Uncle Jeff and Auntie Stela were so kind and generous to get us plane tickets to come to North Carolina for a week long visit! For both Keira and I, it was our first trip to the East Coast! I've never been further East than Texas or Montana!
An early morning at LAX.
So very excited for her first flight!
We had a layover in LasVegas, so we got to take off and land twice!
After a long day of cross country travel,
so happy to be building a marble run with cousin Aleah!
A thank you from Keira. She is just so full of gratitude.
She picked the card and dictated to mama what to write.
And she did a drawing! :-)
While Tebow kitty waits to go out,
Keira enjoys a bowl of cereal...
until 13 year old, 6'3" cousin Bobby joins her that is!
Slightly intimidated, she promptly announces, "I'm done."
Playing at the pool!
After a storm knocked the power out for the evening,
as well as the better part of the following day,
Keira plays on her Leappad while mama plays a Harry Potter board game by flash light with Kimi, Bobby, and Aleah.
Auntie Stela gave Keira some of Kimi and Aleah's old leotards,
which she was more than happy to try on, wear around, and change, over and over again, even though many are a bit too large for her, yet.
Kitty love.
Now Keira can't wait until we move into a home large enough for us to get a kitty, too!
(and a puppy! Yikes!)
Thank you, Uncle Jeff and Auntie Stel for taking us to
the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science!
Keira loved the museum!
For her upcoming birthday she wants to go to the "star museum!"
(translation: space museum)
Finally warming up to Bobby.
Jeff and Stel's new, all electric Nissan Leaf!
Pretty nifty!
I took some pictures from around their lovely, new home as well.
This is the ceiling in the dining room!
The screened porch.
And Keira, enjoying the fragrance of Gardenias on the front walk.
So lush and green (and humid) in North Carolina!
So beautiful though!
Good for the skin... bad for an open bag of cereal or potato chips!
More fun at the pool with Kimi and Aleah.
Last day of our trip.
Way up there, with Bobby.
With sweet cousin Kimi.
Adorable with Aleah.
And with beautiful Auntie Stela!
We went with Stel and Kimi to the Crabtree Valley Mall to have sushi (a belated birthday lunch for Stela) and do a little shopping. Keira was all prettied up with lipstick and perfume by the time we left.
Waiting for our delayed flight at the airport in Raleigh.
It was definitely stormy outside.
A tornado even touched down only 15 miles away!
Takeoff turbulence was quite scary. It felt like zero gravity at least a couple times.
Keira and I quietly prayed together.
Another long trip home, with a quick flight change
in Houston this time.
Finally, the lights of LA.
Such a great trip and visit! Thanks again, Jeff and Stel!
We loved seeing you all again! xoxo

























