Memorial Day at the pool

Our little family spent Memorial Day at the Thornblade pool with some friends. We had perfect pool weather: hot and sunny. Emery enjoyed the pool last year, but this year she seems to be obsessed with it. I have a feeling we're going to be swimming six days a week this summer. Fine with me!
Gearing up for her first dip

Mommy and Emery

Daddy and Emery....Daddy got so fried on the boat Sunday that he had to wear a shirt in the water Monday. He's never going to learn!

Emery kept saying she wanted to jump off the diving board and dragged us over there several times. Each time she would walk to the end and then change her mind. I have a feeling she'll be taking the plunge soon, though!

Watermelon, hamburgers and potato salad for lunch....perfect Memorial Day food!

Splashing Daddy

I am so thankful to live in The United States and loved spending the day honoring those who sacrifice(d) for our freedom. Thank you! God bless America!

The Children's Museum

Emery and I spent a rainy Friday at The Children's Museum with Harper and Davis. So much fun! This was our first time visiting The Children's Museum and we will definitely be back. We stayed for over three hours and I had to drag Emery out of there. We only left because she was soaking wet from the water table exhibit. Next time I'll know to bring a change of clothes.
Emery and Harper at the ball maze

Emery and Davis waiting for the contraption to suck their balls into the tube and zoom through the maze.

Emery and Davis in the wind tunnel

Safety first! This picture makes me laugh....Emery looks just Ben! Daddy wears safety glasses when he's on the floor at work.

Emery and Harper on the racecar

Future pit crew member? Let's hope she gets to work for Carl Edwards so I can meet him! ;-)

The mini grocery store is adorable

Emery the cashier

Look at that focus....employee of the month!

Harper and Emery on the rock wall window

Davis, Emery and Harper in the country kitchen

A giant Lite Brite! Remember those?

A piano like "Big!"

Emery driving the recycling truck. Emery (and Maddux) enjoy watching our trash and recycling bins get picked up every Thursday, so getting to see how it's done up close and personal was a treat.

Brush your teeth!

Last stop...the water table. Those smocks did nothing to keep Emery dry!

SOAKED!

On our way out....Davis and Harper are totally dry. Emery was so wet that I had to take her clothes off.

Wet and exhausted!

We only hit up the exhibits for children under age 5. The Children's Museum has many other activities for older kids as well. Plus, the cafe is operated by my favorite deli here in Greenville, Saffron's! What a great day!

Walking in Memphis...

What a fun 48 hours! Ben and I spent the weekend in Memphis to celebrate the wedding of our friends, Rachel and Dan Plevak. No need to worry about any flooding...Memphis was bustling! What perfect timing to be in The River City: the Grizzlies won another playoff game and "Memphis in May" was happening. We had a great time reconnecting with old friends, eating lots of delicious bbq, and toasting to a wonderful couple. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Plevak!
The famed ducks at the Peabody. We watched their march to the elevator and, unbeknownst to us, were in the midst of a tween frenzy. Actress Miranda Cosgrove of The Disney Channel's "iCarly" was an honorary master of ceremonies on this particular evening. Miranda was in Memphis for a St. Jude fundraiser. Of course none of us had any idea who she was but the shrieking nine year olds in the lobby filled us in. I didn't really get any good pictures of her, but she's a cute girl and I'm a fan of anyone who lends their time to St. Jude's!

Ben and the groom, Dan, at the reaheasal dinner. Dinner was held at the legendary Rendezvous. Afterwards we hit up Silky O'Sullivan's where Dan dominated at dueling pianos.

Our good friends from Greenville, Joe and Dana Brown, recently moved to Memphis. We spent Saturday afternoon with them and ate lunch at The Commissary in Germantown. Words cannot describe. DELICIOUS. Hopefully we make it back to Memphis soon (hint hint, Joe and Dana!) because we weren't able to squeeze in a visit to Graceland.

The wedding ceremony and reception took place in the backyard of the bride's parents' home. Gorgeous!

The wedding party

Ben was a maniac on the dance floor. Here he is doing his notorious "shoe phone" move. The wedding band was The Memphis Soul Revue and they were the best! Google them. Seriously talented musicians and singers.

As much fun as we had, I could not wait to get home and see my precious Emmy. My parents spoiled her rotten while we were gone and I don't think she cared one bit that Ben and I left her. But I missed her like crazy! Thanks, Mom and Dad! Knowing that Emery was having a blast made the trip even better.

Strawberry Picking

Casey, Diana and I took Davis, Harper and Emery on a strawberry picking expedition to Sandy Flat's Strawberry Patch last week. We had a great time and found lots of delicious strawberries. It's a miracle any of the strawberries actually made it home seeing as how Emery was eating them faster than I could put them in our bucket.

"Yummy!" Notice how clean her shirt is at the beginning of our excursion.

Our first strawberry lasted about five seconds before Emery ate it.

I love this shirt! It's still in the dirty laundry pile but has been soaked in Oxyclean. Cross your fingers!

Davis leads the way down a row

Emery loves her friends!

Happy Mother's Day!

Ben and Brian kept their Mother's Day plans a secret. I thought this was because they hadn't made any, but I was wrong! They surprised Mom, Nanny, Alison and me with brunch at the Marietta Conference Center Hilton. We were able to eat outside and let Emery and Hayes run wild while we enjoyed the gorgeous weather. Thanks, guys! Let's make this a tradition....it was the perfect spot.
The scheming daddies

Happy mommies....I can't believe Alison is almost a mommy-to-two!

Rocking cousins

Emery thoroughly enjoyed her meal

Hayes ate a few bites, which is a big deal!

Emery running to join a group of kids play tag

Nanny and Hayes

My dad surprised Emery and Hayes each with an enormous teddy bear Sunday morning. Emery loves "Teddy." Here she is having a conversation with him....

Kissing him....

"Mommy, this is where I want to go night-night." Uh, I don't think so.

A Sprinkle for Alison and Baby Girl Kelsey Claire

I was so excited to spend last weekend in Atlanta to host a family "sprinkle" for my sister, Alison. Alison is expecting a baby girl on June 7th. Her name is Kelsey Claire Stephens and she will be joining her adorable big brother, Hayes. Since Alison's first born is a boy, the ladies in our family decided she needed some girly items. Kelsey's nursery is lavendar and green.....but of course she needs lots of PINK stuff as well! The luncheon was held at the Swan Coach House (part of the Atlanta History Center), which is the same place I had my bridesmaids' luncheon. So fun to go back! We had splendid weather and were given a table outside so that we could be as loud and rowdy as we liked without disturbing any of the other ladies. You never know what's going to be said in this family....
Typical Swan Coach House fare: chicken salad in heart shaped pastries, cheese straws and frozen fruit salad. Pretty and delicious!

Kriya, Michelle, Angie, Aunt Donna, Alison, Mom, Nanny and me. This picture makes me laugh because I look like a giant. At just a hair under 5'4" I am seldom the tallest in any group. Our family is tiny! However, I am wearing heels and standing next to Nanny so I'm guessing it's just an optical illusion....darn! I was hoping I had grown some!

Such a fun afternoon! Thanks for coming! Alicia, we missed you. You owe me a trip to Greenville, okay?