Pink Bow Gala

Last Friday night we had the opportunity to attend a party for a great cause. Read up on Madelyn's Fund if you get a few minutes.
www.madelynsfund.org

Our connection to Madelyn's Fund, apart from the obvious being a former NICU family, is that one of my closest friends, Corey, is on the committee that runs Madelyn's Fund and she helped to plan this fantastic event, the Pink Bow Gala. 

The event was in Charlotte and held at the CCC. We got a hotel room in the room block at the uptown Charlotte Marriott, which was a very short Uber ride away from the club. We got Fifi and Jerry to travel down from Virginia to stay at our house and watch the boys so we could have a night away. 

We had a BALL! 

Thomas and me on the pink carpet

Everyone was encouraged to wear pink in honor of Madelyn and the room was full of gorgeous pink dresses, jewelry, accessories/accents, bow ties, etc. It was really amazing and fun to see all the pink fashion statements. There were celebrities there - Greg Olson and Coach Ron Rivera from the Carolina Panthers, as well as Andrea Kremer from ESPN and the NFL Network, and of course, Andy Lee from the Panthers, who is Madelyn's dad. I loved the people watching! Hopefully Ben Boulware will be there next year since he's on the Panther's roster now.

We hung out with Carole, Margaret, Beth and Dom, and of course Corey. One of my favorite twin moms/mom idols, Seantel, was there - see her blog here - and we got to see and meet some of Corey's other friends! We even made some new friends and went out with them after the party ended. They were staying at the same hotel as us. 

With Carole

Andy and Rachel Lee

Andrea Kremer

This is me "hanging out" with Greg Olson! LOL

We just went for it and told him to take a pic with us!
Me, Greg, Carole and Margaret

Just some more light stalking...

Party fun selfie

With this amazing lady - Coco

The party was awesome and hearing what Rachel and Andy had to say about their daughter, their experiences, and about Madelyn's Fund was so touching. We got to see a video about one of the families that has benefitted from this organization and we heard from some nurses that work in the NICU. Later, I found those nurses and thanked them for all that they do. It means so much to thank the hands that work with NICU babies. 

We had such a great time - we cried (well, I cried, when hearing the NICU stories), we danced (A LOT!!! Check out Sleeping Booty band), we laughed and just had FUN! I was so sad when the night was coming to an end. We hope to be back for the event next year. I'll have to remember how quickly it sells out and get our tickets early. It's a fun night and a very worthy cause. 

Saturday morning, we got to sleep in.  What a luxury! We had a relaxing morning and then went over to Diane and Justin's to visit and eat lunch before we drove back home to relieve Fifi and Jerry.

It was a great weekend to wrap up our anniversary week and to keep the celebrations going. Next up is Memorial weekend. YAY!!!! 

Proud

When dropping off/picking up from school, if I'm hanging out chatting with a teacher, it's not that unusual to hear the boys tap their friends on the shoulder and excitedly point to me and exclaim, "that's my mama!" It's like they are so proud to show me off and claim me as their own. And do you think that makes my heart swell?!?!? No doubt about it.

William just did it this morning when I was talking to his teacher. I was in a conversation, but in true mama fashion, I was multi-tasking and also paying attention to what else is going on around me, especially in regards to the boys. I heard him say that and couldn't help but to smile. I'm proud of you too, buddy.

On the way to school yesterday morning

I know a time will come when they won't want me to be within 50 feet of them when any of their friends and peers are around, so it makes these moments extra sweet. I really, really love and appreciate them.

It makes me feel honored to be their mama. 

Eighth Anniversary

We celebrated our EIGHTH anniversary this week. It's been a fun eight years, that's for sure. The nice thing now is that Thomas and I have survived the last 3 years...and yes, survival is absolutely the right word for it...we have made it to a point that we can focus on US again. While our marriage didn't necessarily go totally on the "back burner", the kids were front and center of our lives. We finally feel like we have some breathing room to maintain focus on the boys, but also devote some time and energy to our marriage; that's time and energy we really didn't have before. So it's almost like we're dating again. I love it!

