OUR FAMILY TRIP TO THE

OUTER BANKS

OF

NORTH CAROLINA

JUNE 22/29 2008

Jane and I spent the week of June 22nd at the Outer Banks of North Carolina with most of the family. Suzanne, Steve, Sarah and Nicole were the first of the kids to arrive on Sunday the 22nd. We celebrated Suzanne's 45th Birthday while she was with us. It was a little early but we wanted to celebrate while she was with us. We spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with her and her family before the rest of the family arrived. Kristi and Matt could not come down because the baby Julianna is not a happy camper at the moment with reflux issues which they are finially getting worked out. Karoline came down with Marci, Keith, Jordan and Eric.

The weather was beautiful the entire week which gave Jane the perfect opportunity to get up early each morning and walk the beach. She took this sunrise shot one of the days we were there and is proud of her accomplishment. She and the grandkids could live on the beach full time.

I saved my one day on the beach till all the grand kids arrived. Here I am showing Sarah, Karoline and Nicole a little critter I had dug up in the sand. The little girl in the blue swim suit isn't ours, she just happened to strike up a conversation with me and was interested in the critter also. In the back ground Suzanne is comming up to look and Keith with his back to us is helping Jordan surf.

Look what the surf washed ashore, a "Surfin Grandma". Jane was not to be outdone by her grandkids so she gave surfing a try. I have heard about keeping up with the Jones's but "Keeping up with the Grandkids takes on a whole new meaning in this picture".

Here we are on Friday, the 27th the day before Suzanne, Steve and Nicole had to go home. We all went to the North Carolina Aquarium in Manteo for the day. The kids enjoyed there visit with the fish and of course the Gift shop at the end.

Here we have Karoline and Nicole enjoying what else on a hot summer day, ice cream. In the end it was a race to see who could wear the most ice cream as opposed to eating it. Marci and Jordan are in the back ground. Jordan is doing great on her new omni pod insulin pump. She has had some up and down days but we attribute this to becoming proficient in the use of the pump. She is quite a trooper and has learned how to test herself, enter the appropriate data in the devise and have the pump administer the insulin.

On our last day at the beach, we did some shopping and light house climbing. Here Keith, Marci, Jordan, Eric and Karoline are climibing the 225 steps to the top of Currituck Light house. Jane and Sarah are behind them while I stayed on the ground. Currituck is one of five historical light houses on the Outer Banks. Jordan once she got to the top was a little upset with the height and couldn't wait to get back on the ground. While Suzanne was with us, I took them to Cape Hatteras Light House and they climbed to the top of that structure also. Hatteras Light you might remember was moved about 4 years ago and was on the news everyday with progress of moving the structure about one mile to a safer site away from the ocean as it was in danger of being destroyed by the heavy surf in the area. All in all this was a great vacation with the exception that Krisit, Matt and Julianna couldn't be with us. We arrived back home June 29th to get ready for the 4th of July weekend. We had the family in for the 4th, and on the 5th we will celebrate Karoline's 4th birthday and on the 6th we will have Julianna baptised so it is another busy time in the Wilson household. The next entry will contian pictures of these events. Hope everyone has a great summer.

Julianna has arrived

Here are a few pictures of the newest grandchild. Julianna Grace Lotti is our sixth grandchild. She arrived Monday, April 21st by c section and Kristi and Julianna did fine. It has been two weeks since she made her self known in our family and all in all she is a fairly good baby. Of course Mom and Dad may seem a little tired because Julianna has to become accoustomed to this big world. Karoline is playing her role as "Big Sister" very well and has only had one episode of "can we take this noisy baby back now". I think Karoline will be very happy once Julianna becomes a little more active and can do more than just eat and sleep.

Needless to say all are happy, Ma and Pap, Mom and Dad, Big Sister Karoline, cousin Jordan and Aunt Marci. Jordan was tickeled pink that she could go to the hospital to see her new cousin. Karoline was almost beside herself when she was able to get in the hospital and her cousin Eric couldn't (finially she was able to do something that Eric couldn't.)

