And a good evening to you all from the scorched earth that is Charlotte, NC. As I sit here looking out over my charred lawn, I am wondering if I inadvertently bought a house on Mercury and didn't realize it. Anyhoo, that has NOTHING to do with the task at hand, so let's get amongst it, shall we?
7/1 - ROAD TRIP! Team Taylor headed out the door about 9 AM today en route for a week in East TN. We had an easy drive to Asheville (assisted by some PJ Masks and the new My Little Pony - Equestria Girls Movie), where we had a redemption stop at King Daddy's - yeah, baby!!!! Seriously - this was MONUMENTALLY better than the last time around, which is impressive given that we even had a 20 minute wait. But then again, when you consider that all we needed to do was get served to have a better experience, I guess the bar was pretty low. :-)We even made an unexpected stop at the second hand sporting goods store, and we took that place for all they were worth! The girls had a blast - there were dogs EVERYWHERE, and so they basically stalked them all over the place. The employees even had a husky mix sitting by the register, and I came in to find my girls behind the counter petting the dog - very cute. Cora was a riot, as she was LOVING running all around the store, winding her way through the racks and chasing sis everywhere she went.
After that it was down to New Belgium, where the girls petted about 789 more dogs while I filled some growlers. It was then over to Knoxville and Casa de Arroz, where K vanished into the basement almost instantly. The neat thing this time? Cora did as well! While it took some coaxing, Cora actually did go down there and play by herself (amongst the bigs, of course) for extended periods of time, giving the adults some much needed R & R. We put a good hurt on some food and beer that night - K even ate quite a bit of steak for dinner! And while Cora got down by 7:15 or so, K didn't get to bed until 10:30! But hey - it's vacation, so I wasn't concerned just yet. :-) And it was sweet - they watched the Emoji movie (K's choice), and Johnny told me he was surprised that they let her pick the movie. Apparently, it's normally very cut throat who gets to pick the movie of the evening, so this was a big deal. :-)
7/2 - ZOO DAY!!!!! We had three hours great (but hot!) hours at the zoo, and it was a blast. I still wasn't feeling tip top, but it was wonderful all the same. The animals were really active - it was awesome! First we hit the new monkey exhibit, where one of them had a new baby (that got right in front of us!). Next up were the red pandas, who have always been super active when K and I have been there. Buke was bipedal for the first time at this zoo, and she had a BLAST and was great about keeping up with the rest of the crew! And best of all - for the FIRST TIME EVER - Cora actually smiled for a picture when asked! It was too cute - we were getting a photo of all the kids, and when I said smile, she gave me a grin from ear to ear - love it! He fake smile is pretty cute - she basically looks like she's trying to saw logs for a beaver dam. :-)
We rolled through indoor playgrounds, outdoor playgrounds, other exhibits, and the splashpad before calling it. The kids were exhausted, and Buke was PASSED OUT in the stroller. It was then home for lunch and an early night for me, as I was still recovering from the illness. Buke got down around 8, and K got down around 10 or so. She watched Goonies for the first time ever! I was afraid she'd be terrified, but it didn't seem to slow her down one bit. Classic!Sam and K also made tie-dyed shirts (red, white, and blue, of course) to celebrate the fourth. Beka was the architect of that endeavor, and she did a terrific job! The other highlights included K taking a shower with Sam - no idea how clean she got, but hey: it was cleaner than how she started. :-) Also, Buke had extended periods in the Bonus room and did really well - hooray!
7/3 - So today will forever go down as one of the more interesting days of my entire travel existence... :-) All was good in the morning, save one thing - HD had an upset tummy. He wasn't himself, and so we decided to keep him home from the pool. The rest of us went, and everything was AWESOME for the first hour or so. Then, however, things started unraveling. I'm honestly not sure what happened, but somewhere along the way K started to wind down. She wasn't very active and didn't really want to play. She then started crying, saying that her stomach hurt. I will be honest and say that I wasn't convinced, but the crying was incessant, and so I took her out of the water and got her seated in the shade (in her defense, it was boiling hot out there). In retrospect, I think it was a lot of things. I think she was exhausted, likely constipated, out of sorts given the diet, and a little homesick for her friends (she hadn't seen Kate in 2 weeks). That's a huge time gap for kids her age, and I don't want to minimize that. I think that because, while we were sitting out of the pool, she told me through tears, "I just wanna go home." I asked if that meant back to Uncle John's, and she said, "No. Charlotte." WOW - talk about something I didn't see coming and had never heard before. That definitely set off the alarm bells for me.
We got back to Johnny's, at which point Sam started throwing up. Jack was good until about 7 PM, at which point he started throwing up (all down the stairs, for the record). That's when it hit me - I was basically responsible for getting the entire Rice clan sick. Man, talk about feeling an inch tall. For the record, Rice went down at 5:30, making Beka the lone survivor (she managed to dodge the bullet, for the record).
The lone bright spot - I went down to check on K in the basement, and she'd just started The Gruffalo on Netflix. So I curled up with her and watched it. She snuggled up against me, and it was a wonderful little moment.