After my super sweet and awesome Mother's Day, we turned right around and got to celebrate again! Thomas and I both took the day off work and took the boys to school and had the wholeeeeeee dayyyyyy to ourselvesssssssss. Yes. Just yes.

Here's how the day went...after dropping off all the boys, we went downtown for our first meal of the day - breakfast or kind of brunch since it was probably inching toward 10 by the time we got there. We went to Biscuit Head. We'd never been there before and have been wanting to try it out!









The bloody marys were phenomenal, but I was only so-so on my biscuit with sausage gravy. The bacon was delish though. Next time I would probably go for the biscuit with jam from their jam bar vs. the gravy. Sorry, but when your family cooks the best gravy IN THE WORLD, a restaurant gravy just can't compete. I should have known this going in, but I slipped up and let the menu descriptions carry me away. I've learned my lesson (again). But I want to reiterate how much I loved my bloody. Seriously, SO GOOD. I will be back to Biscuit Head!

After breakfast/brunch we went downtown to Falls Park and walked around. It was so relaxing to just walk and talk...and people watch (my fave).









After we'd sufficiently walked around the park, we went up to Main Street and just walked and window shopped and sat down to do some more people watching. Ahhhh....

It was definitely starting to heat up though, and I got really thirsty, so we had to stop in at a bar for a cool down. Ink N Ivy was the perfect spot! I had about 5 glasses of water and 1 beer. Poor bartender!



After a little shopping, we popped into the Clemson Experience. I can't go by and not drop in if they're open. We got a few more pictures taken with some very awesome props!





By then, we'd been walking for a while and were still really hot so we walked back to the car and brainstormed about lunch options. We still weren't quite hungry after our big breakfast, but it was time and we love eating out since we don't go out really a whole lot, and we drove over to Willy Taco. It's another new-ish place that we hadn't tried yet and we've been wanting to!



We had some more bevs, some mediocre chips and salsa and some fantastic tacos there!

This coconut margarita hit the spot! It was yummy!





This was such a leisurely day, but after having a few drinks scattered throughout the day, and all the walking and the heat (did I mention it was in the 90's?!?!?!), I was feeling pooped! We went home and took a little nap, right in the middle of the day. I heart naps.

We picked up the boys early from school and got them home, bathed and fed and then had a babysitter come over so we could continue our fun anniversary day date. We were going to go to a restaurant that I have been really, really wanting to go to, but they don't take reservations so I was just planning to show up and hope they didn't have a long wait on a Tuesday night. Thankfully, before we left, I went to their website to make sure they were open, and found out that they're closed on Mon/Tues. BUMMER. But at least we didn't drive all the way out there to figure that out. Our evening plans were totally in the air, so we looked at the movie options. There wasn't anything that we've been dying to see, but I'd heard great things about the new Beauty and the Beast so we decided that we would go see that. Due to the playing times, we had a very small window of time for dinner, so we just went up to Arizona Steakhouse to get a few apps at the bar. We were in and out and our food was really, really good! We made it to the movies in plenty of time and definitely liked Beauty and the Beast.



We exchanged gifts earlier on in the day and both of us went with themes for the 8th anniversary! Thomas went with linen and got us some really nice new sheets. I went with the traditional plant and got us a clematis to plant at our mailbox - super exciting, huh?!?! I also got Thomas some new flip flops that he wanted. Ok, ok I didn't win coolest and most awesome gifts this time. I'm OK with that.

It was such a great day and we loved being able to spend a lot of time together without interruptions. Cheers to eight years and eighty more to go!

Mother's Day 2017

Do I sound like a broken record to start off every post talking about how wonderful our weekend was?!?!? Well, it's Monday...blah...and I keep thinking back to how much fun we had this weekend and how enjoyable my Mother's Day was. I wish everyday was a weekend! Actually, no, then I wouldn't appreciate them. But maybe that the work week was only 3 or 4 days and then weekends would be longer. Yeah, that sounds good!

Anyway, I had a fantastic Mother's Day. Thanks to Thomas and my boys for making such a special day for me!

The boys that made me a Mama!!!!

