Spring Breaking at Cabana Bay

We flashed back to the 1950s while at Universal's Cabana Bay Resort. Our spring break destination vacation complete with two eager kids, two parents who needed a work break, and two grandparents (We still don't know which set was more excited- the kids, the grandparents,or us!) 

Our first day was spent enjoying the pool until we could check in. Then we headed to the Island of Adventure so that Cam could see Harry Potter world. He and Tony spent two months watching all eight of the movies in preparation for our trip. Maeve was in awe at the snow-capped rooftops and Cam tasted the infamous butter beer. I ended up being the one who liked it best. Yum! Wish I had some now. We also did the Jurassic Park ride, which scared Maeve. We did Seussville too.

The next day we spent the entire day at Universal Studios. We did nearly everything there. The highlights from it were the minion movie, ET, The WoodyWoodpecker  roller coaster, and the Mummy. I even got Cam on the rocking roller coaster, the biggest coaster there. Shocker, I know, that I was the one who introduced him to his first big coaster since I didn't ride a big coaster until I was 18. We fretted through it. According to the playback video of it, he might have actually enjoyed the last 15 seconds of it. The other minutes were spent praying! What made him finally agree to ride was that I bribed him with getting a wand if he would.

The next day was our off day. It was rainy so we didn't get to take advantage of the  koka cabana, but we did enjoy the bowling alley and arcade at our resort. I may have secretly snuck in a tiny nap before the lobster feast that night.

No rest for the weary. Day 3 was spent at Seaworld. I had not been in such a long time. I loved the shows! Animals are truly amazing! I am a glad we all got to experience this together before we pass. (You had to be there to understand the last comment is not morbid!) Cam fell in love with the roller coaster Manta and rode it three times. 

On our last day, we drug ourselves back to the Island of Adventure to dine at Harry Potter's Broomsticks. Maeve rode the Hippogriff four times while they waited on us to do the ride through the castle. Cam got a wand (his treat for me bribing him to do that roller coaster). At about 12:00 we all hit a wall. Perhaps it was the wall of no more patience. Or maybe it was the wall of pure exhaustion. We chalked it up to being ok if we didn't get to do everything and retreated back to the pool. We enjoyed an afternoon of lounging and relaxing. 

Until next time fun adventures. We hope we will return before we come with our grandchildren.

Award-Winning Husband

Tony is this year's recipient of Piedmont College's Education Excellence Award. He was presented with this honor at a Gala held during Alumni Weekend.

We made the trek to the foothills with our children in tow. We flashbacked to a simpler time, a slower pace, an irreplaceable part of our lives. As we looked around campus, we saw so much that had changed, yet so much remained the same. 

We are thankful for Ol' Piedmont and are proud it is part of us. 

As I tried to explain the meaning of his daddy's award to Cam, I told him that his daddy made Piedmont College look good and that he was good advertisement for it. Cam's response was, "So he's getting an award for being the best person ever!" Not exactly. He doesn't need that award. He has already won it in his son's eyes.

Triple Treat

Although we didn't expect our babies to arrive quite so soon, March 31st became a day we will always hold dear. Our three loves decided to come at 30 weeks gestation. We have never held our breaths as long as we did that day waiting to hear the news that all were here and doing well. 

Holland Belle McCullers arrived first at 12:24 pm weighing in at 3 lbs. 7 oz. Her brother, Charlie Reiker, followed her at 12:26 pm and was the "big" brother at 3 lbs. 9 oz. Last and least was Sutton Michelle who was only 2 lbs. 8 oz. and was right behind her brother at 12:26 pm too. They all came out crying! Hallelujah!

They are every bit of perfection. They will continue to grow bigger and stronger in the NICU for several more weeks. 

Think of all the great things that come in threes: abc, 123, I love you, the holy trinity! Three tiny miracles. 

Welcome to our family sweet loves. We are so excited about all the triple adventures ahead! Our hearts are overflowing! 💗💙💜

Wedding Bells

Our teaching careers lead us into all kinds if places as we are woven into the lives of others and they become part of ours. We got to go to Joanna and Colby's wedding, which was truly picture perfect and how everyone wishes their wedding day could be. 

This was our first wedding as a family of four. Maeve had lots of questions and was surprised at a lot of the things that happen at a wedding like the way the wedding party walks in one at a time, how people stand when the bride walks down the aisle, and that they actually kissed!  I have a feeling her Barbies will be getting married and attending weddings in the next few weeks. 

Wedding always remind me of how much I loved my own wedding day and how blessed I am to have loved and grown in my own marriage. So many blessings in life come through marriage.