Jay Hess Jay Hess

A week at Ocracoke

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This picture says it all. You can see just why we take 2 flights, drive 4 hours and take a 1 hour ferry just to go to the beach. Ocracoke Island is quiet and slow paced. There aren't any tacky restaurants or shops. You can't find mini golf (even though we did play in Nags Head on our way back to the airport) and there certainly isn't a Starbucks or McDonald's. It's not odd to be the only humans in sight for stretches of the coastline. We came to love it before Charlotte and Oliver were born and now we get to share it with them...and we had a blast. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

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Jay Hess Jay Hess

The end of an educational era

On Friday, Oliver ended an era. Over four years ago, we were looking for a preschool for our kids to attend and after a dozen different people said, "Happy Days" we knew where we needed to look. The past four years have been amazing for our family, but ultimately, it has been amazing for our kids. Oliver's 3/4 year teacher was Charlotte's 3/4 year teacher. Then Oliver's 4/5 year teacher was the same that Charlotte had for 4/5. Happy Days has become a part of our family and the staff and teachers have been nothing but perfect.

Oliver has really grown up a lot over the past two years and we know that the love and nurturing he found at Happy Days has set him up to love school and learning. Next year Charlotte and Oliver will both be at the same elementary school and we can't wait to see how they continue to grow.

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Jay Hess Jay Hess

All things Easter 2018

We had a great Easter season this year! We kicked things off at Bass Pro Shop for our free 5x7 with the Easter Bunny. The kids always love checking out the aquarium and they both brought money from their birthday's and picked up some new toys.

The kids were filled with glee when Melissa let them know that they were responsible for creating centerpieces for Easter dinner. They both made nests out of yarn and filled and decorated their tables with special things. They were both so proud of what they came up with.

Of course we had to dye eggs. Then we wised up and decided to take our Easter Sunday pictures on Friday. In the past, Easter Sunday mornings have been so busy that by the time we take pictures, clothes are wrinkled, faces are dirty and attitudes are less than grand. Our experiment this year worked and we got great Easter Sunday pictures...on Friday, but no one will ever know...except you.

On Sunday morning, the kids were excited to see that the Easter Bunny had stopped by and left them some goodies. Oliver really loved his chocolate bunny. Church was great and then we came home to get ready for dinner with our family.

The kids had an egg hunt and then we all feasted on smoked ham and turkey and sides from Pickles and Bones in Milford. We had a great Easter!

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
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Jay Hess Jay Hess

Charlotte's Wild 7th Birthday Party

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This weekend we got 'wild' and had an animal/safari/jungle party for Charlotte's 7th birthday. Family came over for pizza and cake on Sunday, but on Saturday Charlotte had 2 of her cousins and a handful of friends from school over for some food, fun and games. The kids made animal ears, learned about cheetahs, did the limbo, coconut bowled, made their own pizzas and ate way too much cake.

It is hard to believe that Charlotte was born 7 years ago. She has grown up so much this past year. She already has the theme for her 8th birthday party figured out so tune in 12 months from now for those pictures...haha!

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Jay Hess Jay Hess

Charlotte is 7!

Charlotte turns 7 today. She is our bright, energetic, and always busy little lady. Charlotte has really taken off this year in school and was recently sent to the principal's office to share a piece on elephants that she wrote. She enjoys making things and always has new ideas about what she can create next. She's a great leader at home and she really tries to love her brother and teach him as much as she can along the way. Can't wait to see all of the great things you do!

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