Cheers to the Weekend, July Rolls On Edition

Hi all! Sorry for the long time, no post (and sorry in advance for the last summer blog hiatus I'll be taking next week). I still have so much I want to share, but my summer days are dedicated to my kids and family first and sometimes that means not fitting in time to write. It means that family dance parties to The Greatest Showman soundtrack and late nights at the pool and getting fun projects done and lazy days with my Lu Crew trump blogging. And I'm totally okay with that! But I still want to pop in to say, "Hello!" and virtually scrapbook our summer from time to time during our days off from school. <3 So, before I take one last blog hiatus for the summer, a glimpse at what we're saying CHEERS to as summer continues to fly by: 

4th of July fun. We love the 4th of July in our neighborhood! We were actually supposed to be gone for the 4th this year, but some plans were shifted; so, we ended up home after all! And that meant a super fun pool party with lots of fun friends, grilling out burgers and dogs afterwards, watching fireworks in our 'hood until 10:00 pm, and then a sleepover friend for Banks. It felt especially special this year, as it was Bella's last first holiday as a member of the Lu Crew. <3 We truly had a such a great day together, as a family, celebrating all things 'Merica. 

Get down in Flo Town. Last weekend, we loaded up the car (again!) and headed to Florence, South Carolina, for the big Coach Pitch All-Star Baseball State Championship Tourney! The six of us piled into a hotel room on Friday night after attending the Opening Ceremonies and Banquet and dreamed baseball dreams as we anticipated our first game the next morning. Luckily, one of my college BFFs lives in Florence and she hooked us up with one of her sitters for the first game on Saturday; so, the sitter came to the hotel to watch Raleigh, Harrison, and Bella in our room so my hub and I could enjoy (and actually watch in it's entirety ;) ) Banks' first game. That game ended in a loss for our team, BUT it was a double elimination tourney, which meant more ball was to be played by our team! We headed back to the Mill, had friends over for dinner, and rested up for Game 2 (and Game 3, after we won Game 2) back in Florence the next day. On this day, my hub took Banks, alone, for the games to avoid 4 hours of travel in one day for our other three. After losing our second game (boo!), the tourney - and thus All-Star season - was over for our Bankster and my big guys headed back home. We are SO proud of Banks, and his teammates, for the hard work and dedication they put into this season. Banks played really well, with several big hits and some awesome fielding, and had so much fun. <3 And for now, we'll enjoy the rest of the summer sports/practice free! 

Last two appointments for July. We had two appointments for Bella over the last 1.5 weeks (actually three, but I had to re-schedule a neurosurgery follow-up due to a scheduling conflict), the first of which was with our social worker for her 12-month post-adoption follow-up. Y'ALL. How it was time for this appointment already is beyond me. I feel like we just finished the 6-month post-adoption follow-up visit! We spent about two hours with our social worker (who will write up a detailed report) and then submitted the required eight recent family photos and fee to our adoption agency so that they can send it all to China to ensure Bels is in good hands and doing well. <3

Also, we had a BIG appointment yesterday with a genetics clinic down in Columbia, South Carolina. Originally, this appointment was schedule for September (a 9-MONTH WAIT from when it was originally scheduled). Praise be, there was an opening yesterday, and I jumped at the chance to take it! So, bright and early, Bella and I headed to Columbia to meet with a genetic counselor and geneticist and potentially complete a third round of genetic testing. We could not have had a better experience. They were SO thorough and so kind and...decided that Bels did NOT need more genetic testing at this point. We got some really good news, as well as a recommendation for one more specialist to see just to be safe, but honesty, it was a great appointment for our girl! <3 

Banks-Bam-Digs Bash. At the start of the week, I met my mom halfway between her home and ours so she could take Banks for a few days. Big plans had been made and Banks was SO excited about his solo time with Bammy and Digby: a viewing of Jurassic World, tennis lessons with Bammy, swimming at the pool I grew up going to as a child, and just being spoiled by beloved grandparents. The kid had a BALL. But I sure was glad to get him back a couple days later. <3 Our house just doesn't feel the same without our Bankster.

