America 34: Last play days in the U.S.

One of the last times we visited the Williams' house the girls put on a good show for us. Anna and Sophia directed it, and Bella and Shiloh performed. It was quite hilarious.

Anna reads what will take place.

The girls look a little nervous. 

Soph reads the next part.

Anna is getting the music ready, Sophia is directing the cast when to come out and start. This is little Julie and little Lorraine right here.

I loved Shiloh's dramatic bow.

We promised all summer that near the end of our stay the kids could go on this trampoline/ bungee thing, and we made good on it. 

Bella: sure I will try.

 Um...no thanks.

Sophia saddles in. I was not feeling great or I would have done this with her.

 The bungee is based on the weight of the person.

 She went pretty high, it looked like loads of fun.

 She loved it. No one else participated, so we went on the train.

America 33: Topsail con't

 Our last night in Topsail we went to the pier.

It cost about a dollar a person.

 Lots of people fishing.

 Keep this picture in mind for perspective for the picture story below.

 The crew, minus Poppy, always the photographer.

Laura is 16 months older than David, they are very close, so we are too. I am thankful for another sister. She is one of the most disciplined people I know (like David, interesting). Right now in my life I am trying to drink water with Laura-like intensity. 

While on the pier someone caught this baby shark, and let us all touch it before they threw it back.

Because Topsail is right near a marine corp base, we saw choppers daily and often. We even saw an osprey. Tobin and the boys were loving it!

THEN we saw sharks below us in the water:

 There were two different kinds, one was at least five feet long or longer, the other a little bit smaller.

 These sharks were SO shallow. The pier is a perfect place for them with fishermen cleaning fish and chumming the waters.

Remember this pic?

 

 This is how close they were to shore. And I know people always say, you would be amazed, sharks swim shallow and are there a lot. One guy on the pier said: 'ah...they don't bother people, the rip tide is more dangerous here than sharks', and I actually believe him. Rip tides scare me to death. I panic thinking about it, and that is the number one rule when caught in one: don't panic. I will keep that in mind as I am tugged out to sea against my will and sharks wave bye bye to me.

Enough drama. 

The pier adventure ends our Topsail beach vacation. It was a super-blessed one. 

We returned with just over a week left until our trip back to China.

America 32: Topsail con't

Playing in the waves. Don't get wet (yeah right).

 

B: Mama, I got wet, I fell down, but it was an accident, really. (Sophia smiles on, Bella is all giggles, her excitement makes me laugh)

Me: You did? You got wet, how did that happen? Its okay we are at the ocean after all.

Act Crazy...(Seth thinks you are crazy).

Love this.

Earlier in the week, the moon was full and came out for a bit.

America 31: Topsail con't

Crawling around, she takes a break on Seth's knee.

 Soph is all things ocean. She probably stayed in the water the most and when she wasn't she was searching for shells or building sand castles with me. It was so fun to watch her grow in her love for the water and bravery. She admitted sometimes it was scary out there. But that didn't stop her.

Bella attending to Gabrielle as she often does.

Sophia kept asking CC to go out in the water. She finally went in and they enjoyed time together!

Tobin and Soph. Where are the parents? I am pretty sure there was a sandbar just past them, like most of the time as the tide went out. Plus, Tobin has on a life vest.

My man. Another great pic of David.

What is she thinking? (maybe enough already)

An attempt at a smile. Love his eyebrows, so expressive, just like his daddy's.

Eldest beauty.

David is trying to teach how to stay dry. Check out Tobin's farmer's tan on his legs.

 Gobble her up.