7/4 - HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!! It was a bit sour for us, as we had to leave the Rice's all sick without saying good-bye. And while that was a problem, the bigger issue came next. Given that we were viral bombs and were infecting anyone (even adults) in our path, we had a serious issue. We couldn't go visit my mom and risk infecting her, as she was spending every night in the hospital with Nanny (who was in the ICU recovering from a brain bleed). Bottom line, here was the situation:1. Today was a holiday, meaning we could drive home without me missing work.
2. I was working the next 2 days, meaning wherever we landed EOD was where we were staying until Saturday.
3. We couldn't stay at Dad's because Chris was there (and it wouldn't have been safe), and we couldn't stay at Mom's because we couldn't risk infecting her.
4. Bottom line - we had to go home, which meant a) not seeing Vol Nana, b) not seeing Sweetie Pie, and c) leaving TN with no return trip on the horizon.
Y'all, aside from the night in VA for Megan's wedding, I have NEVER, EVER, EVER cut a vacation short. And while it was the right move, as you can expect - telling K was NOT easy. In her defense, she took it well (bawled, of course, and was upset, but really was pretty good). The last dagger - I offset the pain by telling her that we were going to get milkshakes at Cardin's. We talked through flavors, talked about sizes, and told her that she could have her own. And it was a GLORIOUS smoke screen...until we drove past Cardin's and realized they were CLOSED FOR THE 4TH. GUTTED. 
The day itself was surreal. We still went to dad's as planned and swam for about 2 hours. Mom had already bought TONS of food and stuff for the girls, and so they ended up dropping it off at the house beforehand (the food they actually dropped off at the food of the driveway!). We had subway, CFA, and watermelon - ate like kings! But unfortunately we didn't get to see either of my folks. As we left to go back to CLT, we drove to 113 to catch the interstate. At that point, we were FOUR TENTHS OF A MILE FROM MOM'S HOUSE, but we didn't stop. It was SO BIZARRE - the whole day was just surreal. The drive home passed without incident, and the DQ blizzards definitely helped. K did cry some, largely just based on the fact that she misses mom so much and just didn't understand why we couldn't stay. She said, "You lied to me!", and I didn't fight her much on it, as I knew she wouldn't comprehend. She also told me that it was the "worst vacation ever," which to her might very well have been the truth. :-)
There is a serious note here, and I'm not totally sure how to put it into words. For years I have been saying that I have wanted our home to feel like vacation, and as we got home - sitting on our screen porch, sleeping in our bed, the girls playing with their toys - I realized that wish has finally become a reality. For years there has been a reality that travel has been tough regardless of the location, and that we always feel a bit more exhausted upon returning than we did upon departure. This time, however, with the sickness, the emotion, and all the stuff we've got planned for July - it definitely felt like a seminal moment, confirming that we don't have to load the car and travel to have fun. If anything, I think we would be better served to focus more on growing roots and activities here, as there is so much on our doorstep (and easier to get to!). 
Bed was around 8 for the munchkins, around 10 for us. We. Slept. Like. Rocks.
7/5 - I am thrilled to report that the Rice clan is officially on the mend - YAY! That makes me feel better, but man do I still feel terrible for bringing that virus into their house. I have never seen anything like it, and it will definitely make me gun-shy about visiting anywhere again if sickness has passed around in our house less than a week before.
We tried to get back to a normal routine today, and the girls (who slept like rocks) just seemed so much happier. K was a little cranky in the morning and actually napped (her request) for a bit in the afternoon. Buke was a little fussy too, but she was much better after her nap. She actually napped TWICE in the car on the way home yesterday - a testament to how far behind they both were on sleep (which is a HUGE thing for K especially). K's smile was a mile wide - I think she really did miss being in her bed and having her things. They started the day at child watch, and the afternoon was spent at the mall, where Cora rode the carousel for the first time ever! They also had a good hour plus at the aquarium, which obviously was a hoot for both of them. The funniest moments of the night:
1. "Booboo!" So Cora is saying this all the time now when she sees someone with a cut or a bandaid - it's SO CUTE! And her poor face as she looks at it - it's like her heart is breaking that someone else is in pain...especially her mother. Well, this one was particularly cute, as Cora was obsessed with the stamp on JT's hand (from the aquarium). It was a big black mark on her hand, and Cora just kept repeating "Booboo!" and pointing at it - fixated throughout dinner!
2. Buke also walked over to JT after dinner with something brown on her fingers. JT instantly surmised it was poop, which begged the question: Why is there poop on Thing 2's fingers? Well, come to find out, she had pooped for a third time (she didn't poop for 2 days in TN - rare for her), then had sat down on the window sill. The deuce was so big, it had squirted out onto the sill, and when Cora sat up and saw it, she instantly had to grab it. The good news - we don't think (I emphasize think) she ate any of it. Yes, yes - it's okay. I wanted to vomit as well.
Bed was early that night for all of us, and we crashed again for an EPIC recovery sleep.
