Walkway Project

A couple of weeks ago, Phil added a new set of steps to our front porch. The sidewalk leading to the front steps leads WAY down to the end of our long driveway, and since we don't park all the way at the end, we inevitably end up walking from our cars across the yard. So he added new steps, and this past weekend, we decided to finish the project by adding a walkway over to the main part of the driveway. We had no idea what we were in for...

Here's a view after we marked off the area for the path. We had some mulch area that was going to go away, and we also had to rip up some sod. It was 95 degrees out that day.... what were we thinking???


It actually went pretty well, thanks to our talkative neighbor who came over and helped the time pass. It still seemed to take a lot longer than it actually did, probably because of the heat. I think we each drank 3 Gatorades and several bottles of water by the time we were done. Here's Phil, leveling out the ground once we got the sod and mulch up. And then me, tamping down the layer of sand we put down.




Next came the easier part- well, sort of. Probably for anyone but me, laying the stone woud be easier. But I'm extremely anal (some say OCD), and wanted to make sure I wasn't making a pattern, but at the same time, I wanted to make sure it was balanced between small stones and large stones. I think Phil should get a medal for not yelling at me while I was trying to figure it out ;)


And here's the almost-finished product! We actually poured sand on top of it after this, to fill in the cracks, but it needs to rain a time or two before it's all settled and pretty enough for a final picture! We were worn out and could barely move the next day, but I think we did a pretty good job! Maybe we should search for jobs on the DIY network or something!! :) Now we just need to paint the steps to match the house, and then it's on to our next project- the toolshed!!

Paisley Party

On July 18th, Phil and I headed out to the amphitheater for one of our favorites- Brad Paisley. Julianne Hough (from "Dancing With the Stars"), Chuck Wicks, and Jewel opened the show. As always, Brad put on a GREAT show! Phil got a good pic of his stage below, and a picture of the "Guitar Zero" spoof he did off the game Guitar Hero. He's a funny guy, and his concerts are always a blast!



We had some good friends at the show with us, which makes it that much more fun :) It was great to catch up with Casey and Liz, below, who we see about once a year- we joke about it, but sadly, it's true! We swear we are going to be better about it from now on, though!



The still-newleyweds, Clint and Annye, were able to get last minute tickets the day of the show. We were so happy they were able to come!

Our tailgating buddies before the show were our friends Judd and Julia- thanks for the good time, guys! We're glad you came! Maybe we've converted Julia to a country fan now... ;)

Getting Bigger!

Becky sent some more pictures of Emma, so I wanted to share them. She's getting so big!! I told Becky that she is starting to look like her own little person, instead of just a super-cute baby :) Doesn't she look so happy in the first picture?!?! I'll bet she's a happy angel like that 24/7... ha! ;) The second picture shows off her little July 4th sailor outfit. The third picture is snuggling with Mommy and her brother, Rilo, on Saturday morning. I couldn't decide which of the last two was my favorite, so they both made the cut, of course! The yellow outfit may win the prize of becoming my next computer wallpaper, just because a naked baby may not be appropriate at work ;)

July 4th Beach Trip

Hi everyone! Phil was able to take some time today to load up some pictures from the past few weeks, so we can finally update the blog! This is the fourth post for the day, so make sure you scroll down to see them all!

Our friends, David and Mike Beranek, have a family condo at North Myrtle Beach, and were nice enough to invite us to join them there for the July 4th weekend. Phil and I are not big beach people, but we figured we should go at least once this summer, especially when it's a free place, with 9 great friends!! The camera actually didn't make it to the beach with us at any point, but we did get some pics from mini-golf, which is just as much the beach as sand and the ocean, as far as I'm concerned ;)

After a long day languishing on the beach, we grilled out for dinner the first night, and then celebrated Mallory's upcoming birthday. Jen made super-yummy banana pudding, which functioned as Mal's cake :)


Don't know what got into the newleyweds here... where's the love?!?! ;)

After another lovely day of languishing (isn't that what vacation is for?!), we went to Duffy Street Seafood for their "Happy Hour" special on shrimp and crablegs. It was SO good, and such a great price- I think we all could have kept going, really! Here's a pic of me and Phil at dinner, David trying to act like he had nothing to do with the peanut on Hollie's head, and the carnage after we were done with our meal ;)

After dinner, we headed to Molten Mountain mini golf :) It looked like rain, so we chose a place that was inside... inside a "volcano" to be exact! I don't think any of us ended up being terribly impressed with the place, but we had fun anyways!

This is probably the size of vacation home Phil and I could afford in Myrtle Beach...

