Biltmore Fun

Check out my little family in the Biltmore Video. Go to Biltmore.com and then click on the Antler Hill Village. Then watch the video! You will see us several times! Look for the big white bows!!!! Fun fun!!!

Here we ALL are!!! It was a great week!!! For more photos - go to Julies blog!

Jumping up and down for JOY at the beach!! Isn't this too cool!!!

The BIG Bartlett Beach TRIP! 2010

Wow! We got to go AGAIN! How blessed I feel to get to go to the BEAUTIFUL beach AND w/ my family!!! Granddaddy and Mimi surprised us at Christmas with the most beautiful beach house in North Topsail Island (north of Wilmington)! SO I have had it to look forward to since December. Remember the winter we had here in WNC! It was very, very SNOWY! So me and the girls have been dreaming about June for months!!

We had a great time. On Saturday, Jonathan and Beth road down with us. Chuck got to take his new baby to the beach and boy did we enjoy it!! He and JB drove it till lunch and then Beth and I took it the rest of the way! It was VERY FUN but VERY HOT RIDE!! We enjoyed the jeep so much at the beach. Chuck never complained of "running to the store" and I loved driving it in the sand! He even took the kids 4wheeling!

Our house was WONDERFUL! Here are some of the best parts!
*POOL*OCEAN FRONT*HUGE DECKS* HOSE FOR LUCIE AND ANNABELLE TO PLAY IN WITHIN EYESIGHT OF THE POOL* 4 SETS OF BUNK BED*FOOSBALL TABLE* *SEA KAYAK* LAWN CHAIRS* SUNSHINE* MOJITOS W/ CRANBERRIES ON TOP*DOLPHINS* WALKS ON THE BEACH*KICKBOXING IN THE LIVING ROOM*CRABBING* 4 WHEELING*SUNSETS*YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY FOOD*GUITAR PLAYING*CARDS*PHOTOS*HARDWOOD FLOORS*FLAT BEACH*COVERED PORCH IN THE RAIN*POPSICLES* BLENDER* LOTS OF BEDS*MY WHOLE FAMILY UNDER ONE ROOF!

Mimi and Grandaddy, Chuck, myself and the girls, Lorie and Kiah came in from Boone, Leslie came in from California (Uncle Paul had to work), Julie and her 3 kids (Uncle Seth had to work), Jonathan and Beth (both freshly graduated). My sweet friend Sandy came by to visit on Sunday and Aunt Teresa came on Thursday for a night! We had a great time and lots of fun and YUMMY food!!

We spent lots of time in the pool this year! I thought that it was a nice addition in December but WOW it was AWESOME! Lanie is now a SWIMMER!!! All the kids improved on their swimming skills!! We had lots of diving contests, cannon balls, water balloons fights (Chuck you did hurt me from the 3rd floor), water guns, and just plain FUN!!!

Jonathan and Beth dug their FAMOUS hole AGAIN this year! It keeps the kids BUSY and HAPPY for hours. They love to be in it and Lucie and Annabelle love to play in it and decorate it w/ shells!! We did get a few complaints from the turtle people. A lady knocked on our door at 1030 one night to tell us to fill in our hole or the turtle people would FINE us! Crazy huh!!!

Each evening was super special time for the Adults- we put the kids to bed (they were beat) and then it was time for a SPECIAL meal each night JUST FOR ALL OF US! We had yummy, yummy dishes! My favorites were.... shrimp and scallops, shrimp ceviche, crab cakes (2 times) crab dip, moms yummy spaghetti, fresh caught crabs, shrimp, Beth's yummy to die for brownies and SO MUCH MORE! Yes we ate like Kings and Queens! We also had lots of Foosball games. (Chuck and Jonathan brought the table UPSTAIRS- so we could play while the kids slept) we played cards, hung out and just had a great time together! I loved this special time w/ my siblings! We are blessed to be as close as we are! It amazes me how we are all pretty much still the same as we were when we were little. Just all a little wiser!!! :-)

The kids are SO fun to watch at the beach! They all adore each other. It is so fun to watch them in action! Amazes me how they all have their "roles." We have 3 first born who must take turns being the "leader." They enjoy each other so much! I must say Lucie and Annabelle are the most fun to watch. Maybe it is b/c they are the youngest and cutest. I felt like I was constantly taking photos of these 2 - mainly b/c i know they are growing so fast and I wish I had more photos of Caleb, Kiah, Adam and Lanie at the age of 3 and 4! I feel blessed that our kids get along. NOW don't get me wrong, they do fight and get in trouble with each other. BUT it is also nice that my sisters and I are on the same page when it comes to disciplining our kids. That makes it nice!!

