For Spring Break, Mercer, Isabella, and I popped up to NC for a few days. We visited Grandma, Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, and Aunt Becky / Uncle Tony. "The Greats" enjoyed watching the kids play in the living room, dance and chase each other. It was cute to see Great-Grandma picking on / teasing Great-Grandpa about some stuff he did while in the Navy.
Isabella demanded his attention -- later, she walked right up to him / planted a kiss on his cheek out-of-the-blue. It was the SWEETEST thing and made his day! (It made my day too~)
We went to the NC Zoo as well, courtesy of Grandma who has season passes. The main thing that we did there was check out the new polar bear exhibit and play on the playground.
Isabella was GLUED to this exhibit. She kept saying over-and-over "he loves me" about the one that would continuously swim up & flip right in front of her. We played kickball, blew bubbles, collected ants in a jar and flew a remote control bird in the big field at Grandma's house too.
After stopping at home for a day, we went to Vogel State Park in Blairsville for a few days. This year's trip was very different. There were NO mice in our cabin, thankfully... but it was also very cold, so there was no paddle-boating on the big lake this time. It actually hailed on us the first hike of our trip!
We played putt-putt, rode bicycles, went on some hikes, tried to spend some time by the bonfire (but the kids were too cold), and went fishing. Isabella even tried her hand at fishing -- basically casting off and reel back in constantly. Mercer spotted a white-tailed deer on one of our hikes. He also read books to Isabella every night for bed. <3
Mercer and I did a lot of nature-inspired / Georgia Park activities and ALMOST completed enough to earn his 2nd GA State Parks Junior Ranger badge. Since it was chilly, there was a little more time to do these book-type of activities. We also knocked out a bunch of requirements for his Cub Scouts as well.
We still have a few more things to do - but - he's close to advancing in scouts. Two weekends ago, Mercer and I planted out our community garden plot. (Documented for his Cub Scouts - this is an optional activity for which he can earn recognition.) Isabella and I usually walk or ride her little bike over to care for the garden.
Last weekend, I talked to the kids about buoyancy, did a stormwater activity, and did some recycling things.
The kids should earn a World Conservation badge along with advancing to the next level. He does like earning the recognition. I like doing the activities and "making" him complete certain nature-y things even if it is to earn a badge. It gets him outside -- no matter the reason~
Mercer was in the newspaper. (I meant to post this in back in February. oops!) This newspaper photo was taken at a brand new camp which was offered for the first time at a renovated city facility near our house. He had a good time. I heard from a contact at the city that the people there really liked Mercer. (He won a good sportsmanship award at the end of the week.)
But - the thing that I think it the coolest: when he and I went to help out at a community service event about a month later, several of the men who worked at the facility recognized him. Knew his name. Asked how he was doing. LOVE that people in our city / community know him! (And we are proud of him for being considered polite, considerate and a good sportsman too - of course.)
This summer, Mercer will be going to a different sports camp that is run by our local policemen -- a good subset of people for him to get to know as well! He's playing baseball again this season, but he really wants to play soccer. Perhaps there's a camp he can do one week while I'm not working? (My school is a year-round school.) He is all about movement, activity, and sports.
Mercer's baseball league was invited to walk the warning track at Turner (Braves) field. This year, we went as a family. It was pretty cool and worth waiting in a queue for about 1 1/2 hours 'til showtime! Isabella did well with the waiting - amazingly. (We brought stuff for her to do.) "Coach" kept the older kids occupied with Uno cards during the 1 1/2 hour wait to walk the field.
During the game - a Met's game - Mercer got to sit with his friends on the team, eat tons of junk food that his teammates shared ("hey cotton candy man"), and cut up with other boys during the game. We stuck around 'til the end to watch the fireworks show. (Knowing that Mercer doesn't like loud noises, we weren't sure what he would think of the show - but he said it was amazing!) We didn't get home 'til after 11 -- we made a day of it!!
And....one more thing to blog about: Isabella's adoption day!!
On April 17th, we marked the 3 year anniversary that her adoption was finalized. We made a big deal about her adoption day at breakfast. We gave her a little gift (a bag full of fun little cooking accessories - which she is very interested in now).
We ended the day with a family hike and picnic. We also bought both kids a National Park Passport book -- the first stamp @ Kennesaw Mountain commemorating Isabella's adoption day! This is something we've talked about doing / it will prompt us to visit more National Parks!
She will NEVER give us a smile with a straight face, it seems~
It was a beautiful day.
We are grateful that feisty, crazy-haired fire-y girl is a part of our little family!!
A few random bits about Isabella:
The cutest thing that she is saying now
"Is it a deal? Pinky promise?"
She is really sweet with people - often hugging them or kissing them on the hand. She still hugs dogs. ALL. THE. TIME. She makes up and sings songs about anything & everything. She asks you to sing with her, but when you start -- she says "no - let me show you." She is strong-willed and wants to have her way, but, she speaks well, is genuinely concerned about people, and loves to entertain.
She engages people / looks them directly in the eyes (sometimes grabbing their face and getting eye-to-eye to talk directly to them). She makes people smile.
It will be fun watching her in the coming years!
During the game - a Met's game - Mercer got to sit with his friends on the team, eat tons of junk food that his teammates shared ("hey cotton candy man"), and cut up with other boys during the game. We stuck around 'til the end to watch the fireworks show. (Knowing that Mercer doesn't like loud noises, we weren't sure what he would think of the show - but he said it was amazing!) We didn't get home 'til after 11 -- we made a day of it!!
We ended the day with a family hike and picnic. We also bought both kids a National Park Passport book -- the first stamp @ Kennesaw Mountain commemorating Isabella's adoption day! This is something we've talked about doing / it will prompt us to visit more National Parks!
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