Carowinds!

This weekend, we pulled the kids out of school and went to Carowinds. It was an exciting day, and not too hot or crowded. Beth went on her first "loop de loop" roller coaster with her cousin Chloe, plus she rode her first wooden roller coaster (it was big), and inverted coaster. Honestly it was a big day for her. Plus she learned that she loves spin rides.

Caleb rode on the wooden roller coaster (it was small, but bigger than all the other ones he's been able to ride) five times. He also hit many other fun and scary rides and had a lot of fun. He's ready for the big coasters, but unfortunately not quite tall enough. It's frustrating as a parent, because we see kids lots younger than he is, but tall, and they are riding all the rides Caleb wants to go on.

Jacob rode the smallest roller coaster once, and a few other rides. He started out on a ride that was a bit more intense than Rob and I thought it would be. So he was overly cautious most of the day. Still he had fun and was happy.

Rob rode the three big roller coasters with Beth and then Afterburn and The INTIMIDATOR twice. And he hung out with the kids and had a good time overall. I know he had fun hanging out with Karen and the cousins too.

Then we had a nice relaxing day in Hickory. Jacob got to pick strawberries, which he has been asking to do for weeks. The boys got to go crazy in the backyard and have fun in general. Beth hung out with Chloe and her friends and swam in the lake (yuck!) but she loved it of course. All in all it was a good week.

Rob is finally getting over his round of strep. He ended up being home with us for most of Spring Break because he was sick and contagious, and then he had Friday off. He enjoyed playing Portal 2 and sleeping a lot. He slept during the day and played at night.

I've been thinking a lot about the severe weather and all the people who are affected by the tornados in Alabama. In some ways it makes me feel so helpless, and at the same time it makes me grateful for the gospel and the hope it brings. Our stake is getting together a group of people to head down there this weekend to actually help clean up the debris and help. Things like this make me want to hold my kids closer and cherish every moment that we have together. Family is what really matters, because in the end it's the only think you can take with you, no matter what.

Have a great week!