After 3-ish weeks in Arkansas the girls and I pile in the car (it was a pretty full minivan!) and head east to Charlotte, North Carolina. We stopped in Nashville to see Cousin Alexa and her boys (Elie and Abram) for a little Tex-Mex and playground time.
I have usually taken three days to do this drive but took only two this year. The girls are getting older and are better travelers so it was fine. We listened to books on tape which all of us enjoy (although Anna's stamina is a little lower than the rest of us). I might have even shed a few tears over The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane... We also listened to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz which I didn't even know was a book before it was a movie. Lovely book (and not as scary as the movie, either). We took music breaks (thank you, Gammy and Poppy for XM radio!).
We spent a week in Charlotte - catching up with friends, visiting our old church, going for well-visit check ups (and shots!) with our pediatrician. The girls also did a day camp (Anna's first!) and had a nice time (although nobody made it every day with all we had so much going on during our brief stay). Jake also flew in to join us mid-week -yay! We all missed him so much and are always better when he joins us and our family is together.
Our 2nd NC stop was Asheville to see Uncle Dan, Aunt Susan and the girls' only first cousins - Zach and Alex. Every time we visit them in wonderful Asheville, it makes me want to live there, too! They recently bought their house in the great neighborhood where they have been living for a while. We went putt-putting and had a great time but I don't see any photos. Susan and I rocked the hole-in-ones. Now if we could only apply those skills on the regular golf course... While Zach and Alex were able to match their putt putt skills on the golf course the following week - nice job, boys!
Last NC stop was our traditional vacation place at High Hampton in Cashiers way up in the mountains where the air is cool, the scenery is green and the memories are sweet. Golf, hikes, golf-carting, exploring. All good stuff. Uncle John was able to coordinate a work trip to the Carolinas and join us for a few of the days as well. Some of Jake's extended family from Dalton headed up as well and it was lovely to catch up with them.
High Hampton is always a favorite stop and a great way to (almost) end our US summer vacation. Final stop was Smyrna, TN to see Jake's grandmother and some extended family on his mom's side. We loved seeing Grandma Mom, Aunt Marsh and Uncle Doug and Cousins Emily and Matthew.
Wonderful North Carolina and Puryear and Wood family memories - thank you everyone and see you all next year!
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I don't have photos but we stayed at a wonderful
furnished apartment through the Home Collection
in Charlotte - great resource for family or extended stays.
Anna found the croquet set right away! |
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| Happy to be back in Charlotte with beautiful blooming flowers |
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| Mr. Bob and Meredith-Sack-of-Potatoes |
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Anna marched right off with her counselor for her first summer day camp
(she's in the green dress). Her counselor complimented her dress
as they were walking away and I overheard Anna emphatically
telling her that it *wasn't* a dress, it was a cover-up. |
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So, so fun to be with old friends. Kids' table at the dear Watts' house.
Again, no photos but we had an equally special evening at the
Rydell's with more school friends. Makes me miss Charlotte! |
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Swinging on the Engels' swing is a favorite pastime
of my girls. We came back when Currie got back
from the beach and went for a swim as well |
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| Lovin' on Lila |
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| Back at the peds visting Dr. Felkner |
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| Really loaded up and heading to Asheville |
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