Swim Lessons

Henry has been taking swimming lessons this summer at our YMCA. He has not taken swimming lessons since he was really young which does not really count since he was so miserable we had to drop out! So he was really starting from scratch. He has made huge improvements and has gained so much confidence in the water! He no longer uses his big float but a much smaller float that just straps around his stomach. Unfortunately we are done for the summer but I am hoping we can find some time in the Spring for him to pick up where he left off! Two thumbs up Henry!

In June he got to participate in trying to break the world record for the world's largest swimming lesson! People from around the world were all doing a swimming lesson at the same time and there was a huge showing at our YMCA. Pretty cool!

Luckily there was a splash pad and baby pool right next to where Henry was taking swimming lessons so that is where you would find Charlotte and me every morning! Lots of fun had by all! :-)

Thank You Pictures

One day during Charlotte's nap Henry asked if he could paint. He then asked how to spell "thank you". I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I am going to paint Dad some pictures to thank him for working so hard for us." 

That boy sure does love his Dad! And his Dad sure does adore him too!  :-)

"Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

We have been so very lucky that everywhere we have lived we have had wonderful neighbors. Our Columbia neighbors were just like family to us and we have been so blessed to be surrounded by amazing people here in Charlotte too!

Henry and Charlotte ADORE the family that lives right next door to us.  (And I do too!  There isn't a better ending to the day than having a glass of wine with their mommy on the back deck while the kids are playing!)

Charlotte looking lovingly at Anna ;-)...

Grace is the only person that can get Charlotte to sit down for more than five minutes to read!  :-)

Anna and Henry working on some "rocket ship" upgrades!  ;-)

And we definitely cannot forget Fonzie ("Bah" as Charlotte called him for a long time)!  He is the size of a small horse but could not be more gentle and loving and sweet to the kids.  Fonzie has actually given me a little hope that maybe one day I would actually be okay with having a big dog of our own.  ;-)

My hope is that when we are finally settled, we find a neighborhood as welcoming and loving as the two we have already lived in! :-)

Asheville - The Hotel Life

Trey was presenting at a surgical conference this past weekend in Asheville so the kids and I tagged along for a little weekend getaway!  We are lucky because our two really like staying in hotels and thankfully sleep well.  They weren't going to bed until 930p but would sleep until 9a!  We will take it!  

How could they not enjoy the hotel life?!

There was room service and drinking out of glass water goblets...

...a crocodile chair in the lobby to relax in...

...and a tic-tac-toe board for entertainment...

...time to help Daddy with his presentations...

...an awesome pool and hot tub...

(Or as Henry calls it, "the hot pool"!)

...and breakfast in bed! :-)

Our little traveler is dressed and ready to go on the next adventure!  :-)

Trey and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary on Friday. We slept in separate beds (each of us with one of the kids) so that night when we were going to bed Trey waved at me and said, "Goodnight and Happy Anniversary!" :-) A fun weekend together but definitely a little different to celebrate with two kids! Life is definitely not always how we imagined it but I wouldn't want to share this life with anyone else! I love you Trey Bradley! :-)

Asheville - Nature Center

On Saturday morning while Trey was presenting at his conference the kids and I visited the Western Carolina Nature Center!  We got rained on a little bit but we were so lucky because the temperatures stayed cool.    

Henry taking a ride on his turtle friend...

Is that Henry or a cheetah?!  Rawr! 

Watch out for the bobcat Charlotte!  ;-)

The first thing out of Henry's mouth when he saw the black bear was, "That bear must take GIANT poops!" Leave it to the 5-year old boy to make that observation!  ;-)

Henry and Charlotte got to pet a sheep...

...and a goat...

...and a turtle!

Charlotte "driving" a farm tractor...scary!

I love Henry's face in this picture.  He was giggling about something!  :-)

We capped off the wonderful visit with an ice cream treat!  Thanks for such a fun morning Charlotte and Henry!   

Asheville - Sightseeing

Trey's conference was held at the famous Grove Park Inn but we stayed at a hotel downtown.  So on Saturday the kids and I met him at The Grove Park Inn after his presentation to explore and have lunch.