7/6 - So today was a milestone in K's life: FIRST HAIRCUT!!!! Jenny took her to a place in Birkdale that specializes in kids, and they did a tremendous job. They cut off 4 inches, washed her hair, did pig tails, and even gave her a certificate with a lock of hair. K had a tablet in her hand, so she was oblivious to it all, and she even got some prizes at the end. JT was a MASTER historian through all this - way to go, Muffin!
It was then over to the Splash pad and to Kilwin's, where the girls meet Taylie and her mom. They actually went over there in the evening to play as well - another great day in the books.
Now, the one thing I simply MUST comment on at this point: K'S OBSESSION WITH ANTS. Here's the deal - fire ants have nailed that girl more than once, and I get it - it hurts. But that does NOT MEAN you fear EVERY SINGLE ANT ON THE PLANET. She shrieks when she sees them and runs the other direction. And now we have a "real problem," as the volume of food that lands on the floor from our children has resulted in ants appearing around our table (sometimes on it) at every meal. K is mesmerized by this and basically watches for them like a hawk (and keeps a tally of how many we kill, but she won't kill any herself). I have now sprayed to create a barrier a second time, and I have basically banned the word "ant" from the dinner table. And while I haven't succeeded at removing it from K's conversation, I have decided I will no longer be engaging in the conversation when ants are the topic. :-) Watch this space...
7/7 - A milestone for Sammy the Bull today: my first visit to Carowinds (where the Carolinas come together) as a father! Y'all - we had SO. MUCH. FUN. It was a PERFECT day - incredible weather, small crowd, and Boo Blasters was running! We started there and hit it 4 times. K's highlight was getting to do the Woodstock Express for the first time ever - that puppy actually moves pretty fast! JT and I even got to do a few thrill rides, which was a definite plus. The only hiccup - we were waiting in line for Boo Blasters in the afternoon (30 minutes), and when we were the NEXT FOLKS IN LINE (we are talking staring at the cart), the ride broke down and didn't resume for the rest of the afternoon (K was great and Buke was already asleep on my shoulder). We then went toward the Richochet - only to find it was broken. We THEN went to the swings - at which point THEY broke down! Luckily we were right at Carolina Harbor (the water park), and so we just rolled over there for 2 hours, where K went down slides NONSTOP. Buke slept for the first 45 min, and then she ate most of time after that. Next time we'll get her out and get her in the water (there are 3 separate kids areas - it's amazing!), but this time it was just too chilly, and selfishly we didn't want to get wet.
All in all we had 6 hours at the park, and it was great. Cora walked quite a bit and was exhausted - she was actually putting her head against the rail in the line at Boo Blasters! K was really good all day and didn't fuss when things didn't go her way, so I was happy. I was really impressed with everything Carowinds had to offer - there is so much more left to do! We went to bed that night exhausted but happy - I'm already looking forward to going again in a couple of weeks!
7/8 - HAPPY 12 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, MUFFIN PUFFIN!!!!!! 12 years of marriage - INCREDIBLE! I love you so, SO much and am so thankful for the life we have.
Today was a good one, with the standard snow cone/bubble chasing at church before coming home for a bit. K and I played tumblin' monkeys, which is definitely our favorite game at the moment with one small flaw - K almost breaks out into tears every time she loses. Seriously - on Friday she actually threw a monkey at me. Needless to say we've now put rules in place around acceptable behavior in order to keep this game in the rota. As with the ants - watch this space. :-)
JT and I had a wonderful adult night while Jan watched the kids - so sweet of her! We were SO thankful for it, as it really gave us a terrific chunk of time to just relax and hang out. It was the first time we'd been out in awhile on a date, and it was terrific - time flew!
7/9 - Today was a great one for K, as she started Dance Camp again! She also resumed gymnastics, where she told us that she didn't like this new "big girl level." JT and I think it's because they are actually starting to focus on skills and techniques vs. just letting them run around - something K's not yet accustomed to. What I will say - it's been two weeks since she's been there, and I think she's just forgotten how much she enjoys it. She is always smiling when I see her, and she's been working on her cartwheel and handstand quite a bit at home, so I do think she'll "rediscover her love" once she gets back in there.
On the Cora front - she woke up SCREAMING like I haven't heard in a long time last night about 3:21. JT went in there to comfort her, and she fell asleep instantly on her. She blew up again when JT put her down, and it took her a good 30 min plus to settle. No idea what was going on, but she had definitely been clingy all day Sunday. She cried when I handed her over for FH kids, and when she saw Nole Nana walk in the door yesterday afternoon, she ran to me instantly. Truth be told, I think she was just missing her mama, as this morning she just curled up and squeezed her as tightly as she could.
JT started mitigating this tonight by giving her a lovie to sleep with (think the little animals that are half blanket). I was on the fence about it, but that's largely because I can't remember the age K started sleeping with animals in her crib. Sure enough, Buke LOVES it, and we haven't heard a PEEP from that kid the last couple of naps or evenings. Good work, wife muffin!
