The pictures in this post will just have to be out of order. I will not be spending any time arranging them at this time.

They are from 2 different summer adventures. The first is last Thursday when we hiked to some falls with Courtney and 3 of her kids.

The second is us riding bikes on the Biltmore Estate. Both days were awesome.







































































Annabelle was such a good girl both days. She just goes with the flow and watches the action most of the time.










We stopped by Seth's baseball game after hiking. He plays for an Over Thirty league where baseball is finally just a game! Don't get me wrong, they are still serious and very competitive, but it doesn't govern life. Courtney informed me that he dad actually still plays for and Over-Sixty team-- Baseball--not softball! Looks like we are going to be at the ballpark for many years to come!

I probably should write some sort of reflective post considering that tomorrow Seth and I will celebrate our tenth anniversary and Caleb is 8 years old, but truthfully, (and obviously) I haven't been in blogging mode lately. Don't worry though, I am one big phase so I will probably be back to it in a month or so. Until then, I give you another picture post. Here are some things we've been up to this summer:

We stopped by Lake Hartwell to hang out with the Bobilyas this past weekend. The boys got to ride the tube with Mr. Dana. Annabelle had no interest in even getting in the boat much less the tube. She is so different from the boys! She was perfectly content to stay on the shore with me while I read.












We spent the weekend down in Georgia with the Harrisons. It was a pretty laid back time. Nice break.


Don't ya just love Caleb's expression in this picture? He isn't as angry as he looks.... just annoyed at me for wanting a priceless cousin picture.







Anytime my Dad has Lanie and Lucie for the evening because Chuck has tennis and Amie is at a SLAH gathering or party, he usually calls me up with plans for us to get in on. This time it was the circus. We aren't talking the Ringling and Bros. Circus. This was a local LOW budget outfit that sets up at the Ag Center. It was quite an adventure. We all got a huge kick out of the entire production. My favorite quote from the evening was when I asked Annabelle what her favorite part of the circus was. She said, "My favowite paht was when the big lady climbed up the rope in she panties." Lucie and Annabelle were thoroughly impressed with all of the sparkling leotards. Lanie loved the dogs the most.




My friends, Paul and Amy invited us to join them at Bull Creek Ranch for a couple of afternoons last week. That place is definitely one of our most favorite spots to be so we jumped at the chance to get over there. We swam, fished, kayaked, canoed, and whittled. It was lovely.

Caleb's 8th Birthday Party

We have the swim birthday parties at Cheshire down to a science now. Swim-cake-presents-swim again.......parents of non-swimmers must stay, some adults watch kids as others set up or clean up.......in and out within 2 1/2 hours. Aside from our normal neighborhood squabbles, the party went as smoothly as possible.














Annabelle had some wardrobe issues at the party. I forgot her favorite swim suit, which she calls her "heart bathing suit" (but because she can't say her R's, it sounds like her hot bathing suit....too cute), so Aunt Amie brought this one for her instead. She was not happy. She didn't want to wear a "kini".





Emily was so sweet and tried to help me by playing with her in the water.













































After the cake and presents she was a happier gal and enjoyed swimming with Emmie.




Caleb had a great time! Maybe I will write a post about him and how I am dazed by the fact that I have an 8 year old.

What is going on with us this month? Well, we have new neighbors and they are very, very cool. Our latest favorite thing to do is to hang out with them in the garage or by a backyard campfire after the kids are settled in bed. Sam, their 18 year old daughter, is an awesome singer songwriter and we take turns playing and singing for everyone. She is incredibly talented and hopes to make a career of music. I have been introducing some folky, mountainy, rootsy type music to her and she loves it. (They are originally from Canada) I tell ya, if talent and drive or ambition have anything to do with it, Sam will be famous one day! She, Holly (her mom) and I went out the other night and played an open mic. It was a great night and we plan on making it a weekly occurrence.

They also have a 12 year old daughter and 5 year old son that my children adore. The boys love to ride bikes and skateboard with Emma and play legos with Ben.























One of my favorite things about summer is all of the free live music around town. We love Shindig on the Green and Park Rhythms.
Bele Chere even sounds good to me this year. I can't wait for this Friday evening to get here because I am going to see my latest favorite local band, The Honeycutters, for the first time. I hope they put on a good show.

As you probably already know, music is so very important for maintaining joyfulness and sanity in me as I raise these kids. I have learned to keep it on in the background of our daily lives (except for some of our school time when I need to focus).

They love it.
I love it.

It changes the mood of a dreary day. How could anyone bear to clean house without it!?!

Last weekend we camped out up near Mt. Pisgah for Mike and Denise's wedding. It was so good to be up in the mountains with great friends, good music, and yummy food! Here are some pictures for ya:


I loved everything about their sweet mountain wedding. Here they are dancing to "Wagon Wheel" for their first dance.

Isn't her dress the greatest?
AND THE BOOTS! love 'em.



Some of the gals

The ceremony








Here is our campsite and the view from it. We borrowed a tent from our new neighbors that was ENORMOUS! Lots of folks swam in the pond in the heat of the day. In fact, Denise was swimming in it a couple of hours before the ceremony to chill out a bit.

Oh my word, the food was so good! Tex-Mex on Friday night. huge barbecue on Saturday.

So, let's see.....there was an awesome river to wade in, beautiful mountain trails to hike through, an old time String band to dance to, many wonderful friends to hang with, good food to eat, and no kids to tend to.

fun times.