End of August

I guess that summer is winding down. Our leaves are tipped in red and yellow and the little kids are back in school. While Luke is in "school" all year round, I took advantage of the back to school sales and have been scooping up fall clothes in 3T sizes no less.

Luke has taken some sort of growth spurt and I can feel the difference in his weight now and I'm struggling to carry him anywhere. His legs dangle down to my knees now whenever I carry him.

His vocabulary has taken off, through the roof and he talks non.stop.

We're looking ahead to the fall and I've asked Luke what he'd like to be for Halloween... Sometimes I'll get a "yes" for railroad conductor, construction worker, fireman, and dinosaur. I'm not sure he understands the concept still even though I've tried to explain it to him.

We're slowly getting back into the routine of not having my mom and dad here. I'm having to cook the meals and do the laundry again which is a real bummer! I always look forward to the fall because of all the fun activities that start and go through the end of the year, but it also means that we'll be crazy busy. I'm already starting to think about Christmas. Not cool.

We've been a little boring here of late, so I hope you'll forgive my slacking in writing skills and of posts. Hopefully, we'll be more exciting soon!

His legs are a little long for 2T pants and short for 3T...

It's hard to catch him standing still. This is how most of the pictures look! But this was Luke looking like Colonel Sanders.

And probably the best picture I've ever taken of Luke that was totally a fluke. He wouldn't sit still and sat on my lap so I held the camera out from us and took this. Ha!

We really like reading books right now... I think we may take a trip to the library one day after work.

That's more like it!

August Catchup

Last week was a little hectic. My mom and dad closed on their home two Thursdays ago and we took a quick trip up to load up the last of their things to store in our basement. Except sometimes things just don't go so smoothly. My mom had complained for a few weeks of random breakouts of hives. Thinking that it was nothing more than stress, she wouldn't go to the doctor and felt a few benadryl would fix the issue, Only it didn't. We got home late Saturday night and she was covered. An upset tummy topped off the issue and it only got worse. Sunday included a trip to urgent care and the drugstore with no relief. Finally, last Monday, my dad called at work and said mom wasn't feeling any better. An evening in the ER, some fluids, antibiotics and major anti itch medicines and she was admitted to the hospital over night. I took the next day off work and Dad and I spent the day waiting for her to be released. Following that day, an appointment with an allergist and some more medicine to help and she was much better. Whew. I'm so glad that she's much better and that we've got to enjoy some of our time together. They'll be staying with us until next Monday when they head to the beach for 2.5 months (yes, MONTHS!) and will return to Candler with a new house.

I've enjoyed having them here at our home. They've cooked our dinners and cleaned for us, bought our groceries and helped with Luke. It's been good!

We went to a baseball game this weekend and Luke's enjoyed playing with my old play kitchen. Luke's now obsessed with baseball and loves wearing his baseball cap and yelling "You're outta here!" Luke also moved up to the "big boy room" at daycare, as we call it. He's now in a room with 2-3 year olds and he loves it! He does bike riding days and Bible studies in his class. He's growing so big, I can't believe it. Mom and dad brought down a bed that they weren't going to use and it's now Luke's big boy bed. He has so much room now in his bed that he doesn't hop out in the middle of the night to come to bed with us. We've had a few rough days and I think his molars are coming in, he's literally had a lake of drool under him some days. And he talks, and talks, and talks. We always said we couldn't wait to hear what he thinks and now we know!

It's been a good few days, even better now that my dear mama is feeling better. We'll enjoy this time and then head down to GA for a few days in a couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to the last few summer days and the beginning of my favorite season, fall!

A quick visit to Pappaw Eddie on moving day...

In the big boy bed!

And nachos at the baseball game!

Baseball player...

On the move, always...

Dear gracious, why do you look like a kid, not even a toddler anymore :(

Luke was playing with bubbles in the sink one day and just went full on and jumped in!

We like playing in the Thomas the Train tent!

crazy Dillon

Mom's birthday cake! 

Childhood Home

Saturday I will step foot in my childhood home for what, more than likely, will be the last time. My parents have sold their house and will be moving on to greener pastures (i.e. Candler, NC!) And while I'm eternally excited to have them closer to us, I have to admit a little sadness has crept in.

