We have been planning to celebrate my Dad's birthday by getting the whole Lewis clan together. I don't think that all of us had been together since 1989, it was a way overdue reunion. We were able to combine the trip with the McParland family beach vacation to minimize the number of times we had to fly two kids halfway across the country. More on that in the next post.
Our flight to Charleston, NC on our 11th anniversary was an affirmation of just how well Erin and I can work together. We planned to wake up at 3:30 in the morning to catch our 6:45 flight, figuring that gave us plenty of time to feed Maya and have breakfast and get to the airport. Instead, we woke at 5:00 AM. After a brief moment of panic, we rolled out of bed, grabbed the kids, jumped in the car and rushed to the airport. Like a well choreographed dance, we juggled kids and bags, filled the empty gas tank, checked bags, parked the car, and breezed through security and made our flight. Amazing. We even had time to let Xander enjoy the experience of getting on the train to the terminal (so awesome) and be excited about stepping on to an airplane. The kids were both great on the flights and we had a surprisingly easy time of it. After landing in Charleston we made the 3 hour drive to Southport NC and even made it out to a nice anniversary dinner before collapsing exhausted into bed.
The next day was an opportunity to spend some time with Dad and my brother Tom and Debbie. Maya got to spend some time with Grandpa and meet Aunt Debbie. Xander immediately fell in love with both whales and boats, which can be found in abundance in Dad's house. He spent a good hour excitedly pointing out new boats and whales as he found them up and down and in every corner of the house. Barb made a wonderful lasagna dinner and Xander delighted in watching the ships go up and down the Cape Fear river. After spying a ship going by outside he would rush inside saying "Grandpa, Grandpa, BIG BOAT!". Boats are totally awesome.
Saturday morning we got on the ferry to Fort Fisher to go to the aquarium with Tom and Debbie. Erin and Maya stayed at the hotel so Erin could do homework so Xander and Daddy got to spend time together. My sister Christie and Mike had taken the early ferry and we met them there once we arrived. Xander is at an age where he can start to really enjoy the aquarium and we all had fun watching him enjoy each new thing. We saw alligators and frogs and snakes and fish and sharks and even Nemo. Xander even got to touch the horseshoe crabs.
For the ferry ride home Uncle Tom had brought popcorn to feed the seagulls. Xander thought it was incredibly fun to feed the birds, but wasn't quite as brave as Uncle Tom who would hold the popcorn out in his hand for the seagulls to swoop down and grab.
After a nap for Xander we headed for Dad's to celebrate his birthday. Erin had never met my brother Jon and I hadn't yet met his new wife Leanne. We had the whole family together which was a great way to celebrate. My cousin Kim Corbin and his wife Pat were able to join us as well. I can't remember the last time I saw them, but I think it is safe to say that I wasn't driving yet!
We had an amazing lobster dinner for Dad's birthday. Xander thought that lobsters were pretty cool, but wasn't that interested in eating them. Oh well, more for us. He will start wanting his share soon enough.
With everyone together we had to get a family photo, I hope that it won't be quite so long to get us all back together again, but it was still an opportunity we didn't want to pass up.
The whole family together.
Dad and his kids.
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