Clippers Game

Over the summer we once again attempted to take our children to a baseball game.  I got 4 free tickets to see the Clippers play from work so we headed down there on a hot and sticky Wednesday evening.  In hindsight, we never should have attempted to go on such a hot evening, but the days we can go are limited because Pat works in the evenings.  Plus, it was Kids Eat Free night so we figured that it was worth going even if we only stayed a little while.

 

We had great seats courtesy of Kroger which were thankfully in the shade.  Unfortunately we got there a little too early.  The kids managed to finish their food before the game even started and begged for ice cream. Mitch and I trucked halfway around the ball park looking for Dippin Dots.  The ironic part was that there was a Dippin Dots stand literally right outside the entrance to our seats, but I didn’t see it until we got back.  The ice cream kept them quite for a little while and then all Mitch wanted to do was go out and play on the mechanical rides that they had.  He had seen them as we came in and his one track mind did not forget!  So mid-way through the 2^nd inning, I finally gave up trying to get Mitch to sit in his seat and took him out there.  Not even a half hour later, Evelyn and Pat appeared and we ended up just heading home. 

 

It wasn’t really the baseball experience I wanted, but we had fun.  Maybe next year we’ll make it to the 4^th inning!

CCT Summer Camp

Evelyn went to her first summer camp at the McConnell Arts Center.  It was a week-long ballet and theatre class that was Wizard of Oz themed and she LOVED it.  She’s really enjoyed being on stage and preforming – I think we may have a future diva on our hands!

Hilton Head 2017

We went on vacation this summer to Hilton Head Island with Grandpa Tim and Grandma Katharine and the Webb families.  This year we stayed in a house with everyone (8 adults and 6 kids) and it was fantastic.  There was a pool right there which was so convenient and perfect.  We loved getting to hang out with everyone and the kids got along great.  We took the kids on a Dolphin Tour one day which was really cool.  The captain even let the kids ‘drive’ the boat!  Pat and I had date night to celebrate his birthday and I even got to have a Girls Night Out with Britney and Diana.  I spend a quiet morning with coffee on the beach while Mitchell built sandcastles and Pat spent one afternoon with an old friend that he hadn’t seen in a few years.  It was a wonderful vacation fun of sunshine, laughter and happy memories.  Oh - and tons of delicious food!!😍🍳🍕🍲🥘🍨🎂🍿🍮🍦🍺🍷

                                         

              
                              

            
                       
                                   

Kidz Bop Concert

Labor Day Weekend

We had a fantastic weekend!  The weather definitely felt like Autumn on Friday and Saturday.  Friday night I somehow got the kids to bed at a decent time,  opened the windows to let in the breeze, lit a fall-scented candle and sat watching an old movie with a glass of wine.  It was the peace I needed after a hectic week!!

                                                

Saturday I headed south with the kids to celebrate GiGi Mitchell's 88th birthday.  It was a pool party, but it wasn't warm outside so no one, but my two crazy kiddos got in the (heated) pool at first. Regardless of the dreary weather, we had a fantastic time.  I loved getting to see my aunts, uncles and especially my cousins that I don't get to see often.  Everyone was such a huge help with my kids - something I truly appreciate.  I don't expect anyone to watch them, but it was so nice to have so much help!!  We had a little excitement when Morgans dog discovered a bunny burrow and 4 baby bunnies came flying out.  One of the managed to jump into the pool, but luckily Molly saved its life (unlike me who just stood there gawking like didn't have any sense!).  We managed to find two more bunnies, but Evelyn was so worried because we couldn't find the 4th one.  I reassured her that it was probably just scared and waiting for us to go so it could run back to its home.  I think I convinced her.  Thankfully my wonderful cousin Molly checked later and sent us a video and a picture to reassure Evie that all bunnies were in the burrow.  :)  Poor Avi-man was fighting a cold so we didn't get to see him.  And Kiki couldn't come because there were just too many people there.  Evie was pretty sad about that :(. But everyone who could make it came to celebrate my AMAZING grandma's birthday .  She certainly deserves to be celebrated because she is awesome!!! We love you Grandma/GiGi!

Sunday was a relax-and-hangout day with Kiki, Pops and Aunt Sha-Sha.  Kiki can't be around a lot of people so we went for a drive, stopped a small roadside farmers market and took a trip to the (nearly empty) train park.  We had Larosa's for dinner with a side of delicious watermelon and sat outside laughing, talking and listening to music.  We played 'Name the Tune', and the kids and I had relay races in the backyard (anything to wear them out!).  Later we watched the fireworks on TV.  It was so nice to just be together.  I wish Pat could have been there too, but he had a wedding (Congrats Tim and Carl!) and work.  

The picture below of Kiki and Evelyn makes me choke up a little.  Things could be so different and we are all SO grateful for every day, every laugh, every moment.  We really try to take nothing for granted.  

 

We headed back to Cbus this morning and the rest of the day was just spent relaxing and preparing for next week.

Happy Labor Day!!  

Zoo time

One of our favorite areas of the zoo is the aquarium.  Evie has a special place in her heart for sea creatures (I told you she's part fish)! She bonded with a sea turtle and touched a horseshoe crab.  Mitch got drenched at the splash pad and generally ran around acting like a wild animal.
Good times ;)

Kiki's Birthday

Recently we celebrated Kiki’s birthday.  It was a birthday that, truth be told, we were not sure we’d get the chance to celebrate with her back in January.  It’s been a long 8 months, but she made it.  We all made it.  She remains one the strongest and most positive people I know and if anyone deserved the chance to celebrate, it’s my mom.

                                           

She was still staying with Holly, but got permission from her doctor to made a ‘daytrip’ home to her own house.  We couldn’t have a big blow out, but we did have a little party for her.  Shannon made Great-Grandma Bessler’s (my mom’s grandma) special spaghetti sauce.  Adam whipped up some delicious Orange Dreamsicle cocktails.  Pat couldn’t make it to the party because of work, but he baked the birthday girl’s requested dessert – a hummingbird cake.  The house was decorated with streamers and balloons and the kids made Kiki a special birthday sign.  We had to keep the party small, but we surprised my mom and invited one special guest – my mom’s cousin Patty.  They screamed and hugged when they saw each other like they hadn’t seen each other in years when in reality it had only been a few months.  If you think that the screaming out of the ordinary, think again.  I have a vivid memory of them doing the same thing when they ran into each other at the Florence Mall.  It’s nice to know some things never change!

It ended up being the perfect evening to sit outside and just be together. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I was too busy enjoying family time.  The kids ran around and we had a water balloon fight.  It got pretty intense there for a while and we all got soaked and did a lot of laughing.  Avi was cracking us up – he just kept throwing the balloons out of the pool and busting them as fast as we could make them!  After we dried off, we listened to some of Kiki’s favorite songs and did a little dancing.  As she got ready to go back to Holly’s, she told us that she really had a wonderful day.  A day where she could just sit and be happy and not worry about anything for a little while.

 Happy Birthday Kiki!  You are loved more than you know.