I haven't lived full time in that house for 12 years. It was a gradual adjustment. When I went to college, half of my stuff remained in the house and half went with me. Then I got my first apartment and it seemed like it was more of a 75-25% split. And then you buy your first house and pretty much all that stays in your childhood room is mementos. As Dillon and I have progressed in our married life and family, it seems like we don't even visit as much. We are lucky to get to Virginia once a month to visit family, sometimes not even that.

But, the home was still there. Waiting with open arms to welcome me back. I've run up and down the stairs in that home no less than a million times. We've put up Christmas trees, sat on the back porch drinking coffee and had uncountable home cooked meals in the kitchen. I've run in the back yard, had sleepovers, gotten ready for prom, packed for college, planned my wedding menu and waddled through that house pregnant. The house has seen my life.

I remember walking through the house when they were building it. The studs in the wall visible, my mom holding my hand walking up the unfinished stairs. I remember the ride from Bluefield with two wailing cats, one which broke free during the hour long trip. We ate Subway sandwiches off of boxes the day we moved in and I slept in between my mom and dad the first night on a bedroom suit they purchased just for me because our belongings hadn't been delivered yet. To my 6 year old self, the house seemed huge. I felt like we were rich. The house sits empty now and it's vastness returns. I feel little again.

As my mom said, though, what made the house a home is the memories and us. We will continue to make happy memories for our family and children only in a new location.

To mom and dad - I know this hasn't been easy for you. This has been your home for almost 25 years and uprooting everything you know isn't an easy (or pleasurable!) experience. But - enjoy your extended vacation and your new home in November. Dillon, Luke and I are so excited to have you here and to be with you on your new adventure!

The house when we first bought it.

First Christmas there.

Oh yeah...

Blizzard of '93

Why our pictures were always in the living room or on the front stoop is beyond me!

Graduation

One of many Easter pics.

Luke's first visit home.

The Color Run

I "ran" my first 5K yesterday. In all reality, it was a saunter, a stroll, but still fun and enjoyable!

A few months ago, Dillon's mom had asked if I'd like to run the Color Run with her and Kenzie. I knew it would be fun so I said "sign me up!" Everyone arrived late Friday evening and we enjoyed the company out on our screened in porch. We all stayed up late talking about this and that, even though we knew we had to be up early Saturday morning.

Saturday morning came and we all got dressed and ready. We were out the door by 7:15 and when we arrived the music was pumping and people were all excited. We got our packets, pinned our numbers on and began our "run." It was great fun to run through the color stations, everyone was happy and I think some of the volunteers were a little too happy to pelt people in the face with the colored powder.

After the run, we came back to the house and got ready for lunch. It took several sprays with the garden hose and scrubbings in the shower to remove all the color (I think I even had glitter in my ears this morning). We enjoyed lunch at 9 Mile and then traveled out to the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River. We walked around the grounds and enjoyed the outside bar while Luke was able to run free on their grassy areas. We returned home and grilled out some yummy food and enjoyed the company even more.

This morning we went to Sunny Point, one of our local favorites and ate until we could eat no more. Then we walked around downtown for awhile and went to some of our favorite stores. I more or less limped everywhere, because even though we didn't really run that 5K, I'm super out of shape and my body hates me today for attempting exercise.

It was a great weekend for sure, one that we all enjoyed (I hope! I at least speak for Dillon, Luke and myself!) And now it's back to the grind tomorrow. My parents close on their house this week and will be staying with us for a few weeks until their grand 2 month beach trip! Busy times, for sure, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Luke and I after the run. It was too loud for him and he didn't really enjoy it.

Luke and Dillon say "Number 1!"

We made a pit stop for ice cream...

Running free, everywhere.

This water fountain was very forceful. Luke figured it out and decided he wanted to play in the water.

The pretty garden at Sunny Point this morning.

... And tonight. Luke is still laying on the couch like this with little Lola as his protector. Looks like he's skipping dinner and heading straight to bed. Tuckered little fella.