LAS VEGAS TRIP FOR 2018

I just got home the other day from a quick trip to Las Vegas with Kenny.  I believe we counted and this is the 6th year that I have gone out to Vegas with Kenny for a few days before he stays for furniture market. This year's trip was more of the same. Margaret and Jay joined us again this year. They haven't come the last couple of years. We know we love the Wynn and we know what we like to do which is go out to eat, go to the spa and go to the pool. We usually do a show too but didn't this time.  Our travel out to Vegas was delayed a good bit so it made for a long day so the first night we got there we just went to our favorite restaurant at the Wynn called La Cave.

The next morning was the final morning of the Open golf tournament so Kenny and I went and got almond crescents and coffee at the cafe downstairs and watched the tournament in our room. We have done this almost every year. It is fun to repeat small traditions like that. A little later I went down to the Spa to relax and watch the tournament and then had an amazing massage. After my massage I met Margaret and Jay and Kenny down at the pool where we stayed the rest of the day hanging out before we went back to our rooms to get ready for dinner. That night we had dinner at STK. It is one of our favorite restaurants and it is always a good time! Our reservations weren't until 8 and it is a longer dinner so we turned in after that. 

The next day was another relaxing day at the pool and an early lunch at our favorite spot Terrace Point Cafe. We had dinner that night at a new place called Carbone's. It is in the Aria and it is Italian. I loved the atmosphere so much and the food was amazing too! We will definitely go back! The next day it was time for me to fly home so Kenny could continue to be there for market. 

CeCe kept Walker and Elle while we were gone and they have a easy going visit. Elle the social butterfly was in and out spending the night with friends and running errands with CeCe. They went to the pool several times and Walker had PDO one morning. CeCe is still recovering from breaking her back so she was a total trooper for completing the tasks! I am so grateful Kenny and I were able to have some time together on this trip and I am already for him to get home!

Our almond crescents while we watch The Open.

Eating lunch at our favorite Terrace Point Cafe.

Ready for dinner at STK.

Pre Dinner Cocktail before dinner.

Stopping in the men's store for a picture in the cool chairs.

Elle spent the night with Mary Kenway one night when we were gone and they went to church in the morning. Jennifer sent me the sweetest pictures of them!

Ready for dinner on the last night.

Cocktails at Carbone before dinner. I loved the bar so much.

My friends are always so nice to send me pictures of Elle while we are gone. 

Got this one from Audrey Caroline's mom when they were at the pool!

WEEKEND AT THE TENNESSEE RIVER

Last weekend we were invited by some of our best friends Tracy and Joe up to their cabin on the Tennessee River. Saturday was Tracy's birthday and I am so happy we were all able to celebrate together. We have lots of fun memories at their cabin before children and with children. Although from what we can recall this was the first time with Walker.

Friday afternoon we drove up. It is not a bad drive at all. Just around 3 hours. So we stopped at Redbox for movies and made our way there. We got there around 7. Tracy and Joe and kids got there shortly after.  The kids started immediately playing and Joe grilled kabobs on the grill for dinner. We surprised Tracy with a birthday cake from Starkville that Joe had ordered and then I picked up. We attempted to get the kids to bed at a decent hour but it was pretty late when they finally settled down!

Saturday morning we hung around and relaxed and the kids played before getting ready to go out on the boat. We loaded up the coolers and the bags and the kids and were finally off. Walker was so excited to wear his new life jacket and go on the big boat like Zuma from Paw Patrol. Elle was excited to tube and to swim and they had the best time doing all the those things. We drove over to a restaurant store place called The Mermaid to get frozen adult drinks that were so yummy and we did some floating. Tracy and I tubed together and Kenny and Elle. I was very sore the next day! We stayed out on the boat until dusk and it was a truly wonderful day. The kids were totally wiped when we got back to the cabin so we made them sandwiches and chips really quick and got them settled in the bed all together watching Beethoven and unlike the night before did not hear a peep from them. When we went down to check on them Walker and Elle were asleep already and Mae and Mack were still awake but very tired too! They slept much better that night. Joe made us this delicious pasta dinner for Tracy's dinner. It had blackened catfish and a crawfish sauce. It was divine! After we ate though we were in bed too!

