First Camping Trip

We took our first camping trip with Elise, and it's actually the first time we've camped in NC as well. We haven't pulled out the gear since we lived in MN. Jodi, Elise, Bailey and I drove up the last Friday in July to the Boone KOA campground. We set up the tents and went to the grocery store to buy snacks for the campfire. We planned a 1 night trip, so that we could get away with a minimal time investment, and if it went badly, we were only there for a little over 24 hrs. Elise was very excited about the zippered screens on the tents & crawling in to lay on the sleeping bags. She also figured out how to get up on one of the lawn chairs all by herself...again, who knew she could do this?
We got a carryout pizza from Papa John's on Friday night & had s'mores & pies around the fire...and then muffins, fruit & coffee from a Boone coffeehouse & McDonald's pancakes & eggs for breakfast. Yes, it wasn't "really" the full camping experience, but we didn't want to have to bring so much for this trip.
There was live bluegrass music, a little farm animal area with real chickens & goats, and friendly folks....but we could tell we were in the mountains of the south!
Sleeping the the tent with a 1 year old was a little challenging. She fell asleep OK, but sometime around 3am, she rolled off the air mattress which woke her up enough to see that mom & dad were right there. From then on, it seemed that she was moving back and forth between us...so none of us slept very well. Curt's comment the next day was that he was so sore, he felt as though he had worked out all night!
The next day we drove back through Blowing Rock & enjoyed some barbeque at Woodland's, and then drove the Blue Ridge Parkway - but you can see from the picture that we ran into some rainy weather. We drove to Linville Falls, and by the time we got there and parked, it was clear and we did a small hike. Elise was teething, and so it was a little trying, but we all made it! After our hike, we headed back to Charlotte. All in all....not a bad first camping trip with a toddler...but it was certainly more work!

Elise's New Past-time...

...corner sitting! Yes, this has become one of the newest phases of turning one. We will find her in many "nooks & cranny's" around the house & she loves it. She will bring a toy along with her and play for several minutes without interruption.
On Friday morning, we went as a family to Carrowinds & took in some rides, and of course, water! John had the day off & it was nice to have a long weekend together.

Celebrating 9 Years Together

Today John and I are celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary. It's amazing to look back and these pictures and think that 9 years have passed already! I praise God for giving me such a loving, godly man to walk beside me through this journey.

We were married in my hometown of Mountain Lake, MN & it was a beautiful, sunny, warm summer day. Our ceremony started at 11:30am & we were pronounced man and wife at 12:05pm (thanks to my uncle Duane Bixel for pointing out this fun time fact to us that day....I've remembered it ever since). We each had our siblings stand up with us, along with friends from college. My parents surprised us with a really fun, red convertible to transport us to the reception (I'm sure John could tell you what kind of car it was). We enjoyed our reception, cake cutting & greeting friends and family who came to celebrate with us. It all flew by so quickly, and we were on our way to our honeymoon by 4pm that afternoon. We both have such great memories of that day!


















































I had to laugh this past weekend, because after so many years together, you would think I know most things about John - well, I learned something new: he has a phobia of having to touch his eyes. How could I miss this? Here's the tale - He was cutting the grass outside & came in needing help, because he got a speck of something in his eye and needed me to help flush it out. Since I wore contacts for so many years, I have no problem putting drops in my eyes and I offered him some refresh tears to rinse out his eyeball. He could barely open his eye to let the drops in - and had a hard time letting me touch his lid to lift his eye. Thankfully we finally got enough of the drops in, so that he felt like it had worked its way out....but I never realized how much he disliked having to touch his eyes, it's just never been something to come up until recently...is this unusual, or have you also discovered new things with your spouse years later as well?
Tonight we are going out for dinner to Sullivan's - thanks to Charlotte Restaurant Week, aka Queen's Feast. For this past week, 42 restaurants throughout Charlotte offer a three-course meal for $30 - and it's a great deal, we're lucky to have it land on our anniversary, too. Uncle Curt is coming over to stay at the house with Elise....thanks, Curt! Thanks for reading as I walked down memory lane.

p.s. Last night I tried on my wedding dress, and after 9 years and a child...it still fit!! (Thank goodness for A-line...:)

Fabric Girl

Today we went shopping and I bought some new fabric. Elise was quite pleased with the one pattern I chose & wanted to wear it all around. Too funny....

Everyday Life

The days keep ticking off the calendar & we've been enjoying our summer. Last week on Thursday, Elise and I enjoyed a morning at Carowinds with our friends' Alexia & Kate. The humidity was in full force & we enjoyed cooling off at the water park after a few rides. We also have been going to the library every Monday for the "Walkers Class." We sing songs, play with shakers, have bubble time and play-time at the end with other kids - it's been a great way to get out in the mornings...especially since Elise has dropped a nap, so we've been trying to stretch out the mornings so that she takes an afternoon nap. I had to laugh last week, because I asked Elise if she wanted to wear an apron to help me clean up the kitchen & she let me put on this little red half-apron & was so proud to walk around with it on. The next day I again asked her if she wanted to wear the apron & she knew exactly where to go in the pantry to point at it hanging on the hook...and even held out her arms so I could wrap it around her. I guess I'll have to get sewing a little apron for her, too. Her little personality is coming out more and more and it just makes me laugh to see her getting so big!























We played outside this last week as well - and I had to snap a few pictures since her outfit matched her little toy. Love the butterfly - thanks aunt Debi for sending this outfit! We went on a wagon ride with Kaylie this last week as well...

Celebrating Independence Weekend

Hope you had a great weekend celebrating our Nation's Independence! It was pretty low-key here.
On Thursday afternoon John left work early and met Elise and I at Carowinds' Water Park. Then we headed home for pizza. I picked our first ripe tomatoes & added them with some fresh basil to our cheese pizza. After dinner, Elise went to bed then John and I relaxed & watched the movie, Vantage Point. On Friday we took a walk to a little park and played. The swing is one of her favorites, and these morning "activities" are helping to keep her occupied, since I think she is about to drop a nap and would rather take a morning nap & nothing the rest of the day, so we're trying to stretch out our mornings just a bit so that she will nap in the middle of the day....so far so good! On the 4th we ran a few errands, had BBQ ribs for dinner & then hung out with our neighbors as they set off some fireworks in the cul-de-sac. I had fixin's for banana split sundaes & they were a hit...I must admit it's been years since I've had one, and it tasted really good. Saturday was another day to get a few things done around the house - and Elise had her first bites of sweet corn...yum! Sunday we all took a long afternoon nap & Curt joined us for dinner in the evening....and here we are already at Monday!