Raleigh, NC

We stayed at the Clawson (Dad's sister Megan) home for the first few nights of our journey.

We had dinner with the Clawsons and the Calhouns last night. It doesn't get much better than this!

First week in North Carolina and we have weathered 2 ear infections for Ben, and a tooth pulled for Mark. We are getting to know medical staff . We bought a 2008 chevy express and we are equipping it with a rear view camera and dvd players to help us maintain equilibrium for the long trip ahead. We have had lots of playtime with Clawson and Calhoun cousins and this is a grand highlight for the kids!

Our new 15-seater van (above) that we will use throughout the journey.

Yesterday we were able to walk along the Tabacco Trail, where there use to be a railway that they would use to transport tabacco from the farms where it grew. But then the government wanted to have a reservoir made, intersecting the track, so the rails were taken out, and now there's just the trail left. So that was our historical field trip! Then, since today is St. Patricks Day, we have all scraped together all the green clothes we could find and are now unpinchable, and tonight we are having corn beef and cabbage, peas, salad and other green things for dinner. Sad to report however that mom had to take Sadie to the doctor today and she too has an ear infection. We're all having a great time, however, playing with the Calhouns night and day!

The little girls at the Calhoun's house in their new matching outfits.

Here's some pics from when we went to the wildcat rescue place in NC.

Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, NC.

Mark, cheerfully being eaten.

Cuteness.

Don't worry, they survived!

More pictures from the museum of natural science.

Museum of natural science and and the museum of North Carolina/USA history museum.

Yesterday we were able to visit the Stagsville plantation, here in North Carolina. In this picture, our guide is showing us where there were fingerprints on the bricks, left there by the slaves who built the house. Apparently this plantation owned about 900 slaves and was at one point the largest plantation in the South.

Us, in front of the family's house at the Staggville Plantation.

Mia, in front of the tiny door to the attic, where the children would sleep.

Mark displaying his homemade leprechaun hat!

(above) We visited the Duke cathedral and the gardens. Both were beautiful!

Kalli and Abbie frollicking on the lawn in front of Duke Cathedral

Mia and I lounging on a butterfly bench.

All the Taylor girls (plus Ben) in front of the pond at the gardens.

All sitting along the fountain where the kids fished out wishing coins so they could throw them back in.

On a bridge at the Duke gardens

Abbey, Kalli, Phoebe gang

Sadie knows that all dogs love her, even big ones.