Highlands 2014

The first week of August we were in Highlands, NC, with my family.  We had the best time, wore a light jacket the majority of the week, enjoyed seeing my brother who flew in from Austin, missed my sister who is currently in India with the World Race, and enjoyed catching up with our best friends from Orlando who joined us for the week.  AND, I'm loving that Highlands is only 3 hours from us.

 My no-napper only napped on car rides

 About to hike Whiteside Mountain

 Waiting on the rest of our crew at Old Edwards Inn at the Cove

 Thank goodness I had suckers in my purse to keep my crew (somewhat) contained

 Despite his face, we all enjoyed the fire

 Jackson helping  Ellie put her shoes back on

 My kids organized every golf ball on the practice putting green

Atop Sunset Rock

 Jackson was trying to help buffer the wind by pulling up Ellie's hood

 I took the kids on many "adventures" while trying to give the rest of the adults a little breathing room and peace&quiet.  We found this really cool lake hidden back in a neighborhood, across from Sunset Rock.

All my little ducks in a row...

 Don't give my brother your iPhone or he'll take some crazy selfies

 Hiking at Dry Falls

 Adult-only dinner at Meritage

 Time with Aunt Teensie

And Aunt LeLe

After putting the kids to bed one night, Andy and I left the "grown-ups" at home for their dinner and we snuck out to the same fire pit at Old Edwards Inn at the Cove for some quality conversations over drinks.  We were the only ones there and loved those few moments of peace and quiet in the lovely mountains.

 Jackson hung with the guys for 18 holes of golf

I think both boys had fun :)

 Spider Man loved his new costume from GiGi

 Fairy wasn't so sure about it

Thank you for a FUN week in the mountains Mom and Dad!

19 Months

Ellie is 19 months old and as funny as ever. She loves loves loves her baby doll, any stuffed animal, any real dogs walking by, her pacifiers, and especially her daddy.

This girl has a temper, which is usually exhibited through silent crying, pouty lips, and even licking things (i.e. the floor) if she doesn't get her way.

Words she is saying these days:
dink=drink (and she makes gulping noises when she wants to drink)
hung-ee=hungry
more peese=more please
cheese
I 'id it=I did it
eet=eat

And she has been saying for a few months now:
bai-bai=bye bye
bee-beeeee=baby
gangoo=thank you

It is remarkable to me that she notices babies out in public and yells out bee-bee, and that she gets excited about a new dress that she has never worn before.  Jackson could have cared less about both things when he was this age.

 Jackson is quite the little ham as well, and he is such a rule-follower/leader.  He loves to instruct other kids (i.e. at the splash pad, he made SURE all the other kids saw the dead bug and went "over it.")  He loves to read and to be read to, plays with his trains and trucks often, is very inventive in his play, and wants to be just like daddy (i.e. "Mom, I'm on a work call.  I can't talk now.)

 Checking out the Discovery Place with my parents

Jackson has also started saying prayers on his own, although he still asks us to say his prayers at nap time and bed time.  It is so sweet to hear him say what he is gankle (thankful) for.  The other day we drew a birthday card for a little boy we don't know that has a brain tumor.  I asked Jackson to pray for Danny and it was beyond precious to hear him praying for "Daniel."

Love these sweet gifts God has given me!

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."