Some Friends Over

Yesterday, one of my best friends came for the day with her two children. Ethan loves her daughter to death! Here are two pics of them enjoying Toy Story. Lily, Ethan, and Jonah. (The babies were asleep).

What a Cold Summer???

Even though NC has had one of the warmest summers on record- Ethan insists on wearing his hat, jacket and gloves around the house. He claims he is very cold and does not want to get sick (no doubt someone told him this once and he now will claim it over and over).

4 Months Old

Hi Everybody.

It has been a while since we posted anything... basically nothing new.

We are all ready for September to arrive and activities to start back up.

Ethan will start pre- school in September and is VERY excited about it. The babies are doing well- they are both pretty happy all the time.

They are about 4 months now and went to their 4 month check - up yesterday.

Isaac weighed in at an impressive 17 lbs. and 7 oz. (85th %) and Olivia was 14 lbs. 12 oz. (75th %). Here are a couple recent pics of them around the house. Hope you enjoy.

Thanks for our cute matching outfits Matt and Holly!!!

Hoots Family Beach Trip 2007

For the 3rd year now - we went to the beach for a week with the Hoots Family. John's parents and his brother's family were also there. This year we stayed in Surf City on Topsail Island. John's cousin Beth recently bought a beach house there and we were the first guests to "try it out". We really enjoyed ourselves- on the sand and in the pool. Here are a few shots you may enjoy.


John's mom and Olivia.

John's parents and Ethan.

The whole family.

We have learned that it is nearly impossible to get a great shot of all five of us. The babies refused to smile, Ethan refused to stand still, etc.

Rainbow over the ocean.

In all my years as a beach bum - I have never seen a rainbow over the ocean before.

It was beautiful.

We also saw dolphins swimming- but I could not catch it on film.

Sandcastle Time.

The beach house.

If you do not know Ethan very well- this picture pretty much sums him up.

He enjoys life fully.

Everybody in the pool - the babies both really enjoy the water (but not the sunscreen).

The boys.

Ethan and his cousin Gavin in the pool.

The intercoastal waterways.

John and Olivia at Snead's Ferry. While we were talking on the trip, we discovered that Olivia is the first girl to be born into (as opposed to married into) the Hoots direct family line in 100 years! Crazy! John's brother Rob and his wife are expecting - maybe that baby will make 2 Hoots' girls.
The five of us at Snead's Ferry - we enjoyed some great seafood here.

The Hoots Men.

John's parents and the kids.

Trip to Ohio!!

Over the last week we made our first major trip as a family of five. My (Shannon) family is all from Ohio and we try and make it up there once a year. Although I have lived in the south for over 20 years- in many ways I still think of Ohio as my home. The trips I have taken there over the course of my life have been some of my best memories. I feel so blessed to now take my three children there. If you have never been to Ohio or the Midwest you are really missing out. Not only do they have beautiful countryside, Lake Erie, and Cedar Point, but Ohio has the best eats around. From Jones' Potato Chips, Lake Erie Perch, Esther Price Candy, Skyline Chili, and Coney's from the Drive up A&W Root beer Stand- Ohio holds nearly all my favorites (except of course for Sweet Tea and NC BBQ- nothing can top that!!). Here are some photos from our recent trip- hope you enjoy!

Just starting out. Still on Hwy 52. Ethan and the babies did really well on the way up. We left at 6 am and stopped several times to eat, stretch and feed the babies- but we were able to make it to Rocky River, OH by 4 pm.

John - the captain of our journey. Be sure to ask him all the trivia about Lake Erie.

Passing through Virginia.

One of Ethan's favorite parts of the trip - travelling through two mountain tunnels.

This is the East River Mountain Tunnel in VA.

What you can't read here is "Welcome to West Virginia".

Travelling through West VA is one of the most interesting parts of the trip- the countryside is beautiful - but the towns mostly look destitute and depressing.

Here we are at Tamarack, WV.

If you have ever travelled on 77 N you are bound to know what I am talking about- the largest Travel Center I have ever stopped at. As always- Ethan really enjoyed himself.

The Capital Building in Charleston, WV. Check out that Gold Top.

The Ohio River. After we cross it we will be in....

Ohio- at last!!!

Some of the beautiful Ohio countryside.

Isaac and my (paternal) Grandmother.

My mom and my (paternal) grandfather.

My Aunt Vicki and my only paternal cousin Nathan.

My dad and John- with Livy fast asleep (hey - it's hard to look cute all day!).

My grandfather and Isaac.

My mom and Ethan.

Lake Erie.

If you have never seen the Great Lakes - well you really should- there is nothing else like it.

Ethan and my Granny (my maternal grandmother). We spent most of our time at her house in Rocky Rover, OH, which is a suburb of Cleveland. Her house is one of my favorite places on Earth. The whole area is like a piece of Americana- you expect to see apple pies cooling on the windowsill and a bbq in everyone's perfectly manicured backyard. I absolutely love it there.

Ethan can find a sprinkler to run through anywhere!

John admiring Lake Erie with the twins fast asleep behind him. We are at Rocky River Park.

My dad and Ethan climbing on the Break Wall (even though the sign said "Keep Off").

Jacob's Field. My dad and John went to an Indians game while we were there.

And, as a bonus it was $1 hot dog night - you have never seen such happy men!

And finally here are four generations of Tangeman women.

Livy has no idea the legacy of family she has been born into.

I hope she benefits from it as much as I have.