7/10 - A big day for the girls today: after many requests, they made their first visit of the summer to....DPK!!!!! Turns out that it's got extended hours (8 PM) on Tuesdays, and so they had a good (great in fact) 2 hrs there from 4-6. They have decided to make this a regular Tuesday night thing, and I think that will be great for them all. K and Cora LOVED it, and it was the first time that Cora was actually walking/able to run around. Needless to say K was in Heaven, as she'd been begging to go back for months.
Before DPK however was another highlight (and all this ASIDE from Dance Camp) - the girls met the McLaren ladies at CFA for Cow Appreciation Day (yes, that really is a thing). So get this - if you "dress up" as a cow, you get a free lunch (we are talking everyone). JT and K had done some REALLY cute work the night before, cutting out white spots using construction paper and taping them to black shirts. The really looked good! The McLaren's had black noses, so everyone looked the part. They got there right when lunch started (thank goodness) and were able to get tables with some other friends (Megan, Renee, Natalie, etc). By 12:15, JT said it was ABSOLUTE BEDLAM in that place - especially the playground. All the same, the girls had a blast.
7/11 - Kate came over for a play date today, and they had a blast. Also, K's "uniform" for Bradford arrived in the mail! Essentially, she can wear any combination of light/navy blue clothes and khakis, so JT ordered some from Land's End (preferred provider). The only thing we're missing at this point is the shirt with the logo (the Bradford Pear) on it, but we're going to order those as a group (and save on shipping :-)).
Also, quote of the night - K was talking about something (no idea what), and for the second time in as many days her description was: "It was jackified." YES!!!! I have officially invented a word (other than donkey trash) and introduced it successfully into my child's vernacular. Such a proud moment. Seriously - her calling stuff "jackified" is absolutely HILARIOUS. I love it and have no intentions of slowing that train down. :-)
7/12 - Today was ANOTHER adventure for the girls...which turned into quite the fiasco. Needless to say, the Build-A-Bear Workshop is no longer on my Christmas card list. So here's the deal: On this day, for the first time EVER - they were offering the purchase of a bear for the price of your AGE! That meant K could get a bear for $5 and Cora one for $1!!!!!! BOOM SHAKALAKA!!!!! Excited about this, JT picked K up from Dance Camp and headed to Concord Mills, lunch and snacks in tow (as we assumed the line was going to be HORRIFIC).Well, they rock up, and before they even get anywhere NEAR the Workshop, a lady tells them that they have ALREADY SOLD OUT OF ANIMALS. Keep in mind that it's 11:15 and the store opened at 9 or 10. Um, could you possibly have planned your logistics and inventory ANY WORSE?!?!?!? So now poor JT is there with K, telling her that she can't have a bear because there aren't any left, and all she's got to show for it (once she got to the store) is a pair of $15 off vouchers. Needless to say, K was upset (not bawling but upset, as well she should be), but JT was able to salvage things by a) promising her they would go back, b) hitting the playground, c) hitting the Aquarium, and d) swinging by Cold Stone Creamery! So all in all, the day ended well, but MAN - we were not best pleased.
The other exciting highlight of the day - K received an award from the Highland Creek Swim Team! She swam the most laps of any girl her age during the swim-a-thon (10 laps), which meant that she received a $10 PDQ gift card. Way to go, Thing 1!
7/13 - Happy Friday! Today was a fun one - K's "Pinkalicious Dance Recital" at Anne-Marie's Academy of Dance! It was cute, and she did a really good job. This is her third year doing the dance camp, and you really can tell she's improving, learning the steps, and getting more coordinated. They did a few technical moves (some I'd never seen her do before), and then they did a pair of routines, one to Pink Cadillac and the other to "Pink, Fluffy Unicorns Dancing on Rainbows" (YES - that is a real song...I know, I know...). Cora loved being there and loved dancing to the music. She was DESPERATE to hug her sister and watched her with rapt fascination the whole time. Too cute!
Dance Recital Highlights:
The Rivera's came over for lunch, and then we just hung out in the afternoon. Cora was adorable, as she is now trying to do cartwheels and handstands anytime she sees K practicing. ALSO - Thing 2 is becoming a stuffed animal collector just like her sister! It's so funny (and so cute), as it's the first activity that both girls have had in common. Cora is all about plushes now and keeps trying to carry more and more of them at the same time. She loves to hug all three (battery operated) Elmos, and she definitely has a favorite animal - Blackey Malackey!
