Saturday
We threw on sweatshirts and sweaters on Saturday morning and headed out to Latta Nature Preserve, one of our favorite local gems. We actually took some time to pop into Quest, a new environmental education center located on the property, and I’m so glad we did!
We were greeted by the friendliest people and a man working at Quest seemed to realize our crew has a passion for reptiles and invited the boys to watch a few turtle feedings. They were all-in and we left Quest with a new appreciation for the facility and a program listing in hand. (Chase is dying to attend the owl pellet dissection.)
Our main adventure for the day took us to the Carolina Raptor Center.
Alaska Animal Rescue is still our family’s number one selection for family movie night lately (we stream it on Disney+) and the show follows the Alaska Raptor Center and has inspired Creature Man Chase’s latest obsession with birds of prey.
I love how you can see how pumped Chase was to be at the Raptor Center in the above pic! Chase is fascinated by eagles, falcons and hawks right now and after much deliberation has decided he’s going to be a bald eagle for Halloween this year. We thought the whole family might have fun being various birds but Ryder was passionate about dressing up as Rudolph and who am I to hold someone back from their Halloween dreams!? Time to order some jingle bells…
(Sweater: Amazon — same one I wore and linked last week! / Jeans: Old Navy Wide Leg / Boots: Amazon / Bag: Target — this one constantly sells out but they restock it a lot!)
Our time at the Carolina Raptor Center was a hit as always and we enjoyed wandering along the boardwalks and visiting hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, buzzards and eagles.
Eventually we made it home for Rhett’s nap and while he slept, Ryder and Ryan hung out together and I took Chase to his friend Jack’s birthday party at Enso, a local gymnastics center. The birthday party was awesome because a group of about 10 kids had the place to themselves!
Chase and I then stopped into the grocery store for s’mores supplies and spent the rest of our Saturday night at home with the rest of the gang, making s’mores by the firepit we bought over the summer and enjoying the cool fall weather.
Sunday
Sunday morning our plans for the day took us to the Carolina Renaissance Festival. We’ve been to RenFest once before and had a blast so we knew our boys would be all in on the annual festival.
(Sweater: Selection via Zulily / Jeans: Old Navy / Boots: Sam Edelman / Bag: H&M / Chase + Ryder’s Shoes: New Balance — they’re slip-ons! (gifted) / Chase + Ryder’s puffer vests: GAP / Rhett’s Shoes: Vans / Rhett’s Jean Jacket: Little Bipsy )
We arrived soon after it opened on Sunday and Ryan and I joked that people must’ve camped out overnight because the festival was already hopping and you would’ve thought we were waaay late to the party!
There’s no shortage of things to do at the Carolina Renaissance Festival and we spent our time playing games, searching for coins in a coin maze, watching various performances and shows (the birds of prey show was our family’s fav!), visiting animals at the petting zoo and watching the boys ride ponies and other RenFest rides!
We spent almost four hours at the festival and could’ve spent even more had we not needed to head home for Rhett’s nap. Apparently we should’ve just powered through because Rhett shocked all of us by not napping on Sunday anyway.
The rest of our Sunday looked like more time together at home, outside and in our pajamas. The week ahead is going to be a mix of normal and abnormal as we have business as usual Monday and Tuesday but then we’re leaving for Wrightsville Beach after the boys are done with school on Wednesday for the big Half Ironman weekend! I am sure I’ll have more to share about all of that soon but until then, it’s time to get this Monday rockin’. Hope you all have a great week!!
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In the picture of you holding the smore, I am curious what nail polish is that?
Been looking for myself and girls some good nail polish and you always have pretty colors!
Thanks Vera! It’s Sally Hansen InstaDry Thyme is Money: https://amzn.to/3CLMdqs
I was a science teacher in middle school and one of our labs was owl pellet dissections and it was always a hit. You can order little kits for kids or even pellets in bulk off Amazon. There are also other online places to order them. It’s fun to identify the bones and even glue them down on a piece of paper and reconstruct them on a piece of paper. It would be great for a rainy day weekend.
I had no idea you can order kits!!!! This would be SUCH a hit with Chase!! Thank you for sharing this — keeping it in mind for Christmas!
We have been watching Alaska Animal Rescue since you recommended it and everyone enjoys the show! My girls are older (12, 16 and I have one away at college). We are about to run out of episodes, so we will try Secrets of the Zoo next!
So glad to hear this!! It’s a show we ALL genuinely get excited to watch!
So, our library has owl pellet kits that you can “borrow”. It comes with two pellets, tools to dig into them and charts so you can try to guess what you dug out may have once been. It was actually pretty neat. Not sure if your lirbary may ahve something similar!
That’s so cool. Libraries are just the best. I’ll have to ask ours about this!
Would LOVE To know what fire pit you got! Trying to do the same!
I will ask Ryan later today!! I know he got it from Lowe’s and it was a pretty basic one!
Perfect, thanks so much!!
In December 2015 when I was 27, my now husband and I attended an owl event at Ijams Nature Center. I truly love owls, and they introduced us to their rescued owls and then had owl pellets to dissect. We were the oldest people there without a child, and I loved it. 😆
You introduced us to Alaska Animal Rescue and my 4 year old loves it and I love the content he’s exposed to vs most of the alternatives catered to his age- thanks for that tip!! The Ren fest looks so amazing!
Good luck with the Ironman relay! I can’t wait to read all about your experience!!