Fools for free food.

Just before I headed out for a girls beach weekend we made it a priority to get free breakfast. We took part in Chick-fil-a's Cow Appreciate Day last year and plan on doing it every year. I plan on doing this until Luke's voice changes and Ella gets a cell phone.

Cousin Ethan came along for the fun and was a cute fellow calf.

When they asked me if I wanted a 4 count chicken mini or a 3 count....I laughingly said...Supersize me! It's free silly!

July 4th in Chartown

We were in Charlotte visiting during July 4th this year. We had a cookout and lit a few sparklers and threw a few poppers. We are talking kid friendly fireworks here. Thankfully there were some large fireworks displays in and around the neighborhood.

Uncle Daryl came out to celebrate with us. Ella loves UD and I think he might like her too =)

Luke - as close to playing with fire as he is gonna get for a while.

To Great Grandmommie's house we gooooo

We were so excited to be able to spend a beautiful morning/afternoon at Great Grandmommie's house in Charlotte during our visit. Luke, Ella, and I went down earlier in the week just to make sure we could see her. The kids don't get to see enough of her and it was really important to me that we have good time with her. She has had an extraordinary life and is someone I want them to always remember.

And Grandmom had a ball too! Luke is crazy about her because she is so hands on and you can always get her to play with you =)

Ella is "sleeping" here on the swing. I remember laying on swings like this when I was little and I would watch the bugs and ants through the cracks. It is funny the little things you remember while watching your kids!

Ahh..bliss. What a precious day we had together. It was a perfect weather in the mid 80's. We were able to spend more time outside which was a blessing with two excited kids.

Luke at Great Grandmommie's house.

More than a ham sandwich...

We ate lunch on Grandmommie's porch because it was so beautiful outside. It brought back so many memories for me of eating at my grandmas. These kind of memories are so important to me. Seriously, something as simple as a ham sandwich and ice cream just taste SO much better at Grandmas house! I don't even think I like ham but I certainly ate it all =)

I think it is because she uses the thin white bread and it is made with L.O.V.E.

THEN she went and made an ice cream sundae with Hagen Daz ice cream, chocolate syrup(the good kind out of the can) and a cherry on top. I am very easily pleased....and so are my kids =)

We had a wonderful time and made great memories visiting Great Grandmommie's house!

Freeeedom Park

Luke with his best girl at our Freedom Park picnic

Greg used to come here a lot when he was little. He has a picture of him with his sisters in front of this sign. This is our reinactment.

Luke was climbing huge rocks like a good boy =)

Say "cheeseberger" Ella...now that's pretty!

Amelie's French heaven

Amelie's French Bakery.

http://www.ameliesfrenchbakery.com/

I was so pumped to get to swing by this place while we were in Charlotte. It is in the NODA area of Charlotte and I first heard about it from my hero/favorite blogger - The Pioneer Woman. She had been in Charlotte not long ago and someone brought her some pastries from this place. It is definitely worth the visit. It is a super cute eclectic little spot.

Luke split an eclair with Grandmommie

Ella loved it!

I wish I took a picture of this before that 500lb. man came and ate it all. You should have seen it - he had a gun and demanded my pastries. I was kinda glad because I didn't want to be a total pig in there!

Think - Charlie and the Chocolate factory but with pastries and all kinds of goodness.

I will have to agree with PW though. The raspberry and lemon tea cakes were my fa-vor-ite. Wiping drool away ....and going for an imaginary jog right now.....

Wilmington break away....

I am such a slack blogger so bare with me as I play catch up. I am borrowing Marty's time machine and back dating my posts so that they stay in order. In July we really needed to get out of town. Listing the house and trying to keep it spotless with two kiddos gets quite old.  We headed out to Wilmington for the 4th. We ended up only staying one night in Wilmington and then headed to Holden Beach to visit our friends, the Buckleys, at their house. 

Dear Luke, I am sorry but I will do this to you until you are 40. Don't resist it. It is your fault for being so cute.  Love you- mommy

We did our usual routine. We ate lunch at Dockside, went downtown and got ice cream at Kilwin's, went to Island Passage, Edge of Urge, all my little shops I like. Although I purchased nothing. I just like to gawk. Walked and just enjoyed the day. Then ate at Blue Water...yum yum.  It does seem like our entire day revolved around food. That sounds about right. 

Luke, of course, got Superman ice cream. What else do 4 year olds that can disappear, fly, and swing from buildings eat??

Some old man was rolling around on this sweet fold out bike. This is my new motto...that I follow 67% of the time when I look at this picture or I see that old man. I kid, I kid.