It is quite evident Max would rather take a bath with the Jordan and Eric. The kids spent the night during a recent weekend and Max is overseeing the bath to make certain they get clean. The other sad picture of Max is with him wearing his new colar. We installed an underground electric dog fence to keep the boy from roaming and he isn't a happy camper when he forgets and gets zapped. He is actually doing good now and doesn't roam to far away from the back door.

Jane took Jordan, Eric and Karoline to Imagination Station in Wilson, North Carolina for the day while everyone else helped Kristi and Matt move into their new house. Actually Jane was checking the place out since Eric has expressed a desire to have his 5th Birthday Party there. They have animals and play exibits for the kids to interact with and oh yes Grandma interacted also (all she need was the nuts to go with the fruit cake). The kids had a great time and the move went better than expected and everyone is now settled and awaiting the arrival of Julianna Lotti in April.

Spring has sprung in our neck of the woods. The daffodills in our backyard have been blooming for over two weeks. The peach trees in the back yard are full of blossoms and we hope they do better this year than last as we had a heavy frost that just about did them in. The grass is greening and people are sneezing so summer isn't far off. Sunday is Easter so the flowers will add to the occassion.

Here are a few pictures of the Surprise 40th Birthday Party that Kristi and Jane had for Marcia. Marci was completely caught off guard and had no idea that this was going to happen. It was quite an ordeal for Jordan as she knew it for a month and couldn't tell her Mommie. The upper left picture is the entire group that helped celebrate. The upper right is Kim a friend of Marci's who graduated from Virgina Tech with her. Kim and her daughter came down from Virginia to help celebrate the occassion. Then we have Kristi (new mommie to be) and big sister Karoline resting up a little from all the excitement. And lastly the Birthday girl herself getting a little help blowing out her candles. A fun time was had by all and it was well worth the surprise on Marci's face when she walked in the house and saw everyone.

Two days at Universal Orlando 2007

Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving we spent at Universal Orlando. Universal offers something for everyone young and old alike. Sarah and Jane had their choice of many roller coasters, Jordan, Eric and Karoline also had many choices to make for rides. We decided the best thing to do was pay a few extra dollars and buy head of line tickets to get on the rides since the park was so crowded. Eric and Karoline really had fun here because there were many small roller coasters for them to ride.

Karoline and Eric enjoy the merry go round just out side the park main entrance. This was their good bye ride as Marci and Keith and their two kids were heading home late Saturday afternoon. Jane and I were taking Sarah to the airport that evening to catch her plane home to Dayton, Ohio.

Keith, Eric and Jordan returning from their ride on the Jurassic Park water ride at Universal. Another roller coaster type ride for Eric to enjoy. I have always told Keith not to worry about the size of his nose and that he doesn't have to hide it.

This one of three or more roller coasters that Sarah and Jane rode at Universal. Jane still has the desire to ride these steel wonders and Sarah is her willing partner on the ride. Of course Pap Pap can't take this thrill anymore and I await their return at the end of the ride.


Dr Seuss Land at Universal offers something for little kids and little kids at heart i.e. Ma and Pap Pap. It is so colorfull and makes you a part of Dr. Suess's fairy tales. The kids rode The Cat in the Hat ride, ET, crawled through many tunnels to no where etc. Universal of course offered each of the kids the opportunity to meet the TV and comic strip heros such as Spider man for Eric, Sponge Bob for Sarah, Jordan and Karoline plus many more. All in all our 7 day Florida vacation was great and created many memories for everyone. Jane and I started on our first trip with Sarah when she was 5 years old and made a scrap book for her of that trip. Each trip there after with Jordan, Eric and Karoline ended with their own scrap book and updated ones for Sarah and Jordan. We are already looking forward to another trip to Disney, Universal and Sea World.