A miniature replica of the hotel...

Isn't it beautiful?   

We had a really nice lunch on the back porch of the hotel.  This picture does not do it justice but the mountain views were breathtaking.  Of course the nice restaurant and the beautiful scenery were lost on the hooligans.  Not five minutes after we were seated Henry says, "This place is boring!" :-)

Unfortunately there was no time for any spa treatments but we did walk through the world-famous spa.  I told Trey that maybe we would feel some relaxation from just walking through!  :-)  

Charlotte and Henry sure look relaxed!  ;-)

After a swim in the pool we decided to do some sightseeing in downtown Asheville on Saturday evening.  It is a very artsy town with lots of sculptures and artwork around the city.  

Charlotte keeping it classy with a piggy-back ride on a piglet sculpture....  

We thought it would be fun to take the kids to the Mast General Store.  Henry walked in and said, "I want to go somewhere else.  I don't want to do any shopping." He then saw the barrels and barrels of candy and changed his mind quickly!  :-)  

Dinner at Mellow Mushroom was the perfect ending to our fun day! (You can see Charlotte clutching her lollipop she picked out at the Mast General Store.  We had to pry it from her fingers to even pay for it!) 

Asheville - No trip is complete...

No trip is complete without donuts for breakfast...

(We ate at Dunkin Donuts (at a gas station...classy!) and I asked Henry whether he liked Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts better and said, "Absolutely Krispy Kreme!" So there you go!)

"Yummy!"

...and breakfast at Cracker Barrel!

"Thank you Daddy for letting us tag along to Asheville! We enjoyed every minute of the time away!"

Saturday at The Green

The last weekend before Trey started clinicals we took the commuter train uptown into the city and spent the morning at The Green which is a green space in the heart of the city. There is a fountain that the kids can play in so we brought their swimming suits and packed a lunch so we could make a day of it!

Waiting patiently for the train...

"All aboard!"

Charlotte was unsure about the fountain at first because she never knew where the water was going to spray from next!

It did not take her long to jump right in just like her big brother! :-)

"It has been a stressful morning. I think I am going to take a little rest." ;-)

Relaxing, eating lunch, watching the birds, loving life!

On the way home we made a little pit stop and got off of the train to get dessert at Pike's Soda Shoppe! Yum! :-)

While walking around The Green we heard a marching band so we walked a couple of blocks and caught a parade! AKA, an African-American sorority, was having a 100 year celebration parade and it was lively and fun! Henry was not a huge fan of the loud marching bands but Charlotte kept saying, "More! More!" I definitely think my girl is ready for Mardi Gras! ;-)

It was such a fun family day with lots of wonderful memories! When our time together as a family is limited we treasure days like that! :-)

Sprinkler Fun?

My hooligans asked to play in the sprinkler but once I got it out they decided they didn't want to get wet so they asked for their umbrellas.  Silly, silly kids!    

"Go Yankees!"

Henry just finished his very first season of t-ball and it was a successful one! He played through our YMCA and their team was the Yankees. (Sorry Cubbies!)

I think the main reason Henry had such a great season was his coach. He has three boys himself and was amazing with the kids. (Ironically, his son on Henry's team was named Hank!) He was able to keep their attention and actually teach them about the game of baseball. He was high energy, enthusiastic, and so optimistic. We were so thankful that Henry's first experience with the game was such a positive one!

Henry with Coach Jason...

Baseball ready...

"Hit it out of the park Henry!"

The kids in their batting lineup...

About halfway through the season one of the boys looks over to Henry and says, "Hey, you have the same hat as me!" Another mom and I died laughing! Hilarious that he had just noticed! :-)

Coach Jason gave Henry the "Mr. Hustle" award! ;-) Henry is so very proud of his trophy. He wanted me to hang up a special shelf in his room just so that he could display it!

Daddy, Charlotte, and I loved every minute of the time we got to watch you play, Henry! We are all so very proud of you!