Summer Adventure and First Flights

Well, summer has been fun in general.  We have made the most of seeing local friends, hanging with neighbors, each boy going to a camp (golf for Gunnar and sailing for Zach) and trying to take in all our area has to offer but August brought us our greatest adventures of summer break.  While we typically get a trip to NC to see Nana and Boppa, this year we stepped it up a little.  Zach took his first solo flight and went to NC a week before the rest of us.  Yep…that’s right….my boys are growing up.  At the end of our trip Gunnar stayed back with Nana and Boppa and flew his first solo flight home several days later.  Eek!  Both boys were excited and confident with their travel arrangements and were over the moon they were able to get the full attention of Nana and Boppa without anyone else interfering with the fun.  That being said….here are some photos of each of their adventures along with some pics of all we crammed in while there as a family.  

Zach did great on the flight!  I was worried he may get sick since he can get motion sick but don’t worry….he saved that pleasure for the drive home.

Checking out a new ice cream shop….


Boating and swimming with Boppa….


He worked on his pitching form when they went to pick up baseball tickets for all of us to take in a game.


Caught a movie in the theater (we haven’t had but 1 or 2 of those since the pandemic started)


Ate some of his favorites (and my favorite)


Finally Nana and Boppa put him to work!




Zach wasn’t ready for us to show up but he seemed to be ok with us joining the fun.

We visited some friends in SC for a night (don’t worry….they are vaccinated and so are we!)

So Hazel got an overnight with Nana and Boppa all by herself!









Back in NC the guys got in 9 holes of golf (this is Gunnar’s new sport)


We of course made a ruckus in the neighborhood by shooting off some fireworks!




And we are making a tradition out of hiking nearby Baker Mountain.








Next up we had another “first” with a family day on the tops course.  I think everyone had fun.  I was so proud of how brave the kids were.  Hazel did a lot of climbing but decided the zip line was just too long for her.  That’s ok!  Gunnar was a bit nervous but overcame it after we talked him through his first obstacle.  Zach had no fear and wants to make sure he goes first next time so none of us slow him down.  They all did great!












We got out on Boppa’s boat a couple of times.  I’m still trying to figure out how to own a house on a lake.  The water is my happy place and I think the rest of my family have the same sentiments.

We caught a Hickory Crawdads game and the kids ran the bases.  You know, they used to let kids run the bases between innings near the mid point of the game.  No…not now.  You have to wait until the end of the game even if there are extra innings!  It was a late night!








All three went with Boppa to feed the nearby horses.


We got a night with just the boys for bowling, arcade games and laser tag.


Ooh….Hazel made her first trip to the gun range!  She got to help with pushing the button while mom, dad and Boppa played skeet.




Yep…I shoot.  And this game is the closest I’ve been to catching Rich in a game of skeet.  He was having a bad shooting day.


One last afternoon on the water….

I really don’t know how we fit so many adventures in.  It was definitely a bit of a whirlwind.

We said our goodbyes to Gunnar and started our journey home.  We made a last minute decision to stop by and see some of our favorite people.  It had been far too long!  Our visit was completely unplanned but my family is awesome and embraced the random drop in.  Our visit wasn’t long enough but it was so good.  




Our trip tuckered these two out.  How do kids sleep like this?!




Now while we were back in Evanston, Gunnar had some adventures of his own!  

Gunnar loves to drive a boat…..and sit on the bow!




Gunnar accidentally broke the window of Boppa’s shed so he got to have a little fun working.




He went to Top Golf (I can’t seem to add the video), saw a movie in the theater, got both Nana and Boppa to go bowling and found a new favorite movie to watch at home.  Have you seen Second Hand Lions?  Gunnar can tell you everything that happens.  He’s watched it three times now!

Gunnar made it home safe and sound!


We missed each boy while they were gone but it was nice to focus a little more on the other two.  I think both boys want to make this an annual event!