7/14 - I was at a service event most of the day, but the girls hit the pool twice (I got to go the second time). The afternoon we were at the Sports Club, where K was all about the slides (both blue and tan), and Cora LOVED walking around in the kiddie area - too cute! It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon - cooled me off and gave me some quality time with my ladies. We hosted the Hollis' that night and got the girls to bed early. Jenny and I crashed at 11 - absolutely knackered! 7/15 - So Kaitlyn Taylor can actually blow up a balloon! She did pretty good and blew one up about halfway yesterday, but today she got max expansion! I was really, really impressed! She can't tie them off yet, but she was having a blast blowing them up and then letting them go - we killed quite a bit of time predicting and watching trajectories. :-)
We hosted the Shade's for the first time this afternoon and had a blast - I LOVE grilling out for company! The girls got on really well, playing dress-up and going through that entire wardrobe of outfits - too cute! I love having good neighbors.7/16 - So Corabear is starting on a disturbing trend - getting her extremities caught between bars! Twice today I've had to "extract" her from bars - once at the top gate (her leg) and the other at the kitchen table (her arm). She'd managed to wedge her arm in there pretty good, so that was a less than ideal experience. :-)
On the Cora front, Jenny is correct in that her word development is continuing. She can now say the following:
1. Mama
2. Gaga
3. Bubble
4. Ball
5. Wawa (I think she's referring to water :-))
6. Uh-oh (says this one ALL the time...just like her sis!)
7. Boo-boo
8. About a million and a half animal noises
Oh, and her classic moment tonight - we were running around during the mouthwash game, and both girls were naked. Well, Cora stops on the tile, and I just keep circling past her. Only on the second or third time around do I see an ocean of yellow liquid and realize THAT GIRL IS PEEING ON THE FLOOR! I mean, I had JUST CHANGED her diaper. But I digress...classic.
K started VBS at UCUMC today, and she has a lot of friends in her class. I don't think she enjoyed day 1 as much as Assurance, but it was still a great session.
The day ended rather darkly, however, as K left "Pebbles the seal" at gymnastics. She was absolutely distraught - even after we called there and confirmed that Mr. Frank had Pebbles parked safely on his desk. We used it as a teaching moment (as best we could) to explain this is why we don't like K bringing stuff into places. Hopefully the lesson has been learned, but WATCH THIS SPACE!
7/18 - A highlight of the week today - Kate came for a sleepover! It was so cute when I picked Kate up, as she came bounding out with her mum, who informed me that Kate had been packed since 8 AM. :-) And let me tell you: upon arrival these girls PACKED IT IN, starting with lunch and then hitting the backyard for pool time and "doggie sprinkler" time. After that they rolled over to Sweet Frog for "No Weigh Wednesday," meaning a flat $4 for all the yogurt you can fit into a cup (and rest assured the ladies PACKED IT IN). The funniest part - Kate was done with hers and threw away the few jellies she had left. K was absolutely MORTIFIED - she couldn't process the fact that someone would actually throw away sugar. Hilarious!
The played great together over the afternoon. It's hilarious to listen to them go back and forth "pretending" things - it's just like Johnny and I used to do as kids. After playing for awhile, they had Mac 'n Cheese before heading up to watch the Emoji movie. They got some popcorn as well, and then it was back up to play a bit. However, when they went back up, Kate was so tired she actually fell asleep in the bonus room! K came downstairs and told JT: "Kate's asleep, and I can't wake her!" In her defense, they had been in their nightgowns since returning from Sweet Frog and had spent the movie curled up on pillows and under blankets - too cute! I think K was probably a little disappointed, as I am sure she was looking forward to talking to Kate in bed (always a highlight for her at any sleepover). However, K went down at 7:15 when Kate did, and she settled shortly thereafter. It was sweet watching K settle, as she was facing Kate and basically watching her sleep. Pretty cute.
7/19 - Today was another good one, complete with some Cora bear highlights. As she continues to "expand" her animal collection, she has latched onto the bear Novant Health gave us during K's second tube surgery. I call it "15 thousand dollar bear," Kaitlyn calls it "Swirly Whirly," and Cora has now taken to calling it "Re Re..."and I'm pretty sure that's the one that's gonna stick. :-) Cora is also expanding her animal sounds, now saying "Hoo, hoo!" whenever she sees an owl and tweeting like a banshee whenever she sees a bird in a picture. Also, Cora is now sleeping with Tadbit, and she greets me in the morning and holding him up, shaking him the way I do when I sing the "Tadbit song." It makes her laugh almost every time I do it, and it's just about the cutest little laugh in the world.The afternoon was spent over at the Sports Club, where we had the Rivera, Williams, and McLaren clan all together in the pool. It was a hoot, and the kids all played great together. Fiona and Allison were GREAT with Cora - it was like free babysitters!
VBS was good for K today, as her team "won" something (she wouldn't tell me what) and received smores as a treat. Side note on that - things have been strained between Kaitlyn and I lately, as she pretty much refuses to talk to me and has been in a really strange mood - somewhere between standoffish and on the verge of tears. She won't answer any questions I ask her and seems to spend a considerable amount of energy on trying to keep me from talking or singing. It's all really strange, and I am going to have to pray about it. On the drive back from VBS, I asked her how it was and what she learned. She told me she didn't want to tell me about it. When I said I would respect that if she would just answer why she didn't want to know, she stonewalled me and refused to answer (this has happened multiple times). As it's not really a punishable offense, I'm just trying to extend grace and be as nice as I can, but I will admit that I am withdrawing from her a bit at the moment because we really can't have any conversation. It's tough, but I am confident we'll figure it out. :-)
7/20 - K had her program and farewell at VBS today. It was a fairly momentous moment, as it's the last time she'll be at UCUMC for a year and the last time she'll be there before starting kindergarten. CRAZINESS!!!! The afternoon was good - our first time just chilling after a very busy week! We played outside a little bit (K was quite whiny, as it was rather warm) before coming in for movie night for K (and Cora for about 5 minutes). The selected feature (K's choice) was the Grinch, and it was SO CUTE to see Cora and Kaitlyn sitting side by side in their little seats, both locked in rapt fascination. Cora only made it about 5 minutes before she was bored, but her routine was priceless. She would get up, squeeze Peter Cottontail's hand to get him singing, and then go right back to her seat. Rinse/repeat this about 4 times - too funny!