Look at these "hot" girls!! :)

Hopefully I can add a few more pics from the trip, once everyone shares what they took. Maybe there'll even be an ocean picture, to prove we were where we say we were ;) It really was a wonderful holiday- the fireworks on the beach were one of the best shows I've seen on the Fourth! And I'm actually tan, which hasn't happened in a few years ;) Thanks so much to David and Mike for inviting us!

Pops in the Park

One of the fun, free summer activities in Charlotte is Pops in the Park. Each Sunday in June, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra performs at a small amphitheater behind the mall. People bring blankets (early that morning to stake out a spot) and picnics, come hours beforehand, hang out and listen to the music. It's drawn a larger crowd each year I've lived here, and you end up running into people you haven't seen in months! And, like clockwork, every year, it rains, just as the symphony gets going! This year, we went for Broadway night, and thankfully the orchestra started with a medley of songs from Les Mis (the greatest musical EVER), so we got the good stuff in before the thunderstorm ;) Mandy and Jenn are showing off their creative rain-gear in the last picture, as we decided whether to brave the rain, or leave. Thankfully we left, as it turned into a hail-and-lightening thunderstorm!

Weddings galore!!

This summer has been filled with weddings and showers for some of our closest friends. We've had a blast at each one we've gone to, and want to share some of the fun.

Hollie Griffith and David Bowling were married on May 31st. It was a gorgeous ceremony, and the reception was great! Unfortunately, we were having so much fun that we didn't even remember to pull out our camera until the end of the evening! Below is a picture from the balcony, of David and Hollie cutting their cake. It's sort of dark, but I hope you can tell how cool the cake was! Hollie is in my LifeGroup, so I also included a picture of the "Soul Sisters" in attendance, hanging out with the beautiful bride :)

Annye Scrogham was just a couple weeks away from her wedding to Clint Propst, when a small group of us treated her to dinner and a lingerie shower at Macaroni Grill. We had a blast, and I think we probably entertained anyone near us in the restaurant!! As for the Altoids, it's an inside joke, and you'll have to ask Annye ;)

Clint and Annye were married on June 28th, and it was another amazing day! Their ceremony was held at Annye's mom's church, which was beautiful. The reception was at Raintree Country Club, and was one of the first sit-down dinner receptions I've been to. I wish I'd taken a picture of my filet mignon- it was one of the best things I've ever eaten!! :) But I figured y'all would rather see pictures of people, so here are some from their reception. Isn't my hubby handsome?? Oh, and that face Annye is making... it was her roll-my-eyes-because-this-cake-is-SO-good face :) I thought it was classic Annye!

CEP reunited, and all happily married! (That house turned out some amazing husbands!)

The last wedding of the summer for me was for Heidi, who was in my LifeGroup, before moving to Georgia several weeks ago. Jenny and Julia, also in my group, threw her a luau-themed bachelorette party in June. They did an awesome job- check out the spread they put together- and that picture is only part of it! I was getting over being sick that week (which is why I am purposefully not in any pics!), so I just went for the first half, though I think the last half may have been too wild to get posted on the blog, from what I hear!! ;) Heidi and Tim were married on July 1st, though I don't have any pics from the wedding. It was truly one of the sweetest weddings I've seen, though- they were radiant!

We also want to congratulate Jeff and Mauree Harrell (married June 7th in Amelia Island, FL) and Matt and Joy Hopkins (married June 8th in Pittsburgh, PA). Coming up, we also send prayers and congrats to Lara Keith and David Kay, getting married this month in Virginia!

Welcome to the club everyone!! Marriage is definitely a gift from God, and a relationship in which we can truly experience God's love for us!!

NY- May 2008

Phil's 10-year High School reunion was the second weekend of May, so we took a long weekend and drove up to the farm. I think he really enjoyed his reunion, and reconnecting with several of his buddies from school. Conversation ranged from what type of truck everyone drove (and, yes, all the guys drove trucks, so no one was excluded) to Nascar. Who knew every single male in NY would be wearing a Nascar shirt and hat?!?! ;)

We also got to enjoy time with the family, which was great! Below is a shot of Phil with his grandparents, his cousin Catrina, and her adorable son Aidan. Aidan has got the bluest eyes I've ever seen, and is going to charm the ladies out of their wits when he gets older!! :) I've also included a picture of Phil and his dad chatting with their neighbors Ronnie and Norma, who are family, as well, as far as anyone is concerned. And when I say chatting, let me assure you- Ronnie and Norma can talk to anyone or anything, for hours and hours on end :) Lucy, the world's craziest puppy, is also deceivingly calm-looking in that picture!

Phil and I took our requisite "us-on-the-farm" self portrait, and then I got a couple shots of Phil with really cool sunset/cloud stuff going on in the background. He really is in his element on the farm, and loves being home! I love watching the man I love when he's that happy :)