Elena Nicole

I have been thinking for a while about a new post. I've had so many things to write about, but never took the time to do so. Then, this Wednesday happened. Our little niece Elena Nicole was hit by a car in a horrible accident and we lost her that evening. I don't think that I can express what a wonderful child she was! She was loving and kind. It breaks my heart that she is gone! I really wish I could tell more about her, but I really don't think I can at this time. I am already sobbing as I write this. So, instead, I am attaching some pictures that I quickly found while skimming through my pictures on the computer. I'm sorry they are not in order. I'm having difficulties figuring out the new blogger. :(

I miss our little girl - Elena Nicole Yakumithis - January 25, 2004 - June 9, 2010

Elena at the pool at the Y. I believe this was taken last Fall.

Elena at Laura's wedding reception (April 2008)

Elena at the balloon festival in Findlay (I think that was in the Fall)

I think this picture was also taken around Laura's wedding

Alex and Elena at the 2008 Greek Festival

Elena with her big sister Lia at the 2009 Greek Festival

Elena with Lia, Michael, and Alex - 2009 Greek Festival

Elena, Alex, and Abigail at the Fleitz Pumpkin Farm this past fall

Fleitz Pumpkin Farm - Fall 2009

Halloween - Fall 2009

Elena with Uncle Jeromy and Abigail at the Y pool - Spring 2010

Elena being silly with Aunt Julie at the Michigan/Ohio State Party in 2009

Decorating Christmas cookies - 2009

Playing with her Christmas presents - 2009

At the zoo with Abigail - Spring 2010

Two More Days in the Outer Banks!!!

Today is our last day. So sad. At least it's a beautiful day to end on. It's in the 80s and the sun is shining. So different from yesterday...which is where my story begins...

Yesterday we knew the weather was not going to be as nice so we decided to go to the aquarium. It was rainy and in the 60s and definitely not pleasant. So, we drove the hour up to the aquarium and enjoyed a morning with the fish.



Check out the teeth on that one!


Of course Abs is leading the way.


Telling everyone all about the turtles.


Abs wasn't so sure about the touch tank. She would dip her fingers into the water and that was about it. There was another tank with rays in it. She wouldn't stick her fingers in deep enough to touch those. :)


This morning we awoke to a beautiful day. Of course, we decided to spend some time on the beach. We weren't able to stay long (only about a hour or so). Abs was throwing a little fit. She didn't sleep well last night (as a result Mommy didn't as well) so she was tired. We went back, gave her a quick bath and put her to bed. She missed out on everyone coming over for some hamburgers for lunch.

Running away from the scary waves


Probably amazed at the big waves. She thinks they are really cool.


Her little lip is trembling...that water is COLD!!!


Daddy showing her how to build a sand castle.


Landon trying to figure out why everyone is so excited about cold water and scratchy sand.


A little funny story about the beach. Chris (have I mentioned that Andy's brother Chris and his wife Mary are on the trip with us?) had Landon standing in the water (yes, he finally got in) and Jeromy was holding on to Abs (she doesn't like to be held on to, but we're afraid of the waves and currents). Both guys had their backs to the ocean and were bent over holding the kids. A small wave came in and they were all laughing (including babies) and then a huge wave followed close behind it and smacked both babies in the face. Now, we had a couple of crying babies...but it didn't take long before they wanted in again. :)

A Day at the Beach

...well, at least a morning. Today was a beautiful day!!! By the time I went out on the deck this morning it felt like it was already in the 70s! Perfect weather for the beach! We got ready to head out around 10 a.m. (honestly, we spent most of the morning relaxing on the deck of the house)

We met up with the Ebright clan on the beach and began trying to coax Landon and Abigail off the blankets we had laid down. They were kind of freaked out by the sand. It was like they were trapped on a little island.



After a little while they started creeping toward the edge of the blanket. Then Abigail took a step off and fled to sit on Mommy's lap. I handed her off to Jeromy and got down on the sand to play with her shovels and buckets to hopefully try to interest her enough to get down.



Eventually, it worked. She came down and destroyed everything I had made. Then, she became intrigued with the crashing waves. So, Abigail and I walked down closer to the water. She LOVED it! At times she was hesitant, but then she would run laughing back into the water.







She had a grand time playing with Mommy and Daddy in the water. She kept trying to convince Landon, but he was as sure. (At least, that is what we assumed she was telling him)



After the fun in the water, we headed back to our houses for lunch and naps for the babies. Then, we went to "swim" in the pool. We stayed in the wading pool and just visited while the kids walked around and ate goldfish. It was nice to have a good time outside. Of course, after all that sun today I am exhausted!

