2 Years - Week 25 - NC Part 2

Saturday

This was another busy day! 

We were SO SO SO lucky to be less than an hour away from Stephanie and Chad's wedding, and I was SO happy to be able to join them at the sunrise ceremony! It may have been the most beautiful place I've ever been, and it was definitely the most intimate wedding I've ever attended. I loved EVERY second of it and am SO SO SO happy for these two! (I can't wait to see the professional pictures!!!)

Since the ceremony was so early, I was back at the lodge before 9am! We hit the road for Asheville and went to the Western North Carolina Nature Center! Hudson LOVED navigating with the map and was particularly excited about the farm animals and bears: ) I loved the otters and watching them swim under water!

We had Mexican food for lunch and then hit the hotel for an attempt at a nap. 

In the evening we went to a minor league baseball game - the Asheville Tourists vs. the Lexington Legends, a Royals team! Hudson did GREAT! He sat on my lap most of the time, and he accompanied me for food and drinks. He even ate his first ballpark hot dog: ) He loved all of the games in between innings - especially one where kids rode on top of bouncy rubber horses: ) The Royals team lost, but that was okay because evening ended with FIREWORKS! I'm not sure Hudson will ever stop talking about them!

Sunday

Sunday morning we went back to Tryon to visit with Dad and Grandmom, and we had a short visit with Claire and Arlo via Skype. We ate at Mr. Juan's - another Mexican restaurant! - for lunch and took pictures with Morris before saying goodbye to Dad and heading back to Asheville.

Hudson fell asleep in the car and actually stayed asleep, so I went to the mall while Nick did some homework. When I came back, the boys waved to me from the balcony!

We had dinner at Asheville Brewing, and the pizza was SO SO SO good! I would love to go back and try some more: ) When we got back to the hotel, we went for a very cold swim! Hudson LOVED swimming, as usual! Hotel swimming is so nice because we were able to just walk right back inside, take baths/showers, and head to bed. We didn't have to lug several bags, deal with wet clothes/towels, etc. SO FUN!

Monday

Monday was our last day: (

As we packed up our hotel room, Hudson put on his swim diaper and asked to go swimming again! He was cracking me up: )

On our way to the airport, we stopped by Grandmom's for one last visit.

It was so so so good to see her and to see her new place! While I was sad not to visit Sly Fox Lane, I was VERY happy to see Grandmom happy and at home in her new apartment. It sounds like there are many good people/friends nearby, and she is in a beautiful home and town! I'm SO thankful to be able to make this trip and am looking forward to our next visit: )

We made it home without any glitches - and sweet Hudson Bob even took a nap on the airplane <3

2 Years - Week 23 - Slugger

Nick is a loyal Royals fan, and he is hoping that Hudson will follow in his footsteps!

Based on his love for his Royals book and his Slugger light (which he creatively uses as a train tunnel!), I think Hudson is headed in the right direction!

2 Years - Week 11 - Spring, is that you!?!

Ah...ah...ahhhhhhhhh...choo!

Nick is sneezing up a storm - boo! - so we think it is safe to say that spring is on its way!

In just one weekend, we...

 Enjoyed some rock collecting and trips to the dirt pile!
(Hudson insisted on wearing his fedora, of course!

 

Spotted airplanes!

 Got Hudson a shorter 'do for the warmer weather!

Took our first spring family trip to the Rotary Arboretum!

 
 

...and blew bubbles on the driveway!

...and ventured out for a walk to Grandma and Grandpa's: )

Our fingers are crossed with hopes that spring is here to stay 

(and that Nick's allergy medicine starts to work soon!)!

2 Years - Week 4 - My Valentines

It is impossible to explain 

how much I love these two.

They look a little bit alike, and they both have a special place in my heart.

So thankful that my dreams are coming true with the love of my life...

and that he helped make me a mama.

***

The day before Valentine's Day, Hudson and I made these heart-shaped banana-bread muffins for his daycare pals...

