playoffs and family time

Sometimes, travel for baseball playoffs works out so nicely and we have an unexpected visit with loved ones.  This time, the 3rd round of state took us to Atlanta for 2 days close to many of my mom's fam and also B's sis and baby Charlie.  They were so awesome to spend their afternoon(s) with us!  On my way into town the first afternoon, I even got to play Aunt Riki and pick up baby Lily from her little school.  The kids and I loved it!

We shaded her well at the game and spent lots of time loving on her :)

Slade and Jess came after work.  Love Lily's attention to B's baseball talk between games...

Fam pics in the stands with Slade, Lindsey and Bebe

Gretchen and Charlie joined us too!  Check out that sweet smile :))

Garner tried to comfort him when he was sad to go ;)

No nap on the drive over + intense heat + a double-header made this girl a bit tired...

Big kid cousins :)

Lily's big eyes remind me of our Gs :)

Love catching up with Aunt Teena!

We won one and lost one, so stayed over for game 3 the next afternoon.  The kids and I stayed with Bebe while B stayed with the team.  All 3 Gs fell asleep in Bebe's room with her while I met Daddy and the team for a late night IHOP run (we're not used to having a grandma in town!).  This was the first time Garner's really fallen asleep on a regular bed and with Greer, instead of in a crib or packnplay.  Kinda cute and sad that she's getting old.  

I still moved her to her bed in another room when I got home ;)  Thankful too, since she slept until 10am or so without any noise or distractions to wake her!  She needed to catch up after so much lost the day before...and rest up to help ensure the enjoyability of game 3 for all ;)

Since game 3 didn't start until 4:30, we enjoyed time with Daddy, Aunt Teena, Lin and the cousins all day.  Such a nice treat!!

Unfortunately, we weren't able to come away with a win, but we are proud of a great run this season for the team!  After the game, we grabbed dinner with Slade, Jess, Lily and Bebe before heading home.  So fun and silly...

And exhausted!   We rolled in after midnight...hit that hay and thanked God for a good couple of days, good playing by the team and sweet family visits.  Now, back to real life...

mamas weekend

We usually go for our girls' weekend later in the year, but wanted to go before baby Link arrives this summer to make sure all 7 of us could be there.  We headed to the beach for the first time instead of Atlanta or Greenville...I think we're on to something :)

Katie picked me up for the drive down...it was so nice to have riding time to catch up with her!

Not too many places I'd rather be...

Chatt girls were already on the beach when we arrived...didn't take us long to join them!

Already feeling refreshed from an afternoon with them :)

We hit a fave for dinner, Lowcountry Backyard.  It never disappoints.  Suz & Jenn completed our crew by joining us in time to head that way :)

We got back to the condo for a little surprise Link baby shower...

Saturday consisted of laying on the beach, bocce ball, reading, napping, going for a walk on the beach and just chatting with these sweet, godly, easy-going, genuine friends.  With no worries about the clock or schedules or responsiblity.  It was so relaxing and encouraging.  

Dressed and ready for dinner again...

An hour wait at Boathouse was actually lovely...chatting on a beautiful night with live music overlooking the water?  Sure :)

So love her and can't wait to meet the newest Link :)

Table pics

Had to document.  One of those pesky bugs who flies around crazily got caught up with us on the way home...so impressive, Kim!

Not my best game, but so funny!  Love laughing with them :))

I think we've decided the beach is the locale for future girl weekends.  It was so so wonderful and relaxing and easy.  Katie and I headed back Sunday, enjoyed another visit on the ride and refueled for getting back to real life.  Love all you girls and looking forward to 2014!

Can't say enough about the daddies keeping the kiddos for us to be away...a really perfect way to honor and serve and love us for this Mother's Day weekend.  As always, we were so happy to be reunited!  B texted while Katie and I were driving, asking us to meet him and the Gs at one of my fave places for a Mother's Day brunch.  Happiness and love :)

And to top it all off, I got a 2hr nap, dinner on the grill, kiddos playing nicely in the yard and some dark chocolate.  I'm not the gift-receiving type, but yummy food and quality time and rest...those are my love languages, for sure :)

With a full and thankful heart, R

wrapping up the co-op year

We LOVE our co-op.  It can be a lot of work at times, but provides so much for our family that we would be sad to miss out on.  Like-minded, godly families to share life with, great friendships for the adults and kids, classroom experience for our homeschoolers, field trips, seasonal celebrations, service opportunities, a yearbook :), etc. etc.  Our kids can't wait until co-op day every week and were sad that we ended for this school year in early May.

Gehrig's end-of-semester project for geography was to make a penguin.  They've studied Australia and Antarctica this year.  His specific assignment was to make a macaroni penguin...scaled down to half its normal size.  We loved how it turned out!

Gehrig and Gentry and their penguins :)

Some others from the class

The night of the last co-op day, we had a family cookout (and I took no pics!) and then went inside for awards, displays and a couple of plays.  Starting to gather there...

So loved Gehrig's class and their Antarctica play :)

Awards!  Greer received an award for Dynamic Diligence.

Gehr got one from each of his 2 teachers this semester...Most Enthusiastic about Class Information and Having a Wide Variety of Qualities.

Some of the students weren't there at the end, but we captured a quick pic of the ones left.  Love this crew!

And this never happens.  Especially on a 10min ride home!  It just proves how exhausting the day was with no nap during co-op and then lots of activity that evening.  We all crashed when we got home!

Later in the week, we officially ended the year with Field Day.  I was only there for a little while before heading out of town, but am so thankful for all the work put in to make this such a fun event for the kiddos :)

Adult competition too ;)

Thankful for a summer break and extra afternoon in our week for a little while...always love how it ends right when you need rest and starts when you're ready to go again!  :)