On Sunday morning we kind of did the same thing. Layed around and ate breakfast before getting ready to go out on the boat. Once we were ready the kids got on Joe's dad, Butch's boat and went for a ride and then we met at a marina to get them ice cream. Then we docked to swim on a sandbar. The kids were content playing in the sand and water but this huge storm ended up coming. Like really huge and we had to rush out of there to beat it. It was kind of crazy. So when we got back to the cabin the radar looked pretty bad so we got Elle and Walker bathed and packed up and got on the road. We drove through horrible weather the entire way home but the kids fell asleep almost immediately after leaving and slept the entire time so it wasn't too bad of a drive. They were so incredibly exhausted from all the fun they had over the weekend!

Ready to go to the boat!

About to head out.

Mr. Joe treated everyone to M&M ice cream bars at the mermaid!

Walker was so tired from staying up late that the boat lulled him to sleep.  He never naps!

The moms tubing for Tracy's birthday!

Mae loves her some Walker. He loves her too.

All snuggled up in the bed ready for a movie.

Going for a ride in Butch's boat.

Grown ups on the pontoon while the kids were on the small boat.

Walker enjoyed his ice cream and made the biggest mess.

Exhausted after a super fun weekend!

FOURTH OF JULY 2018

Hard to believe we already celebrated the Fourth of July! This summer is flying by! We kicked off the holidays by going to our friend the Martin's to celebrate Henry's 4th birthday party. It was a baseball themed party and Meredith did such a good job. It was so cute. The whole family went since Collier and Elle are such good friends. She asked Elle to come and help her with the concessions. They also ended up helping with the announcing of the batters during the wiffle ball game they played. Elle participated in the game but Walker was more content enjoying all the yummy food and watching for the most part.

Enjoying some popcorn at the baseball party.

Working the concession stand.

Handing out hotdogs.

Announcing the batters at the game.

Ice Cream Sundaes in baseball helmets.

Trying to decide if he wanted to take a turn with the baseball piñata.

The next day was the Fourth of July. We maintained the tradition of spending the holiday with friends out at Old Waverly. The boys got up and headed out early to play in the golf tournament. Mid morning me and the kids drove out and met Margaret and Missy and my friend Emily and all the kids swam and ate. The club had cotton candy and they also had a jello eating contest that Ella and Audrey competed in and ultimately Holden one. After we had enough of the heat we went back to Margaret's parents to shower and rest before the big party started!

Enjoying some cotton candy pool side.

Missy took this picture of Walker and it sums up his silly side.

Sweet friends with their cotton candy.

Ready to eat their jello in the eating competition.

All done! Elle did pretty well.

Cheese and cracker snack to refuel!

Around 5 the rest of the large group got to the house. Lots of kids who had lots of fun playing outside for the most part! At one point we got everyone outside for the annual kid picture on the stairs and the annual momma picture. This year was a little bit different because the dads didn't take all the kids to the clubhouse for the activities and face painting there. Last year it just got out of hand and it ended up being stressful for the guys and the party has grown more each year so it was much more enjoyable for everyone to just hang out at the house. We had so much yummy food and Elle and Walker both had so many friends there they played with and just had the best time. Right around 9 we made our way out to the tee box to lay our quilts down and watch the very long firework show. As soon as the fireworks were over we changed our kids into their pajamas and everyone left quickly! So tired from a long and super fun day! We counted and this was the 5th Annual party at Old Waverly. So many wonderful memories made

These three little boys had the absolute best time playing all day and night. 

They were the saddest when it was time to leave.

Henry and Walker watching the flyover.

Daddy and Walker watching the flyover.

Selfie momma pic! Its also a tradition!

Kid picture!

Flag cake made by my friend Emily. Another tradition!

All decked out in their glow sticks ready fort he fireworks!