not a very good blogger

I had high hopes when I started this journey that I'd be able to get into a routine of writing.  Unfortunately that hasn't happened.  I've drafted an insane amount of posts in my head.  A few have made it half way onto paper but have largely gone unfinished.  I really need to get into a habit of writing.  I miss it.  I've never been a good writer per say but at times it has been my lifeline.  The place to sort out the endless thoughts in my head and create some order.  So I'm going to try again.  It's not the first of the new year or the first day of our trip or the day we decided we were really going to jump off the ledge on this adventure (all of those are half finished posts).  It is a rather ordinary Monday in Kill Devil Hills, NC where the rain is falling and the wind is howling.  We visited Roanoke Island today, the birth place of the first child born to English parents in America.  The story of "The Lost Colony" is one I never heard in school, or if I did, I certainly don't remember it.  In a period of time when knowledge and information is incredibly available the idea that we can't solve the mystery of this first colony is fascinating to me.  Right up there with the fact that we have explored less than 5% of the oceans.  Maybe trying to figure out that space thing is jumping the gun a bit.  So about that "Lost Colony"... dude leaves his daughter, son in law, and grand daughter to go back to England for supplies.  Returns three years later and can't find the colony he left.  Such a crazy story and precursor to Jamestown.

Aquarium

We've visited quite a few of them on this trip.  Today we visited the one on Roanoke Island.  It was not as nice as the one in Wilmington, which I was hoping for since they are owned/run by the same group.  It was just Calista, Corwin, and I though and that was a very nice change of pace.  We rarely split up but we should probably do it more often.  It seems like time apart is good for all of us.  Tenley and Calista go through phases (or minutes) of getting along and arguing about everything.  We've been in an argue about everything phase for awhile now and it is grating on everyone's nerves.  I was hoping that some time apart would be good for everyone and while it was, it didn't put an end to the arguing.  It seemed quite literally as we walked in the door they were already back at each other.  At least we had a few hours of peace.  We also managed to pick up a much needed new pair of shoes for Calista and some long sleeve shirts for Tenley and Felicia.  I didn't bring many with when we left and they've all grown enough at this point that long sleeves are looking a little short in the arms.  One of the hardest parts of this trip has been juggling the balance of doing things every day and keeping up with the regular life stuff.  I still didn't get to the grocery store and I've been saying I need to do that for three days.  I frequently feel like I could use a mellower day but hanging out in the camper all day rarely feels mellow.  Having nice weather and a playground/beach out the front door helps but we haven't had that combination in quite a long time.  I sure hope our summer trek back across the country on the way home is more pleasant than the last few weeks have been.  I'm dreaming of warmer weather!  I'm going to declare this a success, writing two nights in a row, that is.  Here's to sticking with getting thoughts on paper (or screen) more often.