Trip to Asheville, NC

Who would have thought that friends in Tulsa, Oklahoma would both move over 1,000 miles away and end up so close to each other again? Well, that is what happened for the Hillikers and the Minks. Our dear friends moved in October of 2009 to Asheville, NC (one of my favorite cities!) and we joined them just 8 months later and only 4 hours away! Since we felt settled in now, we decided to take a quick weekend trip to go see them....

It was a last minute (that afternoon) decision and Tim already had plans to go to a football game that Saturday, so it was just Jess and Joey that showed us around. we went downtown for a little shopping trip..

Headed back to the Hilliker house for some lunch, and then we went up into the Blue Ridge Mountains

Found butterflies..

And then went to Sliding Rock. The boys watched...

As we did this...

Yes, this is a large rock formation in the middle of a mountain spring that has been smoothed over by the constant water movement into a slippery water slide and then an ice cold pool of water. It was excruciatingly cold and AWESOME all at the same time. Stone really liked watching..

After the excitement and exhaustion of sliding down a huge rock on your bum in an ice cold mountain spring, we decided to play in it for a little while...

We all had a blast..but Jessica had more in store for us..she took us to Looking Glass Waterfall...

We had never seen a waterfall like this before. It was one of the most breathtaking views in my entire life. Lenny was brave enough to swim and crawl behind the waterfall and then posed for a quick shot with our beautiful Sydney. Jessica had filled us with quite a day, but she wasn't done. We cleaned up at the house and headed out for a dinner picnic at the Biltmore Mansion!

Can you believe we did all of this in one Saturday?!?! Jessica sure knows how to be a Hostess. We can't wait for the Hillikers to come and visit our Beach town. Thanks Hillikers!!

First day of School

Sydney started her first day of fourth grade here in our new town. She can ride her bike to school!  She got new uniforms, new accessories, and of course new shoes! So, before school there had to be a fashion show...

 See the new shoes? Sparkly tennis shoes are the "it" shoe for 4th graders in 2010, didn't you know?

She came home saying there are a lot of girls in her class, her teacher is strict, and she gets to go outside to get to her classroom (a breezeway she says).

Everything seems to be going well.

While they are away...Mommy will play.

While they were away for the week, I did some craft projects to keep me busy.

I bought these hideous chairs for $40 on Craiglist before we left Tulsa

I wanted to give them a fun, more beachy and fresh look. So I started by spraying them with white primer.

Then I had painted them a fun "Sea Foam Green" color and added a dark brown glaze to give it the "worn" look.

Some pretty and bright fabric gives this chair the exact look I was going for.

Aren't they great? We are going for more of a light, bright, and fun decorating style since we are "islanders" now.

I also painted a few frames. Here are the before and after pics:

And the biggest transformation for me was my beloved "Red Chest". I needed to go lighter and brighter with everything...

That it what I accomplished while all of my babes were away.

First T-Town Visit

Well, it was a great summer in Hilton Head, but now it is time for Leo to go back home to Tulsa and Sydney to visit her Mom for a week. So, Lenny took the 17 hour trip with three kiddos all by himself! He left Saturday morning at 4 am and arrived that night at 8pm! He's a great Dad.

Stone had some big appointments too,

His 2 year checkup at the doctors office and...

His first Dentist Appointment!

The dentist was very nice and said his teeth look great! But, he needs to lose the binky asap.

 

Stone liked his fun dentist appointment, but he had no idea what was going to happen when he got home.

A week without my family was a week too long. I was excited to see them come home.

Update: The week that they got back home to Hilton Head, Stone threw his binkies in the trash! Every time he asks for them, I remind him that he threw them in the trash and they are gone now. Hasn't been too bad, thank the Lord.





Palmetto Bluff Round 2....

It is getting close to the end of summer which means Leo will be going back to Oklahoma for the school year. :(

I wanted to get some family photos before he went home, so where else but....Palmetto Bluff!

Sittin on the dock of the bay...watchin the tide roll away.

The Mink Boys. Lenny, Leo, and Stone.

Isn't he a cutie?! I didn't have two year pictures made for him, so this one will have to do.

This is a picture of the best Daddy in the world with his three beautiful children. I told everyone to laugh and act silly....Leo liked that idea.

This picture didn't turn out exactly as I had imagined, but it's cute for now.

These will be used for 2010 Christmas cards for sure....



Stone turns TWO!

Yes, our baby Stone Cassius Mink has turned TwO! Here is a picture from his 1st birthday party 1 year ago...

Two years old is a big deal....so his Mommy made him a special shirt for his special day...

Then we headed over to the "Island Playground" for some fun playtime!

He was such a big boy to go down the slide all by himself! Then it was bouncy time with his brother and sister...

A little dress up time in the castle...

And then a lot of fun bouncing and shooting balls in the hoops..

But Daddy and Sydney decided to get into a dodge ball match instead....which is why Sydney gave up and is sitting in the corner in this picture.

Then it was back home for some yummy cupcakes from the one and only "Sweet Carolina Cupcakes". These are cupcakes unlike any other.



Yea, I went for the "Beach/Surfer" theme again.

Stone had a great time and a great birthday. Does this mean he is a big boy now?