North Carolina

We spent an amazing weekend over the Fourth in Charlotte, North Carolina, with my aunt and her family. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if Daniel could have come with us. He started his fellowship on the 1st, so it was good for him to be able to focus all his energy on that, without any extra distractions (meaning: crying babies, needy children, crazy wife, blah blah blah). Adelaide was highly concerned that he would forget to feed the cat (as it is her responsibility to make sure the cat has food)....I think he managed.

My cousin, Meagan, her husband, Ryan, and baby girl, Brinley (who is 3 weeks older than Avery) are living with Uncle Rob and Aunt Ingrid for the summer (they are moving to Tallahassee for law school in the fall). My cousin Jill, who is working on her masters at Oklahoma University, flew in for the weekend as well. So it WAS a party!!

We enjoyed lots of leisurely time at the pool. Lots of time on the boat doing skiing, wake boarding and tubing. We ate really yummy food, enjoyed great company, watched some World Cup (go Germany), and had lots of fun, Fun, FUN.

We got there in the early evening on Thursday, ate dinner, and spent some time at the pool. The weather was amazing all weekend. The humidity and temperature were low enough that we could really enjoy being outside without feeling too hot, and the babies could tolerate it. On Friday, after we picked up Jill from the airport, we ate lunch, then spent the rest of the day out on the Lake. A BIG thank you to my Aunt Ingrid and my cousins for being so wonderful in helping watch Avery so I could have a good time as well!! Saturday, the boys went golfing in the morning, then we hit the pool, and then there was some evening boating. Sunday was a nice restful day of lounging, church, more yummy food, an intense match of croquet, and a few fireworks that we sat and watched from the dock. I serenaded everyone with my array of patriotic songs. Sadly, I'm not a good singer, but I think everyone was amused....good enough for me!!! Monday morning there was a small group (Aunt Ingrid, Uncle Rob, Meagan, and Ryan) who went out early to get some solid skiing runs in. When they came in, the rest of us went out until the mid-afternoon. Sadly, Jill had to leave that evening, Uncle Rob and Ryan went to play golf....again, and Meagan, Aunt Ingrid and I set up the slip 'n slide and sprinkler in the backyard for my kids and sat around chatting. We made the trek home on Tuesday. It was an AWESOME trip and SUPER fun, and we are already looking forward to next year!!!

The Babies: Brinley and Avery

They were so cute playing together all weekend. Pretending to share toys, gouging each other's eyes out, and climbing over each other.

Addi, Avery, and I at the pool....

....just chillin'....

....Uncle Rob giving Addi a free swim lesson. Adelaide thinks she's a better swimmer than she really is. The rule was to stay by the stairs, or to use a floaty if she wanted to swim further out. This rule was broken many times...and many "saves" were made....imagine that. The girl definitely doesn't have confidence issues.... So Uncle Rob was super nice to spend some special time with her working on her skills.

All the kiddos lounging.

Alicia, Brinley, Adelaide, Avery, and Tristan

Adelaide on the boat. This girl is OBSESSED with her goggles.

Happy Kids

me and Aunt Ingrid hanging out with the babies on the borrowed neighbor's pontoon boat while the rest of the crew went out tubing

Uncle Rob was so great to drive the boat ALL weekend. He is such a goof....

Ryan getting some sweet air jumping the wake. He is my wakeboard hero. I tried to jump the wake...totally pathetic, and totally wiped out.....hard.

Adelaide and Jill

Addi LOVES Jill....and LOVED riding on the tube.

me getting ready to rock the wakeboard.....yeah right....I thought my face in this picture was hilarious.....

me, Alicia, and Tristan

This was my favorite run of the whole weekend! We had so much fun! Do you love our perfect lean?

....and this is why it was my favorite. I love a good rough ride on the tube....one where you aren't sure you are going to be able to hang on with every twist and turn....

I LOVE my FAMILY!!!!

me and Meagan

Uncle Rob as the grill-master.

Uncle Rob had the quote of the weekend. It never got old...to me anyway. So Aunt Ingrid mentioned one night she was going to get up the next morning and cook a big breakfast with bacon, french toast, fruit, etc. To which Uncle Rob replies, "Can we have, like, A LOT of bacon? I don't want to have to share, like, a slice and a half of bacon." Apparently they have a bacon problem at their house. Soooo, all weekend we were talking about making sure we had A LOT of bacon.

My pretty baby in her patriotic romper.

The serious "players" of the intense croquet game. I considered myself an athletic supporter.

Tristan, Ryan, Alicia, Jill, Adelaide, Aunt Ingrid, and Uncle Rob

My family are intense game players...these guys are intense sport players. So everyone was taken a back when Tristan came out totally rocking the course...but then he hit a serious LULL...only to pull up from behind and WIN. Alicia was 2nd and Uncle Rob was 3rd.

Adelaide taking a ride on the slip 'n slide....

...and Alicia.

These are Tristan's legs....he had a serious accident with the dish soap. Aunt Ingrid thought to put dish soap on the slip 'n slide to help the kids have a smoother ride. Tristan went once....and after he saw the suds in his shorts, decided that was enough!!!

IN SHORT: BEST FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND EVER!!!!!