I must say this trip was probably my most favorite. I don't know exactly why though. I think it is because I am getting older and I do cherish each and every minute with my little family and my big family. I feel incredibly blessed to know that God loves us, and that he sent his son to die on the cross for us. What an amazing blessing!!! I also cherish our time together more- especially since now with Boo on the West coast, and Lorie up in Boone, we don't get to spend that much time together!!! I realize that the little stuff doesn't really matter. I have chilled a little in my old age! I am not as uptight as I used to be at least I am striving for that MORE EACH DAY! I loving being with my family!!! We are a crazy group with lots of different personalities and features. I do have one thing, there is NEVER a dull moment when we are together!!!

So Mimi and Granddaddy, THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING BEACH WEEK! I will remember this memory FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just HAVE to DO THIS!!!

Ok I need someone to hold me accountable to BLOG! I just don't feel I have the skills BUT I MUST DO THIS! I want to look back on it in 10 years and cry my eyes out. So I am challenging myself to MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

So where did I leave off? I have no clue? I am scared to look back and see! So let me catch you up REAL QUICK! Lanie is now 6 1/2 and Lucie is 4 1/2 they are getting SO BIG!!! I can't believe that it is June 14th!

We just returned from the beach w/ my family! It was AMAZING and OVER THE TOP!!! I will be posting some great photos! We had an AWESOME time! Granddaddy and Mimi treated us to an AMAZING vacation in North Topsail Beach. We had a PHAT house!!! As Lanie said, "WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN BEDS" we even had 2 extra futons. We enjoyed a week with Granddaddy, Mimi, Aunt Julie, Caleb, Adam, Annabelle, Aunt Lorie, Kiah, Aunt Leslie (all the way from CALIFORINA) Uncle Jonathan, Sweet Beth and of course me, Chuck, Lanie and Lucie! Aunt Teresa and Sandy came for a quick visit too!! So we had lots of folks and lots of fun! More details later!!!

As some of you know, we have had our house on the market for a LONG time. We purchased a BREATH TAKING lot on top of Laurel Ridge back in 2007. Well long story short, on May 4th, we sold our beautiful lot and took our house OFF THE MARKET! It was just not what God had planned for us. For a while, we were quite sad BUT God really worked in our hearts and showed Chuck and me that it was just not where he wanted us. We feel really blessed that the lot did sell and that we came out of the situation on top. We love 235 Woodland Court and are really excited to stay RIGHT HERE. Thanks for all your prayers and love during this time. It was fun to dream about the thought of living on top of a mountain- with a view of the Burnette Resivor and the Seven Sisters BUT I think we should wait a FEW YEARS to make that happen! ONE DAY- I hope to have a view of the Seven Sisters from my deck. But not right now :) God is so good! He always has plans for us and it has been cool to see him work. I have learned a ton and trust him more than EVER. I was sick last week and I layed in the bed thinking OK we are staying- what can I do around here!!! We had taken down a lot of our photos and changed some stuff around - So poor Chuck- I have a nice list of things to do around here! So stay tuned to see what happens!!

Ok so my first of many blogs is complete! Wahoo!

NOVEMBER 2008

Wow time flys! I cna't believe it is 2008 and NOVEMBER - almost 2009 - EEEK! Where does the time go? My girls are growing like crazy- hope you have been able to keep up w/ us on Julies blog. Sorry for my absence! Been a busy lady and I LOVE FaceBook! You should try it fi you havent- I have reconnected with some great friends!

