Surf Week!!! not Shark Week. That is over. Shark Free Week!!!

And, so it begins.... a week of surfing with amazing people!

Here are photos from today's Surfers Healing event.  More than 250 autistic children signed up to participate in this amazing event.  Back on sign up day, time slots are gone within minutes.  It is a wonderful experience for the kids to get out onto the ocean and be surrounded by the calming effects of such a large body of water.  It also opens their eyes to new experiences.  If I can surf, I can do anything!

Carl surfed in Group 1 at 9 am.  He got to do 4 or 5 runs with a surfer named Justin.  Then we hung around for a couple hours, playing in the sand with buddies and then playing in the water.  This was supposed to be for autistic kids only, so Gretchen knew she couldn't participate.  But... on our way out, she wanted to go say "goodbye" to the guy she surfed with last year.  Earlier in the day, he saw Gretchen and Lew and immediately recognized her - and called her by name!  A year after surfing with her!  After many other surf camps.  These people are so amazing with the kids.

So, Kevin told Gretchen he wanted to take her out to surf, but she said "We are leaving."  I was not close enough to hear them talking, so I waved and we headed out.  On our walk back to the trolley pick-up spot, she told me what he said.  By the time we got to the trolley, we decided that we were both disappointed that she could have surfed and didn't get to.... so we turned around and went back!  I bribed Carl with mini cheese sandwich crackers and we found Kevin.  He grabbed a board and took Gretchen out to surf as well!  What an unexpected treat!!

Here are my photos of the kids during the day.
Taking the trolley over at 8:00

 After getting a life jacket, he met Justin and headed out into the water.

 Ready to go!!

 They paddled out together and waited for a good wave.

 Then Justin had to get Carl up to standing.  All 83 lbs of him.  I have another shot of him raising him up that really shows how heavy Carl is.

 Once he was standing - they were surfing!

 and falling!

 regroup and go out again!

They told the kids "if you need any help at all, just find someone in a red shirt."  Do you think our kids were safe in this crowd?

 Carl will not be doing any Coppertone Tan commercials anytime soon.  50 spf works wonderfully on him!!

 anticipation

 This shot - poor Justin!  Look at those muscles!

Carl loves the wave riding part.

Look - he is almost as tall as Justin!

  Justin and Carl after having fun surfing together!

This larger that life man is Izzy.  He is the founder of this program and he is the sweetest person.  His 22 yr old son is the reason he started this organization.  Surfing was their first real connection when the boy was younger and he wanted to bring that gift to other children as well.  He was right out there surfing with many of the kids today.  All these people involved in the charity surf camps are so wonderful with all the kids!

 and now... Gretchen & Kevin!!!

 High-fives even after wiping out!

So, this begins Surf Week.  Expect dozens more photos as the week progresses.  We now have a 3 day surf camp that begins tonight.  We cannot wait!

2013 family photos... 8 months already!

I am not in a blogging mood, but I will share the monthly family photos we have been taking.  We are ending up with more than one per month.

January
Legos!!

We played mini golf most Sundays in the winter.  Our season passes for the water park gave us a free round every Sunday.

February 
Groundhog Day!

 At the Auto Show in Raleigh.

 backyard

March 
Easter eggs at home

 cats' birthday

April 
Touch a Truck event - taken by a friend we ran into.  So far, all the other shots have been self timer photos or hand held self photos.

 a shop window downtown

Yum!  Homemade ice cream at the berry farm!  (PS... do not say "yes" when they ask if you want chocolate sauce on your strawberry sundae.)

May 
taken by the lady in front of us in line at the Rush concert in Raleigh!  Twins' first concert.

June
last day of school. taken by their 1st grade teacher

 Father's Day on the ferry.  taken by a teen-aged passenger

Father's day at our favorite restaurant - taken by our waitress.  Carl has already requested we all go there for Mommy and Daddy's anniversary.  OK, twist our arms!

 taken by my mother at camp

 taken by my mother at Hoffman's Playland

July
water park admissions bracelets.  We have used those tickets so much this summer!  We all love it there!!!

August
taken by Lew's boss on the company night at our local pro soccer game.  Yes, we are wearing rain coats and jeans in NC in August.  The rain held off just long enough for us to enjoy the friends, food and first half of the game.

We are super busy this week, but it is very fun stuff.  I might find the spark to share some more photos if I have enough energy.  Or screen time.  I have to fight for even a few minutes to check email these days.

we are busy

You can entertain yourself with this to pass the time until I feel like blogging.  Carl thinks it is the funniest thing ever!  Watch it 8 times in a row to get the full Carl Experience.  And, laugh like milk would come out of your nose every single time, OK?

Minions singing Banana Song


Well, he also thinks this is absolutely hilarious.  We watch this 3-4 times a day around here.

Minions Banana short movie


Yup.  Despicable Me is wildly popular in our household right now.  If you have not seen it (the first one is out on video, the 2nd may still be in theaters) - it is a really cute story.

(wanna see the photocopier scene?  C'mon, you have an extra 24 seconds...   Photocopier)

... cast off!

We had an 8am appointment this morning to have her cast cut off.  They cut it off and then did another set of x-rays.  The new growth looks perfect and her elbow is actually stronger than before.  But, her arm is really sore from being held in one position for 4 weeks.  The PA was saddened to see her pouting.  He said she is usually so cheerful when she comes in that this really surprised him.  We discussed the possibility of a splint for her comfort, but he said if it were his child, he would not.  It would still be sore when that came off.  He is not at all worried about the bone, but said it can take up to a week before she is fully straightening and using her arm again.  Until then, no running, trampoline, bicycles, ...  anything that might be too much activity for her under-used muscles.  Swimming is OK as long as she doesn't run to the pool.  No problem - kids never run at the pool, right?

I got up early this morning and packed all our beach gear, a big lunch and our water park passes.  I was going to take them to the beach for about an hour, then we'd have our lunch and be at the water park when they opened.  She wanted to do that, but didn't know about the beach.  Well, her arm was so sore, she did not want to go to the beach.  I totally forgot to give her advil before the appointment like I had planned.  that would have likely kept the pain down and let us go to the beach.  So, for now, we are home, the advil is kicking in and she is watching her favorite princess story on TV.  We have decided to go to the water park later this afternoon and have Lew meet us after work, too.  She cannot do any slides, but she can hang with me in the Lazy River, we can go in the Wave Pool or even in the misnamed "Hot" Tub - which is really a regular temperature small pool with benches in it.

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taken in the van waiting for dinner.  We went to Sonic for Bait and Switch $1 Hot Dog Day.

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and it was a pajama day... with PB & chocolate chips for lunch and Girl Scout cookies for snack.  We made a friendship bracelet for a birthday gift, watched too much TV and played with Legos.  As close to perfection as it gets for a 7 yr old.

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