Also, the funniest part of the day was the evening, as K declared after we changed her sheets that she wanted to sleep on the floor! Well, sure enough, I tucked her in ON THE FLOOR that night, and shew as OUT in less than 10 minutes, complete with her thumb in her mouth and "Pumpkin the Cat" laying basically right on her face. Too funny. And yes - she slept there for 11.5 consecutive hours.
7/21 - We packed up the car today and headed down to SC, where we first had lunch with an old work buddy (hadn't seen him in 14 years!) before heading over to Nole Nana and Grandpa's. We got there in time for nap, and both K and Cora took one! It was then over to their pool for 2 hours, which was a ton of fun for all of us. As I alluded to earlier, K and I have struggled to chat and connect lately. The pool time was a really good return to normalcy for us, and we were able to play, laugh, and enjoy each other. I also got really good time with Buke, who is a water dog just like her sister! Seriously - that girl was jumping off steps and the sides into everyone's arms - including Kaitlyn's! She was going under, kicking, and just having a blast, and K was doing a GREAT job swimming around and diving for rings. We didn't put her ear plugs in, which admittedly might have been a mistake. However, at this point, I felt it was worth the risk, as she really was enjoying herself. 
Dinner that night was chicken and pulled pork, and Cora was a MACHINE eating the BBQ! She loved the sauce and just kept asking for more and more of it! K ate really good as well (it was a delicious meal), and then we were able to have a nice, relaxing evening. It really was so great and the perfect end to a wonderful Saturday. I was so happy we were able to get down there, and it's been really nice seeing them with increased frequency lately.
The Tacy's let us have the ground floor, and I slept like a ROCK that night - exhausted!7/22 - We were up about 6:30 this morning (the girls slept in the same room but slept great) and out the door about 9:15. Destination: Carowinds! We only had 4.5 hours there, so we were keen to rock up right as the gates opened and hit as much as possible.
We had a rather inauspicious beginning, as Boo Blasters was (yet again) closed (as were about half the rides). However, we did rally, and we managed to CRUSH that place! We hit the Woodstock Express 5 times, the planes, the kite-eating tree, the Rock-n-Roller (think Himalaya), the Scrambler 2x, the Ricochet 2x, the Carousel about 60x (seriously - Buke just kept on wanting to do it), the Dinosaurs exhibit (which I LOVED - I could go back in there myself and spend some time!), Boo Blasters, and this flying balloon right that almost got me sick as a dog. :-) We also got some adult rides in there as well - it was GREAT! Cora slept about 30-40 min in the stroller, but the funniest moment: We are in the dinosaur gardens, and Cora is in the stroller, laid back. Well, we have her facing a HUGE Carnotaurus (picture a T Rex with 2 huge horns that makes it look like a Dinosaur version of Satan), and all is well until the bloody thing just suddenly COMES TO LIFE UNPROMPTED and starts roaring. Cora wakes up, and her entire field of vision is consumed by a 30 foot tall meat eating dragon that looks like something out of Game of Thrones. Needless to say...she was NOT best pleased. :-)We left there about 3 and drove straight to the next event of the day - Tasya's 5th birthday party! It was at Defying Gravity, and by all accounts that place is AWESOME. JT said that they had really upgraded the facility, and the girls had a blast. Kate was there, so obviously K was in Heaven. Throw in some pizza and cupcakes, and you have BEST. DAY. EVER.
The girls in action at Defying Gravity:
7/23 - Today was the start of K's next camp - Charlotte Reading Web. They do a lot of science experiments, and it must be really cool. At first she didn't want to tell me anything about what happened (as per standard), but then she suddenly started giving me the lowdown, which was AWESOME. Breakthrough!!!
Cora accompanied Jenny to child watch, where she has basically become the favorite child of Childwatch (much like Kaitlyn was). And at nap, it should be noted that Jenny has now allowed her to add "Swirly Whirly" to her list of critters she can sleep with. That brings us to a grand total of 4 animals, and she's JUST like Kaitlyn at this age - she tucks them all underneath her like we're going to snatch them away in her sleep. It's SO funny, made all the moreso because of the fact that it's one of the few things they both did at that age (normally these kids are polar opposites).
