July 2014

We have had a fun and full month of July. Between family trips, dinners with friends, and Andy working insane hours at work all the time, it has been a packed month!

We started off by celebrating July 4th with our best friends who were vacationing in Asheville.

 Rosemary and I have been best friends since our first week at Auburn, we've been roommates and in each others' weddings, and somehow we've let 2 years slip by without seeing each other. So this was such a fun and special time to get our families together.

 A toasty summer day called for fun at the splash pad in downtown Asheville

 Stealing the above pic from Rosemary, as she got some cuties of our kids on the dock, in the bathtub, petting a turtle, and lots of hugs

 Rosemary's in-laws graciously watched all 3 kids so we could escape to The Glass Onion (my new fave!) in Weaverville, NC, for a much-needed couples-night-out.  We had so much fun talking and laughing and eating delicious food, that the elderly ladies sitting behind us asked to move tables :) That's the sign of a good time had by all. (note: we did apologize to the restaurant owner and she said the elderly ladies had already moved to 3 other tables prior to our arrival)

 Andy's eyes are closed, but at least we got a couples' shot.

I can't say enough about how refreshing it was to fill my soul with best friends, food, laughter, wine, delicious home-cookin' by Carole (Rosemary's sweet mother-in-law), and to watch our kids play together so well.  

For the day of the 4th, we watched fireworks back in our neighborhood after a pool-filled weekend, and had a great time at our neighbor's huge BBQ  party.

 We've had some fun gatherings with our favorite new Charlotte couples, the Harbucks and the Flannagans, and we are so grateful for their friendship.

 A quick trip to pediatrician and then urgent care for 2 small stitches after Jackson cut his finger on glass. He was so brave, and amazingly did well the whole duration of the stitches (8 days in total).

 A picnic with the Flannagans on the Anne Springs Greenway, in front of Billy Graham's grandfather's cabin

 We loved our getaway to Pawley's Island, SC, with just our family of 4. Jackson loved the sand, Ellie not-so-much.

 Standing atop oyster shells at Murrell's Inlet

 Andy and I celebrated 8 years of marriage on July 15th

 My cuties in the tub

And the best ever dinner and bowling with the Harbucks and the Flannagans. So much fun and a great night out.  I call these ladies my "soul-fillers."