Catch Up, Part Five: Weekend in Charlotte

We loaded the family in the "Codfish" (Grace's name for our minivan) and headed south to Martha Sue and Wes home in Charlotte. Aunt Ashley and Uncle Cooper drove over from Nashville, Aunt Suzie came from Charleston, and Aunt Jean and Uncle Wes came from Greenville. It has been ages since we were all together and it was simply wonderful. Grace had an absolute field day chasing the dogs around - and following cousin Carter's every move. The biggest shock of all was arriving to find teenagers - Mason, Leize and Carter were all in our wedding and I still picture them as little kids. They are now full fledged teens (pre-teens may be more accurate) that listen to music I've never heard of and carry around multiple electrical gadgets that I didn't even know existed much less know how to operate. Am I the only one that didn't know that you could watch movies and tv shows on your iPod?

Andy torturing-I-mean-playing with Ginger!

Grace and Cooper - my goodness she loves this dog! The puppy campaign is ON!

There is just something wonderfully comforting about Aunt Jean!

Grace and Aunt Ashley tearing it up on the swings!

Catch Up, Part Four: A Ballerina is Born!

Grace took a summer dance class at the YMCA: ballet and I-still-can't-hear-myself-think-tap. She LOVED the class and loved her fancy outfit even more. The kid is learning an important life lesson early: in almost everything you do, it is the shoes that matter most!

Preparing to be graceful. Clearly.

Catch Up, Part Three: Visit from Grandpa Ern

Grandpa Ern visited us in early July. We had a wonderful weekend together! On Saturday, we took a picnic lunch to Veritas Winery and had fun tasting wines and relaxing in the gorgeous country. Grace and Andy were so thrilled to show Grandpa Ern their new tricks - though Scott and I weren't sure who had more fun with the stomp rockets, our kids or Grandpa Ern!

Catch Up, Part Two: Dr. Dr. DONE!

Scott's residency officially came to an end on June 30. As luck had it, Scott was on call - which means that residency didn't end for Scott until the afternoon of July - but in many ways, that made the end feel a bit more real. The kids and I decorated the lawn with streamers and the driveway with chalk - and by Grace's request, we filled our two kiddie pools with water...on the front lawn of course. In short, we celebrated redneck style.

Catch Up, Part One: A celebration of Scott!

To celebrate the end of Scott's residency, my sister and mother planned a fabulous surprise weekend in Williamsburg. We arrived Friday to find everyone - including the Johnson clan and good friends Donna and Ted Kinni - in Hawaiian shirts and leis. It was a wonderful evening! It was fun, too, to watch the kids play.

Daddy and his mini-me

Mom, Scarlett and Scott

The twins! Scarlett and Wylloh

MaMaw Sweetie takes her grandmothering seriously: this child-sized dining room table and chairs is nicer than the one in my own dining room! No wonder our kids love going to Sweetie's!

Sweetie hired a babysitter to help entertain the girls.

Bayley, friend Lisa, Claire (Darcy's little girl), and Grace on a bear hunt. Thankfully, it was unsuccessful!

With five kids under 4 in the house, it should come as no surprise that Saturday morning started early. By 9am, we had built towers of blocks, read at least a hundred stories, launched stomp rockets to the moon, and had no less than 10 tea parties. Paul and I are clearly not regretting that last glass of wine.

And then the big shock! Patty, Paul, and MaMaw Sweetie presented Scott and me with a card that instructed us to pack our bags immediately for the Williamsburg Inn! We mumbled something insincere about hating to leave and jetted out the door in record time. After all, we didn't want to be late for our SPA APPOINTMENTS! A day of pampering followed by dinner in the ultra fancy Regency Room - sheer heaven!

Thank you Patty, Paul and Sweetie for this unbelievable weekend, and for all of your support over the past three years!