When woke up early the next morning to head to the gym, 

I was greeted by these beauties and a card...

I went straight to work from the gym, so Nick sent me this gem...

We had dinner at Freddy's with Mom and Great-grandpa George, 

and we got home in time to play with Hudson's choo choos.

I know it is a made-up holiday, but I love it because it makes me reflect on my relationships with others. And, it is a good reminder that there really is

SO MUCH LOVE

in the world and in my life.

***

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

e.e. cummings

North Carolina 2013

After Arlo was born, Claire and I started talking about taking a trip to North Carolina to visit Grandmom and Granddad in Tryon. We wanted to figure out a way for our little families to visit at the same time, and - if possible - for Dave and Lisa to join us as well! After several Skype chats (and Lisa's diligent VRBO searches!), we decided on a six day/five night stay in July at a rental house near Grandmom and Granddad's! SO SO SO glad we made this trip...

Some of the highlights for me:

• Spending several days in a row with my sisters and their familes
• Visiting with Grandmom and Granddad 
• Spending time with Daddy and having quality Papi-and-grandbaby time 
• Learning that Dave's mom wanted to name him "Dugal"
• Hot tubbing in the POURING rain with the Brominator
• Taking some quick dips in G & G's pool
• Spending time sitting with Granddad on his bed and holding his hand
• Boating around Lake Lure
• Watching Grandmom and Granddad light up while the babies played in Granddad's room and on his bed
• Snuggling with Nick and Hudson in our king-sized bed
• Attending Ribfest in the rain (after we lathered on sunscreen!)
• Creating our signature sister hashtags - #bangsfordays & #unibang
• Sipping wine at two wineries (Parker-Binns Vineyard & Overmountain Vineyards)
• Taking a few extra minutes one evening to visit with Grandmom, Granddad, Claire, and LIsa - and to hear G & G tell their love story
• Saying "I love you," through my annual tearful goodbye, to Granddad one last time ...

***

Our Trip in Photos

(These are mainly my photos. Claire has many, many more!)

During our trip to NC...

Arlo and Hudson waited patiently to board our airplane

 - and we almost missed our flight!

Hudson and Nick played on the iPhone and iPad

 - while Claire, Aaron, and Arlo snoozed: )

Arlo and Scotty looked out the window...

We visited Cracker Barrel...

Arlo and Hudson had a little snoozefest on the way into Tryon...

We saw Morris, the Tryon Horse!!!

Arlo and Hudson sat with Great Grandmom...

We visited Asheville...

Hudson, Arlo, AND Scotty took some baths...

We visited Lake Lure 

- for a delicious lunch and a boat tour...

Hudson and Arlo shared snuggles, tickles, and pictures with Papi...

We visited two wineries...

We enjoyed G & G's pool, deck, and solarium...

We dealt with a power outage!

We attended Ribfest - in the rain!!!

Arlo (and Aaron) met Granddad and Grandmom...

Hudson and Arlo acted silly together...

We took turns in the hot tub; )

We visited (and Aaron cleaned up) the pond...

...and then it was time to say our goodbyes...

...and fly home...

***

The day after we returned, I posted my favorite vacation pic (and favorite Hudson/Arlo pic to date!) on Instagram, and Grandmom (51slyfox) wrote us a sweet message...

I like to think that Granddad saw the picture, too, and that the picture made him smile. Six days later, and exactly one week after we left North Carolina, our sweet Granddad passed away. I will forever be thankful that we took this trip and that we were able to say goodbye.

***

I didn't get a picture of Hudson Bob with his Great-granddad (Bob!), but I do have this photo from last year in Hudson's photo album...

Most nights we look through his photos, and we talk about the people in the pictures. I always feel like Granddad is looking at us when we get to this picture, and we wave and say, "Night, night!" to him. Tonight, without any prompting, Hudson waved and said, "Nigh nigh!" to Granddad. I hope Granddad can hear us. We already miss him very, very much.