Stokes

Ryan

William

The morning started off with some snuggles in Mama and Dada's bed. Then I got to stay there while Thomas took the boys downstairs with him to fix breakfast. An extra 30, gloriously uninterrupted, minutes in a bed all to myself is heaven. Ahhh!

I guess I'm OK posting this totally unflattering picture here,
since Thomas already posted it to Instagram (insert eye roll)

Then I came downstairs to a ham, egg and cheese bagel prepared just for me and a whole basket of goodies, entitled "A few of my favorite things" {being sung like "The Sound of Music"}! I had only asked for 1 specific gift, but Thomas (and the boys) went above and beyond and spoiled me with several extras!

He even did handprint crafts for me!!!

Then we headed off to church to hear a wonderful message about Hope. Stokes and William received pink roses in Sunday School to give to me for Mother's Day. Then we picked up some lunch and went to my old church for a picnic in the garth where my Mom's ashes are buried. Unlike two years ago, this time I called ahead and made sure that we had access to the garth. It was a beautiful day and we had a lovely picnic.

The roses Stokes and William gave me
after Sunday School

I miss my Mom so much. In general, Mother's Day is a really happy, fun day for me. I'm very, very grateful for my boys who made me a Mama 3 and a half years ago. And although I smile, and laugh and enjoy the day, I also can't help but think of my Mom and sharp pains stab at my heart. It hurts so much to not have her around. This year, I still don't think the boys actually understood what we were doing at the garth, but they were aware that we were going to have a picnic with Grandma Robbie and we cut roses out of our garden, just for her. They say her name and speak about her, but I'm just not sure how they process that internally and if they wonder where she is and why they don't know her.

After our sweet picnic, we went back home for a downtime/grocery shopping, then kicked it back up a notch in the late afternoon. We had the bounce house inflated, toys out, and were just soaking in the sunshine and perfect spring temps. We spent all evening from about 3:00 on outside in the backyard.

Full arms = full heart

MaSha got back into town from Virginia, where she had spent most of the week, and got to our house just in time for dinner. The boys had really missed their MaSha and were so excited to see her!

We had a great dinner with ribs, cucumber & tomato salad, asian cole slaw, and corn on the cob, with apple pie for dessert. YUM! Even the boys loved everything on their plates. We got to give MaSha the cute gifts we had for her and then it was time to call it a day.

Wine bag with finger print grape bunches
This was part of her Mother's Day gift and I
was so excited as to how this cute bag turned out

What more could you ask for? I got great food, sunshine and some really awesome time with the people that I love most in the whole world. Sounds like a winner of a day to me!!!!

With such a fantastic day in my rear view mirror, my heart also goes out to so many women who may have had a tough, emotional day. I had several friends who have lost their mothers in the last year. The first Mother's Day without a Mom is so, so hard. I have friends who have lost babies, or haven't been able to have a baby. It doesn't make sense why things happen the way they do, but I pray for peace, comfort and love for all those whose Mother's Day wasn't joyful this year.

Muffins for Mom

I had two simultaneous Muffins for Moms events this morning, in honor of Mother's Day coming up on Sunday. One was at the boys' regular school and one at Ryan's special needs school. I was debating which one to attend, and felt bad like I was choosing some kid(s) over the other(s). Needless to say, I couldn't make a decision, so instead, I left the house earlier than normal this morning, did a quick stop at the regular preschool, then drove Ryan to his other school and did Muffins for Moms there, too. It was a little rushed, but I'm glad I made an effort to do both.

With my boys at home, before we left for school

My heart...

First Muffins for Mom stop....

William being grumpy

Stokes being grumpy

That's better!

Haha

Ryan

Stokes

William

One more group pic before I had to go

Muffins for Moms stop #2

Love my sweetie boy

We saw Beth and Luke, our NICU friends!
Luke shared a room in NICU 2 with William so our families
got to know each other back then. Luke and Ryan started
at this special school around the same time.

With the exception of the first part of stop #1 when both Stokes and William were being grumpy (and stressing me out), it was a sweet morning. I'm looking to Mother's Day this Sunday!