Hatteras Lighthouse

Today, we decided to head out early to the Hatteras Lighthouse. It is probably one of the most famous lighthouses in the United States! We all wanted to climb to the top of the lighthouse but small children are not allowed to be carried up (actually a child needs to be 42 inches even to climb it with a parent). So we decided to take turns. Jeromy and I climbed it first and then Laura and Andy climbed it. Chris and Mary went with us when we went up. It was a long climb and very tiring (there are 257 steps and is equivelant to 12 stories)! But, it was worth it when we reached the top! It was beautiful!!!





The view looking out over the ocean


Looking down on Laura, Andy and the kiddos (this must be zoomed in)






This is the spot where the lighthouse originally stood before it was moved in 1999 to its present location.


These granite stones used to make up the foundation of the original lighthouse. It is now engraved with the names of the lighthouse keepers.

The Journey to the Outer Banks

This is a little late in posting...but, we have had some difficulties with our internet access.

On Friday, May 7th, we left for the Outer Banks. Beginning the vacation was a journey in itself. In the morning, Abigail, Mom, Kelly, and I traveled to Bloomville for Aunt Peggy's funeral. Afterwards, Abigail and I rode with Laura and Landon to Findlay where we met up with Andy and Jeromy. After a quick lunch of McDonald's we left for the great state of North Carolina!

On the first day, we traveled to Lexington, VA. Abigail did very well. She spent the day reading, watching videos, and sleeping. Her only meltdown was when we were moments from the hotel.



The next morning, Abigail was still doing well. (She is squealing with laughter in this pic even though both grandmas thought she was crying)


She continued traveling well for the rest of the trip. This picture was taken shortly after she woke up and we were about 40 minutes from Avon (the village where we are staying).


During our travels the temperature was in the high 70s, 80s, and even the low 90s. Then we arrived in the Outer Banks. We awoke Sunday morning to chilling temperatures in the low 60s. Luckily, we didn't have much planned for that day since we were all tired of being in the car. So, we took it easy around the house during the morning.







Then, after a brief visit over at the Ebright house, we went for a walk on the pier. That was really cool (and chilly). We saw a woman catch a small shark on her fishing line and a man catch a ray. He was still battling with the ray when we left to take Abs home for a nap.





On Monday, Laura, Andy, and Landon joined us on a trip up to Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. First, stop was the Wright Brothers Memorial.

Abigail and Landon trying to figure out what is going on.


Waiting in their strollers for the action to begin.


Abigail checking out the displays with Daddy


Replica of the Wright Brothers plane


This guy was talking about the first flight. Laura joked that he was telling it from first hand experience.


Abigail and Jeromy are looking at the monument at the point where the Wright Brothers plane took off. The little monuments in the distance mark how far each flight went.


A close up of the markers for the landing point for the first three flights. The fourth marker in the distance marks the landing point for their record breaking fourth flight.


The monument at the top of a large hill in honor of the Wright Brothers and their achievement.


A view from the top of the tall hill.


A zoomed in picture of a statue honoring the Wright Brothers.


I found it very interesting. Of course, as Laura kept pointing out, I always like going to the historical sites. She says that it is something I got from my Dad (she mentioned that Kelly seems to have that gene as well). She's probably right.

To end our nice visit to the Wright Brothers Memorial, Abigail decided to scream from the top of the hill and not stop until we reached the car. I felt bad for the people trying to enjoy their day. I did notice that Andy and Laura picked up the pace to distance themselves from us. :)

We decided that the babies were getting restless because they were hungry so we decided to find somewhere to eat. We found a Five Guys and since Laura and Andy had never been there we stopped there to eat. I think we were right about the babies being hungry, well, at least Abs. She ate an entire little cheeseburger!!!

After we left Five Guys we headed back to Nags Head to visit the Sand Dunes. If you have never been there, you are missing something awesome! It took as a while to get there because we started off heading the wrong way. By the time we got there, Abigail had fallen asleep. We decided that we would just carry her and hope she woke up at some point. Well, thanks to mine and Laura's detour skills we ended up walking a further distance then we needed (of course, Laura saved us by picking the right path. It could have been a longer hike). When we finally found the huge mountain of a sand dune, Abigail was still sleeping!







By the time we reached the top, she had finally awaken. Of course, she didn't want anything to do with the sand.




After we left the dunes, we shopped at Kitty Hawks Kites and then headed back to the house where we went out on the deck. (One of Abigail's favorite past times)