This is from the first day that we left. We left around 7:30 or so in the morning and drove all day to stay in a horrible hotel on the outskirts of Indianapolis! Look how happy the kids looked on this day!
We drove from Oklahoma to New Jersey for my family reunion which happens every year. Even though there were not as many people as usual, it was still worth the drive and the vacation from home. Gabi enjoyed the horses and of course both she and Jack enjoyed the pool!!!!!!!!
Gabriela and Viviana
My mom, Uncle Eddie, and Aunt Mary
Donna and my Mom, with Taralee in the background
Uncle Russell and Cousin Jay
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Frank wanted to visit Atlantic City, New Jersey since he had never been before. We stopped at the Trump Plaza to check it out. Frank stayed inside while the kids and I walked around the city. We had a great time and then enjoyed a nice lunch together.
Mommy and Gabi in front of one of the many casinos here in Atlantic City.
We loved walking around the city and taking in the sights while Frank was in the casino.
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Frank decided that after visiting Atlantic City, New Jersey, it would be great to take the ferry from Cape May to Delaware. At first, I wasn't too happy with the idea because I know that ferries can take a long time but in all actuality, it was alot of fun and beautiful too! We really enjoyed this part of our trip!
Us sitting outside waiting for the ferry to come and take us away!
In the terminal, they had this really cool map on the floor that showed exactly where the ferry travels. What a GREAT photo op!
Because we never have anyone else to take pictures of the 4 of us together, we generally will have to take 2 pictures of our family broken down between the kids with Mom and the kids with Dad.
Gabi likes anyone to grab both of her hands so that she can swing in the middle, just as any other child in the world does!
Even Dad and Buba enjoy time together!
Gabi enjoys a soft pretzel with cheese on the ferry!
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Check him out! Only 6 1/2 months old and already driving! Only kidding! After pulling onto the ferry, Nikki was holding Alex and he was just so happy that I couldn't help but to pull out the camera! What a sweetheart!
We had a few minutes before the ferry came to take us to Cape Hatteras so we ran to the water so we ran to the water to show Jack and Gabi. Gabi liked this water although I think it was only because she could see the other side!
Here we all are in front of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. What a beautiful sight to see! And the amazing story behind it!
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We went to the beach with Nikki which was SO much fun! We hadn't seen the ocean in years! What a difference compared to the lakes and creeks around Oklahoma! We all really had a good time because the East Coast ocean is so clean and beautiful. The water here was so warm and clear. You could even see your feet in the water when you were up to your chest. It felt good to feel the ocean breeze and see the water. Thanks Nikki!
Jack has always liked the ocean. The ocean is no stranger to him. He loves it so much that we weren't even there for five minutes yet and he was gone! He took the wave runner board that Nikki had brought and took off. He was gone so fast that he didn't even let me put sunblock on him. Of course, he came back as red as a lobster!
Gabi's first feel of the water when the waves came up and got her. WOW, she didn't like that very much. It took alot to even get her back to the water afterwards. She spent most of her time playing in the sand and just watching the water to be sure that it didn't come too close.
Gabi looked so cute trying to feel the waves without actually getting into the water. How big she has gotten and to see her from behind makes us realize just how fast they grow!
Gabi and Mommy trying to convince her that the ocean was fun and felt good.
This is my great friend Nikki and her beautiful little boy, Alex! He is about 6 1/2 months in this picture!
Gabi just loved this wagon! After being afraid of the water and waves, she decided that riding in this was much more fun than playing in the hot sand and scary ocean.
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We went to the aquarium down toward Atlantic Beach the day after the beach trip. What a great idea! I had been there years before when my parents would vacation in North Carolina before we moved there. We hadn't been back since. Nikki said that they had closed it down for a little while and had just reopened it and WOW, what a great place to visit. We all had a great time!
Nikki suggested that she take a picture of us all together which was a terrific idea as well! It is very rare that we can get all of us in 1 picture! Thanks to her and this trip, we have plenty to choose from!
The Aquarium had this CUTE little photo area with different photo opportunities to take! WOW, how perfect that they had a CRAB!!!!!
Nikki Kies and Nikki Lynn Portillo
We met in High School (Pamlico County High School) and have been friends ever since. We kept in touch over the years and hope to continue to know and visit each other until we are old and gray!
Nikki took us to her favorite restaurant down toward Morehead City, North Carolina, called "The Bistro". Very good food and a great environment! We truly enjoyed it! It was the end to a WONDERFUL visit with the Kies family!
Ms. Gabi enjoying the COOL breeze off of the sound behind the restaurant.
Jack and Gabi enjoying family time together at the restaurant with Nikki, Michael, and Alex Kies.
Gabi and Pockie, as she calls him, decided to play us some music while we visited with my Mom and Dad in Georgia. How cute it was to watch her sit there and try to play with her Pockie.
We stopped in Vicksburg, Mississippi again, as we did in April of 2006 when we returned from having Gabriela baptized in our church in Olivia, North Carolina. The name of the hotel had changed but everything else was the same. Frank and I actually got about 1 hour of PARENT time together in the casino alone! What a strange feeling that was to spend time without the kids! For me, it was great though. I truly love being with Frank even when the kids are not around (even if it isn't that often!).
Jack and Gabi sitting in the lobby of the hotel, the Diamond Jack.
Daddy and Gabi swimming in the pool at the hotel in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Jack swimming in the pool with the Mississippi River only a few yards away.
When we came back from our trip, we were welcomed with over 4 inches of water completely throughout the house! When Frank and I went up to the front door to unlock it to come in, the water was pouring out from the bottom of the door. The water line from wall to the refrigerator had burst and had poured out from the hose for at least a few days! This picture is from when Frank attempted to clean the water out of the carpet, which we completely pulled up the next day because of the musty smell! URGH
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