This and that. Of course, as per usual, we sneak in pool time whenever we can throughout the week and continue working hard with Bella in her weekly therapies. I also managed to slash one of my knuckles open on a food processor blade earlier this week but luckily was able to avoid stitches thanks to medical super glue and a kind doctor friend. We had a visit with extended family and also got to hang with one of our favorite little friends while her momma welcomed in a new baby (We love you, V! We love you, Baby Bennett!). We started packing for our last summer hurrah. We prepped for the overnight church camp Banks will head to the day we get back. We got summer haircuts. We dance partied. We played hard and worked hard and continued to wonder how summer is going by at lightening speed. We tried our best to enjoy it all!

And with that, I'm out of here for a bit! Have a fantastic week/end, and I'll report back soon. <3 Sending love and prayers to all for lots of summer fun!

Cheers to the Weekend...Hello July! Edition

I wasn't able to get this post in last week; so, I thought I'd kick off the week with a Monday Funday...err Terrific Tuesday post :) Here's a fun lil' update on what we've been up to the last week or two. Before that, though, can y'all believe it's JULY?! What? How in the world did that happen? Anywho, here's what we're saying CHEERS to as we anticipate the holiday tomorrow (Go 'Merica!)...

Father's Day. This year, we celebrated Father's Day at the beach since it fell during the Luton Fam Beach trip! Our daddy awoke to a table full of his favorite treats, and of course, we had to give him the framed D-A-D photo we've given him every year since Banks was a a baby. But this year, we got to add a <3 to the end of it since we have a new member of our crew :) We had fun on the beach all day and then he got in a good 27 holes of golf with his dad and brothers the next day. It was a great Father's Day for our favorite fella!

14-Year Anniversary dinner. Last week, my hub and I celebrated 14 years of marriage. We went out to dinner to celebrate and when we arrived to the AWESOME restaurant (local friends - The Porter's House in Charlotte. Could not recommend it any higher!!!), they had a private room waiting for us, greeted us with a champagne toast, and ended the meal with a dessert on the house. The food was SO good, and it was so nice to reminisce and celebrate our 14 years married. :) 

Swim Team. Well, our first season of swim team ended last week...with our Greenwavers as undefeated champions! The last meet was our toughest of the season, and yet Banks swam his best times - both individually and on relays, and Rals did so great, too! I got to be the "Team Mom" for the shrimp (i.e., 5- and 6-year-old) girls for the meet, and we had SO much fun! The following morning was the swim team awards banquet/donut party, and I was so excited to see my Bankster win Rookie of the Year. This kid is a competitor and worked so hard this season to learn new strokes and beat the competition to help his team earn points and win. We are already SO EXCITED to do it all again next summer. Go Greenwave!!! 

LifeGroup Love. Last weekend, we headed out of town with our LifeGroup of almost five years (so crazy!). The four of us couples, and our 11 kids, had such an awesome weekend together - swimming, boating, wake boarding and surfing, tubing, running rampant on a water obstacle course, watching fireworks, enjoying a poolside/lakeside lunch, laughing, talking, laughing some more...it was so good for the soul. We have been so blessed by these friendships and it was a wonderful weekend together. <3

Friends who are Family. The day after we got back from out of town, we were spoiled by getting to have an evening at another beautiful lake with our dear friends. This family was one of the first to know when we decided to adopt because they walked alongside us throughout the decision-making process and have supported us every day since. It was so special to have our beautiful daughters from China together, especially because at this time a year ago, they were giving us last minute tips and advice before we headed to China to get our Bella and bring her home. We had a great time having our families together again last night, playing on the boat, swimming, and tubing before enjoying some yummy friend chicken and fixins'. We love these friends and loved our time together!

All-Star Baseball. Two weekends ago, we headed to Clover, South Carolina, to cheer on Banks and his teammates in the district All-Star baseball tournament. They finished as runners up and earned themselves a spot in the state championship bracket! That means the team is practicing hard almost every day this week before we head to Florence, South Carolina, this weekend to get our baseball on. Let's do this, ballers! 

Cheer camp. Last week was the first of two camps Raleigh is signed up for this summer - cheer camp! She and her BFF had the best time and did so great in the showcase at the end of the week! Rals has already told me she definitely wants to do it again next year, with plans to participate in cheerleading this Fall. Way to go, Rals! 

And that's a wrap! Well, one other exciting tidbit: our family had a great meeting with our social worker for Bella's 12-month post-placement visit this morning. <3 It's been almost 12 months, y'all!!!

We are ready for some 4th of July fun tomorrow and are excited to celebrate our country's freedom. <3 I hope you have some fun plans, too! Be back soon. Happy 4th, everyone!