and now for a shout out to my man...

Remember all the blackberries growing in our front yard? My extremely talented, can-do-anything husband decided to try making jam, and now we have 9 jars of very yummy fresh homemade blackberry jam. I hope to have a cobbler made real soon with the latest pick from the yard.

Jam making and skateboarding don't really go hand-in-hand but they do in this house. Here is Ben on the newest and very tall extension of our ramp, with pool coping at the top (pool coping is apparently pretty fun). Ben is all my dreams come true, especially since he's the best Daddy in the world.

And speaking of Daddy's and dreams, this series represents all Ben's dreams coming true:

17 years and counting...

WC girls..holla holla!

Julie, Kristin, Amy, baby Charis, Sallie, Jessamy, Mary Katherine, Lindsay

Once a month I am graced by the company of all of these women over a dinner that feeds our souls more than our bellies. I went to high school with all of them and feel so blessed to still have them all in my life. Each of these women is special and unique in ways I can't put into words and they teach me so much about being a woman, a Christian, a mother and a friend. Since some of these friendships go back to elementary and middle school, if you add all the years together that I've known these 6 women it's like 120. OK now I feel old. The awesome day we were supposed to spend by my pool today was changed due to Buxton coming down with a stomach bug. So instead we met for lunch and had a grand ol time, except for Lindsay not being there due to Henry getting sick too. Us girls have a lot in common, like broken, crazy families, parents that have faced illness, young children, wonderful husbands, etc. But Amy is the first of us to face cancer. Breast cancer stage 3, to be specific. This diagnosis hit us all, and SO many others that know and love Amy, like a ton of bricks. Literally a ton of bricks could have hit each of us and it would have felt better than this news. In all the horribleness that is associated with Amy's cancer, I've seen so much beauty and glimpses of God's work and plan for Amy. Most people that know Amy would tell you how funny she is in a second. Now, everyone that knows Amy will tell you how strong her will is and how her faith is even stronger. Amy is ready for God to use her as He intends. The awesomeness of this is indescribable and is what has put my sadness and fears at bay so that I can man up, give it to God, and play that part God intends me to play in this sweet friend's life.

Amy is very good at telling us how we can be praying for her. This site is where she communicates all the good, bad and ugly to the masses of friends and family that know and love her. I do wish this were all a bad dream, but since this is life, I am so thankful to have this group of girls to face, experience, and come together with in this life.

it's catching up with me

on thursday my dear friend harper came to town for a long weekend visit. we dove right in to taking advantage of her being here by going to dinner at courtney's where mary and catherine joined us. the food, conversation and fellowship was just what i needed. there is nothing like spending time with friends you've known forever.

friday was a pool day and jenn and wynnie joined us for an afternoon of relaxing and a good home cooked dinner.

buxton and wynnie had more fun together than i could have imagined. this is the only pic i could manage where they were actually still for 2 seconds.

on saturday AM harper and i went to power yoga at my regular spot in belmont. i've been doing gentle yoga so this class kicked my butt for sure. then we spent the evening at josh and julie's for a little backyard bbq at their awesome new house.

i'm tired just thinking about all this but the weekend isn't over yet!

since ben finally finished the extension on his ramp, he had some friends over to skate sunday, after church and brunch. buxton and i napped until one skateboarder friend knocked on the front door and startled the dog, which woke buxton early.....grrrrrr. i need a "baby's sleeping" sign pronto. after the skate session we entertained our dads/step dads for turkey burgers and such. i think i was in bed by 7:30. seriously.

monday night was awesome because ben, buxton and i grilled out, stalked the owl living behind our house, and played on the deck. this was our family's father's day celebration. super casual, outside and simple. ben and buxton had quite a good time with the hose:

i had so much fun with all our activities this past week but this pregnancy thing is catching up with me! baby girl is very active. more than buxton was i think. doesn't she know that i need that energy she's using by thrashing around for my social calendar?

It's the time of year for long blog posts...

...and I think that's beacause there are so many pretty things to photograph. Oh and I have a 1 year old.

