May 2021

This was our last full month in North Carolina.  The month really flew by! Damon was on call for half of the month so any of the weekend activities were going to the beach or otherwise staying around the base.  We were able to go to Cape Lookout, a race, and the life and science museum in Raleigh.  We found a couple fun little hikes on base that had one of them include a train track. Another one was a mountain biking trail that had some wonky bridges.  I'm starting pre-move prep too.  The boys are doing great in school and I am really seeing their awesome progress since the beginning of the year.  Milton is still obsessed with pirates and I am feeding that obsession by buying him pirate maps and hats.  He is now up to 4 treasure chests.  The boys love playing with their crew of boys after school and we all love riding bikes together.  Owen got his new 24" red bike from our bike shop that he loves.  We will be sending that bike out to Afton that Owen will be able to use for the next several summers.  We have a woom bike getting sent directly to Guam he will use there.  We had a fun mothers day and then a few weeks later I had a nice birthday.  I had my last RAB meeting and it's kinda a bummer that nobody wanted to step up to take my place.  Most likely a new incoming resident will take up the torch.  I did enjoy being on the RAB, but there was certainly a lot of military spouse drama.  I wouldn't want to do that as a full-time job! My biggest excitement is that I have applied to the University of Guam for the Masters of Arts in Teaching that starts in October.  I'm pretty nervous about that big change but the timing works well that the classes are on Saturdays that Damon would tend the kiddos.  To get into the program I have to take 4 different tests.  I was able to take the reading test and got a 192/200.  Then are math, writing, and the specialty test in science.  The science test is truly all of science covering lab protocols to biology to physics.  It is all familiar but I definitely have work ahead of me getting through the two study books I got.  

North Carolina Estuarium

In the town of Washington, NC is the Estuarium.  It touts being the first estuarium in the world. It is small, but really informative about estuaries and specifically the Pamlico Sound Estuary.  Milton's favorite part was finding another treasure chest in the gift shop.  

Arlie Gardens, North Carolina

After Damon's marathon we met up with him to go to Arlie Gardens which is 67 acres of public gardens in Wilmington.  They have more than 75,000 azaleas and ten acres of lakes.  Most notable is the Arlie Oak.  It is a 500-year-old southern live oak (Quercus virginiana). It was designated the largest live oak in North Carolina in 2007. The gardens were first created in 1886 as a private garden for the Pembroke family.  The gardens are named after the Jones' family home in Scotland.  We were able to see most of the azaleas in bloom which was rather stunning.  There are lots of little trails that we had fun walking around.