realistic, just to sail on a little two-man scout camp boat would have met that requirement.

Last fall I was with Chad little family, we were having a picnic at a little park in their "Dream" neighborhood watching the boats come in for the evening past Kemah Broadwalk.     I especially watched the big sailboats and the people lounging around on the decks.  That was would be so fun...but that's how the other richer half lives...something I could only wonder and dream about.

Then   at the girl's school Fall carnival, the school staff  auctioned off different goods and services as a fund raiser for the school.   One of the teachers was offering a sailboat cruise.    Chad and Janet made sure they won it!

I'm so happy they waited for the weather to warm up and that they timed it for when I was there (Grampa Karl was suppose to be too).

Finding our way to the right dock

 Heading out to sea.

Our little crew

 The pictures might look like we had the boat on our own...not so, Orlando, Sylvia and (Sylvia's cousin) were really manning the boat. 

 Orlando (funny guy...as in quick witted) put Chad to work hoisting the sail.

 

 Just enjoying the good life.

 

 Janet looking like she belongs on a sailboat.

Violet was loving it too,  

even though at home she was sure she didn't want to go. 

Little Lucia preferred being down in the cabin laying on the couch. 

 We thought she'd fall asleep...but she never did.

 

Janet looking beautiful with her man.

 Chad's lounging around was short lived.

They soon put him to work steering the vessel

 I think he liked it.

Then he got a little help from a little helper.

 Interesting tidbit...everyone on the boat spoke Spanish, including the kids, but me.
Spanish was Orlando and Sylvia first language, Chad's entire family is fluent. I can say Hola,
In fact Sylvia (she's a teacher at Violet's school)  raved about Violet perfect Spanish and how easily she can transitions and translates between the two languages.  But everyone was gracious enough to speak English for my benefit..except for an occasion boating instruction.

Orlando told a hilarious story about a time they were at a restaurant and they  were commenting (making fun of)  in Spanish this white guy's toupee who was sitting at a near by table.  (instead of combing it, he probably feeds it, etc).  After the meal the guy came over and introduced himself in perfect Spanish.    They said they learned their lesson...never again do they indulge in private Spanish conversation in an English speaking crowd.

 Way too soon our three hour cruise was over and it was time to head back to land.

 

Now it was my chance to lounge on the bow of a 36 foot sailboat and wave to the people lining the Kemah boardwalk and having a picnic at the park.

It was an amazing adventure.  Thank you Orlando and Sylvia.  Thank you Chad and Janet.
And at next year's Fall Carnival could you make sure you bid on Orlando and Sylvia's sailboat cruise.