15 months is a really fun time because toddlers start doing all kinds of new and fun things. A new found independence is part of Buxton's world now and it's quite entertaining.

He's learning how to use utensils to eat with. At restaurants he has to have a fork like everyone else. At home I let him practice with cereal and yogurt. This is always best to do when he's stripped down to a diaper. More yogurt ends up on his chest and in his lap than in his tummy but it's not about the clean-up.

I had to get a picture of this new "frog suit" that I got for $10 from Hautelook I think, or maybe MiniSocial. Jennifer tried to buy this for Buxton too (cause she is soooo sweet and thoughtful) but it was sold-out...luckily I scored it just in time. We think way too alike so often.

Buxton got an etch-a-sketch this weekend and loves it. He especially loves being on the screen porch while playing cause he's all about the outdoors lately. Thank goodness there is a ceiling fan on the porch or else I could melt out there in this heat.

Zion loves the porch too. He's quite a happy dog now that he's ruling the roost solo. I totally didn't expect it but sometimes he acts like a puppy again, running around and all...and he's 11!

On Sunday we headed out to the White Water Center for a hike. The plan was to get there early enough to beat the heat, but Ben had a long day Sat. at work (like 12+ hours) cause they are installing a new air conditioner unit for the restaurant, so it was already 90+ when we started the hike. Somehow we ended up on a trail for 3.5 miles and 1.5 hours. It was an easy and really beautiful trail with lots of lake views, but I'm having a baby in less than 4 months and have no idea how I didn't have a heat stroke. The boys had a good time. We got a pack by Deuter and love it. I can say that b/c I don't have to carry the 28 lb. baby on my back.

These are all black berries that are very close to becoming ripe, and they are in our front yard. I'm going to attempt to make something really yummy with them but am also counting on Ben's Mom to hook us up with some of her famous jelly or pies, or both!

Cone flowers:

Brazilian Verbena:

The Hydrangeas on the left side of the house:

Hydrangea by front door:

And last, a 23 week belly shot.

Lots of happenings

One night last week this sweet boy darted out of the shower totally naked and ran for the living room. When I walked in he was sitting on the coffee table just grinning. I went for the camera but could only capture him getting off the table...still it's a funny sight:

Last week we got lots of QT with cousin Grace and Aunt Carla. Grace spent some time with me while Carla took care of some new baby business and I ate up her sweetness. Buxton loved being with her too.

On Friday we were invited to Brooke and Carter's temporary house (her parents) for a play date with our buddies. The weather was great and the pool area is spectacular. All the kids really enjoyed each other, and of course all us Moms loved catching up. I only have pics of the babes, and here is a moment I captured of Wynnie and Lila running through the grass. They really love each other.

See, love:

Buxton did some running around himself.

And we tried for a group shot. This is as good as it gets with babes this age:

Sweetie pie Addison:

Gray has the most beautiful blue eyes and I wish I had captured their color better. Isn't he the cutest:

Sunday was our pretty usual skate/swim day and we all got lots of pool time and the boys got some ramp time:

"I'm riding like Daddy Momma!"

"Up I go!"

"And all the way to the other side. Lookout Tony Hawk."

a family Memorial Day

We went to Hound Ears (Blowing Rock, NC) for the long weekend and spent just the right amount of time relaxing, playing with the kids, hiking, golfing, eating good food and enjoying family. I loved being in the cooler weather. The heat is already getting to this pregnant gal and I'm not too optimistic about what the summer is going to bring for me weather wise. If i'm not indoors I guess I'll be in the pool.

My Grandma was released from rehab the day before we arrived so it was super awesome to see her, and see her looking so good. I'm very thankful for the recovery she made and pray that being home helps her even more.

Here are the very staged photos from the weekend:

Buxton and his cousin, Tanner. Buxton loved every second with Tanner.

4 generations: me (with baby girl in belly), Buxton, my 91 yr old Grandma, and my Mom

This is my Grandma and her husband Jimmy with her younger brother and his wife (my Great Uncle Earl and Aunt Christy)

Bill, Mom, Grandma, Jimmy

Our family!