We’ve been waiting a whole year for our trip to North Carolina to see our niece, Madi, graduate from high school. This year was an extra special trip because we got to be there for our niece Ali’s baptism. Before we left, we had Jim’s birthday dinner at home: waffles, sausage, and fruit. We had his favorite ice cream Oreo mud pie for dessert!
Early Wednesday morning, we headed for the airplane. The kids know how to tow their own loads. 🙂
We traveled with Grandma and Grandpa Cole, and Preston too – but the North Carolina family didn’t know he was coming! Here we are on the tunnel boarding our five hour plane ride.
Upon landing in Atlanta, we had another three hour drive to Robbinsville, North Carolina, so we powered up a favorite southern restaurant. No crazy lines like there are in Washington right now!
Thursday morning we had a few hours to relax by the pool before starting to pack the moving truck. My brother, sister-in-law, and nieces are moving to Washington. We are so excited!
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| In the Penske! |
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| Starting to load |
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| Swim break! |
We all slept on mattresses on the floor because the beds were packed. JT and Haley did a great job sharing this twin, toe to head every night.
Couches are packed, so we’re sitting on dining room chairs to catch up on tennis.
We got so much done on Thursday that my brother said there was time to go out on Lake Santeetlah on Friday afternoon. Hooray! 🙂
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| Making breakfast with the few remaining dishes! |
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| View of the lake |
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| Having fun! |
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| Preston worked for a construction company that built or remodeled many houses on the lake, so he gave us a tour. |
Back at the house, we got ready for Madi’s graduation Friday night… first by spending a little time in the pool and sunshine. Jim got reallllly pink!
Madi is the 1A high school women’s state champion in pole vaulting this year. She’ll be pole vaulting for The Master’s College in California next year! Here we are excited to see her photo in the champions cabinet at her school.
On Saturday, we went out to a family friends’ farm and saw Ali get baptized in the river. It was a really emotional moment since they are moving and her two older siblings were baptized here as well.
We finished up the majority of the packing and woke up Sunday morning to do the last chores… including a McDonald’s breakfast on the deck followed by three hours of “last minute.” It’s amazing how much there is to do! I’ve forgotten how many little things there are to do with a move. I’m happy to be settled for years to come.
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| Packed up and ready to ride |
We drove back to Atlanta and stopped to play at a park on the way. It ended up being a ball field. We had fun watching a ladies’ fastpitch team practice, and getting some wiggles out.
It was a long plane ride home, especially since we were all so tired. I have to say that my two children are amazing travelers. They put up with long car rides, plane rides, and lots of waiting without complaint or grumpy attitudes. It makes going on trips together that much better!
JT had no problem staying awake, and even lost his first tooth (although it had been very wiggly for two weeks) on the plane!
We had such a wonderful trip full of great memories and family time. Now we’re waiting to unpack the big truck when they arrive in the next few days!
The Keene Family 