North Carolina on my mind

After Arkansas we drove to Smyrna, TN (near Nashville) to see Jake's grandmother and extended family on his mom's side.  Again, since we had three sick kids we were careful to keep them away from Estelle.  That night we banished them to the outside patio but luckily the weather was nice enough that eating outside was very pleasant.

After Smyrna we drove into the North Carolina mountains.  Our first stop was to see Jake's boss who has a vacation home only an hour and a half from where we vacation every year.  His daughters have babysat our kids so it was a fun reunion.  They took us out on their boat for inner tubing and knee boarding.  This is the first day I think all my girls are feeling pretty well - a HUGE milestone for us - whew!

After that we went to our annual vacation spot of High Hampton.  Grandpa Carl and Gaga also meet us there as do Uncle Dan and Aunt Susan and nephews Zach and Alex.  Another wonderful vacation there - but just not long enough.  It was a little shorter trip than we usually do but we still fit in some of our favorite activities - golfing, hiking (people) and hiking with llamas.  Jake's aunt and uncles from Dalton also drove up to eat dinner with us one night.

After High Hampton we spent a couple of days in Asheville with Dan and Susan and the boys.  We did some hiking and played putt putt. They live in a wonderful neighborhood and the kids could take themselves to the playground all by themselves.  We love visiting them.

Our last stop was a brief two night stay in Charlotte.  Regan's tummy seemed to have gotten off kilter with all the antibiotics so dear friend Beth came over and hung out with us there and Jake and her husband Bob took the other girls out for tacos.  So lovely catching up with friends.  And then we had a small gathering of family friends from Regan's old school.  We loved that place (Trinity Episcopal) and sure love those families we got to know there.  We had time to catch up with friends and neighbors who have two kids who have come and stayed with us in the UAE and then a farewell lunch with the Watts who we knew from pre-school (and elementary school).  Lots of fun carpool and playdate memories with the Watts clan!

Then off to Abu Dhabi to give us a week to get over the jet lag before school starts.  Orientation (find your classroom, buy PE uniforms, etc.) on Sunday the 24th and classes start for my three big girls on the 25th.  Anna (kindergarten) won't start until the 27th.  They all get to have one-on-one time with the teacher before school starts.

It's been an unusual but still wonderful summer but we're always glad to get back home and back into our normal routine.  Thanks to everyone who helped make our summer special.  We appreciate all the effort many people make to see us and do for us.

On the Goodson's boat

Regan and Meredith ready to 'tube

Big smiles

It took Regan a *long* time to get brave enough to jump off the boat to take another turn on the inner tube.  I was very proud that she finally did it - although I didn't get a great shot of her brave leap

Look - no hands (Jane and Regan)

Our four girls watching Hannah (11th grade) do her tricks on the knee board

On the deck of the Goodson's house - what a lovely place to enjoy the view!

Anna and her dry swimsuit.  She thought about getting on the inner tube but wasn't quite ready.

Finally to our High Hampton house - lovely view of small lake out the back window and lots of greenery

Shuffleboard

One of our favorite views at the High Hampton Inn

Shucking corn with Grandpa Carl

Can't get fresh garden tomatoes like this in Abu Dhabi.  Yum - we ate a lot here and from Poppy's garden in Arkansas

Paddling on our little lake behind the house

Uncle Dan, Grandpa Carl and Uncle Larry - keeping an eye on the kids in the canoe

Big Puryear family gathering.  It's really wonderful seeing the extended clan and we're so honored that they try to meet us up in High Hampton!

Nice view on a hike (Susan and I were enjoying my birthday spa treatment!)

Hike-a-rama with a llama

Meredith's llama was named Lightening.  It certainly wasn't because she was lightening fast!

The kids guided their llamas through the woods

Alex had Legend - the leader of the pack

Regan had Rockstar

Jane has peaches

Llama races - Zach and his llama were the winners both times.

Tree climbing

View from our back window

Golfing with my Meredith - she really enjoyed golf this summer

Anna kept the golf cart warm

Hard hole - Zach hit it over the water which was not an easy shot.

Alex came so close to hitting it over

Regan had a nice time on the course, too.

Golfing sisters

The Asheville Puryears

The Abu Dhabi Puryears

Cousins

View out our back window on a foggy morning

2nd golfing outing with just our family

Jake and his golfing girls

This is how we roll in the summers!

High Hampton rental house

Putt-putting in Asheville.  Meredith came in 2nd (after me)!

Hiking around lake in Alex and Zach's neighborhood

A trip to our old stomping grounds - the elementary school playground less than a block from our old house.

A lot of memories were created at this playground (unfortunately the big old oak shade tree was taken down by a storm in the last couple of years so the playground isn't as shady as before)

We *always* stop by our friends and neighbor's house - the Engels and take a swing and a photo on their big swing.  Our old house care just barely be seen on the left through the trees.

Jane giving Lila the Engels' dog some loving attention

Anna on the big swing - our old house is in this photo.  Lots of good memories there, too!

Annual gathering with friends from Regan's old school  Special call-out to friends Shannon and Shelly who hosted this gathering and only got home from sleepover camp pick-up a few minutes before we all arrived.  Of course they made it look effortless and amazing!

Look who made the cover of the Myers Park magazine!  Currie (who went to Turkey with us last year) wrote a wonderful article about all her travels last summer to four countries.  We loved our time with Currie last summer and loved getting to catch up with her this summer, too.

A last farewell lunch at Bill Spoon's BBQ with the wonderful Watts family.  We miss this family!

With Owen and Robert Engel.  Robert joined us in the UAE last Thanksgiving when he was studying abroad in Jordan.   Now that we've had the two oldest Engel kids, we'll need to find a way to get their younger ones over at some point!

Currie posing with the magazine and the girls

At the Chicago airport ready to head back to Abu Dhabi.  We had the entire train car to ourselves and the girls had a blast on the short 5 minute ride to the international terminal.