Girls getaway

About a month ago, Michelle and I headed down to Myrtle Beach in an early celebration of Vivian's birthday.  We headed out Thursday afternoon, after picking up Vivian from school. We got in to town a little early, so we made a stop at an outlet mall in the area. This way the kids could run around for a bit. They were a little wound up and excited during the car ride. 

Here's Riley, never one to be left out. 

I like Vivian's pose here. 

I learned something during this stop. Ya know those musical car rides outside all kids of shopping areas?  Well I discovered that you don't even need to put money in them for kids to have fun with them. 

Riley and Logan in the space shuttle. 

Vivian and Hannah in the muscle car. 

Excitement over being at the hotel. 

Riley had to nap after we got there, so Michelle took all the kids down to the water. It wasn't exactly hot, but none of us needed it to be hot to enjoy our time at with the ocean. 

This was one of the indoor swimming areas that the pool had. 

We went shopping at another outlet mall on Friday. I picked up a hat for Riley, which she's modeling here. 

Friday night, Michelle went out with Vivian for some one on one time and when she got back, I went down with Hannah for some one on one time. It was nice. Hannah and I hung out in the hot tub the whole time. 

Our beach goodbye. 

There goes Riley. 

It was great to have my own time with Michelle. We don't have that time as much as I'd like. It's hard. But it's so nice she. We can make it happen. 

Italy Gals Reunited

The third week in June Michelle, Patricia, Brittany and I met up at Brittany's house in Dahlonega, Georgia for a reunion of sorts.  This part of Georgia is absolutely gorgeous.  It's green, mountainous, and peaceful.  Brittany's house sits tucked in the mountains, she's got a big back yard with a pool and an awesome tree house.  

Brittany's house

Here we are at Amicalola Falls State Park.

Just one of the waterfalls located within the park.

Panning for gold at Crisson Gold Mine.  Georgia was the site of a very large gold rush

The most awesome tree house ever!

Swimming

The big water balloon fight.  Why is filling water balloons so time consuming?!??

5 years 

I feel so fortunate to have meet these ladies.  Ya see, unlike many "moms groups," we all knew each other before we got pregnant.  It started with Susan, Michelle and I.  Then this group formed when we got pregnant, we all gave birth within about 6 weeks of each other.  Except for Gretchen, who couldn't make it this time.  She's our group advice leader; her kids are much older than ours. ; )  We've stuck it our for 5 years so far.  We have our own little email circulations, emailing about daily to each other.  Sometimes it's less, sometimes it's many in a day.  Sometimes our emails contain 1 sentence, other times they are small novels.  And we discuss all sorts of things!  We want to make our get reunions annually, but it's hard because we're all so spread out.

Next year, we'll see where we end up.  With Gretchen in Texas and me in Chicago, we're trying to find the middle from there.    

Halloween 2011

It was cold, rainy and just plain miserable.  The kids didn't complain.  But they didn't last long.  We decided to join the Marra's for Halloween.  They live in one of those neighborhoods where the traffic pretty much shuts down and kids run all over the place.  David was the first one out the door, with Hannah, Vivian, Logan and the rest of the adults following closely.  

Raincoats over costumes

Hula Girl, Jessie and Monkey 

Trucking along in the rain

Umbrella's and Wind

Candy from the Crazy Clown.  I was proud of Hannah for being brave 

and going up there. 

Logan, our little monkey, said no to the crazy clown.  

The kids lasted an hour, maybe a little longer.  Not that I could blame, even the adults were miserable.  Michelle had the perfect setup for everyone at her house.  We had two types of soup, bread, salad, hot apple cider and hot spiced wine.  The adults got warm and the kids went through their candy with a little adult help.  We left Michelle's to take Hannah over to my mom's but she fell asleep on the way there.  I was surprised, considering the amount of sugar she'd had, it's evidence to how hard she worked to get that candy!  

Just what friends are for

The perfect distraction.  Yesterday David and I met with the surgeon at Duke, more

on that later.  Instead of going home after the appointment, we decided to go hang out with Dustin and Michelle.  

Riley, in her Halloween wear.

The girls made a nest.  

Then we all began to carve pumpkins.  Michelle and Vivian were able to 

finish there's, and then the carving kit knife broke.  So we'll have to finish ours tonight. 

This is the face Hannah drew for her pumpkin.  

Teamwork.  

Smiles and bubbles from Riley.  

A pretty fantastic day, considering the hard decisions David and I made that morning.  For dinner, Michelle made an awesome shrimp and grits recipe that took 30 minutes.  

Riley Anne Baby Shower

Our big day!  I wanted to include Hannah in this as much as possible, so that's why I call it "our" big day.  She had her party dress, that came with a matching doll dress.  I curled my hair, and hers.  And we both had makeup on!  I even wore a skirt and heels!  

My sister made her goal to plan the best baby shower ever, and I have to say she did it!  It felt so good to sit back and watch her, I felt so special and so loved.  Seeing Casey as so excited made me even more excited about it all.  

Cernock girls before leaving the house.

Here you can see Hannah and sock monkey, in their matching outfits.  

Just after arriving.

Casey's diaper cake!  

The best sister ever!

Me, with Michelle and Casey

Natalie, me and Kelly

Why do people at social gathering always hang out around the food?  

No matter how much room you have in other places of the house, everyone is always standing around the food!

A handmade quilt from Michelle.  Some of you may remember

that she made one for Hannah's baby shower too.

Hannah was so excited about it all.

Hannah, helping me open gifts.

Amy picked up a little something for Casey and Michelle, as a thank you.  

It was a gift certificate to Renaissance Day Spa.  They both REALLY

liked it!  

The best cake ever!

26.2 - Marathon distance

A girl running with a stroller

Here you can see Hannah's button.  It says "I'm the Big Sister"

The image on the side of the cake is a girl running while pushing a stroller.  The image

on top is a thought bubble with "26.2" inside.  That's marathon distance.  And that's what I'll do next year!

Inside the cake, between the two chocolate layers, are strawberries!  It was AWESOME

cake.  

These are just some photo's of us all hanging out.  

Jen and Maddie

I think this is such a good picture of Casey and Michelle.

Casey and Matt.  Not a very good picture of Matt, now that I look at it!

Amy, my other mother.  All this could not have happened without her.

Maddie!

Kelly and me.  We've been friends since 6th grade.  We meet in Battle of the Books.  We were instantly close and have remained so since, with the exception of a 

few short spats.  Now she lives in Chicago.  She flew in, as a surprise, for the shower.  It was her wedding that took me to Vegas last year: Vegas  

Leah, who also made the drive down from DC to celebrate with me.  

Almost everyone: Alaina, Leah, Kelly, Natalie, Amy

Michelle, Casey, Me and Brynn

The kids: Hannah, Vivian, Ethan, 

Maddie and Logan

Towards the end of the shower we got the news of the tornados that had hit north Fayetteville.  David called to tell us and to make sure no one was leaving traveling 

in that direction.  Then our baby shower turned into a tornado party as we all sat, waiting to see what would happen next.  

Michelle lost power, so she broke out a little emergency radio, which Casey stayed on top off.  

All in all, a great day for us.  We were south of all the damage Fayetteville took on.  And it took on quite a bit of damage.  We just saw heavy winds and rain.