a SPRING BREAK surprise!!!

OUTER BANKS OR BUST!

Rob asked me on Saturday morning how I felt about taking a little getaway....5 hours later we were packed & ready to go!

Our final destination would be Kitty Hawk, NC

As we drove along I noticed we were 24 feet below sea level, how is that possible?

The Captain & his co-pilot ready to have some fun!

As we were getting into town we noticed a MUST STOP!

RITA'S!!

Do not disturb me. I'm in my happy place!

The day started off cooling and windy but the sun came out so we enjoyed some beach time. We drove along the beach down to Cape Hatteras. We stopped for lunch on a little island which includes: Fort Raleigh where Lost Colony is, Wanchese (were Rob went as a little guy to visit some of Aunt Janice's relatives by marriage), and Manteo. We then continued down Highway 12 to the lighthouse.

Pelicans, we had never seen so many and so up close.

The famous Outer Banks lighthouse, Cape Hatteras. An interesting note about this lighthouse, it was moved from its original location (about 100 yards away) because erosion of the beach from the sea was going to take the lighthouse out to sea.

We did a little kite flying on the beach by the lighthouse. The winds were perfect, not to strong today.

The next morning it was again windy, cool, and cloudy so we headed out to the Wright Memorial. Site of the first powered flight of mankind by Orville and Wilbur Wright.

The picture above shows all of the ship wreaks along the Outer Banks, I was amazed, knew my Dad would enjoy this picture.

A model of the first plane that was used.

The take off point.

The first flight marker.

Second flight marker

3rd flight marker

Fourth flight marker.

The time did not seem long to me until I really thought about flying in a swing, if you try and count how long you are high in the air it's not every long......59 seconds is a LONG time to be off the ground without much padding underneath!

Memorial set atop hill.

My own pilot

View looking down at were the first flights happen. This area was all sand but grass has been planted to the wind does not take this historical spot away.

The building on the right side is the museum, to the left of the walk way is where the stones are in my pictures above.

At the 100th Anniversary this model was made of actually plane with Orville on it.

Behind Rob is the Memorial (in the above pictures), this side next to him is located at the First Flight Airport, Rob used to fly into this airport when he was logging hours in the beginning of this flying career.

LUNCH!!!

Then we were off to Jockey's Ridge, which is a park of sand dunes!

That is Rob.

We walked over the dunes to see the water and for that it was

PERFECT for flying kites!

Rob flying after we walked back up on top of the sand dunes and took out HUGE tangle in our strings!

Above are the marks of me being dragged in the sand!

It was BEAUTIFUL!!

I will just note that I did not enhance color or do anything to the pictures! (I did easer a little spot from the top corner because I had a spot on my lens =0) )

The view from our hotel room, the first morning!

Packing up and heading home..... I was looking for the start over button but I never found one. =0( I didn't want to leave....

Another adventure, kayaking. We spent the morning paddling around the bay west of Kitty Hawk.

Me, when we got home, I forgot about sun screen while out in the kayak, I looked like a red raccoon! The picture on the right is of the Navel base with two aircraft carriers in Norfolk on the way home.

During this trip we both remarked over and over again how blessed we flight to be able to enjoy our Lord's nature. We also found it interesting to see how "man" is/and is trying to stop the wind and sea from moving land! Very fascinating!

What a beautiful trip we had.

New toys!

So last year we saw people at the beach with paddle boards. Boards that you can stand on to paddle around. We were interested!! Rob is a GREAT researcher, so he went to work finding out all the details. His research found that these Liquid Logic paddle boards would be the best for us. So we then went to work of where to purchase.....

What a great deal we ran into. 2 used paddle boards for cheaper than 1 new one! Rob located a place in Maryland, about an hour drive for us, where we could get this deal. As we drove we gave each other very stick instructions, "do not act totally sold on them until we know all the details." (Maybe those were my instructions for Rob....my memory it is not totally clear, how convenient that I am writing this!) At this point we didn't even know the definition of the word "used."

So we schooled ourselves into a stick mind set as we pulled into the kayak place.......

We bought them, we TOTALLY enjoy them, they are waiting for you to come try them out!!

And that my friend is the rest of the story!

And Mom goes to FLORIDA!!!

It was now January and Mom decided to spend a few weeks with Aunt Janice in Florida! After some talk Rob and I drove her down there (really it was Rob drove me and Mom to Florida!) We had a lovely trip.

Because of the fact that I just had started fill time teaching I could not stay more than the weekend. The three of us left after school on Friday, arrived at Aunt Janice's Saturday afternoon and then Rob and I headed to Jacksonville so I could catch a flight home on Monday. It was a quick trip but it was FUN to see Aunt Janice and I also had the opportunity to meet Uncle Johne!

Look at that....2 feet below sea level!

Aunt Janice, Rob, and Mom

Me and the twins!

Have fun Mom see ya soon!!

Christmas Cabin

Just a little look at what the cabin looked like this Christmas!

We were not here much for the actually holidays but it was nice to have a cozy cabin during the dark nights of winter.

Notice that there are no snow pictures?? That's because we didn't have any this year =0)

Of all the years to be full-time teaching!!

Heartwarming

When Rob went off to work in December I was off to start a long term sub job. We were both off to working again and well it was exciting to be working yet having just said goodbye it's always an adjustment.

My little surprise came one morning when I opened the cupboard in our bathroom. There was a card for me from Rob. I had a feeling he had bought a card when we were at the store together but every place I looked around the house I couldn't find it.....(yes I was looking!!) I had not looked in the cupboard.

Nothing like sweet words written in ink by your Sweetheart to warm your heart and start your day. I brought the card with me to school and read it right before students came in to me. He had written exactly what I need.

"the voice of my beloved" Song of Solomon 5:2

Roossinck Christmas Take 1

We headed to Michigan for an early Christmas because Rob was to work over Christmas. The weather was no problem for travel this time, which was a blessing for me and Rob. :)

Saturday was our "Christmas Day." Dad and Mom's tree has ornaments with all of their children's names.

Maria's Christmas present being installed!!

Oh yes! That is me, and I know how to use it!

Everyone got involved!

Looks WONDERFUL!

Back to Mom & Dad's for dinner, mmmmm Christmas Ham!

I absolutely LOVE sweet potato casserole, mmmm I can almost taste it right now.

We had A LOT of FUN playing games!!! Especially many different versions of UNO. We also were able to visit some dear friends as well. (I'm not sure why my camera didn't have picture.) I miss my goofy friends!

We made a little pit stop to the Roossinck's Orchard as well as Eric & Liz's house.
REAL APPLE!

MICHIGAN STYLE- from Roossinck's Orchard. It was SOOOOO GOOD!
What a WONDERFUL trip it was.....

I must also say it was a lot of fun to drive together. Being stick in a car together for 10:30 hours, nothing to do but drive and chat, priceless.

Thank you Dad, Mom, and Maria for having early Christmas with us. It was a special time.