K went to gymnastics with JT about 4, and I was home with Buke. We had a good time, and she played great with me. The highlight for her was me bouncing her on my lap. When I stopped that, however, she found it EVEN FUNNIER to just jump up and down on my lap. I mean, it was like a 25 lb sack of potatoes landing on your abdomen continually. She was cackling, but eventually I had to have a break. Well, she didn't like that, gave me the "More" sign, and then hopped back on, cackling all the while. Too cute! Also, she tried to make a bed in the floor like the one Kaitlyn has in her room. That was plain adorable, as she laid out to pillows, laid down, and then tried (unsuccessfully) to pull the blanket over her. When I finally wrapped her up in multiple blankets, she smiled and seemed happy as a clam (and snug as a bug in a rug). 
Gymnastics was interesting for K and JT for multiple reasons. First off, after finding him last week and promising to keep him on his desk, Mr. Frank couldn't find Pebbles this evening! He looked and looked but didn't find her. He will keep checking (and is going to ask a few of the other coaches), but that was obviously unfortunate. Honestly, it's a good lesson about taking care of stuff anyway, but I do hope we find her. 
Also, K executed her first "big move" ever - a role on the bar all by herself! JT said she did great, and obviously we are super proud. Apparently it was rough out of the gate, as K got a little scared about trying to do it (one girl did fall) and started crying. Frank saw that and told her "no tears on the equipment" and marched her to the side so she could compose herself. He actually pulled Jenny and K out after practice (as well as another girl) and said, "I was really proud of these girls, today, as they overcame a lot of fear. However, they need to know that there is no crying on the equipment. If they get scared and need help, they just need to call for Mr. Frank." 
So I will be honest, at first I didn't love this. I know I say I want K to be rough and tumble, but the reality is that a) she is 5 and b) that stuff is scary. Also, I'm off the map here, as we didn't have organized sports & activities at this age in East TN. The more I thought about it, however, the more I did value it, as I do think it's important that a) K knows when to ask for help, b) she gains confidence in trying new things, and c) she understands that sometimes you just have to power through. That is one of the greatest gifts coaches can give kids, and I am taking that lens on this. K didn't mention it to me (JT told me after she went to bed), so we'll see what happens next week. Honestly, it is a good thing, as she gets frustrated with us when we don't praise her on her cartwheel and handstand. Hopefully this shows her the focus and discipline required if she wants to continue doing this.At bedtime, K recited the Linus book from memory! She also said, "When are you gonna circle me with your Blue Bible?" She was referring to praying prayer circles around her and Cora, so JT and I laid hands on her and all prayed. It was sweet.
7/26 - Today was another good one. K has been in much better spirits this week, and I think it's a combination of a) prayer and b) a camp that she's just enjoying more. The good news is that Kate is in next week's VBS - that should make a huge difference. :-)
My funny story for the day: I dropped K off at summer camp, and on the way out I heard another dad said, "Okay, I'll check...". He then said to me casually, "Didn't know if was bring your stuffed animal day!" Oddly enough - NEITHER DID I. I looked back in the room, and sure enough - EVERYONE had a stuffed animal except his son and K. Luckily she had her crew in the car, and I was able to bring "Cotton Candy" in for her (her choice over Twink or Pumpkin). CRISIS AVERTED!
Both our girls are really into coloring right now, which has been cute to watch. K has been coloring anything and everything she can get her hands on, and she's really done a nice job of staying in the lines (yay for improving fine motor skills!). Cora is loving using crayons as well (K uses markers), and she's actually been GREAT about sitting at the Dory table and coloring whenever Kaitlyn is at the breakfast table doing the same thing. Now admittedly, we have to watch Cora bear as she runs around the house with the crayons (and occasionally colors chairs...details), but still - it's cute to see them both doing an activity (and really enjoying it).
The girls spent the afternoon over at Katie's house, where Cora had a bit of a rough go of it. Apparently they were all running around the house and kitchen, and at some point Cora must have tripped over Katie's foot and fallen. Apparently she landed on her head bone (she does have a tiny little shiner), but the dramatic part was when JT picked her up to comfort her and Cora proceeded to puke ALL OVER her mommy. JT said it was all over her shirt and hand and even in her hair. Niiiiiiice. The good news - Cora seems none the worse for wear (even though she did sleep until 8:30 the next morning. A full 12+ hours!!!!
And K made the transition back to her bed this evening. It clearly made a difference, as she was PASSED OUT until about 7:30 AM. When adjusted for bedtime last night (8:30), I guess it's about the same. However, it was clear that she slept like a ROCK.
7/27 - We packed up the girls and headed to Raleigh for James' birthday party today! It was an easy trip (2 hrs is PERFECT), and we rolled without issue. K colored for the first hour - it is AMAZING how much she's enjoying coloring at the moment. We gave her JT's tablet for the last bit of the trip, but she did a terrific job of entertaining herself until arrival. Upon arrival, James and Kaitlyn were TOO CUTE together! Seriously - they played together SO WELL, with K relishing her role as "oldest cousin." She and James ran around, played "baseball," ran with monster trucks, and did all kinds of stuff together (with Cora chasing them and climbing on things all the while. And best of all, I finally got to meet Grant! What a CUTIE! He was adorable (and a happy baby). We had a great evening - kids ate well, played well, and slept well. Can't argue with any of that!
