Children's Museum of Richmond

 Love me some children's museum!  And we haven't been in about 2 years, and there were some major renovations while we were absent.  The kids didn't even remember ever going to this place, so the whole trip felt shiny and new!  
Thank goodness for all of the changes.  The cave is still there, which the kids love, but they added a bunch of dinosaur activities, which Jason loved.  The milking cow is still there, as is the tree where you pick apples, but the water table area is now huge and the diner/grocery store/bank/doctor office rooms are all in better condition.  We were able to spend about 3 hours there, which was just enough to not become bored with everything.  And we managed to leave right when a daycare was coming into the door--score!

This pic cracks me up!  Ma and Pa Drinks!

There is a story behind this photo.  We waited 10 minutes to ride the merry go round.  We had to buy extra tickets for it.  We were 8th in line.  Jason desperately wanted the bear.  The older kid in front of him heard him say that and made a beeline for the bear (I don't normally call kids "asshole" under my breath, but you understand).  Jason had to settle for a basic horse and I offered to take his photo on the bear after our ride.  He said "OK, but I'm not smiling because I'm not happy".  

Outer Banks or Bust! 2016 Family Vacay

 Because our early school year (our last day was June 3rd!), we wasted no time on getting out of town for a family vacation.  We booked a house in Nags Head directly across from a beach access for the week following my last day of school.  So early Saturday morning, we headed out in our caravan to Nags Head.  The beauty of going on vacation so early in June?  Almost no traffic!  We got down to NC in record time and all week I enjoyed short lines at restaurants and Food Lion.  

 And the weather, you might ask?  Very warm and pleasant and the ocean was mildly chilly on cool days but warmed up fast on hot days.  Except for one day of rain, we had the perfect weather.

 Caroline's friend Lauren (Lolo) joined us for the week and she was such a huge help!  She is just great with Emmy and Jason, who absolutely adore her.  

Emmy being delighted by the waves.  She said "they're just the neatest!"

Jason did not actually need the band aid on his forehead.  He used up half a box of Paw Patrol band aids as "stickers" all over his body.

Caroline's 14th birthday happen to fall on our second night there.  We went to Black Pelican to celebrate!

I took this picture right before Emily lost her tooth!  It's her 3rd one and the tooth fairy was happy to make the journey out to Nags Head.

Our first visit to the Elizabethean Gardens in Manteo, NC

Emily said that this gnome is her "new boyfriend"!

Jason loved this statue of a boy holding a pillow above his head.  He kept crouching down and saying "Why is that guy holding a pillow?!"

Visiting Bodie Island lighthouse.  214 steps to the top!

My favorite photo!

Kite Festival at Jockey's Ridge

Rolling down the sand dunes