Sikorski Saga

We took advantage of Mark's mid-week ceremony to make a long weekend in North Carolina. We drove to the Outer Banks and stayed in Kill Devil Hills at the Day's Inn. This was steps from the hotel parking lot the moment we checked into our room! The first 15 minutes on the beach and we collected seashells, splashed in the water and started construction on our sand castle. Our first 15 minutes and we've already found many more shells and bigger ones than we did at the Atlantic Ocean of Virginia Beach! Luella dug the trench, or a hole for a treasure chest. Kyla hauled the wet sand from the crashing waves so Kati and Tim could construct a castle. Tim's close up with sand castle tools. Kyla really was on the beach too! Now everyone work on the castle! Tim discovered the best shells settle right where the waves break. Ah, the things we do for our little girls! The precious looks on their faces are enough to forget being battered by waves for these shells! A quick change into ...

Beautiful day to have a ceremony! Mark gave up his command and we were all there to celebrate! Here is Mark with his girlfriend Joanna Tayber . Mark's parents Merill and Rosanna came from Tucson, AZ and Joanna came down from New Jersey. University of Arizona buddies Tim and Mark. We had a fun family photo. Another attempt at the Christmas card photo! During the ceremony, both Joanna and Rosanna got flowers. Mark passing on the guidon to his battalion commander. Look at that smile! Mark's speech with the Arizona flag waving in the background. It was HOT and Kati melted into a nap. Vanessa Bowman met us out for lunch! It's a regular U of A reunion! Rosanna and Merill took us out to lunch! Luella kept our side of the table entertained! Kati really didn't want to wake up from her nap. Joanna, Mark and another friend Rick. Saying our goodbyes to Vanessa since she had to go back to work. Three weeks earlier, a huge tornado swept through Fayetteville , NC. This house is a...

Kati now thinks she can't dance without "yuck-up" since getting all dolled up for her dance photos last Sunday. Kati looking pretty with her lip gloss "yuck-up"!

Last day of our four day weekend and Tim took both the girls fishing at Prince William National Forest. Kati is really loving her Dora fishing pole! Kati caught her first fish! Great job! Kati was even brave enough to hold her first fish! Tim caught a fish and Luella took the picture! Luella caught a turtle! Kyla finished painting the main walls in the kitchen and hung all the photos back up! We invited Kit, Ryan and Annika Kensrud over for dinner and really give our Minnesotan-transplanted friends their first taste of Maryland Blue Crabs! There's the blue crabs alive and well before they become dinner! Annika was a little concerned about the live crabs. She was concerned for hers and Luella's safety! Luella talked Annika into taking a peek at dinner. Tim steamed the crabs outside on the grill and fascinated Kensruds watched. Into the barrel, you monkeys - or pot, you crabs! Then we made Ryan work for dinner by seasoning the crabs with Old Bay. The kids had bratwurst and...