7/28 - We went to "Snickerdoodles" today for James' 3rd birthday! It was a really neat place, and all the kids seemed to have a good time. At first K wasn't super impressed - she came over to me and said, "This place is small." I think she was comparing it to DPK (it was more compact), but after I told her that it was still really neat and that there were tons of things to do, she rallied (she was the oldest kid in the mix playing, as most were James' friends). If anything, I want to comment on how proud I was of K not only during the party, but throughout the weekend. She was always respectful to the other kids, speaking with them and trying to engage with them. If she knocked something over, she would make a point to pick it up (I noticed that when she bumped into part of a train on the tracks). And in many instances, she just kept calm and kept her head about her when others were bawling or getting upset. She just seemed really mature that weekend, and I was really proud of how she conducted herself. And while we still have our challenges when it's just us inside these 4 walls, I am proud to see how that is translating beyond Regal Court. PROUD OF YOU, KIDDO!
Highlights from the party:
That afternoon the girls went dress shopping (for JT - not K :-)), and by all accounts they had fun. It was then back to the house and home to CLT, where K again was great coloring (and then watching some Garfield). It's funny - she's started covering her head with her blanket in an effort to "make the screen darker." Pretty funny. :-)
Cora was really fussy on the drive home, but I think a lot of that stemmed from the fact that she didn't sleep well the night before. She actually woke up about 3:26 or so and fussed until at least 5 (I never really did go back to sleep). Also, in the morning JT went in and found her wet, so we won't be using those diapers again (this isn't the first problem we've had with those). But either way, the good news - she slept like a ROCK that night back in her crib!
7/30 - K started her third (and LAST!) VBS today at some Lutheran church about 20 minutes of here (how's that for a typical dad recollection of their oldest daughter's location). She and Kate weren't in the same class, unfortunately, but she still seemed to have a good time. Best of all, they gave her this pink whirly toy, and she absolutely LOVES THAT THING!!!! I mean, it is sooooo rickety, but she LOVES IT. I need to order like 600 more of these puppies, as we are abusing it quickly. We've already launched the "whirly thing" behind the fridge, on top of the cabinets, and into the trash in my office. It's broken but still functioning - fingers crossed that continues. :-)The afternoon was gymnastics as usual, where I am thrilled to report that WE NOW HAVE PEBBLES AGAIN!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! Also, they did lots of new moves (like turns on the beam!), and K had much more fun. I am thrilled about this and how that confidence (and conditioning) continue down this path.
7/31 - So Team Taylor's oldest daughter finished the year off with a flourish today. After hitting VBS, the girls rolled over to...BUILD A BEAR!!!!! As you'll remember, earlier this month there was a debacle of epic proportions where they ran out of bears in about 3 hours (people had waited in line 3-6 hours!). They gave everyone a $15 gift card, but you had to use it by August 14th. Well, this was our one realistic shot at making it happen, and credit to JT for pulling it off!
We did set some ground rules before rocking in there. First off, any purchase had to go through mom. Secondly, there would be some things (like outfits) that we just weren't going to pay for, so don't ask. With those simple rules, I am thrilled to report that it went exceptionally well. K selected a cat almost instantly, which she named Biscuit. She then filled it, at which time the "options" were discussed. We did put in the sound effects (standard), but my favorite was the heart that you can have sewn inside your animal. It was $2, and it made K so happy. They had her kiss the heart, dance with the heart, and all that jazz, and she was happy as a clam. The did burn us a little on adding a "scent" to the critter ($3.50), but K absolutely LOVED the scent (cotton candy), and I must confess it really does smell good. :-) Bottom line - JT got out of there for $20, and Kaitlyn was just absolutely thrilled.
They hit the aquarium and CFA for dinner - talk about a full night!
One really cool thing to note - K is doing her chores in earnest now! She is helping JT empty the dishes, putting away her clothes, and cleaning the table. She'll receive her first "paycheck" on Thursday! Really proud of you, kiddo!
So there you have it - one of the best, most fun July's EVER in the books. I am absolutely LOVING the staycation concept. This is the future for Team Taylor (for the next couple of years at least), and it is just wonderful. So much more relaxing, so much cheaper, so much easier, and honestly - just so much better. We always said we wanted this house to feel like a vacation home. We're definitely feeling that way right now!The last note before I wrap this post - July was amazing and special for many reasons, but the one that we're aware of but don't full appreciate yet is that it is the last full month of "life as we know it." There are a lot of moving parts at the moment, but suffice it to say that, come this time next month, a lot will likely have changed for Team Taylor. K will start kindergarten. We'll start a new schedule. And I likely will have some personal changes as well (stay tuned for those). It's all very exciting, but there is no doubt the pace of life is about to accelerate to one we've never experienced as a family. But hey - that's a concern for next month. For now, we are content to enjoy each day.
That's all the news that's fit to print. Chat soon!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
