Asher says "Goodbye" to the Summer of 2009

It feels like we started out the summer very early. During Spring Break, Amanda and I took the boys to the Outer Banks. We had planned on doing this for a while, but it was very fortunate for us when work allowed for us to take a whole week off at the same time of Spring Break for the boys' school. So I cashed in the points and we had an adventure. My favorite part, was waiting until Monday to leave, and coming back around Friday. We still had the weekend before and after to relax at home. We drove in one big loop from Goldsboro, to Corolla, to Ocracoke, to Kinston and back home.

During the Summer, we did a few other trips.

Monticello in Charlottesville, VA

Old Salem for Independence Day

and a quick trip with Grandma and Grandpa Whitehead to the Beach.

Amanda and I enjoyed ourselves, but we appreciated knowing that the boys were learning and having the time of their lives.

Old Salem was free, but for Liam, he felt like the luckiest kid in the world to operate an 18th Century fire hose, or write on paper with a polygraph machine at the Children's museum near the home of Thomas Jefferson.

The trolley service that rides around the University of Virginia does not charge, but Asher's ego was boosted because he sees any transport not operated by Amanda or me as a luxury, and therefore he must be a VIP if he is riding around in such. Airplanes and ferry boats have the same affect.

It was the first time Kingston ever really got to run out on the beach, because he just learned to walk, and he didn't look back.

Amanda and I went to the Carolina Opry and saw a live show that really lived up to the hype. We stopped watching American Idol a few years ago, but we couldn't help compare what we were watching to AI. I don't know how people watch American Idol. I feel sorry for the live audience. How do they give applause after each performance? It is kind of like the whole, "we are all now dumber for having listened to..." quote. If we have MQ's, the Carolina Opry will increase your MQ (Musical Quotient). But if you watch American Idol, it probably depletes it. If you are at the live recording, the adverse affects compound.