A Runner is Born

This morning, Greg, Chase, and I ran the Poplar Grove 5K. It was Chase's very first race and he had such a good time! We are so proud of him for running the majority of the way let alone finishing 3 miles that he has never run before!

Before the race...

After the race...

He is now setting his sights on winning a medal! That means lots of running with the double Bob stroller for us! = ) The next race is the Ocean Isle Fun Run in October, so we'll see!!

And...They're Off to School!

I can't believe it. The summer went by so fast this year! We were so busy with swim lessons, summer camp, days at the beach, and play dates, that the school year snuck up on us!! I can't say I'm totally disappointed. It is my favorite time of year when back- to- school signs start popping up everywhere. The weather starts getting cooler (unless you live here in NC where it's still in the 90's), you can hear the occasional crow cawing hinting of the fall season ahead, planting ideas of pumpkins, falling leaves, chilly evenings, football, and blooming mums. I love it! The beginning of the school year means "new beginnings" with the start of new school supplies. It has always meant more to me than New Years, when I am at my highest stress level amongst birthdays and Christmas.

This year, Chase starts the 4th grade! He's nine years old (going on 13), and we can hardly believe how fast he is growing. He could not be a better brother and role model for Holden and Rhys. He is so smart, kind, funny, and handsome! He already has made new friends in his class and is loving school!

Holden is in the 3 year class in preschool and was SO excited to get going Wednesday morning! This is his third year in preschool and his confidence shone as he walked in to his new class with Mrs. Sonya. He immediately sat down at the table next to a new little boy and starting coloring after giving Rhys and I a hug goodbye! He didn't flinch as I walked out of the classroom! He loves his new class!

As Holden holds up 3 fingers to show which preschool class he is starting this year, I love seeing Rhys in this picture as he tries to process what Holden is doing and begin to imitate him. I tried to get Rhys to hold up one finger, but since Holden was holding up 3, that wasn't going to happen! = )

Sweet Rhys is beginning his 1st year at the preschool with Nana Bonnie. He was so excited to be a part of the action! Now that he has a backpack like Holden, he thinks he is so big! That morning, he followed Holden's instructions as to how to get ready for school, walked into Holden's class to say goodbye, and then walked into Bonnie's class without hesitation. He happily played while I said my goodbyes and didn't even care when I left the classroom! I couldn't believe it, but I knew it would be different the next day as he caught on to the program! That morning, the only time he cried was when he caught sight of Holden. I was told Holden came over to give him a hug which warms my heart! This is how their lives will be throughout school, two school years apart! How nice to be able to see each other!

Now with the boys in preschool 4 days a week and an extra hour on Mondays and Tuesdays for Lunch Bunch, I am planning what to do with my valuable time alone! I have a list of things, such as cleaning out closets and organizing our desk, as well as enjoying the time by working in the yard, sewing, doing yoga, and walking! On Wednesday, I met a friend of mine, Katie, for coffee and we spent 3 hours talking! Wonderful!! Yesterday, I took a walk and I felt naked without a stroller. It was great, however, I missed pointing out birds and flowers and it brought tears to my eyes. The first couple of weeks may be nice to have alone time, but I will quickly miss my little men more and more.

The school year is a wonderful time, but it does take some adjustment! I'll post more as the weeks progress!

A First

It has finally happened. Holden and Rhys were sitting on the couch together this morning and Holden asked Rhys to sit on his lap to watch cartoons. I cried. I was just mentioning to Greg yesterday about the difficulty of their ages, their fighting, and about how exhausted we are. But...seeing this...how can I complain for a second?

Priceless.

Star Wars Mania

This summer, we stumbled upon Star Wars, The Clone Wars, on HubTV. Holden has always had an interest in Star Wars without even knowing the movies or characters, so when we found The Clone Wars, he was hooked!

One weekend recently, we had a Star Wars morning...complete with watching Star Wars IV and making Star Wars pancakes from Williams-Sonoma. They were a big hit!

These turned out really well and the kids loved them!

Rhys is such a funny guy! He loves to be silly!

Holden and Chase love to cuddle...then, it's back to battling with light sabers and someone yelling that one is beating the other up!

Rhys loves light sabers because his brothers love them, but it was truly love at first sight when he saw they have handles! His favorite things consist of vacuums, brooms, rakes, and now...light sabers!

"May the Force be With you."

Pictures We Love

Going through our albums I found so many pictures I wanted to share. I can't upload 100's of photos, so here are several I found from the last couple of years. I will catch up soon to share our current pictures of our summer fun...the NC Zoo, swim lessons, Holden's summer camp, etc.

