Non-sun or sky vacation pictures, mostly food... er, ice cream

 More beach vacation pictures, haha. One day we went mini golfing. It's cheaper to go in the heat of the day, and we were meeelllllting for sure. It's always a good time, though, even if Dada won. Again.

I love critters. Small crabs and shore birds. 💚

No trip to the OBX would be complete without stopping at Booty Treats. Yes, even though the line is half an hour long or more. Yes, even though we go every year. Yes, even when we order the same exact thing as last time. It's tradition, and it's delicious! Get your own because nobody wants to share...

Thing Two, actually outside and chillin'!

We hadn't been for years, but this time we decided to go eat at the Jolly Roger. If you've never been, BE FOREWARNED: their pancakes are HUMUNGOUS. And plentiful. So get some to share, or plan your breakfasts for the rest of your vacation according to the leftovers. 

Yes, they can come with ice cream. And as this is my family, that's what they got, naturally. Another tip: rescue the pancakes underneath the pile so that the ice cream doesn't soften ALL of them and you'll enjoy them later. Nobody could finish their entire stack.

Their other foods are also yummy and, of course, there are Shenanigans to be had...

OBX photo drop

 I promise I haven't forgotten about more Scotland pictures, but I figured since everyone is heading back to school that a beach vacation roundup was in order. We saw some gorgeous sunrises. Well, those of us who got up early did. 

Hair-in-his-face even made it to the actual beach once. 

Beach hair, don't care!

We take vacation very seriously, people.

"Watch out for Never-bugs. Little ones."

The title quote is what Pan tells the smallest Lost Boy at the end of "Hook" featuring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. Fantastic movie. I'm often aware of bugs, so I'd probably have been pretty good at those instructions.

A pretty little friend hangin' out by my broom

No, I didn't glue an eyebrow to the wall. That'd be Guillermo. I don't like the idea of him being able to kamikaze me from above whilst I'm on the throne, but what can you do? The next time I looked, he was gone.

Yesterday I harvested my lupine seeds which meant I pulled them all off the stalk parts, broke the hairy pods open, rounded up the seeds into my container. I probably had 150 pods or so. I cracked open my third-to-last one and out busts an earwig! Talk about heebie jeebies! He ran around in a frenzy on the tray where I was working and I backed up quick before he ran under the table. So glad I was almost done! 😅

 

First day both on the bus! *happy dance*

We've been back to school for a few days now, but today was the first day that the bus situation was all ironed out. Thing Three heads off to eighth grade completely straightforwardly: stand at end of driveway, get on bus, proceed directly to middle school. And yes, that's the same hoodie he wore every day last year. 

Thing Two, however, is a senior at a new-to-him school which is *cough, cough* slightly more complicated: stand at end of driveway, get on bus, get off bus at middle school, get on another bus, get dropped off where he belongs.

After school will be even more convoluted:

Get on bus, get off bus at sister campus, get on bus, get off at a local elementary school, get on bus, proceed to driveway of home.

I keep telling him we'll be able to drop him off in Europe and he'll be completely unfazed by getting from one route to another with connections by the time he's done with this year. He's not amused.

Last one, best one!

Back to enjoying sunrises and morning mist (or "beancreep" as Thing Two likes to call it) 

 

A boy and his chair

I'd like to know who told this kid he could get so big. He's dismayed that he hasn't hit his growth spurt yet and so many of his classmates have passed him in height, but he is definitely growing and I have zero doubt that he will grow into his huge flipper feet and his long bones. His Doc said he'll probably grow clear into college and he's sure he'll top six feet. My money is on taller still. He's taken a leaf from his brother's playbook and practically fallen off the BMI chart, so his Doc also told him to eat and not skip any meals. Apparently we are good at raising long, skinny beans around here...

 

Leaflets three, leave it be

It's a shame that poison ivy has such a nasty reputation, because it really is quite a pretty plant. Just don't get too close. Or touch it. Or weed it. Or look at it funny. Or breathe its air.

 

"How does your garden gro- ooooooh dear..."

Nobody's asked, but let me assure you that the garden is once again, to absolutely nobody's surprise, a complete disaster.

Well, we have some tomatoes.

And the amaranth that I DIDN'T plant.

And the sad, knocked over amaranth which I DID plant. *sigh* This guy was taller than me and was beautiful. He was the only one because his buddy got eaten when I transplanted him. And he's been on the ground for probably weeks now and doesn't seem terribly fazed...

Our wild onions which the bees love.

A view of the entire disaster zone.

The flowers are nice and full, haha!

Apparently my black eyed Susan vine came up and is happy.

I found a jalapeno or two but it's going to take an expedition to get in there to rescue them...

Once again, my bug bites outnumber my produce yield. Maybe once the cherry tomatoes come in there will be a reckoning...

 

Spoken like a true gamer

 I commented to Thing Two that he needed to eat; I hadn’t heard his fork hitting the bowl for awhile.

*Tink tink tink scrape scrape tap*

“Lag.”

More summer Shenaniganery

Aunt Sherri and Uncle Tom like to join us for the fair, and since he's a pilot he can fly them here to the local airport and we pick them up. While Dada ran to get them, I rallied the troops to get ready from here. Someone decided it'd be a good idea to stretch out while he waited, and promptly fell asleep on our bed. By the time I get two of the three Things ready, I lose the third. Can NOT keep my ducks in a row...

Got that kid up, everyone into the car, grabbed Tino, and off we went!

Since the kid is 13 now, we figured that's old enough for him to have a ride wristband and run around and wear himself out. He had a BALL and rode nonstop in between us checking on him. So many rides and circles and spins and dips and doodles that he eventually had to crash onto a picnic table's bench with an "ohhhhhhhh, that was too many at once!"

He's in the florescent shorts on the right side.

Tino enjoyed the outing and voted this goat Best Dressed.

Sadly, we didn't get to keep them and had to return them to the airport.

This is not the same time frame, but I came down with a whole basket of toasty dog towels fresh from the dryer and Dada intercepted with an, "ooooooooh! Give 'em here!!!" He proceeded to drape them over himself and headed off into Dreamland. I told him he was responsible for putting them away. He had a nice nap and did a good job!

This cloud performed the perfect imitation of a cotton ball. I was dodging traffic on our walk so by the time I got a decent shot of it, it had experienced some decomposition, but it had been so cute!

Some sweet friends of ours stayed one night after dropping their kiddo off at college. It's always so good to see them and we're looking forward to way more of it! Dada got to hang out with them, too, but had to leave earlier for a work meeting so he missed our photo op.

Yes, my children, it is yet another picture of the sky.

PaPa came out to visit for a few days so we had to take him to the pool! He started a splashing battle where he proceeded to get ganged up on, but otherwise I think he had a good time. He hopefully got some decent photos of Thing Three backflipping off the diving board. Love to have some fun in the sun! Sad that our pool is closed for the year now. I know there'd be an awful lot of moms willing to celebrate kids being back in school!