Vacation! July 31, 2010

Our first full day included a trip to my favorite place, Pisgah National Forest.  We also read quite a bit of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire! 

Vacation! July 30, 2010

We began our 2010 family vacation from Greenville since Greg had a work event Thursday night.  We left Friday after several meetings, and I can tell you the hotel staff was thrilled to see us finally leave the comfy lobby after several hours of hanging out after the check-out time waiting for Greg to be done in the office.  Good times. 

Our first stop was Caesar's Head.  It was quite overcast, but we still enjoyed the scenery.  The girls enjoyed exploring, and Daniel loved to stick his arms through the fence.  I just loved that there was a fence!  After exploring, we headed to our home for the week!

 

July 26, 2010

This is the table where Sarah & Emily played, and ate most of their meals the entire time we lived in our old house!  It was a gift from Nana when Sarah turned 2.  This was Daniel's first time sitting at the table!

Sending Love to Idaho- July 21, 2010

Jenny gave this snazzy potato onesie to Daniel, so we always think of her when he wears it (and lots of times when he isn't, too).  Oh, how we tried to get a picture without closed eyes!

July 20, 2010

Good-bye, Baby- July 19, 2010

I handed my baby to Bert, and he gave me a little boy.  It was one of the saddest days of my life.  While the pictures imply he cried the entire time, he did not . . . but I did, on the inside.

Just for Joanna- July 16, 2010

This big ugly spider lived somewhere on our front porch.  Every night he would build a big web, and when you went out the front door at night, you would run in to it.  Every morning, he and his web would be nowhere to be found.  He was a tricky spider.  One night at our monthly scrapbook gathering, Greg snapped a picture of him and grossed out Joanna (and everyone else)!  Then, being the noble gentleman that we know Greg to be, he whacked the big, nasty spider out into the yard, and we haven't seen from him since!

Fun in the ATL! July 10-12, 2010

We had the best girls' weekend ever in Atlanta with Debbie and Julia.  We planned the trip with the express purpose of hitting the American Girl store, but it morphed into a Top Chef culinary tour as well!  Sarah & Emily loved having uninterrupted time with their cousin Julia (and their three dolls), and I loved the chance to hang out with Debbie!  We arrived Friday, just in the nick of time for our reservations at Kevin Gillespie's delicious Woodfire Grill.  Julia and Emily had their first tasting menu.  We pity the boys they date.  The girls loved everything, but Debbie and I decided not to tell them what sweetbreads really are.  Sarah had the salmon, and she loved it.  After some swim time, we turned in for the night.  The next morning, we headed to the American Girl store.  We picked up just a few things for the girls, and had the cutest birthday party ever for Julia (it was so worth the wait!).  Our next stop was Centennial park, where the girls played in the park with approximately eight million people.  We dined at Richard Blais' flip burger boutique, where the onion rings were divine and the shakes were out of this world!  My steak tartare burger was pretty awesome, too.  On Monday, we had a leisurely breakfast, and went our separate ways, already talking about out next girls' weekend!

Aunt Debbie & Sarah at Woodfire Grill

Three cute cousins- Sarah, Julia & Emily

Julia & Sarah jump in the pool

Emily & Julie, Sarah & Felicity, Julia & Emily
This picture cracks me up because Emily is about to jump, so she is squatting down, and Julia is jumping, so the three girls look like they are the same height.

Happy 10th birthday, Julia!

Silliness!

Emily, Julia & Sarah head to the fountain, but Debbie and I decided to stay on the benches!

Dolls Felicity, Emily & Julie joined us for dinner at flip!

Want to see even more pictures?  Click here!

Fun with Aunt Chris & Uncle Bill- June 23-28, 2010

Mom, Andrea, Sarah, Emily, Daniel and I loaded up into our rented SUV and headed up to Aunt Chris and Uncle Bill's house for a long weekend of fun family time.  Aunt Chris & Uncle Bill were having a 20th anniversary party, and we wanted to be in on the fun.  While their anniversary was May 5th, they had to wait for warmer weather to throw a party!

Emily and Andrea watching Cars in the car. 

Daniel kicking back at the hotel after a long day in the car seat somewhere in Maryland or Virginia.

Sarah loves to make daisy chains!

Andrea helped mow the huge yard.  When I asked Jeff if she did this at home, he replied that she was not allowed to mow because it has to be done a certain way.

Nana was the first one out on the mower.  I'd like to point out she does not mow her yard, either.  Don't ask her about the flowers, either!

The girls had a great time with Auntie transforming the garage into a "Party Palace!"

While Daniel had breakfast with Uncle Bill every morning, the girls enjoyed having him all to themselves at lunch a few times.

Sarah and Emily can not resist a good hill.  Sarah rolls, of course!

Emily runs, and Daniel wants to join in.  Alas, if your face is not yet paid for, you can not run down hills.  That is the rule at our house.  We'd like to enjoy that NAM a little longer, thank you.

Uncle Bill & his number one fan Sarah

Daniel and Jackie's Dan take a picture for The Book of Daniels.

Sarah, Uncle Bill, Emily and Daniel after the party.

We forgot our copy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but Aunt Chris had it, so we were safe!

We had a great visit!