Florida Bound for Braden's 15th Birthday

After Thanksgiving, we headed back to Florida to celebrate Braden's 15th birthday.  His two birthday wishes were: to get his Learner's permit and to go fishing!  We headed to Sebastian Inlet, which is known for epic fishing.  Our friends, the Ratfields, joined us at Long Point Park in Sebastian for the celebration.  We had a beautiful waterfront campsite and we were able to keep our inflatable right in our backyard!  Braden and Jonathan fished everyday before and after school, we were all able to get outside and explore the area, and Aaron discovered he liked Chinese food while we were here :-)  On December 7th, Braden took his test and earned his Learner's permit and then we went out to lunch to celebrate!  Here are some of our favorite memories from the birthday tip to Sebastian, Florida.

Our waterfront campsite

Sebastian Inlet State Park

The view out our bedroom window

The guys buzzing around the Inlet

Aaron, Bodie and I hiked the Hammock Trail

Aaron, age 13

Bryan...getting ready to catch a big one!

Dolphin and manatee visited us daily!!!

We went to the Space Coast Lightfest and enjoyed walking through a wonderland of lights...Bodie even enjoyed the fun!

It was awesome seeing the Christmas lights in our shorts and short sleeves!

So festive!

JAWS!!!

Braden, Jonathan and Aaron!

Our Happy Little Christmas Tree!

Saw this little guy on our bike ride through the campground

Sebastain Island Sunset

The guys decided to cook one night!

Ready for a birthday celebration!

Birthday donuts

He passed!!!!  We officially have a teen driver!

Mom is backseat driving :-)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake 2016

Pier fishing

December at the beach

We made air-fried ravioli on day for a treat

Captain Braden coming back with his catch

Happy fisherman

Sleepy dog

The night before we left, the guys pulled the boat out of the water...and it rained BUCKETS!!

Early start...heading back to Maryland for Christmas!!!!

Heading North for Thanksgiving 2016

After leaving Kentucky, we headed towards home...and we made a few stops on the way!  First stop on the trip to Maryland was North Carolina.  We stayed at a KOA and our friends, The Mann Family decided to visit us.  The older boys enjoyed fishing, we enjoyed dessert one evening and thankfully  Katelyn cut the guys hair so they would look nice and fancy for Thanksgiving!  We explored Chimney Rock and luckily we all lived to tell the tale (that was a seriously INTENSE climb!!!)  

All set up...no fires though...there is a burn ban in affect!

This was on my bucket list.  Glad I can check that off :-)

Beautiful

A stop along the climb to the top, Pulpit Rock

We made it...and we're all smiling!

Our legs felt like jelly by the end of the climb up and back down!

TOTALLY WORTH IT

The views were breathtaking!

Back on solid ground

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

BZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - Aaron also had his hair cut, but I missed getting his picture!  He looked handsome though :-)




Continuing our trip North, we stopped in Williamsburg, Virginia.  We stayed at the Thousand Trails in the area and after catching up on school, the boys and I went out exploring!

We love to learn outdoors

My happy camper

We love a good hike

Working up a sweat!

This was a great trail...The boys even hunted for Pokemon.

On the hunt

Felt so small

A cool little find

 Our next stop on our trip was West Virginia!  Again, we stayed at the KOA in Harper's Ferry and we did something that I've always wanted to do..walk part of the Appalachian Trail!!!!

We had a little trouble finding the trail head, but once we did, it was ON!!!

One of my most favorite pictures of the trail

Look at that fantastic tree

We learned some history

Journey-ing

Harper's Ferry

Early Dinner

Aaron and PopPop

No burn ban here...and it was chilly!

This was hilarious!

This was even better!!!  Oh, the videos I have of their time at this playground!!!!

On a more serious note...

Bryan's birthday dinner!

Celebrating again in Maryland!  We made it back to Maryland!!!

Our favorite place to stay!

Helping to winterize the boat

Stormie was happy to have us home

Fall Rockfish Season 2016 with Kevin

Cousins

I won this at the Christmas Bazaar Mom and I went to with Miss Nancy!

Cake pops for Thanksgiving!

Turkey Bird

Target practice

It's Thanksgiving 2016

YUM

Mom-Mom

Over the river and through the woods, to Nonna and Pop-pop's house we go....

Thomas Family Thanksgiving Selfie 2016

Amy and Mom-Mom

Amy and Ashley

Some more of us (I didn't take a selfie here, so we had to document in stages!)

Ready to rock and roll!

2016

So excited for this feast!

Obviously, someone else was a little more excited!

The Adult Table 2016...the kids did not cooperate for their picture, so just imagine our little angels enjoying their Thanksgiving 2016 feast!!!

We took Bodie to PetSmart on Black Friday!

Bodie, Age 6

He loves going for rides in Grammy's car

So sleepy...

Fresh laundry on the line...love this place!

Aaron says, "Happy Thanksgiving!"