OK so Lanie is going to be 5 on Wednesday- the 19th - can you believe it??? My sweet baby is now a big girl AND is SO TALL! I know she will be taller than me- she is such a sweet heart! She is into all sorts of things- Loves to draw, color and on the verge of reading!!! She is a big help here at home, keep me on my feet w/ what time it is AND planning our day and week- She cracks me up. It will be 12 in the afternoon adn she wantst o know what we are doing tomorrow. I beg her to help me get through the day. She played soccer this fall and was a SUPERSTAR!! Can you believe it- she was AMAZING- she blew me and Chuck away- she loved it and we loved watching her and hearing what she thought about each game. It was really neat to see her out there- she was SO determined and AGGRESSIVE- where did she get that - ha ha? She loves to play w/ her cousins and she and Lucie are becoming the BEST of friends. OH and guess what she and Lucie got for their birthday present? A DOG--

That's right we have a DOG! Me the clean freak, not so crazy about animales girl- has a DOG and a cute dog she is. Her name is Sophie and she is a chocolate lab. Now I do not like her peeing and pooping in my kitchen- BUT I do love to watch my girls love on her and look forward to her keeping the bears away one day when we move to our property in Laurel Ridge- Sophie is an amazing little puppie and I dont have to get up w/ her during the night- CHuck does- he is amazing w/ her and I am learning. She has stolen all of our hearts!!!

So lets talk about Lucie- WOW she will be 3 on this Saturday- Yep that's right 2 birthdays in 3 days- CRAZY HUH! Good planning though ! Lucie is going to be 3 my baby is no longer a baby- she wears big girl panties, loves to play My Little Ponies w/ Lanie and loves to be read to- she also loves to clean up- yep she is a little cleaner- makes me laugh- she does not like a "mess" she will say mess momma, this is a mess. My mom came over to get some clippings from our Cypress tree and was making a pile- well we looked up adn the clippings were gone, Lucie had thrown them over the bank- she thought it was a mess. SO you have to stay on your toes with her. She has the cutest smile, we call her Lucie Goosie, Curly Locks and Luca, she is super sweet and makes a great friend/big sister to her cousin Annabelle. See Julies latest post- it is super sweet and so true. Lucie is busy busy too and keeps us on a routine- she likes a routine- dont make her miss her nap or you will pay for it for a day or two!!! She also loves to sing- today in church she was so cute singing the praise songs- of course I was tearing up!

I am still partying with Southern Living at Home!!!! I have a crazy week- 3 parties and then 2 next week and on the same date- Oh and one is at my house. CRAZY PLUS a Birthday Party on Saturday- a vendor show at the church on Saturday- ok I can't think about all of this- I better get up and get to work- Whew you better say a prayer for me!!! :) Dont worry I will get it all done-always do right!!!!

OK gotta get busy!! Hope you all have a great day!

Playing in the creek

We had an AMAZING day today! We walked to Cheshire park down below our house and HAD A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON! We started off w/ a hot dog picnic and then ended up playing in the creek the rest of the time! The girls were so good and had a blast- Chuck joined us after he finished some work and we just enjoyed watching our girls play and get "DIRTY"!! They were to funny! They were throwing rocks and falling in the water and squealing and laughing! They really enjoyed it!! Check out Lucies shades!! SHe was so funny w/ them!!! Notice they were upside down.

We have an amazing camera that we invested in when Lucie was born- today we tried out the other lens- we just kept forgetting! IT WAS AMAZING!!! WOW!! I want to take more photos!!

I am such a blessed girl!! God is so good to us! We are so blessed! Get outside and enjoy this wonderful weather!!! We sure did!!!

I AM ALIVE!

Ok so I have taken a LONG break from BLOGGING! SO SORRY!! My sister Julie get on to me daily about this! I am so sorry BUT i just didn't get it done! Pretty sorry- I could make a huge list of excuses BUT I won't -just don't have the time! Just know I HAVE NOT been LAYING AROUND EATING BON BONS!!! :) I look forward to catching you up on the PIttman crew SOON! For now, here is my sisters AWESOME BLOG- go check it out to see the PITTMAN Easter FUN! She is amazing at this- so creative and funny! I do supply most of the photos so I do get some credit for that!!!! Anyways- check it out! WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!

http://harrisonsathome.blogspot.com/

A few photos for you!

We also went to our friends from church house "The Greens" right after church, BEFORE Julies! So we had 2 egg hunts in one day! The girls were really good and we had a wonderufl time w/ our friends and family!!!