We had to pick a spot that would not be damaged by construction or construction trucks.

It’s only small area by one of the trees but I like to look at it.

And of course we spend a lot of time in this part of the yard

This is what I get when I ask to take a picture

And then I pull out the “Im not pushing until I get one picture”

And then I quickly snap

Another Super Games is in the books

It was kinda warm and sticky

But no one seemed to care

The girls kept beating the boys in tug-o-war

Eva was so excited to be there

I didn’t get many pics- Eva just wanted to play

She didn’t want to do the tall bouncy slides alone

When all the kids went in for lunch she had the place to herself

We wrapped it up with a snowcone and walked back home where she fell asleep for her nap right away!

But the thing is that it is never exactly the same. Lots of things are the same, but not everything.

Obviously the house is not the same. My kids keep telling me they want their old house back. Even though we are now on the street we always wanted to live on. Right now I want our old house back too. But long term…. well I want the house we are designing and about to build, on the 2 acre lot we now own.

But that doesn’t make it easy.

And while I smiled tonight when I took Cole and his best bud to lacrosse- passing their elementary school where lots of people were hard at work for the awesome day they will have tomorrow (a day they would never have in Chapel Hill)- see past supergame days here, here and here, I can’t help but think how things are different now.

Don’t get me wrong, everyone fell right back into old friendships just like we never left.

But when we moved I felt like my kids were still little. And now I feel like I moved back with different kids than what I left with. If that makes sense. They are bigger, older, just different. And sometimes I feel it in the pit of my stomach. Like I missed a year of their life. Which of course is crazy. I didn’t, we just spent it in a different place.

But to bring them back to the place they were born and raised, it just feels weird. Like we are new here. Trying to settle in.

I know it doesn’t make sense. And I know when we get our house done I will feel like we are making a home. Feel more settled.

But for now I feel like a visitor. A newbie. Trying to find my place.

In a place I am very familiar with but still out of sorts

We play in an unfamiliar backyard that still doesn’t feel like ours

And start all over again

I think I only had one boy then.

By the time I got to three boys that rule was long gone.

When I took Cole and Eva to the beach store, they BOTH bought really loud toy guns.

I still don’t like them.

And I hid them at one point.

But this picture still cracks me up

I am finally getting around to looking at my pictures from Bald Head Island.

I love that place

I have never been anywhere quite like it.

This time we only spent the day

So we packed as much into is as we could

We played hard and at the end of the day we loaded back onto the ferry for the mainland.

See you later Bald Head.

And it is all going straight into our 3 car garage for storage for the next 6 months.

I am already tired of living this way- the idea that we get 6 more months is a tad overwhelming

Did I mention we are going to try to live in the basement when all the remodeling is going on?

The benefit of staying put instead of moving into yet another temp house is that we can of course save money, keep the kids within walking distance of everything, still have a huge yard for dogs, etc. Both one of the biggest is keeping Eva in the same surroundings. She does not like change. We have seen the effects of her living in 4 different houses in one year. It’s not pretty.

Heading back to NC was an emotional journey. But when we got back to Ohio I knew we were where we belonged. At least for now.

The trip down was long and loud- with 4 kids. Finally I climbed into the back to sit by Eva and my friend Nic took the wheel

We got in around midnight- and walked out on the porch to look at the big moon over the water

Every time I go to Holden I love it more

She wore her self out.

We did manicures

My beach house was still there- still looking good

We went to a small festival in town. The little kids loved it.

We did a little shopping

Ate dinner on the water

But mostly just hung out

And listened to thunder and rain

And then came home to lots of green and sunny skies. She helps me haul the recycling and trash down to the street.

The basement made progress while we gone. Now it is almost done but here are some in progress pics

I can’t tell you how much I love these doors.

The best bathroom in the house now is in the basement!

Good views on my morning walk

Eva’s birthday present came while we were gone. This thing has been getting lots of use

Boys have airsoft wars in the bakyard- see the two blurs running in the back? And don’t worry, Eva wasn’t back there.

Truck is pulling in- off to meet the movers.

So this week is the first week and of course I have been in crazy mode with travel and trying to find a spot for the movers to bring all of our stuff from North Carolina.

But- Hannah is not one to let you off the hook so easy so I am participating even though I didn’t plan to. Because I am a rock star like that.

But here’s the deal, my camera is still in the car and I have no pictures that indicate anything at all related to “Bloom”. I thought of just posting a picture of one of my kids with the quote “bloom where you are planted.”

But I couldn’t even find one that would work for that. And I can’t post an old pic, that would be cheating.

Then I saw this one and thought “A-Ha!” Leave out the “L” and call it a day.

So instead of “Bloom” I give you

“BOOM”

It’s a bad picture and I didn’t even edit it but at least its up.

Ps. I told you that I might bend the rules Hannah…..keeps things interesting.

Now go check out Tiffany’s take on “Bloom” here.

We decided to grab some beach time as well

My fave beach house is still there

The first day was the best weather wise

He’s still a beach bum

Eva changed outfits multiple times a day.

She had no problem going into the ocean fully dressed

Sam was super helpful with Eva

Eva was a total handful. It’s hard for her to be out of her normal routines

More to come

I know it was for the best- but I also know our North Carolina story is not over.

How it will all play out- who knows. I just know the Carolina Girl in me feels a strong pull towards that state. It just wasn’t the right time- or the right city.

Anyway as I pack to head south with the two youngers I can’t help but feel bad about leaving the older two. But honestly I think all three boys are looking forward to a quiet week, male bonding, no drama.

In fact I know they are. 2 out of 3 admitted it.

Cheers to their quiet week- And my
crazy week being on the road with the dos Ioco niños

Yesterday Eva turned four. And we all sat around scratching our heads trying to figure out if we miscounted. Really? Four??

She had the best day. So happy. Her grandparents came to visit, friends came to visit, she opened gifts….

She used to tell everyone when she was two that she was really four.

Now she says she is six

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!