Holden and Greg making a snowman in our front yard. 2010

Chase playing in the snow. A favorite. 2009

Family photo. October 2010

Rhys testing out the new swing set in our backyard. July 2010

Ashley and Holden 2011

Holden swinging. October 2010

Rhys and Holden in the tub having a blast! It's still the highlight of the day! 2010

Halloween at Kiwanis Park in Hampstead. From the Left...Mrs. Potato Head, Woody, Rex, and Buzz Lightyear. 2010

Chase and Holden. NC Aquarium in Fort Fisher 2010.

Rhys and Nana. 2011

Rhys keepin' it real! 2011

Ironman (aka Holden). The best Christmas gift Santa has ever made! 2010

Rhys swinging on a cold day! We do a lot of swinging if you haven't guessed that already! 2011

Rhys and Holden waiting on Daddy to get home from work! This is one of my favorite pictures.

2011

Rhys decided to mix Thor and Ironman to make the coolest Superhero ever! Actually, these were what Holden allowed Rhys to wear at the moment.

Holden's Jeep. Don't even think about it little ladies...he's taken! April 2011

More to come! Hope y'all are having a great summer!

Our 4th Anniversary

On June 18th, 2007, Greg and I were married. It was such a dream to get married at Guthrie Castle in Angus, Scotland. Our visit to the UK, Greg's first, was much like the movie, "Just Married," with Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy. One of my favorite memories of Greg is him driving our rental car. It was a Fiat, of course with a right sided driver's seat, a stick shift, only large enough to carry us and our luggage, and it couldn't drive over 50 mph. It was hard enough getting out of the airport parking lot, much less drive down the centuries old roads that were to take us through tiny towns to St. Andrews where we were expected at our hotel, The Fairmont. We could hardly stop laughing as we crossed the Firth of Forth in our Fiat. We must have said that a thousand times. Yes...needless to say, we were giddy from the lack of sleep on the plane and excited to say our vows in the next couple of days. Really, it was funny.

Greg and our orange Fiat. He drove it like a pro. I never once touched the driver's seat.

Views of The Fairmont St. Andrews.

The ruins of St. Andrews cathedral.

More St. Andrews Photos

I'll never forget the day of our wedding, being picked up by a gorgeous black Jaguar to be driven to Guthrie Castle in Angus, 40 minutes away. It was a beautiful drive through the country. I remember reminding myself to be totally conscious of every moment, to catalog it in my mind forever. Talking to the driver, the green countryside, Greg sitting to the right of me holding my hand and squeezing it every so often, and then seeing the entrance to the castle (above).

The winding dirt road we went down was paved with ancient trees and stone walls built hundreds of years ago. We crossed over a bridge and in the distance could see the castle we were to be married in.

Guthrie Castle dates back to 1468 and the garden we were married in, dates back to the 1600's. It truly was the most amazing place to get married, and we had the castle all to ourselves for a day and a half.

At 3 pm we were married in the garden. Pastor Brian Ramsey married us. He lives on the castle grounds.

We spent the most romantic evening with dinner in the grand dining room and we walked around the castle grounds. In the morning, we had an amazing breakfast and then were picked up by our driver to return to The Fairmont. From there, we began our fabulous honeymoon touring parts of Scotland and England (Edinburgh, York, London, and the Cotswalds).

It truly was a dream. I can't wait to show Chase, Holden, and Rhys where we got married someday.

To celebrate our anniversary, we decided to go away for the weekend. It was our first time away from the boys and we were nervous, but ready for some alone time! We drove 2 hours to New Bern, NC and stayed at the Aerie Inn Bed and Breakfast and we had such a fabulous time. We had no idea after years of being woken up consistently every night by our children multiple times, how much a full night of sleep can do for a person...and we got two nights! We felt alive again, like real people!

The Aerie Inn.

We had lunch one day at The Persimmons restaurant. It was great and had fabulous views of the water. I really loved the decor, simple and modern with a Southern flare.

We were given a carriage ride to The Chelsea restaurant downtown on Saturday evening. I thought Greg was going to die riding in the Cinderella carriage, but he survived! We had a wonderful dinner.

4 years later, I am more in love with this man every day. Getting married to someone, you know you love them and want to spend your life with them whatever that life may bring. I had no idea after all that we have experienced, 4 moves and 2 more children later, even how much more love I would have for him. I had never thought that was possible. He gives everything of himself for all of us and loves us unconditionally. I am so grateful. Happy Anniversary, Greg. I love you!