North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

We ventured with Garmin and found the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (just south of Wilmington, NC). Made a day of it and it was a blast for all!!

We started the aquarium with a visit to the albino gator and just outside the display was this "statue" of one. Approaching it, Keyara didn't know what to make of it. As Jackie sat down, Keyara wasn't taking her eyes off of it. We called her name to get the shot but she went right back to checking out this thing behind her. She wanted nothing to do with touching it though.

Jackie, Aunt Becca and Keyara stopped at one of the waterfall pools to see the fishies and when everyone posed for the camera, Keyara wanted to be in the big bathtub! Couldn't get her to look at the camera for nothing!!

She won't touch a fake alligator statue but she was gung-ho to reach in and touch the horseshoe crab and starfish!! She wasn't all to keen on the sea slug though!! She wanted to grab the starfish and put it in her mouth!! LOL

Okay, so the torture begins early!! There was a crab that you could go put your face in and have your picture taken. We had to send skinny Aunt Becca in with her but we got Keyara in there and she looked so cute!!

Keyara was okay with all the fishies that were behind the glass. When we got up to the tanks that had them moving, she either wanted in because she thought it was the bath (running water sounds) or she didn't like the really big fishies!!

Aunt Becca is in her Marine Biology Heaven!! She drooled over the shark attraction!

Keyara got up close and almost personal with the crab display. She did not want to go near the lobsters though. I've GOT to teach her the finer things in life!! LOL

In the walking display outside were the turtles and this cute frog statue. HAD to take a pic of course. Keyara was ready for all of this to be over. LOL She was a good sport though!!

And this was AFTER the Aquarium! And I mean NOT too long after either!! LOL I'd say within 2 minutes of being in the carseat, she was OUT! LOL I took that as a day well spent!! :)

Okay, Okay!! Bad Grandma!!

Okay, so I've been a bad Grandma!! Not uploading and updating the blog, so sorry. Been very busy but not too busy not to snap a few pics along the way!!

Keyara's Crawling!!

She pooped herself out she fell over and went to sleep - right where she sat!!

This one, she was whiney and crawling around in her playpen and mid-crawl, fell asleep!! How's that!! ROFL Wanted to stamp the behind "This End Up!"


Aunt Becca put on a skit at church and was asked to make a hat. This is the hat she designed and when Aunt Becca came back to the pew, Keyara wanted her hat and wouldn't let it go. She fell asleep wearing it and I couldn't resist!

Picked up this outfit thinking she'd wear it for Halloween. Jackie has gotten a different costume but she still makes a cutie Ballerina!!

Keyara help Grandpa mow the lawn At first, walking her up to the mower she cried, but once she was in Grandpa's arms and cruising, she was fine!

Keyara's Baptism

After a long prayerful wait, Keyara was baptised yesterday!! Grandma and Grandpa are so happy! Mommie is happy!! Aunt Becca is Godmother (did I mention HAPPY?)!!

Congratulations Keyara!!

Welcome to God's family!!

Surprise for Ms. Sheila!!

Our Youth Leader at our church is stepping down and making way for the next teacher after 8 years of wonderful service to the Youth in our church. Ms. Sheila has been a beacon, a blessing and a gift in the lives of our kids and she will always hold a special place in their hearts (and ours as well)!!

Thank you isn't enough!

Thank you Ms. Sheila!!

Bathing Beauty!!

We went to Big Lots to look for a kiddie pool to help Keyara (and her Mommie) cool off in this heat. We set it up today and started filling it and thought we'd see how she likes it.

You lied Mom!! This is nothing like my bath!

Oh No! This is NOT what I signed on for!!

Hey, my foot can move! This isn't so bad.


Mommie shows Keyara she can make her feeties splash!

Hehehe, this is fun Grandma!! Lookie me!

Oh hey now! No splashing! This is a No Splash Zone!

Mom, why'd you go and wet me like that!! Can't you see I'm playing with my chewies!

Hey, come back here!

And Keyara went after it till she caught it! Now, keep in mind Keyara isn't exactly crawling, she's inchworming! Remember the inchworm dance of the 80's? That's how she's crawling!! Up on all fours, belly flop, stretch out her arms, pull herself forward and back up on her knees again! It's too funny!!

This isn't so bad! She's having a pretty good time. The fact that the water is ICE cold doesn't seem to be bothering her .... too much! All in all, she had a good time!

Biscuit? Biscuit? Who's got the Biscuit??

Keyara does!! This is Keyara's first Biter Biscuit. Don't know who had more fun -- us or her!!

HHmm, what's this thing?

Wow, this tastes pretty good!!

Don't even think about taking this away, Grandma!


You ain't gonna get my cookie Grandma! No way!!

Biscuit, biscuit everywhere! And Keyara didn't figure out it was stuck to her bib!! LOL

Our Trip home to New Jersey

Keyara meets her Oma (Great Grandmother) for the first time. Oma is tickled pink to meet her as well!!

We put Keyara into the walker we borrowed from Auntie Liz. Keyara was so engrossed in her toys, this was the look I got when I tried distracting her from them!


How am I going to get my favorite toy (my own clicker) with these things in my hands?? I llove this picture because it looks like she's dancing when she's really trying to figure out how to get the remote!! LOL

We went to dinner and they put her seat in a "sling" meant to hold them but it left her eyes JUST at table height and she didn't know what to make of this!! She could see plates but not what was on them so she couldn't get to anything!!

I hadn't really seen Keyara in a walker yet and this is where she was trying to get the hang of making it go forward. Look closely and you'll see Jackie in the corner of the picture enticing her with her remote!! LOL

Keyara tried applesauce for the first time. She loved them but we had to cut her off at half a jar!! This face she didn't know what to make of the consistency of the applesauce -- she'd only been used to oatmeal up till this.

Hanging on the couch with Grandpa while Mommie makes her a bottle.

Meeting Auntie Lizzie for the first time!

Meeting Auntie Roni!

Meeting Aunt Kathy. She was VERY engrossed in wanting her glasses!

Hanging with Aunt Becca while Grandma makes me a bottle. Grandma let Mommie sleep in a little.

So many toys -- not enough hands!!

All fun with toys ..... till something interesting comes on the television!

Waiting to go to Auntie Roni's for goodbye dinner!

Cousin Kenny got brave and held Keyara!!

Cousin Colie!! I love this picture because it looks like Keyara is saying, "Excuse me one minute please!" LOL

Keyara's first swing ride. She didn't know quite what to make of it but took it in stride (because Aunt Becca was right there with her)!

Keyara learning how to play peek-a-boo

But she's not totally comfortable with covering her whole face!! But it's still something new and she loved it and had fun!!

Here's the gang at Auntie Roni's! Missing Malachai, Joshua, and Emma. These are the Grandma's (Oma) gang!! All the local grandkids came out to say bye to us at Auntie Roni's.

Auntie Roni wanted to hyjack Keyara. Keyara? Who's Keyara? There's no Keyara here. Jackie wasn't having it though! LOL

The ride home!! What would we do without doggie??!! All things considered, Keyara made the 12 hour trip like a champ and true sport!!