Memorial Day Weekend

Saturday we took a trip to the Edventure Children's Museum in Columbia to get E out of the house and have some family fun. Our original plan was to get there when they opened, have fun for about two hours or so, meet Liv and Tim for lunch in the Vista and head home to have a cookout with Uncle Frankie and Ashley for dinner. Well... as we know children like to switch up the plans we make. E was up the night before with a slight fever so we ended up sleeping in a bit. We didn't leave the house until 10:30 so we decided to eat lunch first. After lunch, E was insane so we decided to head to Liv and Tim's for a nap THEN to Edventure. That worked out well because he was well rested and feeling good. Edventure was a lot of fun and very educational. I think we had just as much fun as E did. Here are some activities we did:

GROCERY SHOPPED

I think he's been watching mommy shop - look how organized he is!

Teaching E about how to ring up items AND use coupons! ;)

WENT THROUGH A TUNNEL AT THE FIRE STATION

LEARNED HOW A CHICKEN LAYS EGGS

PULLED VEGETABLES IN THE GARDEN

POSED FOR THE CAMERA IN FRONT OF A REALLY SCARY ED

PLAYED IN THE SAND

COMPOSED MUSIC

HULA HOOPED WITH MOMMY (Warning : dork alert!)

What a wonderful weekend to kick off the summer season! Thursday was E's last day in the toddler class and here are some pictures from the ice cream party:

The whole class with Miss Becky and Miss Lindsey. We are surely going to miss them. And as you can see, Ethan and EJ have their fair share of chicks to choose from. EG and EJ showing silly faces - best buddies!

Ethan being his normal silly self

Chris' Flickr Page

This isn't really old news but I wanted to post the link to Chris' Flickr page. He has so many beautiful pictures that he takes of nature and posts them on this site. Check it out every now and then!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cassidyc79_rh

Friday Randomness

Yipee!!! It's the start to a long weekend and I for one am SO EXCITED! I was just talking to my best friend Carrie on Monday and I told her I felt like a loser because we had zero plans for the Memorial Day weekend. Everyone I know it seems have plans to go to the beach or the pool. So we then made plans to take E to EdVenture Children's Museum in Columbia on Saturday and then we're heading to see Nana and Pa again in Hartsville Sunday evening to Monday. Now I don't feel like such a loser! :)

I decided to wear a dress today to work since I had a client meeting. On other days, I don't get all gussied up. I came out to kiss Ethan good-bye since he is home from school day with Nana and Pa. He then told me I looked like a princess. I was just so surprised and taken aback. It's been on my mind all day and I'm just floating on cloud nine with a big ol' smile on my face. I heart that little booger so much!

Yesterday was Ethan's last day in the toddler class with Miss Becky and Miss Lindsey. The teachers had an ice cream social for all the kids and their parents to say goodbye. After the ice cream we all walked down to their new room and met the new teachers. They were so nice and I had absolutely no problems with them but I lost it. I could not stop crying and I was so embarrassed. At least Miss Lindsey was crying along with me but no other parents were crying! I felt like such a dork! I really adore Miss Lindsey and have so since day one, so seeing E in a new classroom with new teachers is hard for me. I just hope I don't do this EVERY time he changes classes!

After the ice cream social yesterday we took a look at a house in Fort Mill. It was a house I was REALLY excited to see after we've looked at the pictures over and over again and driven by it a few times as well. It is in downtown Fort Mill in a neighborhood that is about fifty years old. I LOVE the fact that we would be buying an older home with charm and someone else's memories. I lost it when we went upstairs to the attic where these homeowners have created a little play area for their grandchildren. There was a ruler fixed to the wall with the heights charted of several different children. There was one child who's height was marked at in 1989 when he was probably 2 years old. Then you could see where it was marked in 2005 where it was above my head. I just started to cry. I want that for our family so much. To live in the same house for years and years and have a house that our children have fond memories in. It really was a charming house, but there are so many little things that we would have to do it, I'm just now a little leery of the work and money that would go into that, although it would be so fun. The backyard was AMAZING though. It felt like I was walking through a park. There were sidewalks leading all through the yard including two bridges over a brook that ran through the yard. Hello - a little boy's dream come true! There also is a large flat area perfect for a playground, or as Chris wants, an area for yard games as well as an in-ground swimming pool, workshop, and many other features. We'll discuss it more and possibly go by and see it one more time. Since we have NOT sold our house yet, I'm not getting too excited. It's always fun to look though!

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

10 Things I Learned This Week

1. Having a stomach bug SUCKS!
2. A stomach bug can last for four days or longer. Yep. Not fun.
3. Catching up on Greys' Anatomy episodes while you have a stomach bug isn't such a good idea.
4. Man, or in this case, woman, cannot live just on bread, rice and Gatorade for four days.
5. After being sick, I really missed hugging and kissing my favorite boys.
6. I'm so ready for a beach vaca pronto!
7. Chick Fil A is a great place to make a new friend or two.
8. I tend to get way overly excited about something that I don't even have!
9. Repeat after me ... give it over to God, give it over to God, give it over to God!
10. Lost is really gone ... forever. I'm so sad. I'm not so sure about how it ended either. Any feedback on the topic?

Friday Randomness

I am writing this post from the comfort of my bed with my laptop on a Friday afternoon. I have been stuck in this room for the past 24 plus hours due to a lovely thing called the stomach bug. Ick. They suck ... there's just no other way to describe it. I'm actually able to sit up without getting dizzy, feeling like I'm going to vomit everywhere, and my stomach cramping. Yea! That's something to be positive about. But on a lighter note, I am feeling A LOT better today but my hubby insisted that I stay home and catch up on rest. I'm glad I did because I went back to sleep at 8:30 and woke up at 12. I really must have needed the rest!

Update on the showing we had on Monday. Basically the couple really liked our house (story of our lives) but don't want to buy another house until they sell theirs. Well, our Realtor described it to us and on paper it sounded great. In Fort Mill, 1 1/2 acres, brick ranch house with wood floors and updated cabinetry etc. So I decided to just take a drive past it to see if we would remotely be interested. I was not. It was right on a busy road with people flying by. I couldn't' even slow down enough to look at the house because people were going so fast. The house just wasn't what we are looking for so this is now a dead end. Oh well. There will come a day!

Finales have been on TV for the past week or so and they always make me so sad. Although I always look forward to them partly because it's more than likely going to be the best episode of the season. I'm just sad because they won't be back for at least 3 to 4 months. WOW - if any of you watch Greys' Anatomy ... man I think that was the best finale they've ever had. I didn't think anything could live up to when Denny Dukete died. I think a little bit of me died inside when Denny died, but this one was phenomenal. And then we come to Lost and Glee. My two very favorite shows. Two extremes right? It doesn't make sense for someone to truly be infatuated with Glee and still like Lost. They are two TOTALLY different shows but amazing in its own way. Lost will be disappearing from our lives forever on Sunday night and I'm sure I will be sobbing like a baby. Glee won't be for another three weeks, THANK GOD, but I have read on several blogs that it will be a tearjerker as well. Jeez! But that's what makes it a good episode.

Speaking of shows, I want to catch up on some of these great shows over the summer that I just couldn't fit into my schedule. I really want to see Modern Family and True Blood. Any other suggestions? I am however really looking forward to our favorite summer show So You Think You Can Dance and the new vampire show on ABC The Gates. Delish!

Excuse me while I attempt to find something to eat that doesn't turn my stomach or come back up in 30 minutes. Oops - sorry for the T.M.I. Happy Friday and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

10 Things I Learned This Week

1. Man - are babies in the water or what!? It seems like every time I get on FB, someone is announcing their pregnancy.
2. I need a new book series to get into for the summer. Any suggestions?
3. Someone is actually interested in our house, but there may be a catch - a contingency! Yikes!
4. Ethan is (knock on wood) becoming more interested in going to the potty and telling us he needs to go. Let's hope he keeps this up.
5. Making new friends is so much fun.
6. After five and a half hours of TV next Sunday night, I cannot believe that Lost will be out of our lives forever. But the finale should totally rock, I hope.
7. Three weeks until Wicked with my girls!
8. One month until our vacation at Edisto Island!
9. Just a teeny bit more than a month until Eclipse!
10. If all goes according to plan, I MAY be going to see Rascal Flatts and just MAY get to meet them!!!

Weekend at MawMaw and PawPaw's

When we went to Asheville two weekends ago (sorry this is so late) for our anniversary, Ethan spent the weekend at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's AKA sheer heaven! He had a mini vacation himself! Friday morning they took him to Monkey Joes. I think even M.M. got a work out herself. Not too bad for a lady in her mid-60s!



Saturday morning the whole family, even Aunt Liv and Uncle Tim in for the weekend, took a trip out to Cleveland Park to ride the trains, play in the creek and in the sandbox and feed the ducks. They had a great time as you can see!

The rest of the time they played at home on the playground and in the water hose.

As soon as we walked back in the door when we got home, he immediately asked for a Popsicle. Ummm ... somebody has been spoiled! Nah - I just like to think he is VERY, VERY loved! Not a thing in the world wrong with that!

Weekend of Bliss

The last weekend in April we took a trip to our favorite B&B in one of our most favorite places to be - Asheville, NC. It's where we got engaged and celebrated our second and third anniversaries. The town is a lot of fun with a lot to do and we especially love the fact that it's right outside the Blue Ridge Parkway. Since we've been to the Black Walnut twice, the owners were so sweet to comp us one free night. We decided to make it a long weekend and stay three nights.


Thursday night we got in around 9 PM so we just took it easy. The first thing I did was run and jump in the big comfy bed and did this ... for the rest of the night!



Friday morning the weather was B-E-A-UTIFUL and perfect for a hike. I have been itching for a hike for a very long time so I think I was more excited than Chris. We drove out to several points along the Blue Ridge Parkway. First stop was Craggy Gardens, which is known for their rhododendron during the summer. We were too early and nothing was in bloom but Chris was making mental notes to go back in June. It was only a 3/4" mile hike and the view was worth it once we got to the top.




Then we headed right up the road to Mount Mitchell, the highest point East of the Mississippi River. And it sure felt that way! We decided to be adventurous and take the 2 mile hike to the summit ... and even the 2 mile hike back down. The map called it strenuous but they should have put DANGER: VERY STRENUOUS, TO THE POINT OF WHERE YOU WILL FEEL LIKE YOU ARE HAVING A HEART ATTACK! I am so proud of our achievement. I know it's no Mount Everest, but it was tough. We had to keep encouraging each other to keep trucking on. Chris is my hero though because he had his camera pack on and that thing has to weigh an extra 20 pounds with all his gear on it. The summit was gorgeous though. You could see for miles and miles. There was even a marker to the direction of Spartanburg which was probably at least 60 miles.




Saturday we took it easy. We shopped at my most favorite antique place called the Antique Tobacco Barn. If I had all day, I would've stayed there. If you're ever in Asheville and like to antique shop look it up. It's so worth it! Then we had lunch at Salsas (fabulous), one hour massages at Spatheology and dinner at Nine Mile which is also fabulous. It's a Jamaican joint owned by two white guys. Go figure - great food!

Sunday was our journey back home and we stopped at Pearson Falls in Saluda on the way. Great 1/4 mile hike to a gorgeous waterfall!

We were SO ready and excited to see our little man for a hug and kiss but we had a wonderful and relaxing weekend!